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challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"For years humans lived in a perfect world controlled by scythes...Just Imagine the stories we don't know."
I must say I was very excited to read this collection! ^_^ And the fact that this is a collaboration with other authors...>...>...my intrigue only increased.
We have one poem (written by Joelle Shusterman) and 12 stories inside this amazing instalment.
I think that you'll enjoy reading this one even if you didn't like the the Toll...and dare I say it...even if you didn't finish the trilogy...>.>
Please don't come for me ^_^'.....What I meant is that, in this particular short stories collection, Neal Shusterman builds upon the foundation created already in the original Arc of a Scythe world; he expands on ideas and parts of the world we didn't explore following Citra and Rowan, and also...explained/ gave more information on certain characters, motifs and even offered the reader a glimpse on something they didn't know they needed!(certainly i didn't...>..>)
Let me tell you...it is very frustrating NOT to talk about each story individually, and only content with some vague paragraph in which I basically tell you to read this if the world fascinated you...
Alas..this is the life of a reader...:(((
CW: animal cruelty; different levels of cruelty between humans; violence; grief and suicidal thoughts;
Specifically when it comes to the actual content...not all stories were a hit for me, some were mind-blowing, some were great and fun, others interesting and offered a new perspective I didn't know I needed and the remaining were ok. :)
In order of what I liked best to least:
<b>A Martian Minute</b>....mind-blowning; talks about desire to escape ones life and choose for themselves; filled some undetected to me plot hole; it explains soooo much about this character; loved the nods to the future of these 2; I actually didn't figure it out until halfway through:)))...>..>
<b>A dark curtain rises</b>....mind-blowing; perspective I didn't know I needed; added info for a character that I loved :); talks about new beginnings ^_^
<b>A death of many colours</b>....great and fun!; talks about human nature and the stubbornness that is in our genes; discussion on the importance of beliefs for each human and how far we can take them;
<b>Perchance to glean</b>...great and fun!; discusses the thrill of the chase and how danger modifies our behaviour; loved this part due to it contributing greatly to the world-building! ^_^
<b>Cirri</b>...this one was interesting and invited to contemplation...the events described in here and the perspective especially were moving and well thought-out;
<b>A Mortal Canvas</b>...invoked reflection on art, life and what is precious to us; introspection on what it means to be mortal;
<b>The Persistence of Memory</b>...interesting and a great addition to world-building and view on different philosophies when it comes to scythes; really enjoyed the mood it set;
<b>Formidable</b>...talks about a major turning-point in the world's history through the decision of one young and impulsive scythe; a lovely surprise! I always wanted to know more about this event! ^^
<b>Meet Cute and Die</b> and <b>Never Work with Animals</b> wanted to transmit how flowed people and scythes are and how our past, strength and weaknesses influence the very foundation of our principles;
<b>Unsavory Row</b> added a lot to the world-building and I think was necessary to explain how the unsavories and the system around them work; really enjoyed to find out the secrets behind Apocalyte ^^
<b>Anastasia's Shadow</b> interesting and I think logical and necessary piece of information that takes place around the time between 2nd and 3rd book...I wanted more from this one in terms of ambition from the main character...but I understand why the author chose to portray the shadow as he did;
<b>The First Swing</b>...unfortunately, me and poems do not see eye to eye very often, and this one, although beautiful, got lost in the collection, being among such great stories.
Overall, I highly recommend you try this if you enjoyed the trilogy or if you're intrigued by the world! ^^
Enjoy
I must say I was very excited to read this collection! ^_^ And the fact that this is a collaboration with other authors...>...>...my intrigue only increased.
We have one poem (written by Joelle Shusterman) and 12 stories inside this amazing instalment.
I think that you'll enjoy reading this one even if you didn't like the the Toll...and dare I say it...even if you didn't finish the trilogy...>.>
Please don't come for me ^_^'.....What I meant is that, in this particular short stories collection, Neal Shusterman builds upon the foundation created already in the original Arc of a Scythe world; he expands on ideas and parts of the world we didn't explore following Citra and Rowan, and also...explained/ gave more information on certain characters, motifs and even offered the reader a glimpse on something they didn't know they needed!(certainly i didn't...>..>)
Let me tell you...it is very frustrating NOT to talk about each story individually, and only content with some vague paragraph in which I basically tell you to read this if the world fascinated you...
Alas..this is the life of a reader...:(((
CW: animal cruelty; different levels of cruelty between humans; violence; grief and suicidal thoughts;
Specifically when it comes to the actual content...not all stories were a hit for me, some were mind-blowing, some were great and fun, others interesting and offered a new perspective I didn't know I needed and the remaining were ok. :)
In order of what I liked best to least:
<b>A Martian Minute</b>....mind-blowning; talks about desire to escape ones life and choose for themselves; filled some undetected to me plot hole; it explains soooo much about this character; loved the nods to the future of these 2; I actually didn't figure it out until halfway through:)))...>..>
<b>A dark curtain rises</b>....mind-blowing; perspective I didn't know I needed; added info for a character that I loved :); talks about new beginnings ^_^
<b>A death of many colours</b>....great and fun!; talks about human nature and the stubbornness that is in our genes; discussion on the importance of beliefs for each human and how far we can take them;
<b>Perchance to glean</b>...great and fun!; discusses the thrill of the chase and how danger modifies our behaviour; loved this part due to it contributing greatly to the world-building! ^_^
<b>Cirri</b>...this one was interesting and invited to contemplation...the events described in here and the perspective especially were moving and well thought-out;
<b>A Mortal Canvas</b>...invoked reflection on art, life and what is precious to us; introspection on what it means to be mortal;
<b>The Persistence of Memory</b>...interesting and a great addition to world-building and view on different philosophies when it comes to scythes; really enjoyed the mood it set;
<b>Formidable</b>...talks about a major turning-point in the world's history through the decision of one young and impulsive scythe; a lovely surprise! I always wanted to know more about this event! ^^
<b>Meet Cute and Die</b> and <b>Never Work with Animals</b> wanted to transmit how flowed people and scythes are and how our past, strength and weaknesses influence the very foundation of our principles;
<b>Unsavory Row</b> added a lot to the world-building and I think was necessary to explain how the unsavories and the system around them work; really enjoyed to find out the secrets behind Apocalyte ^^
<b>Anastasia's Shadow</b> interesting and I think logical and necessary piece of information that takes place around the time between 2nd and 3rd book...I wanted more from this one in terms of ambition from the main character...but I understand why the author chose to portray the shadow as he did;
<b>The First Swing</b>...unfortunately, me and poems do not see eye to eye very often, and this one, although beautiful, got lost in the collection, being among such great stories.
Overall, I highly recommend you try this if you enjoyed the trilogy or if you're intrigued by the world! ^^
Enjoy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A delightful addition to the Scythe universe that adds so much more depth to the character we love (or hate), and tells a lot of fun stories about Scythe's we didn't know. My favorite story was "Perchance to Glean" and I loved the Hamlet references. I also really enjoyed that the later stories had references to the earlier stories. All in all a really fun book to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was SO GOOD!!!!! I'm so happy about the stories about Scythe Curie. I cannot BELIEVE Scythe Goddard's origin story holy shit!! I was hoping for a little Citra and Rowan epilogue but it's okay. I'm so glad Neal wrote this!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I tend to be someone who doesn’t normally enjoy short story behind apps, or even novellas. I find there is not enough time to fully develop a storyline that is enjoyable. But Neal Shusterman did it in this short story bind up.
Even though it has been so long, since I’ve read the original trilogy, I still found it easy to remember specific characters when their short stories came up. It was always interesting, because every short story that started, I would immediately think of this one’s going to be boring and then halfway through the story I was hooked and cannot wait to read it to the end. Of course, throughout this bind up, I have many favorites, but each one I enjoyed for a different reason. I think there was only one or two stories that I didn’t like as many as the others but considering how big this book is, it was terribly enjoyable.
If you love the Scythe trilogy and want to get back into it I highly recommend reading this short story bind up. It made me want to pick up the original trilogy all over again, and it reminded me how much I miss this world that Neal Shusterman had created.
I also highly recommend the audiobook. They use a variety of narrators, including Neal Schusterman himself, and they all do a phenomenal job!
Even though it has been so long, since I’ve read the original trilogy, I still found it easy to remember specific characters when their short stories came up. It was always interesting, because every short story that started, I would immediately think of this one’s going to be boring and then halfway through the story I was hooked and cannot wait to read it to the end. Of course, throughout this bind up, I have many favorites, but each one I enjoyed for a different reason. I think there was only one or two stories that I didn’t like as many as the others but considering how big this book is, it was terribly enjoyable.
If you love the Scythe trilogy and want to get back into it I highly recommend reading this short story bind up. It made me want to pick up the original trilogy all over again, and it reminded me how much I miss this world that Neal Shusterman had created.
I also highly recommend the audiobook. They use a variety of narrators, including Neal Schusterman himself, and they all do a phenomenal job!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder
Minor: Suicide
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Never Work With Animals is my favourite by far, Meet Cute and Die coming in second. Was so nice to revisit this series and I’d love to see more from it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gleanings is a collection of 12 short stories (and 1 poem) from the Arc of a Scythe universe, featuring characters both new and old. While the book serves as a great way to get readers interested in the Arc of a Scythe universe again, the stories vary in quality: ranging from must-reads for all fans of the main series to stories that teeter between boredom and occasional amusement.
Rankings:
- The Mortal Canvas
- A Martian Minute
- Anastasia’s Shadow
- A Dark Curtain Rises
- Cirri
- A Death of Many Colors
- Perchance to Glean
- Unsavory Row
- Formidable
- Meet Cute and Die
- The Persistence of Memory
- Never Work with Animals
The Mortal Canvas is a story with vast emotional depth with great emphasis and respect for artistic value. Under the pressure of a scythe, four students have to compete with one another to create “the best art piece,” yet struggle to understand how to truly create from the soul due to the freedom of immortality. Each character had personality and uniqueness that made their interactions with one another rich and memorable. I found myself rooting for every one of them throughout the story, and the reveals at the end leave an impact that will not be forgotten soon.
A Martian Minute serves as the selling point of Gleanings, being both backstory for Goddard and a reveal of how the Mars colony was sabotaged. Although it was the longest story of the book, it didn’t feel like it dragged on at any point, with it always remaining tense and exciting. You get wonderful insight into Goddard’s upbringing and how it shaped him as a person - perhaps developing a twinge of empathy for the person he used to be. Additionally, this story gives us far greater insight into Xenocrates’ mind than seen throughout the main series. This story is a must-read for any fans of the series as a whole.
Perchance to Glean uncovers many mysteries relating to the RossShelf charter region and its communal dreaming experiment, following two dreamers and their desperate escape from a pursuing scythe; however, the rules in dreams are less harsh than reality’s, leading to one of the most explosively fantastical adventures, featuring many creative elements that never failed to grip my attention. Despite that, the ending took a sudden shift in tone that was jarring, abrupt, and felt like it destroyed everything that the story was building up toward. Had it ended differently, Perchance to Glean could’ve easily landed in 1st or 2nd place on my rankings.
Overall, Gleanings offers a decently enjoyable selection of narratives from the Arc of a Scythe universe. Not every story will be a hit, but most will leave you feeling satisfied with your read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, murder, death, animal death, animal cruelty, suicide/suicidal ideation
--
A fun bundle of short stories returning to the Arc of a Scythe universe – giving an insight of happenings across the whole timeline of the series as well as before and after!
The collection touches on characters both old and new, with many links to the storyline of the original trilogy but also elements from the world that were not touched on as much. You can expect lots of scythe action, thunderhead introspection, origin stories as well as narratives from regular members of society.
I kind of feel like this anthology is the series getting the Black Mirror treatment – yes this series is an eerie dystopian in itself but each story adds another layer of wtf-ness to it and leaves us with much to think about.
If you enjoyed Scythe, Thunderhead and The Toll in any way definitely give Gleanings a read. And if you are yet to pick up the series then what are you waiting for!!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
CW: violence, blood, gore, murder, death, animal death, animal cruelty, suicide/suicidal ideation
--
A fun bundle of short stories returning to the Arc of a Scythe universe – giving an insight of happenings across the whole timeline of the series as well as before and after!
The collection touches on characters both old and new, with many links to the storyline of the original trilogy but also elements from the world that were not touched on as much. You can expect lots of scythe action, thunderhead introspection, origin stories as well as narratives from regular members of society.
I kind of feel like this anthology is the series getting the Black Mirror treatment – yes this series is an eerie dystopian in itself but each story adds another layer of wtf-ness to it and leaves us with much to think about.
If you enjoyed Scythe, Thunderhead and The Toll in any way definitely give Gleanings a read. And if you are yet to pick up the series then what are you waiting for!!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
This collection of short stories in the world of the Scythedom is, as expected, absurdly macabre. Chaos reigns under the watchful gaze of benevolence, lessons in morality and mortality go wrong (or right), we revisit old characters and meet new ones. Everyone is complicated. Horrible. Awesome. You’ll reach deep inside to ask yourself why you’re not as alarmed at wishing people deadish as you probably should be. I dearly missed this near-future world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence
Minor: Animal death
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury