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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
I have absolutely LOVED some of Stiefvater's books, but this wasn't one of them. There were still glimpses of her unique, brilliant writing style in The Scorpio Races, but it wasn't enough to save the story from lack of development and ennui. I just found the whole plot-line so pointless. Why capture the water horses when the horses would be happier in the sea and people wouldn't die? Stiefvater's 'lore' behind the water horses was murky and vague; she never really explained why the creatures came up on land in the first place. Out of all the characters, I was most intrigued by Corr and Sean. I appreciated the strength of Kate/Puck's character overall, but it really annoyed me that she refused to grow up throughout the majority of the novel. She kept whining about needing Gabe to take care of Finn and her, but it seemed to me that she was old enough to take care of herself.
Overall, The Scorpio Races was a disappointment. I found the idea of the book much more interesting than the actual story. Two stars--it was 'ok'.
Overall, The Scorpio Races was a disappointment. I found the idea of the book much more interesting than the actual story. Two stars--it was 'ok'.
medium-paced
This book was the most beautiful love letter slash fantasy fiction mixed into one, and what’s best: it was a love letter written for my favourite animal; horses.
I can’t believe I was sleeping on this masterpiece for so long only because I loathed the shiver series to bits and thought the author could do no good. How wrong I was, and I have since admitted my fault. But honestly, I didn’t even skim one single page of this book and that’s a huge feat for me, because lately I’ve started feeling like fantasy fiction makes me roll my eyes at almost every “high stakes” situation. Although this book, this book is golden. Best romance, best set up, best character development. Some bits did seem a bit trance like to me though, specially when Puck and Johnathan (?) are in the festival looking for Gabe and she describes Johnathan as getting taller each time he searched for her brother, and there were some other sentences that made me really creeped out, and made me think that there was no actual point to that part. After I read it, I went back to the scene and realised that I had no idea why that scene was put into the book in the first place.
However, except that one detail this book, in my opinion, is flawless. Highly recommend.
I can’t believe I was sleeping on this masterpiece for so long only because I loathed the shiver series to bits and thought the author could do no good. How wrong I was, and I have since admitted my fault. But honestly, I didn’t even skim one single page of this book and that’s a huge feat for me, because lately I’ve started feeling like fantasy fiction makes me roll my eyes at almost every “high stakes” situation. Although this book, this book is golden. Best romance, best set up, best character development. Some bits did seem a bit trance like to me though, specially when Puck and Johnathan (?) are in the festival looking for Gabe and she describes Johnathan as getting taller each time he searched for her brother, and there were some other sentences that made me really creeped out, and made me think that there was no actual point to that part. After I read it, I went back to the scene and realised that I had no idea why that scene was put into the book in the first place.
However, except that one detail this book, in my opinion, is flawless. Highly recommend.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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:
No
EHM OKAY I NEED MORE ABOUT SEAN AND PUCK OKAY CAUSE I ADORE THEM
I was really blown away by this book, its quite original and those water horses are scary AF. So many interesting characters although I do really hate Mutt aand lets just say he got what he deserved cause you dont intentionally HURT ANIMALS *angry face*
But yeah it was so wow.
I was really blown away by this book, its quite original and those water horses are scary AF. So many interesting characters although I do really hate Mutt aand lets just say he got what he deserved cause you dont intentionally HURT ANIMALS *angry face*
But yeah it was so wow.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Each fall, the waterhorses emerge from the sea around the island of Thisby. Although the horses are incredibly dangerous and want nothing more then to eat humans or drag them to the depths of the ocean, the islanders capture and train them so they can be ridden in the annual Scorpio Races.
When she learns her oldest brother is moving to the mainland, Kate Connolly enters the races in the hopes of winning enough money to support herself and her little brother. No other girl has ever raced, and while most of the men of the island want her disqualified, she finds an unlikely ally in Sean Kendrick, a four-time winner of the Races, whose whole life revolves around horses.
On the surface, The Scorpio Races is an atmospheric retelling of a Celtic myth, but below that, it's about the choices people make and how we create meaning and magic in our own lives. There's a part somewhere in the middle of the book where a character says 'If these are just horse races, then everyone who's died throughout the years died for nothing.' And yet most of the islanders and tourists who watch the races do not feel the magic in them or pay respect to the myth that started the races in the first place. To them, the races are just something to bet on, not a sacrifice to ancient gods, or the island itself.
Despite a number of deaths and good use of suspense, this isn't an action-packed book, and some readers will be turned off by the detailed descriptions. It would be a good choice for fantasy readers (both adult and teen), fans of [b:Daughter of Smoke and Bone|8490112|Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)|Laini Taylor|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg|13355552], and readers who want to be transported somewhere else.
When she learns her oldest brother is moving to the mainland, Kate Connolly enters the races in the hopes of winning enough money to support herself and her little brother. No other girl has ever raced, and while most of the men of the island want her disqualified, she finds an unlikely ally in Sean Kendrick, a four-time winner of the Races, whose whole life revolves around horses.
On the surface, The Scorpio Races is an atmospheric retelling of a Celtic myth, but below that, it's about the choices people make and how we create meaning and magic in our own lives. There's a part somewhere in the middle of the book where a character says 'If these are just horse races, then everyone who's died throughout the years died for nothing.' And yet most of the islanders and tourists who watch the races do not feel the magic in them or pay respect to the myth that started the races in the first place. To them, the races are just something to bet on, not a sacrifice to ancient gods, or the island itself.
Despite a number of deaths and good use of suspense, this isn't an action-packed book, and some readers will be turned off by the detailed descriptions. It would be a good choice for fantasy readers (both adult and teen), fans of [b:Daughter of Smoke and Bone|8490112|Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)|Laini Taylor|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg|13355552], and readers who want to be transported somewhere else.
Decent audio version, but I thought the reader for Sean Kendrick sounded way too posh and old, and the accents were kind of all over the place.
I am a BIG fan of Maggie Stiefvater. No offense to The Raven Boys - I am rather fond of them - but I liked this book more than the series. It's a standalone fairytale-esque book that is such a delight to read. I read it a while ago, but it was definitely 5 stars. Very atmospheric and enjoyable.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No