Reading Order
ScytheArc of a Scythe Reading Order
Neal Shusterman's Arc of a Scythe trilogy imagines a world where disease and war have been eliminated by an AI called the Thunderhead, and the only remaining death is by gleaning — administered by an order of Scythes. The trilogy is complete at 3 books and must be read in order, as the story follows a continuous arc. There is also a novella collection, Gleanings, set within the same world.
Where to start
Scythe
Complete Scythe Book List
- 1Buy
Scythe
Neal Shusterman·2016·Book 1 — Two teenagers are apprenticed to a Scythe and discover the institution is fracturing - 2Buy
Thunderhead
Neal Shusterman·2018·Book 2 — The benevolent AI observes the Scythedom's corruption; Rowan goes rogue - 3Buy
The Toll
Neal Shusterman·2019·Book 3 — Three years later; Citra and Rowan face the final reckoning with the Scythedom - Buy
Gleanings
OptionalNeal Shusterman & various authors·2022·Novella collection — stories from other characters and corners of the Scythedom world; best read after the trilogy
Scythe — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Scythe reading order?
Read in trilogy order: Scythe (2016) → Thunderhead (2018) → The Toll (2019). The novella collection Gleanings (2022) is optional and best read after the main trilogy. The trilogy is complete.
How many Scythe books are there?
There are 3 main trilogy books (Scythe, Thunderhead, The Toll) and 1 novella collection (Gleanings). The Arc of a Scythe trilogy is complete. Neal Shusterman also wrote the Unwind series, which has thematically similar moral questions about bodily autonomy and societal control.
Is Scythe a standalone book?
Scythe can technically be read as a standalone — the first book has a satisfying arc. However, the story continues and escalates significantly in Thunderhead and The Toll, and major plot threads from Scythe are not resolved until Book 3. Most readers who love Scythe read all three.
What age is Scythe appropriate for?
Scythe is typically classified as YA (ages 12+), but it deals with themes of death, institutionalized killing, and political corruption that are more sophisticated than typical YA. It is one of the most philosophically ambitious YA novels of its decade and is widely read by adults as well as teenagers.
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