The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

Thisby is an island well populated by sons disappointing their fathers.

Shhhhh, shhhhhh, it says, like I’m a fretful child and it’s my mother, though if the sea were my mother, I’d rather have been an orphan.

Neatness makes me feel like I have to be on my best behaviour. Clutter is my natural habitat.