Thunderhead Review: A Must-Read Sequel

Hey there, fellow book lovers! Are you in the mood for a read that makes you think?

Well, you’re in luck because the sequel to "Scythe" is just that, and it’s called "Thunderhead"!

This captivating dystopian tale by Neal Shusterman whisks us back to a world where death is a thing of the past and a powerful artificial intelligence, the Thunderhead, is in charge.

In this article, we will dive into the pages of "Thunderhead" and uncover its intriguing storyline, memorable characters, and fascinating themes that will leave you pondering long after you’ve turned the last page.

If you enjoy action, mystery, and those tricky ethical questions, this is a book you shouldn’t overlook!

Thunderhead

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Book Details and Content

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What is Thunderhead About?

"Thunderhead" is about Rowan and Citra living in a future world where no one dies naturally. So, special people called Scythes are chosen to decide who should die to keep the population under control. Rowan becomes a secret vigilante, punishing scythes who misuse their power, while Citra, now a scythe herself, tries to be kind and fair in her new role.

A smart computer called the Thunderhead helps guide everyone, but it’s starting to have problems. As Rowan and Citra face new challenges and threats, they must deal with tricky situations and tough choices. Meanwhile, the Thunderhead struggles to help without breaking its own rules. The book is about how they try to keep their world from falling apart and what happens when things don’t go as planned.

My Spoiler-free review

One of the strengths of this book is how it explores important ideas like power and corruption. The Thunderhead controlling everything makes you think about free will, right and wrong, and what can happen when there’s too much control.

The action in this book is also great, with surprising plot twists that keep you hooked. Shusterman does a fantastic job of building suspense and making the story hard to put down.

Even though the world can be dark, moments of hope and humanity shine through, especially in the relationship between Citra and Rowan. These moments remind us that there’s still light, even in tough situations.

If you enjoy dystopian stories that mix action with deep themes, the "Scythe" series is worth reading. It’s a book that’s hard to stop once you start, and it’s a great pick for anyone looking for a thought-provoking adventure.

Overall Thoughts

Thunderhead is the sequel to Scythe that takes the story to new heights. The book is filled with action, deep ideas, and surprising twists that keep you hooked from start to finish. It’s all about a world where scythes control life and death, while the powerful AI called the Thunderhead watches over everything.

What I Liked: One of the best things about Thunderhead is how it dives into the theme of power and what happens when it’s misused. Rowan’s journey as Scythe Lucifer shows the darker side of the Scythedom, while Citra, now Scythe Anastasia, tries to make gleaning (the act of ending lives) more fair and compassionate. The tension between the characters, especially during the big Winter Conclave meeting, is gripping, and how the author builds suspense kept me completely engaged.

The revival of Scythe Goddard was shocking. The corrupt scythes becoming powerful people in this amazing story makes the plot more exciting, and the unexpected sinking of Endura at the end is a jaw-dropping twist that adds even more excitement. Neal Shusterman knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat, making the story impossible to put down.

What I Disliked: This would not be an honest review if I did not talk about what I did not like. One part of the story that didn’t quite work for me was the focus on the Tonists, a religious group in the book. Their storyline felt a bit out of place and didn’t seem to add much to the main action. While it’s clear they play a role in the world of Thunderhead, their parts were less interesting and sometimes slowed the story down.

Overall, Thunderhead is a strong sequel that expands on the world of Scythe with action, deep themes, and compelling characters. If you enjoy dystopian stories that make you think and keep you entertained, this book is worth a read.

Detailed Summary

Part One: Rowan Damisch becomes Scythe Lucifer (dark folk hero), a secret identity he uses to punish scythes who are cruel. He offers Scythe Brahms a chance to start being nicer when gleaning people. Meanwhile, Citra Terranova, now Scythe Anastasia, comes up with a new way to glean people more kindly. She gives them a month to get ready and lets them choose how they want to die. Citra meets with Rowan in a park, and later, Rowan’s friend Tyger visits him with news that Rowan’s dad has been gleaned. Tyger also says he’s moving to Texas for a new job, but when he gets there, he finds out that Scythe Rand, a dangerous scythe, is his new boss.

Part Two: Greyson Tolliver was raised by the Thunderhead, an all-knowing AI, and wants to be a Nimbus agent. But when he starts school at Nimbus Academy, he is convinced by an agent named Traxler to help save Scythes Anastasia, and Curie from an attack. Because of this, Greyson is expelled and marked as “unsavory,” meaning he’s considered a troublemaker and can’t talk to the Thunderhead anymore. Traxler encourages him to live as an unsavory and gather information. Meanwhile, Scythe Rand pushes Tyger to his physical limits in training.

Part Three: Scythe Faraday and a student named Munira start researching the first scythes to find the legendary Land of Nod. Scythe Constantine investigates the attacks on Anastasia and Curie, telling them to stop gleaning for a while. Citra tries to catch the attacker by meeting with the people she planned to glean, but it doesn’t work. She even tries to set a trap during a play, planning to glean the lead actor on stage. Meanwhile, Rowan, angry about his father’s death, goes after Scythe Brahms but gets caught.

Part Four: Rowan wakes up in Texas, where Tyger tells him about his training with Scythe Rand. Rowan is worried because he thought Rand was dead. Greyson, who is now living as an unsavory, is forced to help with a plan to kill Scythes, but he secretly warns the Scythedom. Purity, an unsavory friend of Greyson’s, plans to flood a theater with acid, but Greyson stops her. Scythe Constantine catches Purity, and Citra helps Greyson escape to a safe place. In Texas, Rowan is forced to fight Tyger in training, but something strange happens—Rand puts Scythe Goddard’s head on Tyger’s body to bring Goddard back to life.

Part Five: Citra and Scythe Curie go to a big meeting called the Winter Conclave, where the leader of the scythes, High Blade Xenocrates, steps down. Scythe Curie is nominated to take his place, but so is the newly revived Scythe Goddard. During the voting, Citra argues that Goddard isn’t a true scythe because only part of his body was trained. This delays the vote, making Goddard furious. He takes out his anger by killing people and torturing Rowan. Then, Goddard and Rand take Rowan to an important place called Endura.

Part Six: Citra and Scythe Curie arrive on Endura for the inquest, a special meeting to decide if Goddard can become High Blade. At the same time, Scythe Faraday and Munira discover a secret weakness in the Thunderhead’s system. Rand frees Rowan and tells him to escape, but when Goddard finds out, he kills Scythe Brahms. During the meeting, the leaders decide that Goddard must retrain as a scythe, disqualifying him from becoming High Blade, which makes Scythe Curie the new High Blade. Suddenly, Endura starts sinking because of a technology failure. Goddard escapes, leaving everyone else to drown. Scythe Curie locks Citra and Rowan in a vault to protect them, while she and the other scythes choose to end their lives honorably. The Thunderhead, unable to help, screams across the world, which the Tonists, a religious group, believe is the sound they have been waiting for. Only Greyson is still able to talk to the Thunderhead.

Conclusion

In the end, Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman builds on the world created in the 1st book, diving deeper into the lives of the junior scythes as they face the challenges of population control. The book explores a world where bad scythes use their power for their gain, with their agenda to control the world.

The story is filled with intense moments, like scythes in flames and urban legends coming to life, making it an exciting read. While the pace can be slow at times, the character arcs and twists make it an amazing book that keeps readers hooked.

Thanks for reading my book review!