The Scorpio Races - Rambling Readers

409 pages

English language

Published Jan. 14, 2011

ISBN:: 978-0-545-22490-1
Goodreads:: 10626594

(1 review)

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.

1 edition

Leaf 🍂 reviewed The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Review of 'The Scorpio Races' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

Really mixed feelings about this book. I love the conceits of the world it's set in: turn of the century-ish Ireland and carnivorous amphibian horses. The details of island life are extremely believable, as are the motivations of each of the characters. And oh is Stiefvater good at characters (protagonists anyway).
But. I like Puck so much more than Sean. She's flawed and nuanced and interesting, whereas he's like superman. Everyone on the island idolizes him (or hates him for his talents) and everything ends up working out for him. He does everything, and when something goes wrong there's an almost comedic chorus of "Kendrick!" from the men calling on him for help (or horse sacrifice or whatever).
I also feel like the metaphors were too blunt. Land/sea, women/men, etc. etc.
I'm rounding up to 4 stars because I love Stiefvater so much, but her Wolves series was much stronger. …

Really mixed feelings about this book. I love the conceits of the world it's set in: turn of the century-ish Ireland and carnivorous amphibian horses. The details of island life are extremely believable, as are the motivations of each of the characters. And oh is Stiefvater good at characters (protagonists anyway).
But. I like Puck so much more than Sean. She's flawed and nuanced and interesting, whereas he's like superman. Everyone on the island idolizes him (or hates him for his talents) and everything ends up working out for him. He does everything, and when something goes wrong there's an almost comedic chorus of "Kendrick!" from the men calling on him for help (or horse sacrifice or whatever).
I also feel like the metaphors were too blunt. Land/sea, women/men, etc. etc.
I'm rounding up to 4 stars because I love Stiefvater so much, but her Wolves series was much stronger. Still, not at all sad that I read this one through.