Book Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Some race to win. Others race to survive.

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 choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. The fact that the races involved flesh eating water horses that seek to drown humans and return to the sea was pretty intriguing. They are born of the sea and surface from the waves, naturally wild and fierce. The riders of the annual Scorpio Races must try and capture a horse and train it as best they can to compete in the annual event where for most the goal is just to make it out alive. On the small island of Thisby where the competition takes place, the sea and the races are an important part of the inhabitants lives. Horse breeders and wealthy tourists come from far and wide to be spectators to the wild and dangerous race. Sean Kendrick, a four time winner of the races, has put it all on the line for this years race. The stakes are higher than ever before. His honor, his livelihood, and his favorite horse Corr. Puck (Kate) Connelly, is a feisty and tough island girl who along with her two brothers have been trying to make a living and survive after their parents death. Running out of money and hope, she decides to enter her pony in the races. Against much opposition and danger she finds a determination inside of her to give it everything she has and not let anyone scare her away from the big race day amidst the crashing waves, biting horses, and men that don't want her in the competition and one that might even want her dead. Sean Kendrick and Puck also develop a friendship and mutual respect for each other as Sean helps her train for the races and despite the danger of it, he finds he just might be falling for Puck as well.

I thought this book was well written, had interesting characters, and is appropriate for ages 13+. It took me a few chapters to really get invested in it, but then I couldn't put the book down. I was excited to find out that a movie is also in the works. That was the first thing I told my husband when I got done reading it last night is that it would make a fantastic movie.