Carnivorous Horse Race?? (The Scorpio Races review | Maggie Stiefvater)

[@onceuponabook7838]

This book has lived rent-free in my head from the day it came out, and I still wave the flag for a movie adaptation.

[@yiannis5972]

Honestly I love all of her books but I think you will enjoy the raven boys far more than shiver

[@CrisM779]

You guys geeking over a book always makes me want to add it to my reading list! The premise is so interesting and it sounds like the story was in good hands.

[@akernis3193]

It's always a delight to listen to you guys talk about stories you enjoyed to read, so this was a treat ^^

[@novembermedusa]

I reread this every other November when I feel like it. I also tried to bake the november cakes Puck eats in the book, that was fun. I loved the romance, but omg I wanted MORE. I adore the atmosphere. I did not find a book like that since.

[@denderrant]

10:48 Damn, that sucks, Will. If nothing else, at least you had stable employment. ... Sorry the horses were so unstable tho.

[@Lolz4249]

Loved this episode. I'm gonna throw out a rec that gives Ice Planet Barbarian vibes. Ensnared by Tiffany Roberts. I read this series in a haze while recovering from covid and it was absolutely bonkers in the best way. I think yall would have a blast with it lmao. Happy holidays!

[@focornali4349]

Hearing Will describe horses was hilarious!

[@hylianterrier8650]

I was so happy to see that you read and liked this. I didn't expect you to read this for whatever reason, idk why. I loved this book when I first read it years ago, and I still love it today. The author's descriptions for the water horses were always so surreal and terrifying to me; Stiefvater made their wrong-ness seem to overt, and especially Skata who, to me at least, seemed somehow more "wrong" than most of the other water horses. Like, from the moment she was described, I knew she was gonna kill someone horribly. (Also, I just love Stiefvater's writing - I gotta read this book again.) I was bawling my effing eyes out for like the entire last chapter. The whole time I didn't know what Corr was going to choose, but I wanted him to make the same choice as Maria did. I just like my happy endings, and I feel like the characters in this book really earned theirs. Corr's choice didn't feel wrong to me because of that, and I'll die on that hill. Also, not sure if this is right, but my old book club and I (which was headed by a librarian who did research on authors and stuff) pronounced the author's last name like Steef-va-tur. Hope that helps?

[@hannao4093]

I'm a younger sibling but I've seen all the stress and shit that my older sister has gone through, because of that I will always defend Gabe and say that he didn't abandon his siblings but did what was best for himself.

[@lonnie4827]

Can I suggest a YA throwback that I think you all will love: The House of Skorpion by Nancy Farmer. It’s so good. Can’t believe I purchased it at the scholastic book far with one of those floppy pencils.

[@eugenebezpalko1631]

Still reading Harrow the Ninth before I can watch that review, so I will suffice with this for now. Keep doing amazing job :)

[@julesv.2434]

So glad you guys read this! I’ve had this book for a while but hadn’t gotten around to it. I will now! I LOVE Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle series and Dreamer Trilogy (which are connected series-TRC comes before TDT). A word of warning-though I connect deeply with much of her writing I tried Shiver a few years ago and it was NOT for me (it’s her first published work and-to me-it FELT like it. But you may feel differently). If you’re not looking to take on a series from her, though, her stand-alone All The Crooked Saints sounds great (though I haven’t read it yet myself, I definitely plan to!)

[@lesyablackbird]

i think the ending could have been corr goes into the sea to heal and then once a year for the duration of the races, he comes back to his human.

[@mediaxstatic]

Thank you for doing this review. I read the book when it came out and loved it. You have inspired me to reread. Btw, I believe Maggie has said she pronounces her name as Steve-Otter.

[@lpst4405]

This book is one of mine "get out of your slump" kinda book. I just love it.

[@evgeniyaseminenko8594]

I finally read the book to watch this video, cuz I try not to spoil the book if you like it, so I can watch the video later. I was never a horse girl, so getting into it took a bit of work, even tho usually first 3rd of the book is my favourite, but I loved it in the end. Also for an american/blind girl romance, there are a couple of phrases from Shawn that read to me that the American stayed there to have a stable with Shawn. It said something like "he belong to the island now". And the american's comments about the blind girl, about how it's ok she is not a housewife material made me read it that they did get together. I actually thought it was quite realistic how main characters did not know the clean resolution to their story (at least when the novel ended), so the reader gets to expand on it on their own.

[@aspiringheroine]

Haven't read the book, but this reminds me of the Germanic/Scandinavian (?) nixie/nykur. I think that's also where Frozen 2 got the inspiration for the Nokk (water spirit). Either way, the worldbuilding/mythos sounds really impressive like you guys say. Love the way you dissect books, makes me feel like I've read it myself. Much love!🤍

[@QueenViolet]

you guys should read maggie stiefvater's other series the raven boys.

[@slormworm4732]

The Scorpio Races Bicycle AU

[@RadellasReadingRoom]

I read this because you were so positive about it in the year wrap-up (and I needed a good death competition book for a readathon prompt) Sorry, Maria, but I definitely picked up on Gabe and Peggy having an affair. I don't think it played into his reasons for leaving but I definitely got the impression something was going on. Something you didn't touch on but I saw as another hint that wasn't fleshed out was the 3 Maud sisters as sort of The Fates or, specifically, the sister goddesses in Good Omens. Like, when they first appear and one is going back to bed, while another is just getting up and the third has been up for a while. And Dory has a couple of moments that allude to precognition - saying that the race is enough without Sean as well and obviously the betting. Also, I love how it's these other, older women who are putting a feminist construction on Puck; she doesn't care.

[@grace-leigh-e]

im have to read this for school and, "He pumps his hips enthusiastically"

[@Louigiart]

If you want to read something really similar to Scorpio races, a far wilder magic is also really good!

[@milagrosalonso5801]

I really really enjoyed the prose and imagery and skill of the author but this book lost me towards the end because it felt like Sean had to experience so many more hardships and obstacles (with some being like really traumatizing in that he had to watch so many of these capaill uisce that he loved die brutally) throughout the whole thing while Puck never really struggled with anything of real value or consequence. And maybe I'm misremembering but when she did struggle she was always rescued by other people or like others had to sacrifice something to help her??? like even thinking about the moment where she's on the rock and the men are telling her she can't race, she isn't able to pull herself out of that situation, Sean has to come stand up for her and then they leave her alone. And again during the race Sean had to deal with Mutt all by himself while Puck went on ahead to win, and she only got her horse good enough to win because she had started training WITH SEAN earlier. And then to see her win and go up to Sean's boss with the three things she wanted felt very much like a "girlboss" ending to me because it felt like she didn't really earn the win. I genuinely do like Puck as a character (and I adored Finn!!) but when I finished the book it almost felt like the story was originally written with just Sean as a lead and Puck was added afterwards to have that dual-POV but they weren't balanced out at all. Like during Tommy's funeral Puck finally realizes the "true meaning of the races" and this is supposed to be her big "self-revelation" moment I honestly thought she was going to drop out of the race or somehow switch to a capaill uisce LMAO because she's realized that yeah it really isn't about the money it's about the capaill uisce and the island but nope she showed up to race on her regular horse anyway lol I do like the idea of Corr going back to the ocean at the end but after seeing Sean suffer so much the entire time just to end up not even finishing the race and with his beloved horse with a broken leg who will never race again I just wanted him to have one single W and I was so happy to see Corr come back to him :(

[@willowdove6703]

I am so hype for this review I loved this book! I actually own it cause I loved it so much I bought it!

[@palor2911]

I love Maggie's writing style. The way she writes makes me want to grab each word and taste them. I also love how Maggie knows how to end a book. Instead of books that go on and on and not knowing when to end the book, Maggie ends the book on a chapter of a person's life. However, the only thing I wasn't fond of Maggie's writing is the plotting. There's not much going on in her books, even though her romances are healthy, sweet, and innocent.

[@JustASunfish]

Raven boys!

[@QueenViolet]

YES!

[@malikapollard3618]

Please read the all souls trilogy. It also has a series out❤❤

[@Vengeful135]

New haircut for Will? Trim his beard? Idk. But my man looking extra Rugged and Handsome today.

[@line_vondensternen337]

Stiefvater is german and means stepfather

[@marocat4749]

yay maneating horses!

[@seansalaam]

@11:37 what horse trauma have you been through

[@DefaultSeaTurtle]

Asking someone what they do for work: ❌ Rarely an interesting answer. ❌ Does not lend itself easily to further discussion. ❌ There are more to people than their jobs. Asking someone what horse trauma they have: ✅ No boring answers. ✅ Everyone has some. ✅ Have you ever seen a horse? Those things are horrifying.

[@haggisa]

@@DefaultSeaTurtle😂😂😂

[@kuwintinkeristie532]

Her surname means Stepfather. See it now?

[@kaf8618]

I actually hate to be this person but Stiefvater confirmed the Peggy/Gabe thing in an interview (I only know bc my friends picked up the vibe when I didn't and I had Maria's reaction--get outta here! --but they pulled receipts on me :I

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

WELL DAMN. That is freakin wild. - Maria

[@holzausgabe8812]

"Stiefvater " is the german word for "Stepdad".

[@BoReads]

In my opinion, nice concept, very poor execution. 400 pages of setup that I found frankly dull for a few pages of an actual race. I felt misled. 1/5 Good recipe on the back though.

[@morganstiefvater2019]

Stiefvater is a German word, not Norwegian. So no, you were not pronouncing it correctly.