The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

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.

Every once in awhile a book comes along that I want to gush about, scream from the rooftops, demand that my friends buy/preorder it immediately. Yep, The Scorpio Races is one such book. I always try to give myself a few days before writing the review so it’s not filled with major fan-girling, but my love for this one isn’t fading. At all.

First off, I’d like to address the major misconception is that The Scorpio Races is like The Hunger Games, several people have told me “that’s already been done” when I tried to convince them it’s amazing. The only similiarity is that it’s a game/challenge.

The main difference? Mythology. The Scorpio Races include water horses based on kelpies (and the other various words for water horses). They aren’t exactly the same, but do have some similiarities. Every year the water horses come up from the sea and the people of the island race them. These horses are gruesome and violent. In fact the beginning line of The Scorpio Races is “It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.” Let’s just say, my blood-loving side was hooked from those thirteen words.

In the past the Races were always men only, but Puck has decided she needs to ride this year. She’s fierce, yet gentle. She refuses to ride one of those horses that killed her parents. She’s amazing, guys, if I could have half of her courage and determination I’d be thrilled. Sean has bottled up his feelings for years, instead he does his job and prays every year that he can ride his boss’s famous red horse. At the beginning I couldn’t believe how horrible these “creatures” were, but by the end of the book they found a special place in my heart. (As long as they don’t try to eat me.)

Also for lovers of Stiefvater’s writing style, The Scorpio Races is beautifully written! Who knew things being torn apart could be poetic.

Warning: Blood. Violence. Animal cruelty. Adult language. It’s definitely not for all readers, please express caution.

It hits shelves on October 18th.

I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

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