A big thank you to NetGalley for granting me access to the eARC!
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Anyone who knows that I love books also knows how much I love the Scythe trilogy. It is a series that I talk about a lot because the dystopian genre will always have a special place in my heart. When I heard another book would be released by Neal Shusterman I knew I had to read it!
This book did not disappoint. Although I wasn't quite sure what I expected when I went into it. This book is essentially a collection of short stories that explores multiple characters that we know well or have met (even if it was briefly) in the original trilogy. What I loved most was probably the backstories of certain characters and being able to take a small glimpse into their pasts.
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This book is a necessity for any Arc of a Scythe fan! I cannot wait until the hard copy comes out so that I can be able to put it in my own personal library.

This was such a fun dip back into the world of Scythe! Each of the shorts brought something different to the book as a whole, but I must say the Space story and the Dog story….chef‘s kiss.

Neal Shusterman is an amazing writer, and he’s got some very talented friends/family as evidenced by this compilation.


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Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This is one of my favorite series and this one didn’t disappoint! I wasn’t sure if I’d like the short stories since the other books aren’t set up yet way; but I really got into it. Definitely going on my shelf!

Gleanings by Neal Shusterman is a worthy successor to the phenomenal trilogy that preceded it. The book is a collection of stories by various authors in collaboration with Shusterman, and it covers many different time periods in the Arc of a Scythe, answering many of the questions the first three books left unanswered, and introducing some new characters as well. Overall, the book is incredibly well-written, with riveting plot lines and unique characters. Most of the characters, due to the nature of the short stories, did not experience enormous development, but were interesting nonetheless. As a whole, Gleanings was chock-full of engrossing stories, sure to bring enjoyment to any fan of the Arc of a Scythe series.

This collection of short stories was incredibly well written. Each story was just as interesting and complex as the one before.
I enjoyed learning about various characters from the original trilogy. I was able to make so many connections to the previous books.

This book shows us the pasts of some characters or even what they were doing during the original trilogy.

Each story has twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen next.

An amazing addition to the Scythe trilogy. If you read the first three books then you need to read this one, too!

A powerful follow up to the Scythe story will give readers a view into parts of the world they never imagined. Follow the lives of several Scythes as they begin their journeys, find their paths or come to the end of their time as Scythes. Each story is more compelling then the one before. Readers will learn the reality behind some of the biggest names at conclave and who they really are.

Gleanings transported me back to one of my favourite literary worlds.

This series has a special place in my heart and I was thrilled to hear about this anthology, which I will break down story by story. I loved the quirk of my ARC, where it didn’t say which story is by who in the contents but only reveals this at the end of each story.

The First Swing - I loved the style of this piece with its poetry, emotional power and that beginning step of becoming a Scythe. Formidable was such a cool prequel - insight into one of my favourite characters of the series and an infamous deed they committed. Never Work with Animals was a story playing with expectations and a fair few twists and turns. The horror like touches in some scenes were exceptional. Again, A Death of Many Colours was a bit twisty tale with an interesting take on not believing in scythes. That Halloween atmosphere was delectable as well.

Unsavoury Row showed the impact of actions in the main series, particuarly those affected by gleanings. That rippling effect of repercussions is paired with an intriguing look at the Unsavouries and the life led in that subgroup. A Martian Minute was an incredibly unsettling story, playing with power and the instinct to survive. It was probably one of my favourite stories in terms of thought-provoking content. Contrastingly, The Mortal Canvas was a gorgeous story all about the beauty of art and death. It captures a moment entirely caught in time within this world. Cirri takes us into the aftermath of the series. I loved that cut off, machine narrative voice that is also deeply human and emotional, with tragic stories interwoven of lives lost.

Anastasia’s Shadow was probably another one of my favourite tales. This took a character less focused on in the spotlight of the series and really delved into the politics and back stabbing of scythes. This was a morally complex story about the cost of defeating evil. The Persistence of Memory followed two rival scythes, duelling with their differing philosophies on gleanings. At its core, this was actually a touching story about family and grief. Meet Cute and Die does exactly what it says on the tin, but was quite a sweet love story mired by death and gleanings.

Perchance to Dream was an Inception like story with so many layers and mystery elements that were really captivating. I loved how it took a fascinating and not massively explored aspect of the world and really let it shine. Finally, A Dark Curtain Rises revisited another iconic character from the series and gave us a much needed moment of bittersweet joy. It was such an interesting exploration of legacy.

Gleanings was a stunning anthology, allowing us to revisit beloved and hated characters from the series, but also expanding this endlessly engaging world.

(Big thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for giving us this eARC in exchange for an honest review!)

I was so excited to read this especially since Arc of a Scythe is a huge favorite series for the podcast. It was really amazing to read about the many background stories for the beloved scythes in the series. I liked that many of the stories weren't all set during the events of the series Arc of a Scythe, a few were set before and after the events which I found really interesting. I wished that there were more stories on the main characters of the actual series, but I was glad that a lot of the questions I had from after reading The Toll were answered in this book. I was super happy to jump back into the world of the scythes because I definitely have missed them!

Thank you NetGalley and SImon &v Simon&Schuester for granting the ARC.

When I heard about this anthology of stories from the Arc of the Scythe series I was extremely excited. I loved the series so to get another piece was amazing. The opening poem, The First Swing was AMAZING as an opener to this book. It gave me chills. All of the origin stories were so good. I loved getting a look into all of little moments mentioned in the series. I wasn't a fan of 'Never Work with Animals'. That story was just plain weird and read some out there stuff. Meet Cute and Die was so adorable. I was definitely cheering for Marni to get her HEA. This book has a story to fit everyone I think and that just makes it all the better.

I’m a huge fan of anthologies and the opportunity to dive back into this crazy world was a dream come true. I think the issue with anthologies is that some stories are always better than others, but that really wasn’t the case here. Each individual story was well done and they meshed together very well, despite different authors showcasing their own unique voices. This added a lot of depth to the world and several characters. Definitely don’t read this before reading the main trilogy. And why would you anyways? Arc of Scythe is one of my favorite trilogies and this book is really just a great cherry on top. Amazingly unique and a quick, easy read.

Often times when reading a short story collection you will find a few good stories, a few that you don't really care for, and a lot of stories that are just average. Rarely you will find a collection that is entirely filled will excellent material - Gleanings is that type of story collection. From characters that you know well to new characters, these are stories that you can't put down. Shusterman, along with the help of a few others, has filled in spots of the Scythe world, covering all time periods: those before the events in the book series, concurrent with the series, and those occurring after the ending of book 3. If you are a fan of the series you will find a lot to like here - and you will be hearted to know that using this short story formula will allow other books in the series to be written (IF Mr. Shusterman desires).
All I know.... I will never look at my dog the same way again!

Many readers have enjoyed the world where Scythe decide who dies and people live what seems like forever and Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe will take them into new storylines, new worlds, and introduce new Scythes. As with any short story collection, there are some amazing stories and some ho-hum stories, yet everyone who liked the original books will be happy that this volume was released. I did find myself pacing myself; I wanted to pause after each story before going on to the next so that the events could cement more into my brain. I know that isn’t the only way to read this book, but it worked for me. This collection has a variety of secrets from some very talented authors.

4.5 stars! This was fantastic. I really loved being able to experience more of the Scythe universe, especially since Arc of the Scythe is one of my favorite series!

I really loved the origin stories of some of the Scythes that we come across in the original trilogy. I think they add so much more depth to those characters! I also loved the glimpses at how Scythes live and work in other cultures and regions. The collaboration with other authors was very well done. The stories were very much in line with Shusterman’s work and Arc of the Scythe as a whole.

While I personally wish that there has been more stories that were about events that happened after the end of The Toll, I also understand that that is where things are supposed to end. I also wish that I had remembered more of the intricacies of the trilogy before reading this. I had forgotten a bunch and needed to look it up! So do a reread!

Overall, if you loved Arc of the Scythe, you will love this anthology. It’s so well done and full of all the great things I loved from the trilogy.

This was an interesting look at the world of Scythe and a variety of different aspects within the trilogy. As with almost any short story anthology, there were a few stories that I was quite invested in and then a few others that didn't really land. I almost wish this had been done with fewer but longer stories so that things could be fleshed out. It did however make me want to pick up the trilogy again for a reread! All in all though, if you're a fan of the trilogy, this is an interesting read in a slightly different format.

I absolutely love this series so much this book was everything it was so good I cant wait to add this to my self along with the other. I loved this I devoured it in no time and couldn't put it down

Short stories from The Arc of a Scythe that cover periods of time both pre and post The Toll. Some connect to characters from the trilogy and give a closer glimpse at their back story or future.

This was totally hit and miss for me. I only truly enjoyed (and cared about) a small handful of these stories. A Martian Minute was one of my favorites!

Personally, I've decided short stories are not my jam. The ones I like always end too soon and the ones I'm not into drag on forever.
One of the longest stories revolved around a scythe and a pet. Absolutely bored me to tears. Blah. I just wanted it to end but it kept going and going.

This didn't feel like Schusterman at his best to me. Perhaps that was also because several stories were co-authored. Give me a full blown Schusterman novel any day but I'll pass on the short stories from now on.

I would love to interview Neal Shusterman for my podcast Raise Your Words. I have interviewed authors Priyanka Taslim, Annika Sharma, Harper Teen’s Intisar Khanani, & others!

Gleanings is a beautiful anthology of stories that take place throughout the Scythedom. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that so many of the stories were connected to characters we already know and love. On top of that, the stories provide more information about subjects that weren't covered much in the original trilogy, such as the failed Mars mission, unsavory communities, pets/animals, and international Scythes. Overall, this book was a joy to read. Like most anthologies, some of the stories were better than others, but unlike most anthologies, there wasn't a single story I wouldn't recommend.

I loved revisiting this series! The short story approach was interesting. One of my favorites was the story about Trixie! Definitely recommend this one!! I will be ordering for my classroom!

This collection was intriguing. I just finished the original trilogy last week (which I loved) so I could dive into this and it left me feeling the tiniest bit let down. Some of the stories were profound, and connected to another story. And couple just felt pointless to the greater story of Scythe. I was in love in the first half and I think The Mortal Canvas was my favorite and the last story was a perfect ending to wrap everything up. I really enjoy this author’s straight forward writing style that doesn’t get caught up in theatrics of language. I look forward to reading many more of his books.