Book Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: None
Publisher: Scholastic
Released: October 18, 2011
Website: http://maggiestiefvater.com/

Book Summary:

It 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.

Technically classified as young adult fantasy this book seemed real. The water horses in this book are based on mythological creatures but Maggie wrote them in such a way that I wouldn't be surprised to see them coming up out of the sea the next time I visit the ocean.  A testament to what an amazing writer Maggie is.

Due to the fact that I loved Maggie's Mercy Falls werewolf series, the Scorpio Races has been high on my want to read list.  Although completely different than the Mercy Falls series the Scorpio Races did not disappoint.  The Scorpio races is less romance and more about the horses, the island, the people and the races themselves.

I found myself rooting for both Kate and Sean and hoping somehow they could both win the race.  Ultimately I found the ending of the book to be very satisfying.

There is some violence in this series due to the fierce, untamed nature of the water horses (but violence in books doesn't bother me the way sex and language does).

I started Maggie's Books of Faeries series but never got further than the first chapter of Lament. I think I'm going to give that series another try because this book proved to me that Maggie is a phenomenal writer.

Rating: 4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend

Content: some language and violence

Source: Download from Audible.com

Also by Maggie Steifvater:
The Wolves of Mercy Falls



Books of Faerie

Book Giveaway: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater #BIR2011

There are a lot of paranormal young adult books out there now days, many of them blend together and I don't remember which story line goes with which book.  This was not the case with the Wolves of Mercy Falls.  Maggie Stiefvater is an amazing writer and I have really enjoyed her Wolves of Mercy Falls Series. See my review of Shiver HERE, Linger HERE, Forever HERE.

Title: Forever
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls Book 3 of 3
Publisher: Scholastic
Released: July 12, 2011

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Giveaway Details
2 winners will each receive a copy of Forever
Open to US only
Ends 12/31/11


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Content: Pushed the limit of my comfort zone on language and innuendo.

Be sure to stop by the BIR2011 blog to read and interview and enter the giveaway for today's featured book Divergent by Veronica Roth: http://bestiveread.blogspot.com/2011/12/bir2011-divergent-interview-giveaway.html

Book Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Overall I must say I am very pleased with this conclusion to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I'm really not much into critique writing styles since I read for entertainment but I think Maggie Stiefvater is one of the best young adult writers out there.  Her writing is beautiful.

There isn't much I can write about this series that won't be a spoiler.  Cole and Isabelle stole the show for me.  The ending was left open which has disappointed some people but was satisfying to me.

This series has some content issues for younger readers - there is language (especially when Cole is narrating) and implied sex, talk of sex, etc.

Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Source: Audible.com download

Content: Pushed the limit of my comfort zone on language and innuendo.

#BIR2010 - Book Giveaway: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Linger
By Maggie Stiefvater
Released July 13, 2010
Published by Scholastic
http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

Giveaway Details:
Open to US only
Ends 12/31
Please fill out form to enter:

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love - the light and the dark, the warm and the cold - in a way you will never forget.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater is a great sequel. It's hard to top a book like Shiver but Linger gives a good attempt.

I really enjoyed the plot line and the characters in Linger. The characters were all flawed or injured in one way or another and yet all likable. The plot moved along quickly and kept my interest from start to finish. If you liked Shiver then read Linger. Book 3 Forever comes out 9 months from today on July 12th. If you haven't started the series just wait until the release of Forever comes closer since Linger ends on a cliffhanger and left me wanting the next book.

Rating: 4.5 Stars - a great read - but please see the content info.

Content: A little language scattered throughout. No actual sex scene but teen sex is implied during several conversations and there was plenty of innuendo and characters sleeping together without actually "sleeping together". I'm saying 16+ but I would probably wait until my daughter is 18 or perhaps even married before I would suggest this series to her.

Source: Audio download from Audible.com