The Scorpio Races

De: Maggie Stiefvater

Narrado por: Steve West, Fiona Hardingham

With her trademark lyricism, Maggie Stiefvater turns to a new world, where a pair are swept up in a daring, dangerous race across a cliff—with more than just their lives at stake should they lose.

©2011 Maggie Stiefvater (P)2011 Scholastic Audio

Simply Bewitching!

I admit, I was very skeptical about The Scorpio Races, (I wasn't a big fan of Shiver) and possibly would have put off reading it even longer if it wasn't for amazon sending me two free audible credits. I thought, why not give it a go, since it's free!

I have one word for everything The Scorpio Races lead me to feel: MAGICAL.

It was breathtaking, heart-wrenching and lovable.

The audio-book was AMAZING, the music (created by Maggie herself) and the two voice actors who played Puck and Sean were first class. They had all the different voices and the right emotions at the right times aced, which made the experience all the more magical.

Fans of Mercy Falls trilogy will either love or dislike The Scorpio Races; Maggie mentions in her section at the end of the audio book that it is very different from the Mercy Falls trilogy, and doesn't have kissing every second page (her words not mine!).

Well one thing for sure is that all the years of Maggie's hard work and research has paid off, this book is AMAZING, I'm now a fan for life.  (You've achieved one thing Maggie! I felt like I was there, and I'm going to be trying to get the salt out of my hair for weeks!)

I loved this book so much that even though I have audio, I'm going to have to go buy a hardcover copy, because I just have to have it! The cover is beautiful and after reading a few reviews I'm interested to see how some things are spelled, since I was hearing the pronunciation of capaill as: 'kapal-ishka' I always wondered why Holly was having a hard time with the pronunciation, but after seeing the spelling, I understand!

I think that reading The Scorpio Races would lead to an all new experience after listening to the audio-book and I'm excited to plunge into world Maggie created all over again.

The island was amazing, the characters were fantastic, the horses were breathtaking - both of land and sea! and especially the bonds that Maggie created, simply bewitching.

Gabe, I just wanted to punch him! In the end I understood him and his reasons, but still wasn't that impressed. Finn was adorable and I want a little brother just like him! (Maggie said she wouldn't be writing anymore books in this world, ever. But I would love to see a book with Finn as the main character, hell actually I wouldn't mind a book featuring Holly either) Holly was a hoot and I loved Steve West's American voice for him! I adored so many characters, and I'll keep listing them all if I continue.

I haven't forgot Puck and Sean either... the slow build up of their relationship was fantastic, no insta-love here! Watching them ever so slowly shift themselves into each others lives and how highly they came to think of the other while thinking so little of themselves, enraptured me. I found myself being tugged along with them at the slow pace, content to let their relationship unravel and not screaming at them to hurry up (which I'm guilty to doing at a lot of books that are either to slow or fast).

Then there was Sean's simple one liners that had so much impact and meaning that managed to not only set Puck's heart a-flutter, but mine also!

And Puck was such a whirlwind against Sean's steady self and seeing them slowly come together is well worth the read, and ooh boy the tension!

I could go on and on about The Scorpio Races, but would probably just end up repeating myself, However this is an absolute must read! If you are one of the skeptical people like I was, read it - you won't regret it!

The Scorpio Races gets a special place in my heart residing amongst my favourites.

Excellent story with fantastic dual narration

What did you love best about The Scorpio Races?

The characters - from Puck and Sean, through secondary characters like George Holly and Finn, not to speak of Dove and Corr (as the horses, both ordinary and water horses, are certainly characters in their own right).

What did you like best about this story?

The narrative: the two viewpoints added nuances and shifts in experience that, while separate, united seamlessly into one narrative.

Which character – as performed by Steve West and Fiona Hardingham – was your favorite?

I can't pick! I would have to each Sean and Puck - Sean performed by Steve West, and Puck by Fiona Hardingham.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending was beautiful, and the race itself, though a long time coming, was an excellent culmination of a lyrical, well-written, and beautifully read book.

Any additional comments?

Recommended, without reservation.

Please tell me there is a followup?

I absolutely adored this book! So much good character development and I literally held my breath at the end! I love an author that spends time making you really see their vision. This was a great followup to Maggie's Mercy Falls series. Thank you!

Pretty good young adult book

What did you love best about The Scorpio Races?

The love story between the main characters is very organic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sean - one of the two main characters, his story touched me a bit more than Puck's, but both characters are extremely likable.

What aspect of Steve West and Fiona Hardingham ’s performance would you have changed?

Steve was very good. Fiona's voice was pleasant, but her cadence bothered me. Throughout most of the book she would say a few words and then pause and then say a few more with the end result being pauses where none belonged. I'm not sure what caused this because there were a couple of spots where she didn't do it. Both narrators had British accents and had to occasionally do an American accent for one character - both did a pretty passable American accent, although Steve's was slightly better.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several, but one of my favorites was when Puck and Sean rode Corr.

Any additional comments?

I thought the book started a little slow, but stick with it because it ends up being very good. There was something about the language that made it feel like the young adult book that it is, but it was still an enjoyable read for me as an adult.

Took me by surprise!

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book but it definitely surprised me with thrilling twists! It pulled me into a strange yet realistic world that fascinated me. I couldn’t stop listening and finished the book in two days. I won’t spoil anything by saying that I have NEVER before heard of any story or description that painted a horse as being monstrously terrifying. I LOVE being surprised by something new and this entire book was most definitely a new experience for me. I loved the writing, and the character development. And both the narrators did an excellent job! It’s hard to find a woman’s voice that is as pleasant to the ear as the low timber of a man’s voice can be, and she was superbly wonderful! The author impresses me with her many talents and skills. I was surprised to learn she composed and played the fun music that I had so enjoyed for this audio production. Wow!

Really enjoyed it!

It took me forever to pick the newest book I wanted to listen to and was happy that I did. Maggie has amazing talent for description. Painting a picture, yet leaving just enough to the imagination. I liked that it wasn't a sappy love story. The only thing I thought was strange (might just be me) was that the male narrator sounds so similar to the man that narrated "The Silkworm" and "Cuckoo's calling" that if I became distracted while listening I would repeatedly think I was listening to another story.

This book and audio are truly magical.

Naturally, I felt the draw to re-read THE SCORPIO RACES in October and November. It’s been a while since my first read and to this day, this is still one of the audiobooks I push the most due to its amazing narrators (Steve West as Sean and Fiona Hardingham as Puck) and of course, Maggie Stiefvater’s gorgeous prose and amazing story-telling.

A book about horse races. Not something I’d normally gravitate to much less fall in love with, but Maggie’s magical realism is supreme. There’s so much more to this book than just horse races — mythical water horses, the first girl to enter the annual Scorpio Races, a fight for the proper place in the world, bravery, loyalty, love. THE SCORPIO RACES is just the kind of book that draws you in and really gets you lost in the world that the author creates. Both times I’ve read this book, I could truly feel like I was on Thisby, watching these characters, running with the horses. I could almost taste the salt of the sea and feel the chilly November wind in my hair. Just thinking back on it now brings all of those feelings back and this book is definitely one I just love to tuck myself into.

This was actually my second time not only reading the book but listening to the audio. After reading it for the first time via audiobook, I couldn’t get it out of my head. The voice actors were just amazing and really brought the book to life. There’s no way I could read this book again and not have it be through the audiobook. It was a very familiar experience re-reading in the same format (lately I’ve been reading in print the first time around and then re-reading via audio, most often) and yet it was really a brand-new experience as well. Firstly, somehow in the this crazy reading world of mine, I had forgotten how the book actually ends. Obviously I knew it ended with the Scorpio Races themselves, but… did Sean win? Did Puck win? Did someone die? Did something insane happen? Somehow I didn’t remember the details and I don’t know how that happened but it did. That was kind of a good thing in a way though. The ending was suspenseful and emotional and like a brand new book. The second thing was that during my first read, I really wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into. I had a brief understanding of what the book was about but I really wasn’t sure what the feel was going to be like or where the story would go. It was nice to know exactly where I was putting myself when picking this book up for the second time (well, aside from the ending, apparently) so it felt much more secure and there was a lot more excitement on my part as well.

I really just LOVE everything about this book. I was a bit hesitant during my first read simply because I didn’t know what to expect. THE SCORPIO RACES does have its action but it’s also a very character-driven book. It caught me by surprise when I first read it and I felt like it took a while to get into but knowing that during my re-read and pining for these characters and the magnetism they have towards one another (and to me as a reader), I was already head over heels for the both of them and for this entire story and setting and feeling before I even started.

THE SCORPIO RACES might end up being a re-read every year book for me! I absolutely loved reading it during the months that it took place. I think the more I read this book, the more I’ll fall in love with it. If you’re looking for a great audiobook, this is definitely one I’d recommend to sweep you off your feet!

This is my favorite book, better than I remember.

I love this book more more that I've learned to it after not reading it for 4 years.

Excellent

I loved this book. Riveting. Tense, creative, compelling. I’m excited for the rest of the books!

Love Horses? This is it!

I was taken aback by how the author incorporated the old myths of the water horses. My favorite subject I hadn't visited since I was a child. Now add a race, the love of the sea, and just the relationship of horses to their humans. Author brought to life everything a horse lover is all about and with such vividness! I will read this again and again and be so happy when I'm stuck behind a desk rather than on the back of my favorite red horse! Wow! It's so beautiful as I ride along the beach with my red kryptonite.