The cover is gorgeous and I really wanted to love this book but it just didn't happen. The story felt disjointed and the rhythm off sync. I plan on trying again at the end of the month in case it was me!

I recieved this ARC courtesy of Netgalley

I really enjoyed this quick and fast paced read from Mary Weber.

As a lot of readers have expressed, I was expecting something a little bit more like The Hunger Games and I was surprised to find Rhen a very engaging and determined character.

I enjoyed the familial dynamic being more front and center than the romance and I will definitely be seeking out more works by Mary Weber.

I think this book would make a fantastic Book Battle club read choice !

3.5*
What’s not to like about a tale of a girl going up against the boys in an all male contest? In Caldon the girls are relegated to become wives and mothers and the lofty pursuits of college and a career are left to the young men. Rhen is not content with the status quo and wants to show she is as good as, or better than, her male counterparts.

When the annual invitation to the mysterious maze contest comes, Rhen decides to enter dressed as a boy. Her cousin Seleni is not about to be left behind so she joins in the competition deception.

In Caldon there are two social groups – the wealthy who want to compete for pride and the chance to boast, and the poor who are desperate to win the college scholarship that is the reward for the winner. Rhen is from a poor family and her mother is ill. She is a budding scientist and wants desperately to go to school to find a cure for her mother’s illness.

The labyrinth is filled with misdirection and threats from creatures. Succeeding takes the ability to think on your feet and to use intelligence to solve the puzzles and clues. Participants are divided into groups and Rhen and her group must work together at the same time as defending themselves from members of their own group who are intent on eliminating the competition.

One can’t help but root for Rhen who uses her mind to search for clues to the mysterious illness debilitating her mother. Her clandestine forays to examine corpses starts the book off to a strong start. She later uses her skill at deduction to help survive the maze. Lute is the local boy who had to quit school to go to work to provide for his widowed mother and family. He’s the strong silent type who will stand by Rhen. He is reliable, hard-working and the kind of guy one can’t help but like. His devotion to his mother and his disabled brother say a great deal about his self-effacing character. Someone else has a claim on Rhen’s affections but she may have other inclinations. Vincent was once Rhen’s good friend but his new demands on her complicate things. Rhen is focused on one thing only – winning the contest. Should she win, she still would be faced with the obstacle of wanting to attend the all-male college.

Weber’s book promotes female empowerment. It champions girls who reach for more. It also highlights dedication to family and care for those with special needs. The competition itself isn’t quite as intense as expected but there are some surprises in store for those involved with the contest. The concept and the characters are strong even if the paranormal element was disappointingly downplayed and the contest buildup was not quite fulfilled.

I just couldn't finish this one. It wasn't what I expected and the material was too graphic for me. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

To Best the Boys by Mary Weber is a young adult fantasy that I couldn’t help but think was a bit like taking The Handmaid’s Tale and mixing with The Hunger Games. This is a lighter read than either mentioned but it does take place in a male dominated society which runs an annual competition.

Rhen Tellur is unlike other girls her own age who only train to run a household and please a husband. Rhen instead is out surveying corpses and trying to come up with a cure to her mother’s disease working alongside her father in his laboratory wanting nothing more than to become a scientist herself.

Every year the citizens receive an invitation for all teenage boys to come compete to win a scholarship to the all male university. The labyrinth is by no means easy to complete and not all entering will make it out but Rhen decides that she needs to do whatever she can to change her own future and win that scholarship so dressing as a boy along with her cousin Rhen enters this year’s competition.

The world building in this one with the treatment of women in the society could really remind you of any time in history that has women barefoot and pregnant and off in the kitchen. Heck what am I saying? There are still areas and women treated as less than in today’s world so as far as that goes it gave it a realistic feel. Rhen then became that voice in the crowd that refuses to be treated as less and stands up for what she wants in an interesting fantasy story way by competing in the male tournament. There was plenty of action and adventure to the story to keep the pages turning and you can’t help but root for Rhen “to best the boys”!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I think a different reader could really love this book, but it wasn't quite for me. It was a very fun read, and I flew through it really quickly, but unfortunately it wasn't something that I fell in love with, and I am a little sad about that. However, it had so many good qualities to it and overall it was a very enjoyable book! I am glad that I read it, and I am super happy that other people will get to read this when it is published.

First of all, I adored the girl power and the themes of women in science! It isn't a topic I see discussed very much in books that I have read, and I loved seeing it here, especially in a light fantasy setting. There were lots of moments where I found myself cheering on the characters and I think there are so many themes in here that are not only important, but accessible in a story that seems very light and not serious on the surface, but carries some really great messages about the strength and power of women, and different kinds of women, that are very very true. Despite this, the story is admittedly very light-hearted, and for me personally, that is just something that I don't have a particular preference for.

I enjoyed the characters and their relationships. Rhen was an awesome protagonist, and I loved her passion and wit and her care for her mother. She reads slightly younger, even though I think she was supposed to be older, but I still enjoyed reading from her perspective. Her ambition to become the first female scientist and get into the university to save her ill mother is very inspiring and I think a lot of people will take away something from this book. I also really loved Seleni, her friend, who demonstrated a very different kind of strength but they supported each other in all things. Their friendship was so beautiful and it was so nice to see it here in this book.

On a less positive note, I did think that this book was very predictable and the world was a little underdeveloped. I was confused about the setting, what kind of time period it was in and where it was even set. There were mentions of a king and parliament, and other parts of the world that I didn't really understand because the reader is given no real geographical understanding of the world. Plus, the magic system felt a little random to me and really wasn't that necessary to the story. There were some mythical creatures in the world that I didn't really see the purpose of, and there were some random mentions of magic, but I never really got an explanation for how it worked. I understand that this is light fantasy, but it would still have been nice to have some sort of basis for the world and magic system.

I did enjoy this book but for me I found the world a little to underdeveloped and the story a little to predictable to wholeheartedly love it. However, I would definitely recommend it to others and I do really like the story. It is extremely fun to read, and the story flies past without you even noticing it. People who prefer their fantasy with less heavy topics are going to love this book, and I think that it is genuinely enjoyable and easy to get through. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was definitely a one sitting book. I really enjoyed it. Knowing Mary Weber’s work and also being a sucker for anything with the word “labyrinth” in the description, I had high hopes for this. Hopes that were thankfully met. Rhen was an incredible protagonist, and I loved Seleni as well. Weber did an incredible job of letting both have value, even though they wanted very different things.

The pacing was a little off in the beginning and at the end, but the middle was edge-of-your-seat perfection. And Lute. LUTE.

Add this to your TBR. You won’t be sorry.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To Best the Boys is a breath of fresh air in the YA Fantasy genre! Strong female leads have become an essential staple these days, but Rhen Tellur is a marvel all her own. She reads as such a real person, whole and flawed and funny and strong. I instantly fell in love with her spirit, and even though we don't share a love of cadaver research, I found her passion inspiring. The fact that more traditional female roles are also recognized as legitimate (as illustrated in Rhen's cousin and best friend Seleni) was also wonderful. We all have different dreams, and they should be celebrated.

Mary's rich world building makes Pinsbury Port feel like home, with that perfect layer of magic that I wish existed more readily in our world. I could have taken up residence and wandered through the town with Rhen and Seleni indefinitely. Mr. Holm's mysterious identity and the labyrinth he created add a fascinating layer to the world, and gives off a cool vibe in the mashup of fairytale fantasy kingdom and nearly modern coastal U.S.

One of the most refreshing pieces of this story is how Mary weaves together the notions that the future is female and also we're better together. Women, we don't have to destroy men in order to be seen and understood. We need to raise our men up with us--and remind the good ones that they are good, that they can be forces of change, and when we work together and love well, we become our best. Yes, there are deeply drawn villains in this story, and the worst of them happen to be backward thinking males, but there are also strong, caring men who do good. I love that so much. It reminds me that there is hope in this world for all of us to do better, and that there are good men out there--men like Beryll and Lute and Rhen's father.

In all, this story left me with happy tears, a swoony sigh, and a lot of hope, which are three of the main things I look for in a story. I can't wait to see what Mary's magical brain dreams up next.

It's really hard to put into words all the emotions I felt reading this book and when I wasn't reading it all the emotions of WANTING to read it.

I've waited to read this book for a bit, because of other commitments and I kept seeing it and it called to me.

There's just something about Mary Weber's books which draw you in even when the book is closed! They hauntingly call to you. This was one such book!

At first, I thought oh a fun story about young girls dupping boys, but there was so much more to this story! After all, it is a Mary Weber book! If you've ever read any of her books you know she writes with just a touch of fantasy in a real world which will make you think, "Wait, can that be possible?"

This story shows how a girl of lower class can have dreams, drive, and skills to achieve anything a boy can.
I love the picture of strength and courage Rhen uses, to meet all the challenges she has. I also love the fun relationship she has with her cousin. Even though Rhen feels alone, she really does have someone who is there for her.

I want to thank Mary Weber for choosing to place in this book many characters who the world might not notice. Those, who might be shunned or looked down upon. She brings to life the sweetness and courage of these people.

This book will be one I'll carry with me for a long time. It was full of wonder, strength, courage, hope, and yet there were bits of darkness, mystery, magic, suspense, and romance. (I liked the last bit on that list!)

What truly stood out for me was - HAVE COURAGE! Dare to dream and dream big!

I highly recommend you pick this book up! But be prepared to possibly not be able to put it down!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. All opinions and my own.

3.5/5
I'm not sure why I'm not rating it higher, it was a sound story, it just lacked some compelling moments. There was never a doubt in my mind in how this would end, so maybe its predictability lowered its score. I really liked Lute, he was my favorite character, Rhen's hemming and hawing during the final two chapters frustrated me. It was okay, better than most YA fantasies, but not enough where I'm going to go scrambling for more of her work.

Read: 01/05-01/07

Publication Date: March 19, 2019

To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port receive a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. The poorer residents look to see that their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

In the province of Caldon, where women train in wifely duties and men pursue collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone’s ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the deadly maze.

Welcome to the Labyrinth.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What I Liked:

I was a little uncertain when I started this book but by the time I finished it there was a lot that I loved about it. I'll start with the setting. I had such a wonderful image of Pinsbury Port in my mind throughout the book. Whenever Rhen was running around it was easy to follow along with her. I would love for the hardcopy of the book to include a hand drawn map of the city and the Labyrinth to add to these images. The characters were all great. While a few seemed slightly one-sided or predictable the majority were done well. I especially loved Rhen as the main character. She was a science loving and goal driven main character who was not perfect. You could understand her struggles and it was great to watch her grow and learn that she deserved more than what she was being handed. Lute was an excellent pick for her love interest. I absolutely LOVED every scene that included him. Their chemistry was great so it was easy to root for them. He also never got in the way of her achieving her dreams which is a wonderful message for YA books to share. We need more love stories like Lute and Rhen.

The other thing I liked about this book was it didn't shame the girls who had different goals than Rhen. Her cousin, and best friend, wanted to get married and start a family. However, this didn't keep her from being any less goal driven or strong. Young girls need to know it's okay if their interests are different from their friends. They also need to know that they should support their friends no matter the difference. The relationship between Rhen and Seleni shows this well in the book. We need more books that show that whatever dreams you have, you should go for them and that is okay.

What I Disliked:

It took a while for the book to get to the actual Labyrinth, like over halfway through the book, which was a little disappointing. I had expected more time in it so I felt a little let down. It also made what scenes were in the Labyrinth feel slightly rushed. It was understandable why it took so long, there was a lot of background stories and character building that needed to happen before the Labyrinth scenes. There were two twists in the book and one was fairly easy to figure out but one I did not see coming. The ending also had some parts that felt as if they were wrapped up quickly while others were dragged out.

Overall though I think this book might fly under a lot of people's radars when it gets released so I encourage you to pick it up and give it a shot! It is definitely a hidden gem.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Rating: 9/10

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*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am in love with this book!!!!
I couldn't stop reading it and omg it is such an ode to all the girls and the fact that we should not listen to people saying we are not capable of doing something.
I feel empowered!! Never read a book so quickly and felt so proud.
I must have a physical copy asap

This book was insanely good. It definitely had an Alice in Wonderland feel with a good dose of feminism and squashing of misogyny. I loved the inclusion of those with special needs as people with special needs are never represented in books. The main character has dyslexia. I really hope it is optioned for a movie later on, it would be absolutely amazing!

2.5 stars

I’ve been looking forward to this book for some time, but it didn’t quite hit all the marks I’d hoped it would. I found it to be "okay." It’s wonderful to see females fighting for equality and what they believe in. That’s a hope-filled message that is really needed in today’s society (even though this story didn’t feel like it was taking place in the present day). It reminded me a bit of some other books on the market in the fact that there were tests/challenges to pass, knowing that everyone would not survive. I found it slow to engage, with a bit too much focus on the fact that there’s an incurable disease for which Rhen’s trying to find a cure. The labyrinth seems to be a small part of the book, though I originally thought it was supposed to be more of a key point in the story. The world building is good, but I had expected a bit more with the character development, as some felt a bit flat compared to other books I’ve read in this genre. The ending was a bit predictable.

I did find the premise interesting and the writing strong overall. I enjoyed the parts about the labyrinth and the challenges. (I wish there had been more on that.) It just felt like too much time was spent on the first half, making the second half feel rushed at times. Perhaps it would’ve worked better as two books. I loved the cover a bit more than the story, though I did find Rhen to be a strong leading lady. I also liked the combo of fantasy, mystery, and a hint of romance.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Okay, wow! There is so much to say about To best the Boys and much like the book I'll try to pack as much as I can in a limited space.

Pros:
- I loved Rhen, I thought she was the perfect main character! (YAY Queen)
- Loved the complex relationships between the characters (friendships, etc.)
- Mr.Holm! (We see you!)
- SCIENCE!
- The labyrinth is so so so so cool!
- The writing is really good, like really good y'all!

Cons (Where I have the same con just laid out 3 times):

- This book tries to do too many things at once, and sometimes part of the story falls short (It doesn't really matter anyways because the story keeps you hooked) but seriously this could have been split into a duology and it would have been a better fit.

- Other than the main character Rhen, I didn't really feel like I got to know the other characters really

- This book is heavily centred about the story itself so the world building becomes a little muddled. I wish we had more time to get settled.


Overall, I loved this book! So glad I was able to get my hands on an E-ARC (Thanks Edelweiss!). I think everyone will love this book, my only down side is that there really isn't enough of this book to go around and I want more!!

This was a quick, feminist fantasy read that hits all the YA fantasy tropes you would expect, but does it well. The writing is excellent and the world is well developed. Readers will love Rhen from the first page and root for her. I hope there are more adventures planned for her as this book left me wanting more of her story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To Best the Boys is a novel that follows our protagonist Rhen Tellur, a girl raised in a sexist society who wants nothing more than to be a scientist and to find a cure for her mother’s deadly illness. She is raised amongst the Lowers, the lower class of people in her kingdom, but unlike her Lower peers, she often hangs around with the Uppers (the higher class) due to her rich cousin and best friend, Seleni. Every year, there is a dangerous competition held by the mysterious Mr. Holm, in which boys of university age can compete in Holm’s Labyrinth to win a scholarship to the most prestigious university in the kingdom. As Rhen’s mother’s illness grows worse and the Upper politicians refuse to study its roots, Rhen grows desperate and enters the competition with Seleni while disguised as a boy.

I rated this book 3/5 stars.

Truthfully, I think this book’s greatest flaw was its length and pacing. It felt too short to properly convey the story it was trying to tell. None of the characters, save for Rhen and Seleni, felt real or fleshed out. The start of the novel was quite slow and it just dragged on forever, meanwhile so many things happened in the second half. This may be my own fault, but I feel partially misled by the description. I was expecting this novel to be about a high-stakes competition that was emotional and action-packed, instead it was mostly Rhen’s internal struggles. The actual competition took up less than half of the book and did not feel very dangerous or high-stakes. It wasn’t necessarily bad, just not what I was expecting. There were, however, plenty of things I enjoyed about the book that had little to do with the competition. I liked how we got to see how the Uppers influenced the Lowers and some of the tension there. The tension between the two classes was probably my favourite part of the novel and I feel like it was done very well. Rhen’s whole family dynamic was also very nice. Also, the book kept me engaged, even if some parts did drag.

As I mentioned previously, none of the characters felt real. Beryll felt like he was there simply to be Seleni’s awkward boyfriend. Lute felt very bland, he had zero personality and was just there to be a love interest. Rubin and Germain felt like the same person to me, they were just there to cause trouble. I do have to say that I did very much enjoy Seleni and Rhen. Seleni was probably my favourite character of the novel, she was so supportive of Rhen and her goals, but also stood her ground. I really like how she wanted the life typical of females in her society, such as being a wife and mother, but was never called stupid for it. She defended her right to want that life for herself, and I really loved her character for that. I also enjoyed Rhen’s character (albeit a little less). I really felt for her in some moments and I admired her aspirations and the way she stood up for herself. She also has dyslexia, which is a cool thing to see in YA! I do feel like she could be a little condescending, but overall I liked her.

The romance was very bland in my opinion, it just didn’t feel developed. I understand that Rhen and Lute had history together, but we didn’t see enough of them on-page to establish a relationship. They also had no chemistry and were generally boring to read about.

Overall, To Best the Boys was an okay book for me. There were plenty of things I enjoyed about it, but other things that I feel brought the book down. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested about reading about the struggles of two girls in a sexist society, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for an action filled YA fantasy.

Well butter my biscuit, we have one heck of a book!

Not giving too much away because I'm a firm believe going into any book not knowing much is the best experience, we're following a name Rhen who is basically a scientist. Yup. A SCIENTIST! Grab ya wallet, grab ya credit card, grab ya preorder. Okay, back to the plot. She refuses to fit the small space the world leaves for her. Like the academy where only boys are aloud to attend and girls are expected to just marry and make babies and cook and clean and BLAH! Unfortunately her mother has fallen ill to a disease spreading amongst her people and Rhen wants to help her father find a cure. The only way to even have that chance is to compete in the Labyrinth where only boys are allowed and get a spot at the academy!

The prose was simply lovely. No matter how eager I was to turn pages after pages, I had to pause once in a while so I can reread some passages that were just beautiful. There were plenty of WTF moments, swoon-worthy moments, hair pulling moments, awe-inspiring moments and gasp-inducing moments. The ending was all of these combined. In truth, Mary Weber has a dangerous persona that concerns me, yet I'm beyond excited to read the next installment.

Highly unpredictable, imaginative and vividly woven, this book is the reason why I am reading fantasy novels.

I really enjoyed this book! Hunger Games-ish, without the totally messed up society, along with the theme that girls can be and do anything. The characters were likable and the setting was fun. Definitely recommend!

“I’m just tired of feeling like the way things are is the only way they can ever be” (136).

Rhen Tellur lives in a world of limitations. She is bound by her gender and by her class in a society that—despite its fantasy roots—feels all too real. Mary Weber’s standalone young adult novel To Best the Boys is a delight.

The premise centers on an annual competition: the boys of Pinsbury Point enter a labyrinth and vie to be the first to exit. The winner receives a full scholarship to Stemwick Men’s University. This opportunity is open to both the Uppers and the Lowers, the two classes in the kingdom of Caldon, and so it’s an equal chance for boys—but only for boys—to grab on to a potentially life-changing education.

At the opening of the novel, Rhen, the daughter of an Upper society mother and a Lower father, is fighting with her Da to find a cure for a crippling illness that is afflicting residents, including her mother, of Lower villages. She yearns to be seen by those in power, the ones who could make a difference for those who are suffering. She dreams of breaking out of the cage of her gender, which seems to have sentenced her to—at best—a life as a politician’s wife without choices who must hide her intelligence and scientific aptitude. She pines for Lute, a fisherman who wants only to care for his family and to make a simple living.

With her cousin Seleni, a member of Upper society, Rhen does her best to work toward each of these goals while respecting the bounds of her world. There is, however, a catalyst that causes her to make a leap, disguise herself as a boy, and enter the Labyrinth. To Best the Boys reminded me, at different times, of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, but it establishes a new angle on that YA trend.

Weber’s world building here is just brilliant, juxtaposing the science that consumes Rhen with a fantasy world containing sirens, ghouls, and basilisks. I so appreciated Rhen’s coming of age as she struggles to define who she is in a society that gives women few choices. Weber balances Rhen’s personality with her cousin Seleni’s desires, and we see Seleni focusing on a quite different life for herself. The right to carve one’s path, regardless of what that path is, is a major theme in the novel.

The writing is strong, and I found myself marking quotations and beautiful phrasing throughout the book. The book’s strength doesn’t lie in surprises—I found this type of plot, including the quest within the labyrinth, Rhen’s self discovery, and the romantic relationships, to be fairly predictable. Instead, the quality of the details of world and of the character distinguish this book from others like it.

A strong standalone novel that is both rich and complete, Mary Weber’s To Best the Boys will satisfy readers seeking fantasy, action, and some excellent feminism. Great YA read!

Thanks to NetGalley and @TNZFiction (#partner) for my free copy of this beautiful book.