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15 Books Like Scythe: Dystopian Reads That Question Everything

Love Scythe's philosophical depth and moral complexity? Discover 15 books that question mortality, power, and what makes us human; from Shusterman's own Unwind to Red Rising's brutal caste wars. Your next thought-provoking dystopian obsession awaits.

12 min read
15 Books Like Scythe: Dystopian Reads That Question Everything

If Scythe by Neal Shusterman left you reeling; questioning mortality, power, and what it means to be human; you're not alone. This Printz Honor-winning novel created something rare in YA dystopian fiction: a world that's simultaneously utopian and deeply unsettling, where death itself has become a profession.

Whether you're craving more philosophical depth, morally complex characters, or futures that feel uncomfortably plausible, these books like Scythe will keep you thinking long after the final page.

What Makes Scythe Special?

Before diving into recommendations, let's identify what draws readers to Scythe:

  • Inverted dystopia - A "perfect" world reveals its dark underbelly

  • Moral complexity - Characters forced into impossible ethical positions

  • Thoughtful worldbuilding - Technology and society explored in depth

  • Dual protagonists - Citra and Rowan's parallel journeys

  • Questions without easy answers - Philosophy woven through action

  • Corrupt institutions - Power structures that decay from within

The best books like Scythe share these elements whilst bringing their own unique perspectives to dystopian fiction.

Best Books Like Scythe

1. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Perfect for fans of: Moral dilemmas, body autonomy themes, Shusterman's writing

Unwind Dystology

If you haven't read Shusterman's other dystopian masterpiece, start here. In a future America where the Heartland War was ended by the "Unwind Accord," parents can choose to have teenagers between 13 and 18 "unwound"; their body parts harvested for transplant. The catch? The teen technically doesn't die, since every part of them lives on in someone else.

Connor, Risa, and Lev are three teens on the run from unwinding, each with different reasons for being marked. Like Scythe, Unwind forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about personhood, choice, and the rationalisation of atrocity.

Unwind

Unwind

by Neal Shusterman

Three teens fight for their lives and each other in this breathtakingly suspenseful first book in the twisted, New York Times bestselling Unwind Dystology series by Neal Shusterman.After America’s Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement. According to their Bill of Life, human life may not be terminated from the moment of conception until the age of thirteen. But between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, the child may be gotten rid of by their parent through a process called “unwinding.” By repurposing a teen’s organs and other body parts in living recipients, the unwound child’s life doesn’t technically end. According to society’s leaders, unwinding leads to a healthier and safer community, as troublesome and unwanted teens are used for the greater good. Curtis is a rebel whose unwinding was ordered by his parents. Rita, a ward of the state, has been slated for unwinding due to cost cutting. And Lev, his parents’ tenth child, has been destined for unwinding since birth as a religious tithe. As their paths intersect, they start to fight for their own destinies. But do they stand a chance of escaping their fate or proving their lives are worth saving?

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2. Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Perfect for fans of: Caste systems, infiltration plots, epic scope

Red Rising Saga

Darrow is a Red, the lowest caste in a colour-coded society where he toils beneath the surface of Mars, believing his sacrifice will make the planet habitable for future generations. When he discovers the surface has been terraformed for centuries and his people are slaves, he infiltrates the elite Golds to bring down the system from within.

Red Rising delivers the same "protagonist forced into a dark role" tension as Scythe, but amplifies it to space opera scale. The Institute's brutal training echoes the Scythedom's tests, and both feature protagonists who must become what they hate to change the world.

Red Rising

Red Rising

by Pierce Brown

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pierce Brown’s relentlessly entertaining debut channels the excitement of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. “Red Rising ascends above a crowded dys­topian field.”—USA TodayONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—Entertainment Weekly, BuzzFeed, Shelf Awareness“I live for the dream that my children will be born free,” she says. “That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them.” “I live for you,” I say sadly. Eo kisses my cheek. “Then you must live for more.”Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he toils willingly, trusting that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power.  He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.Praise for Red Rising“[A] spectacular adventure . . . one heart-pounding ride . . . Pierce Brown’s dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender’s Game. . . . [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric.”—Entertainment Weekly“Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow.”—Scott Sigler “Red Rising is a sophisticated vision. . . . Brown will find a devoted audience.”—Richmond Times-DispatchDon’t miss any of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga:RED RISING • GOLDEN SON • MORNING STAR • IRON GOLD • DARK AGE • LIGHT BRINGER

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3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Perfect for fans of: Deadly competitions, corrupt governments, reluctant heroes

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The comparison is inevitable; Scythe has been called "a true successor to The Hunger Games." Katniss Everdeen volunteers to represent her district in a televised death match where 24 teenagers fight until one survives.

Both series examine how societies normalise violence, how individuals become symbols of resistance, and how power corrupts institutions. If you somehow haven't read The Hunger Games, it's essential dystopian reading.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

5.0

The first novel in the worldwide bestselling series by Suzanne Collins!Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . . .In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

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4. Legend by Marie Lu

Perfect for fans of: Dual perspectives, class divide, cat-and-mouse tension

Legend Series

In a dark future Los Angeles, June is the Republic's most promising prodigy, trained to hunt down criminals. Day is the country's most wanted fugitive. When June's brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect, their paths collide; but neither is quite what they seem.

Like Citra and Rowan, June and Day start on opposite sides before their stories intertwine. The alternating perspectives and questions about loyalty, propaganda, and truth make this perfect for Scythe fans.

Legend

Legend

by Marie Lu

"Legend doesn't merely survive the hype, it deserves it."From the New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

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5. The Giver by Lois Lowry

Perfect for fans of: Controlled societies, loss of humanity, philosophical depth

The Giver Quartet

Jonas lives in a seemingly perfect community where pain, conflict, and choice have been eliminated. When he's selected to become the Receiver of Memory, he discovers the dark truths his society has buried to achieve its harmony.

The Giver pioneered the "utopia that's actually dystopia" concept that Scythe explores. Both examine what humanity loses when it eliminates suffering, and both feature protagonists who must choose between comfortable lies and painful truths.

The Giver

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

In Lois Lowry's Newbery Medal-winning classic, twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind his fragile community. This movie tie-in edition features cover art from the movie and an exclusive Q&A with cast members, including Taylor Swift, Brenton Thwaites, and Cameron Monaghan. Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Designated birthmothers produce newchildren, who are assigned to appropriate family units. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. Everyone is the same. Except Jonas. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Gradually Jonas learns that power lies in feelings. But when his own power is put to the test--when he must try to save someone he loves--he may not be ready. Is it too soon? Or too late? The Giver has become one of the most influential novels of our time. Don't miss the powerful companion novels in Lois Lowry's Giver Quartet: Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

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6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Perfect for fans of: Child prodigies, military training, moral weight

Ender's Game Series

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is recruited to Battle School at age six, trained through increasingly brutal games to become humanity's greatest military commander against an alien threat. But the adults manipulating his education have secrets that will change everything.

Ender's Game shares Scythe's examination of how institutions shape; and damage; young people forced into roles they didn't choose. Both protagonists must grapple with becoming instruments of death.

Ender's Game

Ender's Game

by Orson Scott Card

From New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game—adapted to film starring Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford—is the classic Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction novel of a young boy's recruitment into the midst of an interstellar war.In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel.THE ENDER UNIVERSEEnder seriesEnder’s Game / Ender in Exile / Speaker for the Dead / Xenocide / Children of the MindEnder’s Shadow seriesEnder’s Shadow / Shadow of the Hegemon / Shadow Puppets / Shadow of the Giant / Shadows in FlightChildren of the FleetThe First Formic War (with Aaron Johnston)Earth Unaware / Earth Afire / Earth AwakensThe Second Formic War (with Aaron Johnston)The Swarm /The HiveEnder novellasA War of Gifts /First Meetings

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7. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Perfect for fans of: Mystery, survival, gradual revelation

The Maze Runner Series

Thomas wakes in a lift with no memory, arriving in the Glade; a community of boys surrounded by an ever-changing maze filled with deadly creatures. As he pieces together his past, he discovers nothing about their situation is what it seems.

The Maze Runner delivers propulsive action and a mystery that unfolds across multiple books. Like Scythe, it features teens thrust into life-or-death situations by forces beyond their control.

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner

by James Dashner

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING MAZE RUNNER SERIES • A teenager with no memory must navigate a deadly maze to survive in book one of this post-apocalyptic phenomenon.“[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies [and] The Hunger Games” (Entertainment Weekly)When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone. Outside the towering stone walls that surround them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying: Remember. Survive. Run.Look for more books in the blockbuster Maze Runner series:THE MAZE RUNNER • THE SCORCH TRIALS • THE DEATH CURE • THE KILL ORDER • THE FEVER CODE

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8. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Perfect for fans of: Faction systems, identity, choosing your path

Divergent Series

In future Chicago, society is divided into five factions based on virtues: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. At sixteen, every citizen must choose their faction; but Tris discovers she doesn't fit neatly into any category.

Divergent explores similar themes of institutional control and individual resistance. The faction system, like the Scythedom, appears ordered and purposeful until its cracks become impossible to ignore.

Divergent

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

This first book in Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy is the novel the inspired the major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet. This dystopian series set in a futuristic Chicago has captured the hearts of millions of teen and adult readers.Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series, Divergent and its sequels, Insurgent and Allegiant, are the gripping story of a dystopian world transformed by courage, self-sacrifice, and love. Fans of the Divergent movie will find the book packed with just as much emotional depth and exhilarating action as the film, all told in beautiful, rich language.One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.And don't miss Veronica Roth’s thrilling novel Carve the Mark.

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9. This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

Perfect for fans of: Genetic technology, survival, scientific complexity

This Mortal Coil Series

In a world devastated by a plague that turns people into cannibals, humanity's survival depends on genetic technology. Catarina is a gene-hacking prodigy whose father created a vaccine; but he's been kidnapped, and the files he left behind contain secrets that could save or doom everyone.

This Mortal Coil matches Scythe's technological sophistication whilst delivering heart-pounding action. Both explore how scientific advancement creates new moral dilemmas and how far individuals will go to protect those they love.

This Mortal Coil

This Mortal Coil

by Emily Suvada

“Redefines ‘unputdownable.’” —Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae “I was thrilled. I was shocked.” —NPR “Stunning twists and turns.” —BCCB (starred review) In this gripping debut novel, seventeen-year-old Cat must use her gene-hacking skills to decode her late father’s message concealing a vaccine to a horrifying plague.Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that’s not what makes her special. In Cat’s world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius. That’s no surprise, since Cat’s father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own. When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat’s instincts tell her it’s just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat’s help to release it and save the human race. Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself?

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10. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Perfect for fans of: Emotion as disease, forbidden romance, questioning society

Delirium Series

In Lena's world, love is classified as a disease called amor deliria nervosa. At eighteen, everyone receives the Cure; a procedure that eliminates the capacity for love. Lena can't wait to be cured, until she meets Alex and begins questioning everything her society has taught her.

Like Scythe, Delirium presents a society that has "solved" a fundamental human problem, only to reveal the cost of that solution. Both force readers to consider whether safety is worth sacrificing what makes us human.

Delirium

Delirium

by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver's powerful New York Times bestselling novel Delirium—the first in a dystopian trilogy—presents a world as terrifying as George Orwell's 1984 and a romance as true as Romeo & Juliet.In an alternate United States, love has been declared a dangerous disease, and the government forces everyone who reaches eighteen to have a procedure called the Cure. Living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Portland, Maine, Lena Haloway is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life. She watched love destroy her mother and isn't about to make the same mistakes.But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena meets enigmatic Alex, a boy from the Wilds who lives under the government's radar. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?Delirium received starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, and was named a Best Book of the Year by USA Today, Kirkus, Amazon.com, YALSA, and the Chicago Public Library and was selected as one of NPR's Top 100 Best Ever Teen Novels. Supports the Common Core State Standards

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11. The Program by Suzanne Young

Perfect for fans of: Mental health themes, memory manipulation, forbidden emotion

The Program Series

Teen suicide has become an epidemic. The solution? The Program; a treatment that erases painful memories, along with everything that made you who you are. Sloane knows showing any emotion could get her sent to the Program, where she'll return a shell of herself.

The Program tackles difficult themes with sensitivity whilst delivering the same institutional horror as Scythe. Both examine societies that have found "solutions" worse than the problems they address.

The Program

The Program

by Suzanne Young

The first book in Suzanne Young’s New York Times bestselling series is a “gripping tale for lovers of dystopian romance” (Kirkus Reviews) about two teens in a world where true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program—now with a freshly reimagined look.Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories. Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

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12. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Perfect for fans of: Unique format, AI ethics, space survival

The Illuminae Files

When their planet is invaded, Kady and Ezra; recently broken up; escape on different spaceships fleeing across the universe. Their story is told through hacked documents, emails, military files, and transcripts, including chilling communications with a damaged AI that may be their greatest threat.

Illuminae's innovative format and exploration of artificial intelligence ethics pair well with Scythe's examination of the Thunderhead. Both consider how technology designed to help humanity can become something far more complex.

Illuminae

Illuminae

by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

“It certainly filled the Battlestar Galactica–shaped hole in my heart.” —Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of The Red Queen   Read the New York Times bestselling blockbuster that critics are calling “out-of-this-world awesome.” The first in an epic sci-fi series unlike anything else out there.   Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she’d ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.   But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.   Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.   “Brace yourself, because you’re about to be immersed in a mindscape that you’ll never want to leave.” —Marie Lu, author of the bestselling Legend series  “Prepare yourselves for Illuminae.” —EW.com “You’re not in for an ordinary novel experience. . . .”  —Bustle.com “A truly interactive experience. . . . A fantastically fun ride.” —MTV.comDon't miss the rest of the series!The Illuminae Files_02: GEMINAThe Illuminae Files_03 -- title to be revealed!

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13. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Perfect for fans of: Alien invasion, survival, trust issues

The 5th Wave Series

The aliens came in waves. The first knocked out all power. The second devastated the coasts. The third spread plague. The fourth sent hunters who look human. Now, Cassie may be the last human on Earth, searching for her brother whilst trusting no one.

The 5th Wave delivers relentless tension and examines how catastrophe strips away civilisation. Like Scythe, it features protagonists who must become harder than they ever wanted to survive.

The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave

by Rick Yancey

"Remarkable, not-to-be-missed-under-any-circumstances."—Entertainment Weekly (Grade A)The Passage meets Ender's Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up."Wildly entertaining . . . I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."—Justin Cronin, The New York Times Book Review"A modern sci-fi masterpiece . . . should do for aliens what Twilight did for vampires."—USAToday.com

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14. Matched by Ally Condie

Perfect for fans of: Controlled societies, forbidden choice, quiet rebellion

Matched Series

In the Society, Officials decide everything: where you work, when you die, who you love. Cassia has always trusted the system; until her Matching ceremony reveals two faces, and she begins questioning everything she's been told about happiness and control.

Matched offers a gentler dystopia than Scythe but asks similar questions about free will, mortality, and whether perfect safety is worth perfect control.

Matched

Matched

by Ally Condie

“[A] superb dystopian romance.” – The Wall Street Journal   “Strong feminist ideals and impressive writing that’s bound to captivate.” – The Los Angeles Times  In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.Cassia has always trusted the Society’s choices. And when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, she is certain he’s the one—until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now she is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s ever known and a path no has dared to follow . . . between perfection and the truth.Look for the sequel, CROSSED, and the epic series finale, REACHED!

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15. Warcross by Marie Lu

Perfect for fans of: Virtual reality, hackers, corporate power

Warcross Duology

Emika Chen is a bounty hunter in a world obsessed with Warcross, an immersive virtual reality game. When she accidentally hacks into the championship game and becomes famous, the game's creator recruits her to hunt down someone threatening to destroy everything he's built.

Warcross explores technology's power to reshape society, much like the Thunderhead in Scythe. Both examine brilliant systems that promise perfection whilst hiding dangerous truths.

Warcross

Warcross

by Marie Lu

“A vibrant, action-packed shot of adrenaline.”—Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author “The Hunger Games meets Minecraft.”—SeventeenFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author—when a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths. For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation. Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire. In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all.

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Continue the Arc of a Scythe Series

If you haven't finished Shusterman's trilogy, here's what awaits:

Thunderhead (Book 2) - The scope expands as we see the world through the Thunderhead's perspective, corruption spreads through the Scythedom, and Citra and Rowan's paths diverge further.

The Toll (Book 3) - The explosive conclusion brings every thread together in a finale that will leave you devastated and satisfied.

Gleanings (Short Story Collection) - Return to the world of Scythe with stories that expand the universe and explore characters both familiar and new.

What Makes These Books Similar to Scythe?

Readers searching for books like Scythe typically want:

  • Philosophical depth - Stories that make you think, not just react

  • Morally grey situations - No easy answers or clear villains

  • Institutional critique - Systems that seem helpful until they're not

  • Young protagonists in impossible positions - Teens forced to grow up too fast

  • Thought-provoking premises - "What if" scenarios that feel plausible

  • Strong worldbuilding - Futures that are fully realised and consistent

  • Dual or multiple perspectives - Different viewpoints on the same events

Start With These Three

If you're overwhelmed by choices, here's where to begin:

  1. Unwind - The closest match to Scythe's style and themes, by the same author

  2. Red Rising - For readers who want Scythe's moral complexity with expanded scope

  3. The Giver - For readers who loved Scythe's philosophical exploration of utopia's cost

Each captures something essential about what makes Scythe resonate, whilst offering its own unique take on dystopian fiction.

Looking for more dystopian recommendations? Check out our guides to The Scythe Trilogy or The Hunger Games.

Books Featured in This Article

Scythe

Scythe

by Neal Shusterman

4.5

"A dark, gripping and witty thriller in which the only thing humanity has control over is death. In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ("gleaned") by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of killing and understand the necessity of what they do. Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser." Description de l'éditeur.

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Thunderhead

Thunderhead

by Neal Shusterman

4.5

Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.The Thunderhead cannot interfere in the affairs of the Scythedom. All it can do is observe—it does not like what it sees. A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent. As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the “new order.” But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change. Will the Thunderhead intervene? Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?

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The Toll

The Toll

by Neal Shusterman

4.5

“A furiously paced finale that reaches for the stars.” —Kirkus Reviews “Gripping.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Stellar.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) In the highly anticipated finale to the New York Times bestselling trilogy, dictators, prophets, and tensions rise. In a world that’s conquered death, will humanity finally be torn asunder by the immortal beings it created?Citra and Rowan have disappeared. Endura is gone. It seems like nothing stands between Scythe Goddard and absolute dominion over the world scythedom. With the silence of the Thunderhead and the reverberations of the Great Resonance still shaking the earth to its core, the question remains: Is there anyone left who can stop him? The answer lies in the Tone, the Toll, and the Thunder.

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Tags: Recommendation Fantasy Epic Sci-Fi

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