I JUST finished reading this FINALLY. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy! A book about racing dangerous Kelpies!? YES PLEASE! Please note, this post contains some spoilers.
Here is the goodreads synopsis so you get the gist if you didn't already know what this book is about:
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.
What I actually really found fascinating about this book was the economy of the Island. You spend so much time waiting and anticipating the actual race ( which i didn't like really but that's what really keeps you reading!), that you learn so much more than just about the characters and the horses. I loved reading about the shops and when it was quiet and then busy when tourists came, and the bakery dynamic, and who can afford what, and which roles they play in the community, what jobs people had, etc etc. SO interesting how she wrote this well enough to spark my own aging imagination in a YA fantasy novel. I'm impressed.
Setting, Setting, Setting. I can just picture this being read in a middle grade English class, and the prof asking for a diorama of the island. It left a lot up to the imagination.
I thought the whole fictional island idea first of all was pretty rad on Stiefvater's part, and I love how she takes a story about water horse legend and makes it her own, but still sticks to some basic characteristics of the mythical creature she writes about.
I also really liked her female MC "Puck". Definitely a strong female character, and the world can never have enough of those. Sean wasn't my favourite male MC of all time ( I liked Finn & Gabe much better!) but I thought they were a nice pairing and I like how the focus of this book was not the love between the MC's as much as it was about the love of horses. We all need a good horse-loving book from time to time.
This actually wasn't a book that I can say I fell in utter love with. I'm giving it a 3/5, but I appreciated how Stiefvater told this story and I think for the YA fans out there- it's worth the read!
Here is the goodreads synopsis so you get the gist if you didn't already know what this book is about:
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.
What I actually really found fascinating about this book was the economy of the Island. You spend so much time waiting and anticipating the actual race ( which i didn't like really but that's what really keeps you reading!), that you learn so much more than just about the characters and the horses. I loved reading about the shops and when it was quiet and then busy when tourists came, and the bakery dynamic, and who can afford what, and which roles they play in the community, what jobs people had, etc etc. SO interesting how she wrote this well enough to spark my own aging imagination in a YA fantasy novel. I'm impressed.
Setting, Setting, Setting. I can just picture this being read in a middle grade English class, and the prof asking for a diorama of the island. It left a lot up to the imagination.
I thought the whole fictional island idea first of all was pretty rad on Stiefvater's part, and I love how she takes a story about water horse legend and makes it her own, but still sticks to some basic characteristics of the mythical creature she writes about.
I also really liked her female MC "Puck". Definitely a strong female character, and the world can never have enough of those. Sean wasn't my favourite male MC of all time ( I liked Finn & Gabe much better!) but I thought they were a nice pairing and I like how the focus of this book was not the love between the MC's as much as it was about the love of horses. We all need a good horse-loving book from time to time.
This actually wasn't a book that I can say I fell in utter love with. I'm giving it a 3/5, but I appreciated how Stiefvater told this story and I think for the YA fans out there- it's worth the read!
Lan | February 13, 2012 at 11:53 PM
I could give or take this book. I think What really ticked me off was when Gabe just decided to go to the mainland and leave his siblings there on their own. And Finn was what younger than 15? That was the end of it for me.
TG | February 15, 2012 at 3:39 AM
I'm reading this one now and enjoying it. I agree with Lan about Gabe, though, although he isn't spoiling the book for me as he isn't the main character. But his decision ticked me off and I hope there's some kind of explanation for it later.
Sophie | April 8, 2012 at 8:14 PM
Hm, this looks good actually, not what I'd usually go for, but I'm intrigued.
Also, I'm new (yes, hello) and would I be mistaken to assume your blog name is a jack johnson reference? I love him.
I would really appreciate it if you could take a look at my blog, I know, I'm sorry to spam, really quite rude, but I would love an opinion. I review books and music and the occasional movie.