Book Review: The Scorpio Races

Title - The Scorpio Races

Author - Maggie Stiefvater

Series - Standalone

Genre - YA Fantasy

Published - October 18th 2011

Publisher - Scholastic Press

Format - Paperback

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

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.

Review

Every year during November the water horses rise out of the water to search for food on land eating the flesh of anything it can get its teeth on. The locals capture these wild savage horses in anticipation of the most deadly horse race on earth the Scorpio Race. Sean watched his father die in the race ten years earlier this will be his fifth race hopefully the one that will at last allow him to buy Corr the water horse he’s grown attached to who’s he won four races on if only the owner he works for will sell. This race could be his last depending on how it ends he might have the money he needs or he could follow in his father’s footsteps to never walk away from the race.

Puck has to run the race if it will give her more time with her older brother who is determined to run off to the main land leaving them behind to fend for themselves. With the new’s her brother is leaving them the truth of the house they have been living in becomes revealed that if she doesn’t win they will lose the only home she and her brothers have ever known. After a trip down to the beach to attempt to find a horse to ride it’s clear that no one is going to give her a chance to ride a water horse. So determined to win at all costs Puck decides to ride Dove her island pony in the race she’s fast and with proper feed she might just be able to beat the powerful water horses. Two teenagers each with their own reason to win the race, will one of them win? Will they both walk away?

The Scorpio Races tells the story from the point of view of Kate (Puck) Connolly & Sean Kendrick giving each character a voice to tell their story. I like the way that the author gives us both points of view I felt it really let me connect with both characters to the point I was torn on who I wanted to win the race. They are both racing for honorable reason’s risking their lives to them is the right thing. I really liked each one they have good hearts and the bond they formed while overtaking these challenges will last past the race I hope.

I've had this one sitting on my shelf longer than I can admit with hopes of reading but never getting around to it. I’ve not seen many water horses in books and none of them as a primary focus so I was a little nervous to see how it would play out. I actually read most of the book in one day because I was so hooked to the story. It’s a beautifully written story about basically killer horses that come out of the water. I’m a huge fan of horses but after this one even though they are savage would eat me and drag me into the water if I was to ride one the temptation is there. I loved the characters they each have a unique voice in the story and I really got to connect with each of them. I’m torn between who is my favorite because they both work well. The Scorpio Races is a one of a kind action packed novel that captures the heart as well as the imagination it brought a tear to my eye as I finished the last page. I’m sorry to see it end, I would love to know what’s going to happen for our duo as well as Corr who happened to steal the show as the might red stallion from the water. I highly recommend that is a must for all fiction fans. I’ve not read a book I didn’t love by the author she’s quickly become one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to see what comes next.