Mini Reviews / Standalone Sunday

Standalone Sunday | The Scorpio Races

Melissa @ BookNerdMomo51 Comments

standalonesunday

Standalone Sunday is a weekly feature created by Megan @ bookslayerReads that features a standalone novel that you loved or would recommend. Be sure to check out her blog and original post by clicking on the above link! 😊

10626594It 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.

-Goodreads Synopsis (x)

 

This book right here is my favorite by Maggie Stiefvater and the first book I ever read by her. The Scorpio Races deals with the myth of the capaill uisce (water horse) and Maggie so masterfully weaves in that myth with the story of the two main characters Sean and Puck, both of whom have lost their parent(s) and have everything riding on winning the races. However, despite the fact that they both have so much to lose they end up forming a bond and are probably two of my favorite characters ever. Especially Puck, she is so unapologetically herself and I admire that. Plus, don’t even getting me started on Maggie Stiefvater’s writing. I love her writing so much! If you’re more of a fan of standalones but also love fantasy then I highly recommend this.

Have you read The Scorpio Races? Did you like it? If you participate in Standalone Sunday be sure to link me to your post so I can see it. 😊

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51 thoughts on “Standalone Sunday | The Scorpio Races”

  3. Great pick for this week Melissa, and I think if you were aiming to pick a standalone that doesn’t have a lot of recognition (I think we discussed this at some point) then you succeeded because of all of Maggie Stiefvater’s books this is the one I’ve heard the least about.
    I have it on my to-read list, I loved The Raven Cycle series (though I wasn’t too keen on the Shiver series I’ll admit), so I really want to read more of her books and I’ve heard great things about The Scorpio Races, what I have heard about it that is. Plus I love books that deal with myths and fantasy like this, and if it’s anything like The Raven Cycle books I think it’s bound to be a success for me as well! 😀

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    • Thank you, Beth! I think we did talk about it at one point. But yeah it really is the one book by her that is the least talked about. And with the popularity of The Raven Cycle series and the mixed popularity of the Shiver series it kind of gets overshadowed but it’s so fantastic. I’ve only read part of the first book in the Shiver series and enjoyed it but for some reason never finished it lol. As for TRC I loved the first and second book and so need to continue the series. But if you’re looking for another book to read by her then I highly recommend this. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 😊💕

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      • I need to make a note to take part in Standalone Sunday next week. I completely forgot this week until I saw the posts Sunday evening and by then it was a little too late.
        It’s a shame because I loved The Raven Cycle series and that was more than enough to convince me to pick up her others but I still don’t see much about this book.
        I’d highly recommend TRC series, it’s a favourite of mine, and I’m thinking of giving the Shiver series another go as well. Maybe I’ll like it better the second time around
        Thanks Melissa. ❤️ I hope so too! 🙂

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  4. I’ve read this book too and I must say, I unfortunately don’t love it! It was too slow and too… wordy for me? Like I love the world-building, but the protagonists felt quite similar to one another and I just didn’t find it enjoyable to read. I do love Stiefvater, though!

    ALSO I MUST TELL YOU. After your urging I bought The Bone Season on Book Depository (thanks for the tip!). It’ll arrive when I’m out of the country so it’ll be a while still until I read it, but omg I’m so excited. The hardback is beautiful. ❤

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    • I’m sorry you didn’t really enjoy it. I can see what you mean by how it was slow. It did drag at times for me while reading it.
      YAY! I can’t wait to see what you end up thinking of it when you are able to read it. The hardback is definitely gorgeous. I love how they did the covers! 😍

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      • I buddy-read it so it helped me finish the book, but I was definitely the odd one out as everyone else loved it, haha. Still a Stiefvater believer, though. 😛

        I KNOW. I’ve actually seen it in person but didn’t buy it, and I’m super glad I didn’t bc that copy from BD is so cheap. I wonder if they even make a profit?

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      • It’s good that it didn’t turn you off of her other books. All of which I still need to read. I only ever finished half of TRC series 🙈.
        I wonder that too. I think it might be because of the cover change? Since they’re going with new covers and then one special edition to fit the style of the old covers starting with the release of the third book.

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      • I read and liked Shiver and The Raven Boys first, so I know it was an anomaly that I didn’t like The Scorpio Races!

        Ooh, perhaps. I didn’t even know there was a cover change. Sounds like a good way for the publishers to make money, though. 😂

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  6. Oh my god YAAAAAAAASSSSS! This is, by far, my favorite Maggie Stiefvater novel. The writing is exquisitely dark and the characters are so well-done. I love the slow-burn romance between Puck and Sean, but I also love how strong, independent, and capable both of them are. They each have their own story to tell, and luckily, their stories jsut happen to cross paths. I’m SO happy you mentioned this book. It’s in my top 5 favorite YAs of all time, right up there with SoC/Crooked Kingdom and ACOMAF 😀

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    • It’s my favorite as well! I loved the slow burn romance, it’s the perfect example of how I like romance in fantasy books. It was there but it wasn’t and it just made it that much better. Plus, like you said, each character was so strong and independent on their own which was fantastic. I’m glad to see someone else loves it just as much as I did. It’s definitely in my top favorite YA fantasy books too. 😊

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  10. My next Stiefvater will definitely be The Scorpio Races, I’ve heard so many mixed reviews but for some reason that hasn’t really changed my interest in this book. Glad to see you enjoyed this one Melissa, I’ve never heard of the capaill uisce but I do love my mythology. I also need more stand alones in my life 😉

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    • It’s so good! And if you’ve loved her other books there’s a good chance you’ll like it. I hope so anyway 😊.
      I actually hadn’t heard of it before this but I’m the same and love mythology. I feel like I do too. I love series but just don’t have the time to start one right now. 😣

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      • I feel ya on that, I have a few series I would like to start but will have to wait til next year. I didn’t love Maggie’s Shiver series at all but LOVED The Raven Cycle. I’m def reading The Scorpio Races 😃

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      • Same. I’m to the point of putting off ToG until the last book because procrastination and time 😂. I’ve heard such mixed things about her Shiver series. It seems to be a book you either love or hate. I’m with you on TRC, even though I still have two books to read in that series I’ve loved what I did read. 😊

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      • Her Shover series was way too close to Twilight for me honestly. I loved Twilight before the movie was even a thought, I didn’t care to see it done again lol. I’m holding off on The Falling Kingdoms series til next year myself 😉

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      • Oh no. See I was just talking about Twilight with someone the other day and how I loved it so much at one point but won’t read it again for fear of ruining my love for it. Not promising for Shiver if it was even a little similar to Twilight 🙈. I have that series on my TBR. Another one I need to read in the future as well. 😊

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      • Yea it runs parallel to Twilight tbh & just felt like amateur Maggie writing..sorry lol. Very few bloggers I have come across actually enjoyed it but you never know, you may just enjoy it 😉

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      • Boo that sucks. I think I’ll definitely be lowering my expectations when I do read it. I did start it a few months back but never got past a few chapters before I got distracted by another book. 😂🙈

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  17. I haven’t read The Scorpio Races but I’ve read and loved The Raven Cycle! ❤ I think Maggie Stiefvater has this interesting writing style tops with super magical vibes and I can't wait to read her other books! I almost bought the whole Wolf of Mercy Falls series but backed out at the last second because ahem #money haha but I'd definitely give it a try! OH but I heard she's making a sequel? I think I read it on twitter or something, but I might be wrong 😛

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    • You so should! It’s a great book and since you’ve enjoyed some of her other books there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it 😊. She really does. I still have to finish The Raven Cycle series myself and read the Wolf of Mercy Falls books. I think what I love most about her writing is her characters. She’s fantastic when it comes to creating and developing memorable characters. A sequel for what? This book!? 😱
      I know I heard about a companion series for The Raven Cycle.

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      • I’m going to buy it the next time I spot it in the bookstore! ❤ YESSSSS characters like Ronan!! 😛 I don't knoooowwww I'm not even sure hahaha I mean, I thought I read it somewhere or twitter but my memory's all blur now, it's probably hoax though hahaha :') YESSS there will be a new Ronan-centered trilogy and I was like YES PLEASE! ❤

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