5 Reasons Why You Should Read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (with a bonus illustration)
I first heard about The Scorpio Races in a writing workshop a handful of years ago. The first line was read aloud as a great example of how to start a book.: “It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.”
Slight confession: I totally thought the book was about galactic drag racing.
Cars aren’t my thing. I’d be happy in a buggy, so I only now braved it. And can’t believe I missed out for so long. But here’s 5 reasons why you should ignore any preconceptions you might have, leave your day job, visit to your nearest bookstore, and buy all copies:
1. The island of Thisby sounds like the perfect inspiration for an artistic getaway. Gray skies? Check. Fishy smells? Check. Weird people? Check. Warm, gooey, honey filled November cakes? Check.
It’s the details that bring this setting to life.
2. Hullo?? Magical seahorses!!
They sound just as awesome as unicorns, except a lot more frightening and bloodthirsty and…okay…maybe not quite like unicorns. But still.
3. The long, slow romance between Puck and Sean Kendrick. Not all loves are loud. Not all loves need the burning tingles to be real. In a world where our entertainment always shows us burning passion, I enjoyed the quiet, subtle romance.
4. The relationship between Sean and his capaill uisce really depicted for me the tenuous connection between man and nature. Also, the relationship between Puck and her brothers–like her, I’d do anything for my siblings.
5. The horse culture felt so real. Granted, I only rode horses for a couple years in elementary school since my friend owned a horse. And even then, I was half terrified of the mondo beast. But the culture totally reminded me of my horse phase because it felt so authentic.
Bonus: That last paragraph of the book. This was me:
This Post Has 5 Comments
There are so many books about various supernatural creatures, but this remains the only one I think I’ve read with a focus on water horses. I wonder why they aren’t in more books? Is it because it would be hard to write a romance if the love interest is a horse? Werewolves seem to manage okay. 🙂
You know what we don’t see a lot of either? Centaurs. We get the occasional side character, but no romance with them. Maybe it’s a horse thing? But horses are kind of sexy/romantic. The whole running wild in the wind, hair being tossed, muscles bulging with each powerful step. Much easier to get horses to be romantic than a selkie (half-seals, which, seriously. How are seals sexy/romantic? The slimy blubber throws me off).
It’s a mystery. 🙂 Horse-type paranormal creatures were definitely robbed of their time to shine when paranormal romances were at their most popular. Who knows, maybe the future will change that? Definitely more romantic than seals. 🙂
Seriously. I had a 1 stuffed Pegasus (pegasi? Pegasea?) and 4 unicorns growing up. I’ve always been partial to them 🙂 If you hear of a Pegasus or centaur or magical sea horse romance, let me know- I’d read it!! 😉
Sadly I don’t know of any, but if I ever do you’ll be the first to know. 🙂