Friday 18 November 2011

The Scorpio Races review

The Scorpio Races
Maggie Stiefvater
October 18th 2011
Scholastic


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.



The Scorpio Races was a lot better than I thought it would be. Wait, that sounds really, really bad. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I've never really been big on, like, horses, and horse racing and stuff, so when I first heard about it, I was kinda meh about it. But I liked it a lot, like, a lot a lot. Better than the Wolves of Mercy Falls (but I have only read Shiver...), and I think I liked it more than Lament too. I was kind of preparing myself for it not to be amazing, because I've heard a lot of bad things about it, but I must say that I thought it was great!


I really liked the characters Puck and Sean, and even though it was told in a dual perspective, I didn't get confused. I think it was good to see Sean from the outside and the inside, because he always had a very stoic, calm, indifferent front, and you could never really tell what he was thing, and I think if it had just been told from Puck's POV, it could've gotten a little whiny love story. 


Which brings to me to say, I loved the romance! I think Puck and Sean had a really natural chemistry, and I love to see a couple who actually go though a long process of spending time with each other before they start to like each other, y'know? I loved reading the scenes where they would talk and hang out, and I like books where the romance isn't integral to the plot. I like books that hook me enough and make me care enough about the characters that I'm not really that fussed about the romance. But I was really shipping them throughout the book.  I wanted them to get together, but not as much as I wanted both of them to win the races so they could get what they want!


I also really loved the horses. I loved the Capiall Uisce (I think..?) and how they were described, and how vicious they were, but most of all, I loved Dove and Corr. I mean, I really, really loved Corr! Who wouldn't! He's about the nicest evil water horse ya'll are ever gonna meet, and he's so loyal! Gosh, I was tearing up at the end... (it wasn't even sad! But I thought it was going to be) and I kind of secretly ship Corr and Dove too.. I probably shouldn't. Because they're horses and all... But still! 


There was the occasional part where I could get a tiny bit bored, but 99.9 percent of the book, I was properly hooked. I loved the tension and the build up for the races, and the small town kind of reaction to Puck being the first girl to enter in the Races, and how Puck reacted and dealt with it, because they were pissing me off! Saying she can't be in the races because she's a girl... *shakes head* 


The Scorpio Races was a lot better than I thought it would be, with action and tension and a little bit of romance, and characters and horses that I kind of adore. Also, it's a standalone! *does standalone happy dance* #ilovestandalones


*sorry there's again, no video, but I have filmed one! My internet broke yesterday which is why this is going up today. But I will post it tomorrow! (not that it's interesting... ;p)

4 comments:

  1. So nice to be surprised by a book! That's their magic;) I still have to read The Scorpio Races although I got an ARC like ages ago. I'm no big horse fan, so it makes me really optimistic to hear that you as no horse fan liked it.

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  2. LOL about shipping horses. Yay we're glad to hear this surpassed your expectations, b/c we too have heard mixed things, but we DO like horses, so we kind of want to check it out. Now we feel more confident about doing so!

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  3. Ooo, I've been thinking about this one but something's putting me off and I think it's the horses so I'm glad your review has covered those! I might give it a go but shiver has been sat on my tbr for almost 12 months now! :/

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  4. Fab review! This is my fave of Maggie's books as well and I have SO much love for Sean. *sighs* I loved that it was a standalone too and I agree about the romance, it was a perfect romance! Not too OTT but very satisfying.


    The Cait Files

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