The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-1-407129-85-3
Pages: 482
Series: N/A
Type: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Every year the sand on the beaches of Skarmouth turns red from blood during the Scorpio Races. Every year riders capture the savage water horses and race them, and every year only a handful of the entrants survive. When Puck enters the Scorpio Races to try to save her family she doesn't expect to find herself drawn to Sean, the only person able to tame the beasts. But their newfound connection is overshadowed by the danger of the Races.

I have loved Maggie Stiefvater's books ever since I read Shiver. She has an incredible way of creating a world that you can fall into and characters you care about. When I heard this was to be about savage water horses I was thrilled. I grew up with stories of viscious horses from the sea (though mine were kelpies not cappaill uisce) so I couldn't wait to read this, and I loved every page. The storyline has a great steady pace that draws you in, and plenty of twists and turns to make you desperate to see what happens next.

The story focuses on Puck, aka Kate Connolly, who enters the races because her family needs the money. Her parents were killed by the cappaill uisce so Puck and her brothers struggle to look after themselves. By entering the races Puck challenges some long-held views of the locals, not least of all because she's the first girl ever to enter. I really liked Puck. She manages to find a balance between confident and cocky, and I really rooted for her.

Like the author's other books, this switches narrator between Puck and Sean which is great as you get two very different perspectives on both the horses and the races. Sean has an incredible bond with his capall uisce Corr and he has already won the Scorpio Races four times. I liked Sean from the start, but grew fonder of him as you see him work with the horses. There is a big cast of characters here and I would have liked to get to know some of them better, although that may have detracted from Sean and Puck's story.

The ending is outstanding - it takes the tension and drama built throughout the book and brings it to culmination with the race. It is cleverly done and not entirely what I expected, but ends the book really well.

All in all this was an outstanding read and I thoroughly recommend it.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 978-1-444-72262-8
Pages: 418
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1
Type: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Karou is a girl living two lives - the first as a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague, the other as a courier for a monstrous creature named Brimstone who trades wishes for teeth. Karou was raised in Brimstone's store, a mystical place known only as Elsewhere which can be reached through a myriad of doors scattered throughout the world. But the doors to Elsewhere are closing and Karou must find a way to return to her family and discover her true identity along the way.

This is one of those books I'd seen raved about all over so I was looking forward to reading it. On the whole I was very impressed. The book is well written with a cleverly developed plot and believable world. Setting Karou's 'regular life' in Prague is genius as it is a unique city that really suits her. The narrative is full of sparks of humour and keeps you wanting to turn the pages. The idea of wishes in different denominations is brilliant and something I haven't seen done before. Small wishes called scuppies are good for little things like giving itches, whereas larger wishes like gavriels can grant the gift of flight.

There is a big change however for the second half of the book. The first is focused on Karou and her life in Prague, following her around the world on her errands for Brimstone. The second half sees Karou discover her true identity, and is mainly in flashbacks. I still enjoyed the second half, but it is very different to the first half mostly because it is completely in Elsewhere. It is a big shift in style and was a little jarring at first.

Karou is a great lead character. She manages to ground the more fantasy-based characters and has an amazing balance of inner strength and vulnerability. Akiva is an amazing romantic interest, so much better than her ex-Kaz who is mentioned at the start of the book. The characters I really fell in love with though are Zuzana (her human best friend) and Brimstone. I wish there had been more of a focus on Brimstone, and can only hope he has a larger role in the sequel.

The ending felt a little abrupt as it falls straight after Karou has discovered her true identity. It returns to the storyline from the first half of the book, then drops a bombshell and ends. It's a total gamechanger and left me thinking 'huh?'

All in all this was a great read and I can't wait for the sequel.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 46/50