A review by nikkitheninth
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-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

5.0

It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.

not to start a riot but as a horse girl, i loved this even more than the raven cycle.

set on the beautifully atmospheric and fictional island of thisby, determined and sharp-tongued kate "puck" connolly enters into the dangerous scorpio race. while it's typically run on the carnivorous fantastical kelpies - "capaill uisce" - that inhabit the surrounding the timeless isle, she dares it on her beloved pony - i mean horse, dove.

These are not ordinary horses. Drape them with charms, hide them from the sea, but today, on the beach: Do not turn your back.

she soon finds slow respect and kinship, and more, with the brooding, stoic sean kendrick, the resident kelpie whisperer who's racing with his own capaill uisce, corr.

“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. Something that makes them feel strong or clever. It’s why they love the ocean.”

the setting of the wind-whipped coastal town on a small cliffed island, surrounded by a raging sea full of monsters makes for the perfect fall read. thisby is unique, with inspiration pulled from many places and no absolute clear time period setting, it creates an ethereal fable.

I think that’s the mercy of this island, actually, that it won’t give us our terrible memories for long, but lets us keep the good ones for as long as we want them.

the family and town dynamics add a grounded drama that drives more emotion than merely a fast-paced race adventure. frustrations with the sexism, the limits and closeness of a tight knit community, the isolation of grief within a family, and the revered respect for these dangerous creatures make for a story that stays with you well beyond reading.

I think, just for that moment, that I hate brothers, because they never realize when something is important to you and they only care about their own things.

stiefvater's writing is absolutely gorgeous; her attention to detail and vivid characters, all the townsfolk have entire lives off page that you can just feel from the little bits we get of them. i also loved her sharp humor, which came out most voraciously in puck.

“I hear laughter and someone asks if I need help, not in a nice way. I snarl, 'What I need is for your mother to have thought a little harder nine months before your birthday.”

this became an instant favorite, if i had read this growing up it 100% would've become my entire personality. i'll def be rereading in the future.

He is slow, and the sea sings to us both, but he returns to me.
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