The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

5 Stars!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“There are moments that you'll remember for the rest of your life and there are moments that you think you'll remember for the rest of your life, and it's not often they turn out to be the same moment.”

When I first read the description of this book, I assumed that it was going to just be about horses and a race. I had no clue that these amazing water horses of mythology would be involved, or that they would be so awesome, yet terrifying. But the story is about so much more than these terrifying beasts.

We follow two POVs Puck and Sean of Thisby Island. On the island of Thisby, each November is a special time of each year because of the appearance of the water horses and the Scorpio Races. The Capaill Uisce (water horses) swim in the ocean near the shores of Thisby and every once in a while, they will climb onto the island looking for food. They are so dangerous that every year people and animals are killed or maimed by them. If you can catch one of the water horses, and take it away from the ocean, they can be tamed.

Puck is a teenage girl who decides to enter the race because she needs the money. Her and her brothers lost their parents one November to a Capaill Uisce. A female has never entered the races before. Puck will be the first not only to enter the race, but also enter with a regular horse and not a Capaill Uisce (which is what everyone else uses). She is willing to gamble her life in this race for her brothers and to keep her home.

Sean was 9 years old when a Capaill Uisce killed his father right before his eyes. Now 10 years later and the winner of the last 4 Scorpio Races- He is determined to win in order to gain something that is very precious to him. Sean has been working for the richest man in town since his father passed, and trains all his horses-including the magical water horses. No one knows these unique horses as well as Sean does.

I fell in love with this book!! The atmosphere, the writing and OMG - The Horses.... I swear I could hear them gallop as I read and during the training I kept hearing Mick Jagger singing "Wild Horses" (which is a favorite song of mine) in the background.

The main characters, in my opinion reminded me of actual horses themselves. There is a sort of romance in this but it is so well done and has such a slow burn that you can only appreciate it more. The way Puck and Sean communicated to one another was so different. Even though the race is ahead, only one can win, and many may even die- they connect to each other on a another level. Only a few words pass between them and they slowly learn about each other through logic, need, and unspoken endearment. It was a breath of fresh air.

The Scorpio Races on a whole was so alluring! Everything about it had me wanting to dive into the book and appear on Thisby Island to watch everything as it unfolded. The only issue I had - was the ending. It was fabulous- and I get why the author ended it, BUT I guess...call me selfish cuzzz... I really just wanted MORE. Pretty sure that is the sign of a great book right?? Totally Recommend this one to ALL!