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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Every movie, every game about horses I read it in this book, it's an amazing book, I have a million of feelings. And the end, it's so beautiful... it's one of my favorites books. Good job Maggie!
this satisfied the horse girl in me (i have never ridden a horse!!!!!) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed The Scorpio Races more than I at first thought I might. The prospect of flesh-eating horses simultaneously repulsed and intrigued me, and the Prologue to the story caught me unaware.
The characters in the story, Puck and Sean, struck me as sharing a voice in the story. Though their stories differ, they are "kindred spirits." The idea of loving a place so very much that the idea of leaving is repulsive, I'm sure, resonates with many people it, even when the place has stolen so much from the lives of its inhabitants. This story is a testament to strength of will and unfailing love: Puck's for the island, Sean's for Corr, and Corr's for Sean. Faith in healing, healing in belief, and the tragedy of lonliness all coalesce in this novel to deliver an interesting sense of what it means to be human.
This story caused me to begin inquiring about the location, the mythology, ideas of what is actually in the ocean that we still don't know about.
Interestingly, I really liked the character of Holly, the American businessman/tourist, whose catalytic presence in the story can't be denied. His insistence on justice and his tender heart underscore the hard hearts of the Malverns. I was disappointed that the story of the Malverns was not further developed, and although there's not a lot of indication of a sequel, perhaps that story is fodder for a companion story...
The characters in the story, Puck and Sean, struck me as sharing a voice in the story. Though their stories differ, they are "kindred spirits." The idea of loving a place so very much that the idea of leaving is repulsive, I'm sure, resonates with many people it, even when the place has stolen so much from the lives of its inhabitants. This story is a testament to strength of will and unfailing love: Puck's for the island, Sean's for Corr, and Corr's for Sean. Faith in healing, healing in belief, and the tragedy of lonliness all coalesce in this novel to deliver an interesting sense of what it means to be human.
This story caused me to begin inquiring about the location, the mythology, ideas of what is actually in the ocean that we still don't know about.
Interestingly, I really liked the character of Holly, the American businessman/tourist, whose catalytic presence in the story can't be denied. His insistence on justice and his tender heart underscore the hard hearts of the Malverns. I was disappointed that the story of the Malverns was not further developed, and although there's not a lot of indication of a sequel, perhaps that story is fodder for a companion story...
Every year the Scorpio Races come to beaches of Thisby Island. It's a war as much as a race, because the jockeys are riding the capaille uisce, the water horses of Thisby, who are magical and carnivorous and never entirely tamed. Sean Kendrick is a returning champion, who hopes to use his share of the winning purse to buy the water horse that he rides but doesn't own. Meanwhile, according to Thisby's tradition, Puck Connolly is a mistake: she's the first woman to ever enter the races, and she's even riding a regular island horse, her beloved Dove, instead of one of the capaille uisce. But with her elder brother leaving home for the mainland and her family on the brink of being evicted from their home, she also can't afford to lose.
I picked up an ARC of this book at ALA and then gave it away because...really? Magical killer horses? I was sure it was not my thing. But I enjoyed this immensely. It has such a strong sense of place, and you can almost feel the chill of the salt air as Sean and Puck prepare for the race and, of course, fall in the love. The romance is understated, and though it's a central part of the book, it's also not the book's only center. There's also Sean's and Puck's dreams for their futures, and their families and communities, and their connections with the horses they ride. And the ending of the book hits just the right note.
I read part of this in print and listened to some of it as audio, and the nice thing about the audio is that I actually know how to pronounce capaille uisce. Mostly I liked the audio, though I really was not a fan of how Sean's narrator performed Puck's dialogue in Sean's POV segments.
I picked up an ARC of this book at ALA and then gave it away because...really? Magical killer horses? I was sure it was not my thing. But I enjoyed this immensely. It has such a strong sense of place, and you can almost feel the chill of the salt air as Sean and Puck prepare for the race and, of course, fall in the love. The romance is understated, and though it's a central part of the book, it's also not the book's only center. There's also Sean's and Puck's dreams for their futures, and their families and communities, and their connections with the horses they ride. And the ending of the book hits just the right note.
I read part of this in print and listened to some of it as audio, and the nice thing about the audio is that I actually know how to pronounce capaille uisce. Mostly I liked the audio, though I really was not a fan of how Sean's narrator performed Puck's dialogue in Sean's POV segments.
Rating: 4.5 stars. I may round up to 5 when I've had a chance to sit with it. I really loved this story.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While reading this book, I was reminded of a readers’ advisory conference that I recently attended, featuring Nancy Pearl as the keynote speaker. She discussed the different ways that a reader can get “hooked” into a novel. One of the “doorways” that she talked about was setting. There are certain novels that create such a fantastic sense of place and this was certainly one of them. Stiefvater’s beautiful and mystical island of Thisby, with its stunning, yet grotesque water horses creates an alluring world for the reader to cross into. Her detailed descriptions of the setting made me feel as if I could taste the salt of the Atlantic on my very own lips. I felt that this element was the strongest “hook” for The Scorpio Races.
Beyond the setting, the characters were complex and dynamic as well. The heroine of the story is Kate Connelly, more commonly known as “Puck”. After suffering through a great deal of loss in her life, she decides to enter the Scorpio Races in an attempt to save her family and her home. In the midst of training for these races, she crosses paths with Sean Kendrick, who is the returning champion. Stiefvater told the story from both Sean and Puck’s perspective, which I really enjoyed. I found myself looking forward to reading Sean’s perspective because of the mystery and intrigue surrounding his character.
The relationship between Sean and the horses was also captivating. I am not a person who is naturally drawn to horses or horseback riding, but after reading this novel, I would really like to try it!
The ending was left open enough for a sequel and I REALLY hope to find out what happens next for Sean and Puck.
Beyond the setting, the characters were complex and dynamic as well. The heroine of the story is Kate Connelly, more commonly known as “Puck”. After suffering through a great deal of loss in her life, she decides to enter the Scorpio Races in an attempt to save her family and her home. In the midst of training for these races, she crosses paths with Sean Kendrick, who is the returning champion. Stiefvater told the story from both Sean and Puck’s perspective, which I really enjoyed. I found myself looking forward to reading Sean’s perspective because of the mystery and intrigue surrounding his character.
The relationship between Sean and the horses was also captivating. I am not a person who is naturally drawn to horses or horseback riding, but after reading this novel, I would really like to try it!
The ending was left open enough for a sequel and I REALLY hope to find out what happens next for Sean and Puck.