Review: The Scorpio Races

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Date Released: October 18th, 2011
Pages: 404
Rating: 5 out of 5

Description:
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:
The Scorpio Races was absolutely phenomenal! It just simply blew me away with all of its amazing-ness.

This book follows the lives of Puck and Sean as they prepare for the Scorpio Races, which is a race among the water horses that live in the ocean around their little island of Thisby. Puck is the first female racer to ever compete in the races, while Sean has won for the last four years. This year, the two race for personal reasons- Puck races because she thinks that it will keep her brother from leaving, and Sean races to keep his horse, Corr, and quit his job.

The Scorpio Races was super duper fascinating since it was about something that you don’t normally see written about- water horses. I don’t think that I’ve ever heard of water horses until I heard that Maggie Stiefvater was writing another book, but now I know that they’re really cool and interesting mythical creatures.

The writing flowed so well throughout the novel, and it goes at this nice and mellow pace that’s not too fast and also not too slow. The plot eventually built up to that final day and as the day of the race drew nearer and nearer it got very intense.  Twists and turns were absolutely shocking and sucked me into the story even more. 

On to the characters, Puck was okay.  She sometimes had a temper, which was her unflattering characteristic, but what made up for that was her courage to be able to do what she did.  There was never another girl before her and never a normal horse riding in the races before her either, which pretty much just screams that she is one brave girl.  Sean was totally cool.  I kind of imagined him as a calm, but sort of a loner type of guy who can stand up for himself when he needs to.  I think I might have formed a crush on Sean...

Honestly, go and get The Scorpio Races!  I'm sure that it will not disappoint!  Maggie Stiefvater just has this way of crafting amazing stories with romance, intensity, and action.  Definitely pick this up, especially if you love all of her other books!

Cover Review:
Really cool cover.  It's like the cave paintings that were described on the book, but with Puck on her horse instead.  I really like it and I think that it fits the book.

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy purchased.