The final book in the trilogy, The Toll, brings together all of the threads from the previous two books in a heart-pumping conclusion. Meanwhile, the all-seeing artificial intelligence known as the Thunderhead, which oversees all aspects of human life, becomes increasingly conflicted about its role in the world. However, their attempts to reform the corrupt Scythedom are complicated by the emergence of a rogue Scythe who is systematically targeting other Scythes. The second book, Thunderhead, picks up where Scythe left off, with Citra and Rowan now Scythes themselves. The story follows two teenagers, Citra and Rowan, who are selected to apprentice under a Scythe, setting them on a dangerous path filled with political intrigue and moral dilemmas. To prevent overpopulation, a group of individuals who are known as Scythes are tasked with randomly selecting individuals for 'gleaning' - a process of permanent death. People can be revived after catastrophic accidents, and even old age is no longer a guarantee of mortality. The first book in the trilogy, Scythe, introduces us to a world where death is no longer a threat.

Set in a future where death has been conquered, and humans are functionally immortal, the trilogy explores the complex moral questions that arise when a select few are given the power to control population growth. The Arc of a Scythe trilogy by Neal Shusterman is a thrilling and thought-provoking young adult dystopian series that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Neal shusterman books