This young adult dystopian fiction tells the story of Rowan and Citra, apprenticed to be Scythes. Scythes kill at will, the only way to keep the population in check now an all powerful AI has made humanity effectively immortal.

I did have to lean into my suspension of disbelief a bit. I don't think a populace would accept random gleanings of healthy and successful young adults, or that they would generally show the fatalism and strength of character to go to their death without resisting. And the novel is so keen to end up with 'only one of Rowan and Citra can survive, and they luuurve each other' that it doesn't think too hard about the things it has to do to set up the situation.

But it is a gripping book, and the reflections on power, and the corruption that goes with it, are powerful. Maybe the whole book is an argument against virtue ethics and nepotism. If you just recruit people because one other person thought they would be a good person, how wrong can it go how fast? ( )

This was an interesting world. I personally find the idea of eternal life on earth horrifying, but I would also hate to have to be the one who determines who has to die. The two apprentices vying for the chance to become a scythe are both strong characters. You find yourself hoping for a way for them both to succeed. The ending was fitting and I look forward to continuing on with the trilogy. ( )

4.5 stars ( )

Das neue Jahr hat mit einem - für meinen Geschmack - tollen Buch gestartet. Die Handlung klang sehr interessant und war der Grund, warum ich mich überhaupt dafür entschieden habe, dieses Buch zu lesen. Die Hauptcharaktere sind mir direkt ans Herz gewachsen. Bei allen Charakteren war das Denken und Handeln stets nachvollziehbar. Die Spannung und die (manchmal doch etwas vorhersehbaren) Wendungen haben dafür gesorgt, dass ich das Buch nicht mehr weglegen wollte. ( )

Interesting world premise, and a couple nice plot twists, but characters and writing too simplistic for me. ( )