The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Blurb (from Goodreads): 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.

Scholastic Press
401 pages.

I've been looking forward to this book for months now. I enjoyed the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy and the idea of water horses intrigued me. And when Maggie described this as the book she was meant to write, well October 18th couldn't come fast enough.

Quote I Loved:

"Most people hesitate between steps or pause or are somehow uneven about the process. Whether that process is wrapping a leg or eating a sandwich or just living life. But with Sean, there's never a move he's not sure of, even if it means not moving at all." (Page 289)

Why you should read this book:

• Setting. I would recommend this book for just the setting itself. Through Maggie's brilliant writing, the Island of Thisby comes to life. The sights, the sounds of the sea. The horses. The townspeople. I salivated while reading the description of the "November Cake". I believe I will now be searching for Thisby for the rest of my life...
  
• Characters. A spunky heroine, a mysterious hero, an older brother fighting demons, and a quirky adorable younger brother along with several colorful residents and two horses to root for.
• Writing. Maggie is a brilliant writer and her skills are evident in every line throughout this book. Her prose is like music...lyrical and hauntingly sweet.
• The Ending. It's beautiful.

Although, it's not honestly not my favorite book by this author (probably because there was no Cole), it was still a beautiful read and definitely worth the money and time.

I recommend this book — especially to fans of Maggie's other books and horse lovers.

I look forward to checking out her next novel — "the magical one".