Yes. It's about mythical water horses that are killers. And they do kill in The Scorpio Races. But, it's also about Puck and Sean. And it's written by Maggie Stiefvater, who can take any topic and make it sing.
The Scorpio Races take place every November, in a no-holds-barred race along the rocky coast. The horses participating are water horses, or capall uisce, that have been stolen from their home in the sea and trained by their owners and jockeys. These horses never truly lose their longing for the sea, or their lust for blood, so it's not just about getting them to run. It's keeping them away from the other horses and the ocean. Sean has won the race four times now, on a horse owned by his employer. Sean longs to buy the horse, but the owner won't agree to sell.
Puck has lost her parents. She and her two brothers manage to barely eek out a living. When her oldest brother tells her he's leaving -- moving to the mainland -- Puck vows to enter The Scorpio Races to make enough money to allow them to survive. Puck is a girl and no one will even look at her as she tries to find a capall uisce to ride. So she decides to enter the race riding her own horse.
Sean and Puck become friends, and perhaps even more than friends. But both of them must win the race or else. So -- what will happen?
The characters are lovable, and the tension builds slowly. This race is deadly, and that is proven several times before the actual event. Puck is crazy for entering the race and certainly for riding a "normal" horse. She's taking her life in her hands and you can feel the fear.
As I said, the story is like no other and is beautifully written. Anyone who enjoys an adventure story with a bit of romance will enjoy The Scorpio Races. If you happen to be a horse lover, all the more reason to pick this one up.
Published by Scholastic, 2011
Copy obtained from the library
409 pages
Rating: 5/5
This is one of my favorite YA books. I felt like I was actually on Thisby her writing was so descriptive.
ReplyDeleteInteresting - I see Stiefvater all over the place, but I haven't really seen this book.I'll have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I haven't heard if this book but I've seen it around - great post though, I have yet to check the book!
ReplyDeleteBenish | Feminist Reflections
Maggie Stiefvater really built a great world here, I believed and felt every word. Maggie as always for me has fantastic writing style. Very strong characters that I really did care about. I was drawn to the alluring water horses, terrifying as they were, to me they were both magical and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis a must read book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
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