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booagnes's review
5.0
What an enchanting, breath of fresh air! The Scorpio Races is unlike any book I have ever read, and I couldn't be happier. I finished it earlier this morning and I've been mulling it over in my head all day, trying to put to words just how much this book has become a part of me. Now how am I going to explain it in this review? Gah! I had a similar difficulty after reading Maggie's The Wolves of Mercy Falls series earlier this year. In fact, those reviews are still waiting to be posted! Dang. I don't want that to happen again, so I may as well jump right in!
Maggie Stiefvater is truly a master at weaving words, as I like to say. She has this ability to take hold of your heart - your soul - and weave it within the pages of her novels, making you feel like you're so much a part of everything. You can't help but marvel at the atmosphere she winds around you and the whimsical, beautiful writing on nearly every page. You can't resist falling in love with her characters and embedding them into your very being. I have absolutely no idea how she does it. Frankly, I don't care how she does it as long as she keeps on doing it.
The Scorpio Races was such a thrilling ride. The setting was so vivid, it seemed to be alive! The island of Thisby was like a character in and of itself, with its storms, fog layer and other qualities... which was spectacular. I found it a smart move that Maggie made Thisby in an ambiguous country - it could possibly be risky, but she really gives her readers credit and lets them picture it themselves without being bogged down by predetermined locales. And the water horses, the Capaill Uisce, were beautiful and terrifying all in one. I was both fascinated and completely freaked out by these mythical creatures with a deep, magical connection to the water. I mean, seriously... carnivorous horses that pop out of the ocean? Crazy awesome! Then add in the part where, every year in the Scorpio Races, people RIDE these man-eating creatures? Talk about a heart-pounding adventure! If the story centered around that aspect alone, I would have loved it.
Lucky for us, there is another aspect that our awesome author excels at. In comes the wonderful characters! As with her previous novels, Maggie Stiefvater masterfully uses multiple p.o.v. to tell the story. Our heroine, Kate "Puck" Connelly, is a pretty awesome character. She has fire and determination, but she's also vulnerable and scared. After the death of her parents, she and her two brothers must try to survive on their own. To help in this, Puck decides to enter the Scorpio Races for a chance at the large winners purse. The hero of our tale is four time winner of the Races, Sean Kendrick. Also an orphan, Sean lives and works at a local stable as a horse trainer. Quiet and enigmatic, Sean has an almost magical connection to horses - especially one of the capaill, Cor. I enjoyed learning about what set our heroes on their course to the Races and watching their interactions with one another. I really don't want to give anything away, but watching these two characters develop and grow was nothing short of enchanting.
Filled with terror, adventure, sadness, joy, and the importance of relationships, The Scorpio Races has cemented itself in my favorites list. In my humble opinion, you can't go wrong with this wonderful tale of finding strength in oneself and taking the helm in your own life. Definitely go out and read this fantastic, lyrical novel... now!
A favorite quote: "It's easy to convince men to love you, Puck. All you have to do is be a mountain they have to climb or a poem they don't understand."
(Review posted on my blog, Kaleidoscopic Reveries)
Maggie Stiefvater is truly a master at weaving words, as I like to say. She has this ability to take hold of your heart - your soul - and weave it within the pages of her novels, making you feel like you're so much a part of everything. You can't help but marvel at the atmosphere she winds around you and the whimsical, beautiful writing on nearly every page. You can't resist falling in love with her characters and embedding them into your very being. I have absolutely no idea how she does it. Frankly, I don't care how she does it as long as she keeps on doing it.
The Scorpio Races was such a thrilling ride. The setting was so vivid, it seemed to be alive! The island of Thisby was like a character in and of itself, with its storms, fog layer and other qualities... which was spectacular. I found it a smart move that Maggie made Thisby in an ambiguous country - it could possibly be risky, but she really gives her readers credit and lets them picture it themselves without being bogged down by predetermined locales. And the water horses, the Capaill Uisce, were beautiful and terrifying all in one. I was both fascinated and completely freaked out by these mythical creatures with a deep, magical connection to the water. I mean, seriously... carnivorous horses that pop out of the ocean? Crazy awesome! Then add in the part where, every year in the Scorpio Races, people RIDE these man-eating creatures? Talk about a heart-pounding adventure! If the story centered around that aspect alone, I would have loved it.
Lucky for us, there is another aspect that our awesome author excels at. In comes the wonderful characters! As with her previous novels, Maggie Stiefvater masterfully uses multiple p.o.v. to tell the story. Our heroine, Kate "Puck" Connelly, is a pretty awesome character. She has fire and determination, but she's also vulnerable and scared. After the death of her parents, she and her two brothers must try to survive on their own. To help in this, Puck decides to enter the Scorpio Races for a chance at the large winners purse. The hero of our tale is four time winner of the Races, Sean Kendrick. Also an orphan, Sean lives and works at a local stable as a horse trainer. Quiet and enigmatic, Sean has an almost magical connection to horses - especially one of the capaill, Cor. I enjoyed learning about what set our heroes on their course to the Races and watching their interactions with one another. I really don't want to give anything away, but watching these two characters develop and grow was nothing short of enchanting.
Filled with terror, adventure, sadness, joy, and the importance of relationships, The Scorpio Races has cemented itself in my favorites list. In my humble opinion, you can't go wrong with this wonderful tale of finding strength in oneself and taking the helm in your own life. Definitely go out and read this fantastic, lyrical novel... now!
A favorite quote: "It's easy to convince men to love you, Puck. All you have to do is be a mountain they have to climb or a poem they don't understand."
(Review posted on my blog, Kaleidoscopic Reveries)
purps's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
jordans_bias's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alialu's review against another edition
5.0
I started this book with my hopes underground expecting some paranormal non-sense
I finished it wanting to kill myself for the prejudices
Because I loved this book to no end
The way the story evolved, develping Puck and Sean's relationship
The way the horses were pictured
The way it wasn't a book foccused in stupid love shit all the time
The sweetness of Sean and Puck towards Corr and Dove
I am SO IN LOVE WITH CORR, and I nearly died when (SPOOOOOILER) I thought he was going to go.
This book is so so so so sweet
This book heal my heart when I needed it the most
He is slow, and the sea sings to us both, but he returns to me
I finished it wanting to kill myself for the prejudices
Because I loved this book to no end
The way the story evolved, develping Puck and Sean's relationship
The way the horses were pictured
The way it wasn't a book foccused in stupid love shit all the time
The sweetness of Sean and Puck towards Corr and Dove
I am SO IN LOVE WITH CORR, and I nearly died when (SPOOOOOILER) I thought he was going to go.
This book is so so so so sweet
This book heal my heart when I needed it the most
He is slow, and the sea sings to us both, but he returns to me
jenny_hedberg's review against another edition
5.0
This book left me very touched. This is absolutely [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1268241579p2/1330292.jpg]'s best work so far. I've read the Mercy Falls-series([b:Shiver Trilogy Boxset|10121801|Shiver Trilogy Boxset (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1-3)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328836319s/10121801.jpg|15019516]) and they can't beat [b:The Scorpio Races|10626594|The Scorpio Races|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330964654s/10626594.jpg|15535056]. This book is just a lovely love story about horses, family and unexplainable love.
jacks623's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ametakinetos's review
5.0
These characters feel like close friends and I am so sad this is only a standalone and therefore my only chance to meet them, but at the same time this book is perfect as it is and I love it dearly.
6/2022 reread: Even better than I remembered.
11/2023 reread: <333333
6/2022 reread: Even better than I remembered.
11/2023 reread: <333333
jyeetreads's review
4.0
8.5/10
Maggie’s writing is insane, her storytelling is insane. I entered my horsegirl just for this novel. Despite the mystery of the lore that is never truly uncovered, this standalone still managed to suck me into its fable-like narration and the character development.
I think this would be a gory but incredible A24 film- that’s kinda how it played out in my head :)
Maggie’s writing is insane, her storytelling is insane. I entered my horsegirl just for this novel. Despite the mystery of the lore that is never truly uncovered, this standalone still managed to suck me into its fable-like narration and the character development.
I think this would be a gory but incredible A24 film- that’s kinda how it played out in my head :)
sarahp85's review
5.0
why didn't anyone tell me I had to read this ASAP?!!?
honestly, it has been on my tbr shelf forever. Eventhough I loved the Raven Boys series and love Maggie Stiefvaters writing style.
But in all honesty... this might be the best book she's ever written?!
World building <3 <3 <3 It was as if I was right there.
Once it has all sunk in a bit I'll put it back on my tbr list so I can re-read it hahaha
honestly, it has been on my tbr shelf forever. Eventhough I loved the Raven Boys series and love Maggie Stiefvaters writing style.
But in all honesty... this might be the best book she's ever written?!
World building <3 <3 <3 It was as if I was right there.
Once it has all sunk in a bit I'll put it back on my tbr list so I can re-read it hahaha