First published 2022
The Thunderhead watches over humanity in a world where death has been conquered. Only the Scythes remain as instruments of population control, wielding the power to glean lives when needed. These interconnected stories span centuries of Scythe history, from the early days when the Thunderhead first embraced mankind through the era when Scythe Goddard sought to overturn everything. New Scythes emerge while familiar characters reveal their origins and hidden pasts. In this world without hunger, disease, or natural death, the Scythedom holds absolute authority over who lives and dies. The stories uncover long-buried secrets of characters readers have followed through three previous volumes while introducing fresh heroes, dangerous enemies, and morally complex figures who fall somewhere between. Each tale expands the reach of this terrifying yet fascinating world where technology has solved humanity's greatest problems but created new moral dilemmas around life, death, and power.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, dystopia, thriller
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
423 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: death, violence