I don't think I cared for this book as much as the Fire and Flood series, but I still loved the idea of mechanical horse racing!

Now excuse me while I have a case of denial because hey way to go Victori Scott you tore my heart out and stomped on it because poor Padlock, he's gone and I'm not going to get over that anytime soon yes I got attached to a Mechanical horse I did, and I'm upset.

Oh and this book also deals with rejection from family members and that hit home for me too yeah this book has impacted me in some many ways as poor Astrid is trying so hard to save her family yet they didn't bother support her yet her friend stuck by her all the while.

And oh hey this is yet another happy suffering book way to Mrs Scott you now have pride of place with Micheal Ende & Richard Adams congradulations.

Your book destroyed me.

A summery for Titans:

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.

I'm unable to do a coherant review here sorry.

Titan adalah kuda besi rakitan yang diprogram untuk mengikuti balapan. Dan bisa ditebak ala film-film Hollywood seorang gadis miskin dan sahabat karibnya mendapatkan kesempatan untuk menunggangi sebuah kuda mesin tua yang punya sifat unik. Bersama mereka akan menumbangkan monopoli kuda pacu mesin yang biasanya cuma bisa dimenangkan golongan kaya.

Buku ini ditulis dengan rapi tapi gak ada greget. Semua serba standar seperti keluar dari draft template. Ganti nama dan detail lainnya, kita gak akan merasa kehilangan sisi uniknya. Tak ada plot twist mendebarkan, karakter yang umum aja gampang kita temuin dan ending yang gampang ditebak.

decent story and writing and characters. I saw one review complaining that it was just cribbing off Maggie Stiefvater's Scorpio Races but really the only similarity is horse racing sooooo....that didn't really seem like a rip off.

I liked the way the love triangle went a lot. like a lot. I liked the "horse". I liked the old dudes. I liked her mom and her weird gardening in the neighbor's at night. I liked the depressed economy but how it wasn't the whole book. I liked the make over and society behavior training that also wasn't the whole plot.

it wasn't great but it was fully readable and had some interesting bits.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Titans is amazing, I adored the book and everything that came with it, and...

I want a Titan of my own as well.... Then again, I don't have horse riding experience, so I'll probably fall straight onto the ground face first. I'll stick with those wooden sticks that only have a horse head.

Here's what I adored and loved about Victoria Scott's latest novel (this is my first time reading her works....):

• Mechanical horses, and it's not just a mechanical horse for experimental purposes. The mechanical horses, known as Titans in the book are horses used for racing. They not only resemble real horses, but they have emotions as well, and that's a little scary. The Kentucky Derby just got a new twist.


• Victoria Scott almost always has a dash of humor in her characters' dialogue. I think this takes talent.


• I adored each and every one of the major characters in the story. And if I didn't like them at first, I loved them by the end. That says something.

We have Astrid, a girl living an extremely rough life with everything on the line and sometimes scavenging to make a living. Being able to race in the Titan Derby allows her the chance to turn her rough life around, and she is determined to do what it takes within honorable boundaries. She also has a talent with math and can probably Calculus better than I ever did.

Then there's Magnolia, Astrid's best friend since childhood with the same amount of problems as Astrid if not more. But despite all of that, there is a strong bond of friendship between the two girls and Magnolia is there for Astrid every step of the way throughout the race, encouraging and supporting her. She is also hilarious and basically makes everything seem much better than they really are.

Victoria also introduces us to Rags, one of the key players who started the whole Titans spiel for Astrid (okay, he also started the whole Titans spiel in the first place) and allowing her the opportunity to race in the derby. He's a grumpy old man who comes across as overly crabby at first, but is secretly warm, fuzzy, and grandpa-ish.

Another key player to the whole Titans spiel is Barney, and he is definitely not the purple dinosaur from childhood. Although to be honest... he certainly reminds me of Childhood Barney in a weird way.

And later completing the ensemble, Victoria eventually introduces us to Lottie, a wealthy lady who has a history with Rags and gives off an "I seem intimidating because of my status, but I'm not that intimidating" vibe. She is also one of the few people who has hopes for Astrid early in the races and offers to be Astrid's sponsor, along with teaching her (and Magnolia) proper etiquette among the upper classes. Lottie is almost a surrogate mother outside of Astrid's home.

But even though they are all different from each other and normally wouldn't be caught dead together, the five of them click well throughout the duration of the race, forming a lasting friendship. The combination of friendship with the aspect of mechanical horses put together makes Titans a fantastic read for all ages.

This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts

Victoria Scott has a writing style that I really enjoy and can easily fall back into after being away for a while. I absolutely adored her Fire&Flood series and this one gave me just as much entertainment and feels as that series did. The concept was incredibly entertaining and I really loved the creativity behind it. I grew to love each and every character with their flaws and oh my – my heart broke toward the end. I adored the friendship between Magnolia and Astrid – two girls staying strong no matter what: brilliant! Highly recommend this standalone!

"Astrid Sullivan has always been in love with the Titans- mechanical horses that race in her neighborhood. Since she was a young teen, she would go to races and watch them, not daring to wish that someday she could be a part of it. Her family, and many families around her, are barely hanging on to their homes. For people like Astrid's father who lost money betting on the Titans, the races are both intoxicating and debilitating. When Astrid gets an opportunity to race, she will put everything on the line to save her family, her neighborhood, and herself." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=58807

3.5 stars