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. (Goodreads.com)
This book really cemented what a fabulous writer Maggie Stiefvater is. I noticed it in Shiver (the only other Stiefvater book I've read), but it truly stands out in The Scorpio Races. The descriptions of the horses rising out of the sea, of besieging the local islanders, of killing cattle and attacking horses is very visceral and hair-raising. These horses are the reason I am afraid of horses! Under less talented hands, I think it would have been easy for the killer sea horses to be rather cartoonish and not genuinely frightening but rest assured, these could give you nightmares.
Set on the small island of Thisby, the legend of the killer sea horses comes to life against a back drop of a struggling island. Puck and Sean are the main characters in this story and it is their growth that propels this story forward. Yes, this book is about killer horses, but more than anything, it is about two characters who grow and change. It is about the local townspeople and how they struggle to survive as they see many of their young heading off to the mainland for new, better opportunities. It is the story of two characters who have nothing, who are a slaves to men with more money and more power. And it is about what drives them forward. This is not just a race, it is a struggle to overcome the odds life has thrown at them.
There is a strong romance that develops between Puck and Sean. It is not the sole focus of their individual stories but it is a romance that is very well-developed. Puck is not a girl who needs a man, who only thinks of him. She is a rational girl, working hard to make a better future for herself and her brothers, one who will be leaving her soon. But she finds a kindred soul in Sean, a guy who also has had to pave his own way in the world. As they train together and start to take chances with their feelings, their romance simply blossoms. This is the wonderful stuff love is made of. I will reiterate that while it is not the sole focus of this narrative, it is an incredibly pleasing aspect of it.
This book, for all its otherworldly qualities with the sea horses, truly reminded me of a contemporary book. Maybe with a slightly historical setting but the focus is on the real life and how these races affect the life of Thisby's citizens. It's not truly about the horses. This is one of those rare books I think can be easily handed to fans of both contemporary or historical YA fiction AND paranormal YA fiction. It moves between the genres beautifully and it's one of those books that relies on characterization, writing, and quality storytelling to sell itself, and not gimmicks revolving around love triangles or angels or zombies (or insert your paranormal creature of choice).
The setting of Thisby, the citizens of the small island, along with the beautiful and ultimately destructive sea horses all add up to an engrossing story. While I found the middle lagging a bit, I was nevertheless pretty engrossed throughout most of the story. I enjoyed Puck's interactions with her brother, Finn, in particular. Theirs is a very fun sibling bond. I liked seeing the action develop around the races, see the competition and the rivalries blossom. I did not expect to enjoy this book as thoroughly as I did but I am very glad I read it. It's easily one of my favorite YA reads of 2011.
Other reviews:
ARC from Book Expo America.
