Imagine a world free of death. A world that is free of poverty, inequality, and suffering. A perfect utopia that allows people to live their lives, in whatever way they choose. Free from the shackles of capitalism and the quiet desperation of employment. Aging is no longer necessary. Physical or psychological pain is diluted with nano-bots working diligently to preserve your body. Diseases are rendered harmless. The world is perfect except there is just one problem, people are still pushing out babies like it's a two for one Bogo deal on Flatscreen TVs--buy one baby, get one baby free! Human reproduction hasn't declined, and the demands of natural resources are too--vast. Thus, the guardian of the River of Styx is summoned to drag souls to their rightful place.

This is the Arc of a Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman. Scythes roam the streets, acting as midwives to natural death. Death is uncertain thus, scythes murder people with little information divulged. People live their lives nonchalantly, only to discover a blade driven under there ribcage. The population flounders in the presence of imminent death. Immediately, leaving the vicinity when a scythe enters or barters for their lives. Offering favors, gifts, and compliments to be spared or given immunity. Immunity protects an individual from being murdered for a time. The job is often accompanied with moral quandaries as characters hold onto the last shreds of their humanity. While others celebrate and take pride in ending the lives of others brutally.

The series eventually demonstrates that even though the world has reached a state of utopia--something is still wrong in Denmark. The omnipresent AI that governs the world, Thunderhead, refuses to assist in deciding who lives and dies. The Scythedom, the society of reapers, continue to demonstrate failing morality and is split between two factions.

One faction believes scythes should operate as the paragon of moral integrity. The individual that desires to be a scythe are least suited to do such. Scythes need an unwavering sense of justice accompanied with empathy to understand the responsibilities being thrust upon them. The qualifications create a paradox: the best candidates would refuse to be a legal murderer. This faction is often plagued with feelings of remorse and lives piously. These scythes reject lives of grandeur that being a scythe could provide. Refusing to take bribes for people's lives, refusing a life of opulence and getting anything and everything one could desire.

The other is the extreme opposite. The faction believes scythes should be allowed to enjoy their profession. This faction commits mass murder, kills people in cruel ways, frequently disobeys the statute's of the scythe law, dresses in the finest of robes, take bribes from citizens pleading for their lives, and create machinations for their own gain, because eternity is a long time to spend in self-loathing.

The main characters Citra and Rowan are thrown into this new world and profession. They try to make sense of their new lives, becoming immortal, losing everything, and attempting to remain human, while being the living embodiment of death. Citra and Rowan are chosen for an apprenticeship under a scythe. Discovering the nomenclature of death, becoming adept in physical combat, and the various methods to perform: gleaning. Whether it'd be poison, decapitation, or a bowgun--nothing is off-limits.

The final installment of the 3 part series, The Toll, is to be released around September, 3rd, 2019. This series has it all, an interesting premise, ulterior motives, character development, and dramatic twists. I highly recommend this series because watching adolescents be forced to play god is a cruel and unusual spectacle that must be witnessed. This series is like a ten car pile-up on the interstate--and someone's engine just exploded! It's going to get beautifully messy and everybody is bringing their car to a slow crawl to watch.