Sienna's Book Reviews #5: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

***** The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater is undoubtedly in my top three favorite authors, and this book reminded me why. She truly blew me away. Every second I wasn't reading about the cool Thisby air; the lapping waves and rocky cliffs, the clomping of hoofbeats silenced by sand...every second I wasn't on Thisby, I wanted to be.

It should be known by anyone reading this that I am a hopelessly hopeless romantic. The fact that the main characters of this book did not meet until (Spoiler alert? Sort of?) page 103; you would then assume, would infuriate me. But, actually, it didn't. The subtlety of the romance between Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly was quietly elegant and violently delicate. It made every meeting of their eyes set your heart on fire, and if their hands should brush, you felt your chest might implode. Their relationship went beyond not only sexual longing but also desperate obsession. Sometimes, two people in love are constantly filled with thoughts centered only on each other, never on themselves, and this is not necessarily a bad thing– this is sort of how the relationship Sam and Grace, the magnificent stars of Maggie Stiefvater's The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, played out. But sometimes, as with Sean and Puck of The Scorpio Races, this sort of fixation; or at least the voicing of this fixation, is not necessary for the reader to understand the depth of these people's love for each other. Sean and Puck's romance was made up of echoes off of beach cave walls and shadows cast by enormous capaill uisce, and it was achingly beautiful.

This being said, there was so much in this book besides the love story that I adored that I canhonestly say I would have read and loved this book– even if it had no romance at all. For me, for a young adult book, that is saying something.

The fear cast upon you by the violent and massive water horses, yet the yearning you feel to ride upon one of them as Sean describes the feeling of flying. The smell of sea air in your nose as you walk along the beach with its blood-tinted waves, the feel of the sharp rocks on your hands. The sound of the people celebrating during the Scorpio festival, the sight of people dancing and the delicious smell, and later, taste, of honey-dripping November Cakes making your hands sticky. The aching you feel when you think of Gabe leaving, of Corr being taken away forever. The affection you feel toward Finn and the sadness in your heart when Fundamental drowns. The sound of Dory Maud's bells as she shakes them in your face, the fondness you feel toward George Holly and his silly sweaters. I could go on and on and on and on.

This book is incredible. This book is brilliant beyond words. Despite the fact that it might put my life on the line, I wish my life was this book.

It's wonderful.

Read it.

My age recommendation for readers: 14+

© 2011