January 27, 2012

The Scorpio Races

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

"Today, Someone Will Die"



The sea can be both beautiful and deadly, indiscriminate in the lives it takes and the ones it spits out, just like those creatures who stumble from its watery depths onto the sandy shores. And just like the sea, those creatures cannot be held down, bent to our will, nor tamed in any way. But once a year, many men seek to do just that, many men die to achieve just that, and all for the glory of wining The Scorpio Races.

She is the first girl to compete in the races and the first girl expected to die in the races. Many believe her a fool for competing and she can't argue that with them. She doesn't want to race, she doesn't want to die, but she has her reasons for racing and no one can talk her out of it. Though many will try.

Having already won the races four years in a row, there is little doubt from anybody that he won't do so again. But when everything he cares for is riding on the outcome of this race, with the pressure mounting and the competition more important then ever, suddenly he will find that he has more to lose then he ever thought possible.

The Scorpio Races are a deadly tradition held once a year on a tiny island that for the rest of the year is all but forgotten to the out side world. As a story of family, friendships and life it is written in a way that is at once both bluntly realistic and fancifully charming, beautifully blending humor and hardship. At it's core is a love story that builds so naturally starting as someone you see everyday and becoming someone you cannot go a day without seeing. A compelling and unforgettable read.
On sale: 01 November 2011
Price (AU): $24.99
ISBN: 9780545224901
Recommended age: 15+
In a word: Water Horse
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
xx

1 comment: