Men in training are injured and killed by the fierce water horses. Mutt bullies Sean, and he severely injures a horse, thinking it is Corr. Riders make blood pledges to participate in the races. Wealthy mainlanders bargain with Malvern for his capall uisce. As the day of the race approaches, the island comes alive with guests, festivals and intense training rituals. Eventually, Sean helps Puck learn to race.

When her mare is in danger because of fierce water horses practicing nearby on the beach, Sean tells her to keep her pony off the beach. Both because she’s female and because she’s racing with her horse, Dove, rather than a capall uisce, she meets with fierce opposition from the locals. She believes if she can win the Scorpio Races, their financial problems will be over and Gabe won’t feel the need to leave. Puck is overwhelmed when she learns Gabe plans to leave them and move to the mainland.

They struggle to put food on the table, and Malvern threatens to evict them. Puck lives with older brother, Gabe, and younger brother, Finn. Malvern refuses to sell Corr and makes it hard for Sean to strike out on his own. He feels a special bond with the capall uisce, as they’ve already won several Scorpio Races together. What he wants more than anything is to purchase Malvern’s water horse, Corr. Sean hates being under Malvern’s thumb and the watchful eye of Malvern’s jealous son, Mutt. He works for the wealthy Benjamin Malvern who owns impressive stables and many other parts of the island. Sean knows how to manage the capall uisce better than anyone in Thisby. Years earlier, water horses killed Sean’s father and Puck’s parents, leaving both kids orphans. These large, vicious creatures emerge hungry from the sea and frequently tear into any human or animal they can find. The small island is famous for its annual Scorpio Races, in which people from miles around race terrifying water horses called capall uisce. Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly are teenagers living on Thisby Island.

The scorpio races book