My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds.
Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.
She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.
But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.
BUY ON AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY
REVIEW
Horses, Horses and even more horses! After reading "Riders" by Veronica Rossi I knew that the next book which was going to win me was this one. I can admit in all seriousness that Victoria Scott is the only author capable of writing amazing animal characters in YA. If you have read her other series "Fire & Blood" you'll understand my statement.
In TITANS, Astrid lives with her family in Detroit, where the games of the metal horses are held. Riders participate and bets are made just like in any other horse race. And because of betting Astrid and her family are facing enviction. Her father has almost lost everything and Astrid's sisters are not faring better.
When Rags offers Astrid a chance to participate in the games she will take it, even if it causes her already strained family relationships to become worse.
The biggest part that takes place in this book is not the races, though Padlock was a kick ass TITAN, but how Astrid grew as a character, as also how her family relationships envolved too. It's obvious that Astrid loves her family, though I would expect her mother to be stronger and more supportive, and there are also issues of violence and gambling.
She finds support in Rags who she compares to her grandfather and to Padlock. I loved that horse. Really. Horses, dogs and dolphins are the animals that have shown so far how close to human love can come. The race was a thrilling experience and the other participants had their own small place in the story.
The only part that didn't bother me, and trust me it does when it's not present, was the romance. Astrid DOES NOT fall in love with anyone of the other characters, though there were some pairings in the secondary ones. Those moments were sweet and felt like gems.
Victoria Scott is one of the top authors, I make sure to follow and add her books in my TBR list even before knowing the blurb. TITANS is one of those gems and I recommend it with all my heart! ;)
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