Review of The Toll (Arc of a Scythe, Book 3)

The Toll

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: November 2019

    The Toll is Neal Shusterman’s third novel in the Arc of a Scythe series. With Endura gone, the world is changing under the ever-tightening hand of Scythe Goddard. Citra and Rowan have seemingly disappeared forever. Relationships between scythes and Tonists have quickly escalated to extreme violence. The Toll has emerged as their pacifier. The world is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Thunderhead. It is up to the world, in all of its splendor and ugliness, to decide in which direction it wants to go. There are those who will greedily surge towards power and those who will claim it without planning to do so. Scythe Goddard is the first kind and The Toll is the second. In a new world torn apart by greed, uncertainty, and religion, who will prevail? Will humanity ever return to its previous state, or is the future careening in an unalterable direction?

    The Toll is an unquestionably grand finale to the Arc of a Scythe series. Neal Shusterman’s diction is admirable, his characters are dynamic, and the plot flow from Thunderhead toThe Toll is inventive despite being a tiny bit predictable. The plot also leads to the question of what makes a society righteous, and what lines should or should not be crossed to improve society. What undermines The Toll is the way it is written. In Scythe and Thunderhead, Shusterman tossed readers puzzle pieces of the plot. The pieces were well-timed and well-rationed, and their purpose became apparent within a reasonable amount of time. In The Toll, the puzzle pieces are still being tossed, but the length of time before they make sense deters the reader, and a few pieces seem to have no real purpose at all. Readers and authors both know how hard it is to finish a series with the same vigor, promise, and skill as it began. Those who delighted in Scythe and Thunderhead may find The Toll a bit disappointing, but still enjoyable.

- D. K. Nuray

Review of The Selection

The Selection (Book 1)

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: April 2012

    Illéa has withstood three world wars, a dictatorship, and currently, a caste system. But don’t worry, this isn’t a depressing history book. The absolute monarchy of Illéa that keeps the caste systems in place has an interesting way of picking a princess when a prince is born, something they call The Selection. From each province, a girl is chosen at random via a lottery. Sent to the palace, they each compete for the prince’s hand. America Singer, who entered the lottery because of a bribe, is chosen to compete for Prince Maxon Schreave. America is a Five. Her only permitted way of making a living is to be an artist, but she loves singing and playing the violin. However, she has to keep her romance with a Six a secret. She never intends The Selection to be a love story. In fact, the only thing America wants to do is go home - at first. When her emotions overcome her will, America must come to terms with not just her heart but her changing world.

    The Selection, while following the path of a fairy tale romance, is a politically dystopian novel. That element separates the story from most other current dystopian novels, which tend to center around environmental collapse rather than cultural or political collapse. The caste systems are explained in detail without deviating from the plot and the pros and cons of an absolute monarchy are highlighted in bits and pieces. The plot is not the only cleverly detailed part of this story. The main characters develop significantly in a matter of months, transitioning from flighty and unsure of who they want to be to brazen, thoughtful young men and women. Unfortunately, one noticeable weakness is that while the story is obviously set in the future, the description of technology does not match. The use of medieval-esc architecture and lack of modern technology to enforce the idea of a culturally regressed society feels forced. Nonetheless, this book is a worthwhile read. If you enjoy it, there are four more books in the series. For readers on the younger side of the YA genre, this book is a topical yet emotional read. For older YA readers and adults, this book can be read as purely entertainment or a pondering prediction of the political future of America (the country, not the girl).

- D. K. Nuray