Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Publish Date: October 18, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 404

Synopsis:
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

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.

From Goodreads

I was so happy to get this as an early Christmas present from my roommate. Yet still, I waited until I had finished school to start it, hoping I’d have tons of time to read it all in one go. That didn’t quite happen, but when I finally found the time, I devoured it in a couple days.

I enjoyed everything about this book. I loved how Maggie created such strong relationships between the riders and the water horses, how the capaill uisce (pronounced CAPall ISHka) seemed so tangible, how the important parts were the horses and the races and the relationships. I especially loved how the romance wasn’t in your face. I was worried when I was a little over halfway through the book and there was still no sign of romance (I love the romance in novels). But then I realized: the romance isn’t what’s important. Those things I mentioned before are.

But then you see that the romance is there, it just isn’t in-your-face obvious. And that’s because it’s so real. It’s none of that insta-love, no starcrossed lovers, nor overcoming evil overlords together. It’s real life. They meet. They get to know one another. They get that flutter in their stomachs when they think of the other... And so on. It’s just so realistic and I loved that.

Puck and Sean were both marvellous characters. It was great to see both of them grow throughout the book. I know Maggie loves writing characters that grow and change throughout the story, and I definitely believe she accomplished this with Puck and Sean. Puck definitely has to be one of the strongest female characters I know. She’s brave and strong and so many things I admire. And Sean was already a responsible adult to begin with, but the way his priorities and his heart shift and change throughout the course of the book was great to watch.

I don’t know how many good things I can say about this book, but I know it’ll never be enough to fully express how amazing this book truly is. It has secured a safe place at the top of my favourite reads of all time, and I know I will be rereading this in the near future.