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The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater Books

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The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater Books

4.5 stars

There's something magical about Maggie Stiefvater's writing. She has this ability to capture my attention with her beautiful lyrical writing, relatable characters and creative story telling. Much like her fey and wolf series, Maggie has a talent for taking a well known lore and making it her own. She does this by taking a mythology that's been around for ages and gives it a fresh, unique, engaging re-telling that's all her own.

The Scorpio Races rich mythology is based on water horses, also known as the capall uisce in this story. This deadly water horse is most active in November, which the races are set around each year on the island of Thisby, a prized thing to capture, if it's captured at all. It's during this time that the men gather their best horses, some of which they've captured from the ocean and learned to control, in hopes of being crowned the winner. This race is one that not only requires great strength, but a keen understanding of your surroundings, as the stakes are high and not everyone lives to tell about it. One of the unique things about Maggie's water horses is their ability to attack and often time kill those who enter their waters.

Along with a heart pounding race is two alternating story lines from four time Scorpio Race winner Sean Kendrick and Puck, also called Kate who's the first girl to ever take part in these races. I really liked the way Maggie not only brought these two characters together, but I loved the way their relationship developed. Sean is the quiet, full of wisdom type. He's also extremely intelligent when it comes to horses and the water horses. He's not just a racer, but a horse trainer and the partnership he has with his wildly tamed horse Corr was my favorite relationship from this story. High fives to Kate! I loved this stubborn girl who didn't let others phase her in her decision to take part in what's known as a man's race. This girl can hold her own, despite the crap she takes from some of the guys and her own personal reasons for entering the race. It takes more than two great main characters to tell a story and Maggie's included some fantastic secondary characters as well.

This is s story that's truly unique, I know I keep saying that, but I can't compare it to anything else I've read. Maggie does such a suburb job with her fantasy. She brings a story to life that has this timeless feel to it. I love it when a story feels that way. I also like that she wasn't afraid to tackle the issues of gender, class structure and I loved the theme of loyalty which went for both the human friendships and the relationships they had with their horses. This story has a lot of great elements to it and it's truly a great fantasy read. There's danger, adventure, family relationships, friendships, a subtle romance, mild violence, a breath taking setting and an element of magic to it. This is a story I'd definitely recommend to readers 13 years and older.


Tags : Amazon.com: The Scorpio Races (9780545224918): Maggie Stiefvater: Books,Maggie Stiefvater,The Scorpio Races,Scholastic Paperbacks,0545224918,Action & Adventure - General,Fantasy - General,Romance - General,Fantasy,Horses,Horses;Fiction.,Love,Love stories,Orphans,Orphans;Fiction.,Racing,Racing;Fiction.,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fantasy & Magic,Fiction,JUVENILE FICTION Action & Adventure General,JUVENILE FICTION Fantasy & Magic,JUVENILE FICTION Love & Romance,Juvenile FictionAction & Adventure - General,Science fiction (Children's Teenage),YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Young Adult Fiction Action & Adventure General,Young Adult Fiction Fantasy General,Young Adult Fiction Romance General

The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater Books Reviews

I have lived a good long time...longer than I will admit to here, and I have been reading voraciously since before kindergarten. I have read a lot of books. Many of them have been good, and a precious few have been great. The Scorpio Races is as good a book as I have read in many years. It was so good, in fact, that once I finished it, I mourned for a few minutes and then promptly started re-reading it.

The story is intriguing...the Scorpio Races are races set on a small island (fictional, but it feels a lot like an Irish offshore island) between Cappaill Uisce, the water horses of Celtic folklore. These are no Disney water horses...they eat meat, drink blood and kill. Each other, and humans. But the island, Thisby, and the horses are connected in ways modern man has trouble understanding. They have ancient blood ties past remembering. Two of the contenders in this years race are Sean Kendricks, and Puck Connelly.

Sean has been working with the Cappaill Uisce since he was a boy. Described by the islanders as having "one foot on land, and one in the sea" he has won the races for the past four years on a stallion named Corr. He loves Corr deeply, and the horses in his charge love him and his magic.

Puck is an orphaned girl who is riding in the races for the first time, as the first woman to compete. She is also riding her mundane island horse, Dove, rather than one of the Cappaill Uisce...another first. She is hindered in her efforts by almost everyone on the island. Everyone but Sean, who is drawn to her for reasons he cannot explain.

The two face many obstacles. Chief among them is Mutt Malvern, the cruel son of the richest man on the island (and Sean's employer). Another hurdle they must face is that each has desperate reasons for needing to win the race, but to do that, they must beat the person they are growing to love. The love story is awkward and terribly sweet.

I can't really put my finger on what I find so compelling about this book. The story is unique, and the slight tinge of magic over everything on Thisby adds a delightful air of mystery. Its written by a YA author, which may be the reason the love story is so muted and delicious. We don't have sex to rely on making the story interesting. The writing must carry the story.

And the writing is superb. The suspense simply never lets up. One is completely drawn in by the two immensely likable main characters, and many of the lesser characters deserve their own book Finn and George Holly are two I would love to read more about. The rituals and traditions surrounding the races are unsettling, yet have the feel of ancient rhythms and rites. Stiefvater has an unswervingly deft hand in her timing and the pace of the story feels just right. The conclusion is a surprise, albeit one that satisfactorily resolves the dilemma of the two protagonists.

I was rather haunted by the story. I found myself thinking a lot about the story and the characters during the first read, and even the second. Sean, in particular caught my imagination. He is mysterious and magical and immensely attractive. Again, Ms Stiefvater reveals just enough of his background to help explain him, but we never fully understand him.

I will definitely read more by the author. I don't usually read YA novels, but this one is so exceptional that I too will make an exception.
What a great story. I love horses and just had to see what this was all about.

The water horses are a race of beings that live in the water, emerging to feed on flesh or drag you to a watery death. The thought makes me shiver.

Every year, riders mount these monstrous beasts for the Scorpio Races. It’s hard enough to win a regular horse race. In this race, you have to worry about surviving as much as winning.

The character’s are numerous and very genuine. Puck is a young lass willing to risk her life in the races. She lost her parents to the water horses, and now her older brother is leaving her and her younger brother Finn to fend for themselves. The money from the race would help save their home.

Sean and his stallion, Corr, are four time winners of the races. He’ll ride again this year, but the stakes are much higher.

Puck and Sean have a growing attraction for each other. But both must win the race.

I so loved this world and the character’s that galloped through the pages, human and other. I wanted this one to win. And that one to win. This one to stay. That one to stay. I feared the worst and hoped for the best.

This story is so much more than a race. I struggle to even tell you about it. There’s desperation and hope, bravery and honor, magic and danger. And I couldn’t have asked for a better final scene.
4.5 stars

There's something magical about Maggie Stiefvater's writing. She has this ability to capture my attention with her beautiful lyrical writing, relatable characters and creative story telling. Much like her fey and wolf series, Maggie has a talent for taking a well known lore and making it her own. She does this by taking a mythology that's been around for ages and gives it a fresh, unique, engaging re-telling that's all her own.

The Scorpio Races rich mythology is based on water horses, also known as the capall uisce in this story. This deadly water horse is most active in November, which the races are set around each year on the island of Thisby, a prized thing to capture, if it's captured at all. It's during this time that the men gather their best horses, some of which they've captured from the ocean and learned to control, in hopes of being crowned the winner. This race is one that not only requires great strength, but a keen understanding of your surroundings, as the stakes are high and not everyone lives to tell about it. One of the unique things about Maggie's water horses is their ability to attack and often time kill those who enter their waters.

Along with a heart pounding race is two alternating story lines from four time Scorpio Race winner Sean Kendrick and Puck, also called Kate who's the first girl to ever take part in these races. I really liked the way Maggie not only brought these two characters together, but I loved the way their relationship developed. Sean is the quiet, full of wisdom type. He's also extremely intelligent when it comes to horses and the water horses. He's not just a racer, but a horse trainer and the partnership he has with his wildly tamed horse Corr was my favorite relationship from this story. High fives to Kate! I loved this stubborn girl who didn't let others phase her in her decision to take part in what's known as a man's race. This girl can hold her own, despite the crap she takes from some of the guys and her own personal reasons for entering the race. It takes more than two great main characters to tell a story and Maggie's included some fantastic secondary characters as well.

This is s story that's truly unique, I know I keep saying that, but I can't compare it to anything else I've read. Maggie does such a suburb job with her fantasy. She brings a story to life that has this timeless feel to it. I love it when a story feels that way. I also like that she wasn't afraid to tackle the issues of gender, class structure and I loved the theme of loyalty which went for both the human friendships and the relationships they had with their horses. This story has a lot of great elements to it and it's truly a great fantasy read. There's danger, adventure, family relationships, friendships, a subtle romance, mild violence, a breath taking setting and an element of magic to it. This is a story I'd definitely recommend to readers 13 years and older.