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 finis...
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reviews
Feb 02, 2012
Maja
rated it: 
They came in with the tide. The moon illuminated long lines of froth as the waves gathered and gathered and gathered offshore, and when they finally broke on the sand, the capaill uisce tumbled onto the shore with them. The horses pulled their heads up with effort, trying to break free from the salt water.
I had to restrain the squealing, fangirly Maja and shove her in the closet so that the adult, critical Maja can sit and write this review. Believe me, it’s better this way.
More...
I had to restrain the squealing, fangirly Maja and shove her in the closet so that the adult, critical Maja can sit and write this review. Believe me, it’s better this way.
More...
60 comments
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(54 people liked it)
Nov 04, 2011
Lyndsey
rated it: 
Also posted on STRANGEMORE.COM.
This is basically the paranormal version of Misty of Chincatigue with (gasp!) romance!
Like Hidalgo, on the beach instead of the desert with (gasp!) kissing! Between two riders! NOT between the horse and it's rider though. Well... sometimes between the horse and it's rider. Just a little.
When this book started, it felt like a breath of fresh sea air, not rife with the smell of YA cliche. That was mainly because I thought this book was t More...
This is basically the paranormal version of Misty of Chincatigue with (gasp!) romance!
Like Hidalgo, on the beach instead of the desert with (gasp!) kissing! Between two riders! NOT between the horse and it's rider though. Well... sometimes between the horse and it's rider. Just a little.
When this book started, it felt like a breath of fresh sea air, not rife with the smell of YA cliche. That was mainly because I thought this book was t More...
41 comments
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(90 people liked it)
Feb 14, 2012
I am seriously excited for this. As excited as this kitten, in fact.
11 comments
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(45 people liked it)
Oct 04, 2011
Arlene
rated it:
Absolutely fantasical! More please...
First off, a huge thanks to Flannery from thereadventurer who is touring this book with the Street Corner Bookers and allowed me to experience this crazy sauce of a book! Thank you!
Wow! Just wow!! Maggie Stiefvater has definitely cemented her status in the YA genre and Scorpio Races is her full access ticket to the game. I've enjoyed her Mercy Falls trilogy for over a couple of years, but this book has definitely pulled her away from More...
First off, a huge thanks to Flannery from thereadventurer who is touring this book with the Street Corner Bookers and allowed me to experience this crazy sauce of a book! Thank you!
Wow! Just wow!! Maggie Stiefvater has definitely cemented her status in the YA genre and Scorpio Races is her full access ticket to the game. I've enjoyed her Mercy Falls trilogy for over a couple of years, but this book has definitely pulled her away from More...
28 comments
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(46 people liked it)
Dec 05, 2011
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it: 
The capaill uisce plunged down the sand, skirmishing and bucking, shaking the sea form out of their manes and the Atlantic from their hooves. They screamed back to the others still in the water, high wails that raised the hair on my arms. They were swift and deadly, savage and beautiful. The horses were giants, at once the ocean and the island, and that was when I loved them.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is a difficult novel to describe: it is one-part race novel, one-part h More...
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is a difficult novel to describe: it is one-part race novel, one-part h More...
5 comments
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(17 people liked it)
Jan 07, 2012
Lucy
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
8 comments
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(17 people liked it)
Aug 11, 2011
Anila
rated it:
Edit: I feel it worth nothing that this is my 250th Goodreads review. Yay milestones!
This is the first time I've felt even a little guilty about not liking a galley. I didn't really enjoy this book, but I didn't hate it enough not to care, and so here I am stuck in limbo, not really sure what to do with it.
The idea is absolutely fabulous. A race run on killer water horses? Yes, please. And there's the element of romance between two competitors, both with a rea More...
This is the first time I've felt even a little guilty about not liking a galley. I didn't really enjoy this book, but I didn't hate it enough not to care, and so here I am stuck in limbo, not really sure what to do with it.
The idea is absolutely fabulous. A race run on killer water horses? Yes, please. And there's the element of romance between two competitors, both with a rea More...
14 comments
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(33 people liked it)
Jan 29, 2012
Chachic
rated it:
Originally posted here.
I enjoyed reading Maggie Stiefvater's books in the past but it wasn't until I saw glowing reviews from blogging buddies and Goodreads friends that I became really curious about The Scorpio Races. It sounds different from anything else that she's written and Maggie herself said that this is her favorite out of all of her books. How's that for encouragement? I couldn't pass up reading this one and I like that it's a standalone novel.
Sigh, what a lovel More...
I enjoyed reading Maggie Stiefvater's books in the past but it wasn't until I saw glowing reviews from blogging buddies and Goodreads friends that I became really curious about The Scorpio Races. It sounds different from anything else that she's written and Maggie herself said that this is her favorite out of all of her books. How's that for encouragement? I couldn't pass up reading this one and I like that it's a standalone novel.
Sigh, what a lovel More...
15 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Feb 13, 2012
Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!*
rated it:
Woohoo! I finished this at last. I shall review it soon. :)
6 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Jan 23, 2012
Ashley
rated it:
Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater was a book I was really excited to read. I've heard almost nothing but good things about Maggie's Shiver series, and the early talk I'd heard about this book was also quite positive. And, it was a book about hard-core, killer water horses... Sounds fascinating! But alas. I was seriously disappointed in this book, mostly because I didn't actually feel like anything really happe More...
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater was a book I was really excited to read. I've heard almost nothing but good things about Maggie's Shiver series, and the early talk I'd heard about this book was also quite positive. And, it was a book about hard-core, killer water horses... Sounds fascinating! But alas. I was seriously disappointed in this book, mostly because I didn't actually feel like anything really happe More...
2 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Oct 29, 2011
Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids
rated it:
4.5 stars
There's something magical about Maggie Stiefvater's writing. She has this ability to capture my attention with her beautiful lyrical writing, relatable characters and creative story telling. Much like her fey and wolf series, Maggie has a talent for taking a well known lore and making it her own. She does this by taking a mythology that's been around for ages and gives it a fresh, unique, engaging re-telling that's all her own.
The Scorpio Races rich mythology is More...
There's something magical about Maggie Stiefvater's writing. She has this ability to capture my attention with her beautiful lyrical writing, relatable characters and creative story telling. Much like her fey and wolf series, Maggie has a talent for taking a well known lore and making it her own. She does this by taking a mythology that's been around for ages and gives it a fresh, unique, engaging re-telling that's all her own.
The Scorpio Races rich mythology is More...
13 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Jan 08, 2012
Minli
rated it:
(2.5 stars) Maggie Stiefvater is just one of those authors whose writing doesn't sing to me. It's nothing personal. I've been holding a book grudge against her since the awful experience I had with Lament and all the things I've heard about the Shiver books, but after cajoling from a few different people in different places, I decided to give it a try.
Stiefvater is an excellent scene setter. Her thick description is vivid and lyrical (though reading this after Francesca Lia Block dims More...
Stiefvater is an excellent scene setter. Her thick description is vivid and lyrical (though reading this after Francesca Lia Block dims More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 29, 2011
Parajunkee.com
rated it:
Maggie Stiefvater’s writing is like music. Her words flow from the pages and land softly on your tongue…you can almost taste and feel and breath in the story as if you had the neurological condition called Synesthesia. Stiefvater’s writing is larger-than-life, interesting, original and profound. In the end it is just a story of a girl, a boy and two horses but the writing in-between makes it resonate.
On an island called Thisby water horses rise from the sea hungry and confused at the More...
On an island called Thisby water horses rise from the sea hungry and confused at the More...
2 comments
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(16 people liked it)
Dec 06, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
This book gave me fits, I was prepared to fall in love with it from the beginning because I follow Stiefvater's blog and enjoyed her Mercy Falls trilogy. I think she writes beautifully and creates strong characters. That being said, the first 200 pages of this book were a struggle. Like her other books, the story is told in alternating POV's between the male and female main characters. I liked the slow build for the romance but I really needed more to happen in the first half of the book than bu
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0 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Nov 22, 2011
Thomas
rated it:
"It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.
Even under the brightest sun, the frigid autumn sea is all the colors of the night: dark blue and black and brown. I watch the ever-changing patterns in the sand as it's pummeled by countless horses.
They run the horses on the beach, a pale road between the black water and the chalk cliffs. It is never safe, but it's never so dangerous as today, race day."
Reviewing The Scorpio Races, for More...
Even under the brightest sun, the frigid autumn sea is all the colors of the night: dark blue and black and brown. I watch the ever-changing patterns in the sand as it's pummeled by countless horses.
They run the horses on the beach, a pale road between the black water and the chalk cliffs. It is never safe, but it's never so dangerous as today, race day."
Reviewing The Scorpio Races, for More...
18 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Dec 09, 2011
Sasha
rated it:
This is the story of a girl named Puck who lives on an island with her two brothers. Their parents were killed by these terrible "water horses" (fantasy horses who live in the sea and are ravenous), and so Puck and her two brothers are left to try to survive on their own. When Puck decides that she must ride in the Scorpio Races, she has no idea what she has signed up for. Cut-throat competitors, male chauvinistic pigs, and surprise ally.
The Scorpio Races was unlike anythin More...
The Scorpio Races was unlike anythin More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 13, 2012
Amy ~Lover of Books~
rated it:
More reviews @ http://starlightreads.blogspot.com
I've read some of Maggie's books before, from the “Shiver" and "Books of Faerie" series, so I was eager to read another one of her books.
Sean: Only 19 years old but he is the returning champion of these races for the last few years. He's a man of a few words, who keeps his fears buried deep within himself. Everyone goes to him when they seek water-horse advice and help. He needs to win the race this year o More...
I've read some of Maggie's books before, from the “Shiver" and "Books of Faerie" series, so I was eager to read another one of her books.
Sean: Only 19 years old but he is the returning champion of these races for the last few years. He's a man of a few words, who keeps his fears buried deep within himself. Everyone goes to him when they seek water-horse advice and help. He needs to win the race this year o More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 21, 2012
Rachel
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
11 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 24, 2011
Tasnim
rated it:
I was never a fan of Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls series but I wanted to give this book a try because the blurb sounded really interesting. First of all I only got into the book when I'd gotten past the halfway point, and even then I found myself zoning out and either daydreaming, or thinking about other things whilst I was reading it. I just never felt like the book captured my interest completely at any point. Another problem was that in the first 100 pages, I can only think of a single inte
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2 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 10, 2012
Once Upon
rated it:
Normally, I would never pick up a book based on horses. However, when I read a few pages I discovered that these are no ordinary horses. The Scorpio Races has an amazing storyline with a surprising touch of romance that didn’t take over the whole story.
The Scorpio Races are the most dangerous races in the entire world. The riders do not ride normal race horses, instead they ride man eating, water horses. In the book we find two riders, Sean and Kate, each having parents who were kill More...
The Scorpio Races are the most dangerous races in the entire world. The riders do not ride normal race horses, instead they ride man eating, water horses. In the book we find two riders, Sean and Kate, each having parents who were kill More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2011
Ghirardelli
rated it:
Ohhh this is gonna be a hard review to do.
Really hard.
Like...”Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader” hard.
(That show got me a few times, just saying...)
I really can’t recall what was happening in The Scorpio Races. There was a lot, but there was also nothing at all. I’m not trying to make a paradox to confuse other readers, honest, but stuff happened but it never related to what was going on in the said ‘plot’ of this story.
...Lemme start this again. More...
6 comments
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(12 people liked it)
Nov 02, 2011
Diana
rated it:
Aggressive, flesh-eating water horses form the basis of the economy on the Island of Thisby? Puck, decides to enter her small real horse, Dove, in the races that take place the beginning of November each year, two weeks after the terrifying water horses start coming ashore. A year ago Puck's parents were killed by water horses when out fishing and now her older brother is planning to leave the island and they are about to lose their home. If she can win the race she can pay the back rent and not
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6 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 03, 2012
Heather
rated it:
I read on Maggie's blog that this is the book she always wanted to write, but also the one she always wanted to read, especially her younger-self. I have to say, after reading it, that it's exactly the kind of book my younger self would have loved, also. My current self thought it was pretty great, too.
But I have concerns, for Maggie's sake. I have a theory that horse stories are tough to pull off in this market, depending on the audience. If you're not writing some biographical acti More...
But I have concerns, for Maggie's sake. I have a theory that horse stories are tough to pull off in this market, depending on the audience. If you're not writing some biographical acti More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 30, 2011
Beth
rated it:
The Scorpio Races is oddly reminiscent of Misty of Chincoteague. So much so, in fact, that I dug up my old copy of Misty and reread it. I loved Misty of Chincoteague; there was a book that made me dream. The parallels between the two are apparent, though Stiefvater writes for an older audience and her book has a higher body count. (Body count in Misty: 0. Body count in The Scorpio Races: high. Number of deaths I cared about: 0.)
The author did a poor job of making me care, of investin More...
The author did a poor job of making me care, of investin More...
15 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Jun 21, 2011
What on earth is this book about? That has to be the most confusing blurb ever!
6 comments
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(10 people liked it)
Nov 13, 2011
Vivian
rated it:
Mmm, I was underwhelmed.
<spoiler>This book was slightly disappointing for me. I feel that there could have been so much more action and mystery surrounding the water horses, but the book never lived up to any of that. I certainly did not loathe this book; in fact, I found the ending quite satisfactory and heartwarming. Corr padding slowly back to Sean definitely ended the book on a happy note for me. Generally, I liked the two protagonists of the novel, Sean and Puck. I loved More...
<spoiler>This book was slightly disappointing for me. I feel that there could have been so much more action and mystery surrounding the water horses, but the book never lived up to any of that. I certainly did not loathe this book; in fact, I found the ending quite satisfactory and heartwarming. Corr padding slowly back to Sean definitely ended the book on a happy note for me. Generally, I liked the two protagonists of the novel, Sean and Puck. I loved More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 18, 2011
Book Angel Emma
rated it:
Very unusual story - really struggled with the first half but as soon as the relationship between Puck and Sean took off the pages were turning heck of a lot faster.
I have to be completely honest and tell you this is my least favourite book by Maggie Stiefavater. I adore her writing style and it is no different with this book. Maggie's writing immerses you in the world she builds, enveloping all the senses and surrounding you completely. So if that is the case with this book too, th More...
I have to be completely honest and tell you this is my least favourite book by Maggie Stiefavater. I adore her writing style and it is no different with this book. Maggie's writing immerses you in the world she builds, enveloping all the senses and surrounding you completely. So if that is the case with this book too, th More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 03, 2011
MCPLD Youth Department
rated it:
I really enjoyed reading this book, although it had a slow start. I struggled with two things... what time period is this book set in? I couldn't pin down a date or period from the references (cars are mentioned, but not tvs, does this mean its 19_?). I didn't realize how important the setting, in regards to time period, was until I had trouble picturing the scenes. Secondly, I found myself confused by the character names being both masculine and alternating. It might have been easier if th
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0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Nov 05, 2011
Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog
I'll start off first off with the fact that, I hadn't ever read any books beforehand by Maggie Stiefvater. Although, I had heard great things from blogs I frequent and on Goodreads.com about how really good her books are especially her "Wolves of Mercy Falls" trilogy. A while later I set out to buy her books in e-book form (electronic form) but never really got around to reading them. Then, while looking thro More...
I'll start off first off with the fact that, I hadn't ever read any books beforehand by Maggie Stiefvater. Although, I had heard great things from blogs I frequent and on Goodreads.com about how really good her books are especially her "Wolves of Mercy Falls" trilogy. A while later I set out to buy her books in e-book form (electronic form) but never really got around to reading them. Then, while looking thro More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 11, 2011
Carina
rated it:
THIS IS A MUST READ! And oh god. I am so glad I read it. It is one of the best books I have read. It is stunning. And amazing. And so, so, so good.
I don't know how to describe this book. Other than saying how freaking awesome it is. I love the characters in it. I really liked Kate "Puck" Conolly. She is fierce. And so great. And I loved her brother; Finn. He was just too cute and adorable. And so nice. I did not like her other brother, Gabriel, though. Not really.
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I don't know how to describe this book. Other than saying how freaking awesome it is. I love the characters in it. I really liked Kate "Puck" Conolly. She is fierce. And so great. And I loved her brother; Finn. He was just too cute and adorable. And so nice. I did not like her other brother, Gabriel, though. Not really.
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2 comments
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(1 person liked it)
