Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: None
Publisher: Scholastic
Released: October 18, 2011
Website: http://maggiestiefvater.com/
Book Summary:
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
Technically classified as young adult fantasy this book seemed real. The water horses in this book are based on mythological creatures but Maggie wrote them in such a way that I wouldn't be surprised to see them coming up out of the sea the next time I visit the ocean. A testament to what an amazing writer Maggie is.
Due to the fact that I loved Maggie's Mercy Falls werewolf series, the Scorpio Races has been high on my want to read list. Although completely different than the Mercy Falls series the Scorpio Races did not disappoint. The Scorpio races is less romance and more about the horses, the island, the people and the races themselves.
I found myself rooting for both Kate and Sean and hoping somehow they could both win the race. Ultimately I found the ending of the book to be very satisfying.
There is some violence in this series due to the fierce, untamed nature of the water horses (but violence in books doesn't bother me the way sex and language does).
I started Maggie's Books of Faeries series but never got further than the first chapter of Lament. I think I'm going to give that series another try because this book proved to me that Maggie is a phenomenal writer.
Rating: 4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend
Content: some language and violence
Source: Download from Audible.com
Also by Maggie Steifvater:
The Wolves of Mercy Falls
Books of Faerie
15 Comments on Book Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, last added: 1/30/2012
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3 Comments on In My Mailbox, last added: 10/31/2011
One of my fave reads of 2011. (I only had 4 out of 60+ books.) Lament and Ballad are quite different fish, but I bet you'll enjoy them. Ballad is a bit darker.
Sounds really good! I haven't read Mercy Falls yet, but I have it on my shelf. I'll defs add this to my TBR. Thanks for the review :)
Great review! I have this book waiting for me on my massive TBR bookcases. Now I'm going to have to move it up in my reading que.
i enjoy the review.. and interested with the book. do you know, how many books this series will be?
Great review. I love Maggie Stiefvater and really enjoyed The Scorpion Races. And you should try Lament again. That's how I found Maggie's writings. It was at the library and I decided to check it out. I've been a fan ever since.
It's a stand alone.
I've read all of Maggie Stiefvater's books but, astonishingly, I have never even heard of the Scorpio Races. Will definitely be on the look out for it now. I love it when the plot includes the "first female to (blank)" It makes the heroine all the more special :)
Lovely review for an excellent book. Do give Lament another try - it's the book that made me fall in love with Stiefvater's writing. I think it has more in common with The Scorpio Races than with Mercy Falls (although I've actually not managed to read Mercy Falls yet...)
I just started reading this book the other day and then got distracted. I am going to get back into it today! Thanks for a great and motivating interview!
I loved the Mercy Falls series too and have this one on my wish list.
Thanks for sharing your review!
I haven't read the Books of Faerie yet, but Mercy Falls is one of my favorite series. I didn't think I would like another of her books more, but was proved wrong when I read this one. This is in my top 4 books of last year.
I didn't like Lament at all, and never got past the first Mercy Falls book, but I absolutely loved The Scorpio Races. It just had this beautiful, lyrical quality to it, as well as a completely original story. I mean, faeries and werewolves are fine, but water horses? Original!
I absolutely loved Lament and Ballad. They're definitely worth reading!
I have been wanting to read this book. Honestly, I have been wanting to read all of her books. I have heard wonderful things about her werewolf series.
Great review.
I just finished this a little before you and just finished Lament yesterday(haven't done my reviews yet). I really liked both. The Scorpio Races was great - only things I didn't like was the parts that were a little crass and then the bloody stuff, but at least they were minor. Lament was fabulous except for a few swear words she threw in - one the F word, which was a shock and could have easily been left out, but a really great read. Lament is the only book where her writing style is different, but still good.