Thunder Head (Arc of a Scythe #2)
I’ll keep this book review short and sweet as it’s very similar in form and in content to Scythe, the first book in the installment. Thunder Head is the second book in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy by Neal Shusterman and it returns with a bang and a splash with our two main characters: Citra Terranova, now known as Scythe Anastasia, and our resident bad boy, Rowan Damisch, now more infamously known to his enemies as Scythe Lucifer (wow, didn’t see that one coming).
In addition to these two main baes, we have the addendum of what I would argue are two more main characters: Greyson Tolliver and the Thunder Head himself. Or itself, I suppose.
Anyways, as per my previous complaint, I never think we get enough screen time so-to-speak of Rowan. Yes, he’s now a rogue vigilante that scours the streets for what he proclaims are evil scythes, but unfortunately we don’t get to see much of it before he’s captured and tortured and kept as a punching bag for a majority of the book.
As a quick segue, I am not a fan of Scythe Rand. Homegirl comes across like a psychopath and I’m usually all for strong female characters with bitchy attitudes, but she just comes across as menacing and emotionless as a stone. Even with the whole spiel of her falling for Tyger, she still decapitated him and threw his body in the garbage? For a man she used to love? Okay (cue the sarcasm).
As a double segue, I don’t believe she actually did that. If she can preserve enough of Goddard to bring him back and resuscitate him she definitely has the brains and the means to do it again for Tyger. Watch, I bet you $500 and whatever you have for lunch that she’ll bring him back. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Back on track, I wish we saw more of Rowan, less of Citra, who mainly just spent time traveling around with Scythe Curie, and gleaning her people a month afterwards, which, I agree with Scythe Curie, sounds like a tremendous amount of work, and more time of Greyson and the Thunder Head.
Peculiarly, I really enjoyed reading the snippet-like diaries from the Thunder Head. I thought they were very intriguing and more often than not, made me think on my feet or affect me for the rest of the day. What makes a human? What came first? The chicken or the egg? How does a sentient computer-like-being feel ‘lonely’ or tired?
It was fascinating to me. And whether or not it’s because it’s classic sci-fi formula or because computers in charge simply never end well, ever, I suspected the Thunder Head was gong to go crazy, or blow up, or freak out. And I wasn’t wrong.
The ending of Thunder Head was a spine tingling mess of a climax with the shrieking of pain from the Thunder Head, the simultaneous revelation of the tonists that this was their moment, the fact that Citra and Rowan are trapped in a metal bunker in the middle of the ocean with none the wiser about their whereabouts, and the sharks. Do not even get met started on the sharks.
It was such a violent and gruesome way to go, but very entertaining as a reader. I was completely flabbergasted. I can say with 100% certainty I’ve never seen quite an ending like Thunder Head.
The beginning and middle were a bit long, sometimes dragged out a little too much, but overall very enjoyable. As before, Shusterman’s ability to make you think as well as create realistic and likable characters are his strongest qualities.
In addition, the ending more than makes up for any boredom in between and delivers a mouthwatering cliffhanger that will make you sit on the edge of your seat for the next installment. I know I’m barely holding on here.
Recommendation: Read Scythe and then read Thunder Head. That’s it folks, no jokes here. They’re just good books. Looking for some summer fun? Getting on a plane ride where you’ve already seen all the movies? Have nothing better to do? Here’s your answer.
Score: 8/10
