Just finished my ninth TAYSHAS book, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. It has been my least favorite on my TAYSHAS mission so far. It took reading more than half of the book to finally get somewhat interested in it, and the ending was reasonably predictable if you paid attention while reading.
The setting: an island off the coast of Ireland in an indeterminate year. Cars exist, but they are few and far between.
The main characters: Kate "Puck" Connoly and Sean Kendrick. Puck has two brothers, and her parents have been dead for some time. They are poor, and the lienholder on their house has come calling. For the entirety of the book, I pictured her as a 12 year old, but she is actually older. Sean is known on the island for having a connection to horses, both regular horses and the ones who come from the sea. His father is also dead. He wants nothing more than to own his beloved horse, Corr, and to answer to no one but himself.
The premise: Every year on November 1, there is a horse race. This is no ordinary race, though. In the waters off the course of this island, capaill uisce, or water horses live. They live under the water, and once a year, they come onto the land and wreak havoc. The best way I can describe them is as cannibals. So, this horse race...only those who think they are brave sign up. They have to be brave because several people are killed by these horses every year. These horses are incredibly fast, much faster even than Secretariat. Sean is a four time champion, and the odds are heavily in his favor. If he wins, he can buy his beloved Corr. Puck is a girl, and they don't want her to race. If Kate wins, she can save her house, and her family. Sean helps Puck train, and they find that they may like each other.
Who will win? If you can make it through the 405 pages, you will find out.
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