"A true successor to The Hunger Games" Maggie Stiefvater, bestselling author of Shiver and The Raven Boys.

A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time

In the not-too-distant future, humans have cured hunger, disease, war, crime – even death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end a life – and they are commanded to do so to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are both chosen to be apprentices to a scythe – something neither of them wants. Forced together, they must perfect the skill of taking a life, competing against each other for just one scythe position. But then it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to kill the loser . . .

The first book in the globally bestselling, award-winning series for fans of Susanne Collins, Pierce Brown and Marie Lu.