literary gluttony

Rated:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Neal Shusterman’s Thunderhead, the second book in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy, doesn’t just continue the story—it escalates it. If Scythe was a philosophical dance with death, Thunderhead is a storm that questions the very meaning of control, morality, and what happens when humanity decides it’s outgrown its gods.

Shusterman’s world remains one of the most original in modern YA dystopia. The Thunderhead itself—an omniscient, benevolent AI that governs everything except the Scythedom—takes on a more active narrative presence here, and it’s fascinating. Watching this all-knowing being wrestle with helplessness adds a surprisingly emotional dimension to a story that could have easily leaned too hard into concept over character.

The pacing is deliberate—sometimes slow in its build, sometimes breathtakingly fast—but always purposeful. Every scene feels like a step toward something monumental, and when those moments hit, they hit. The writing remains sharp and thought-provoking, peppered with quiet reflections that linger long after you close the book. There’s a tension between idealism and corruption, faith and function, that gives Thunderhead its charge.

Where it falls slightly short of perfection is in its middle stretch, where a few threads meander and characters momentarily drift from the sharp focus of the first book. Still, these moments don’t derail the momentum—they just ask a bit more patience from the reader before the narrative thunderclap lands.

Shusterman continues to impress with his ability to weave moral complexity into a YA framework without ever talking down to his audience. It’s darkly imaginative, intellectually ambitious, and emotionally resonant—an impressive balance that few series manage to maintain by book two.

Devour or Nibble?
Definitely devour. Though the pacing may test your patience in spots, Thunderhead rewards you with the kind of storytelling that lingers—electric, unsettling, and beautifully crafted. You’ll walk away with more questions than answers, and that’s exactly the point.