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

"You are the wild sea and unkempt storms and constellations in a world where I am the anchor for everyone I know."

This is an excellent book for fans of Caraval and Stalking Jack the Ripper. The main character is a strong female who wants to prove that girls aren't just for looking pretty and helping men advance the careers. Determined to prove herself and help her family, Rhen Tellur does the unthinkable in a society made by men for men. She enters into an all-male competition for a scholarship to an all-mens university to help save her mother.

This novel has the game-like feel of Caraval with mystery lurking behind every turn and a mysterious character in Holm whom no one has seen in the flesh. The main character is deeply interested in science and the discoveries she can find in corpses and diseases which sets her apart from her husband-seeking friend/cousin and gives Rhen her own voice.

I absolutely adored this book. It was smart, creative and funny, with an out-of-the-box, forward-thinking lead protagonist and a beautifully descriptive world. I appreciated it for its refreshing representation of women not just through breaking a glass ceiling, but of women who have absolutely everything pitted against them, including enduring societies expectations and breaking boundaries when it hasn’t been done before. To place these characters in this time setting and add a light fantasy element made it a delight to read. At times, it felt poetic and I was mesmerized by some of the characters, in particular, Lute. I loved him so much.

It was easy to follow along with Rhen and the others in the labyrinth and visualize everything that was going on — a little too well sometimes. I enjoyed the magical and fantastic elements that were included with the world-building and appreciated that it wasn’t over-the-top. Rhen bested the boys, and this line — “…… the future societal changes that may result from your female children believing it is within their power and right to become whoever and whatever they desire — and in doing so, to change the course of history.” — totally encompassed and summarized all 300+ pages of this book.

I’ll end this rant with one of my absolute favorite lines from the book, because, *swoon*:

“Because you are the wild sea and unkempt storms and constellations in a world where I am the anchor for everyone I know.”

I guess this just wasn't my cup of tea.
Overall, what bothered me most about this book was the pacing. We spend half of the book leading up to the maze (which was basically the main selling point of this book, a competition that is off-limits to women into which the protagonist Rhen enters into regardless) which is then only spent a fifth of the story at. This reminded me a lot of Eragon where 400 pages are used to build up to an epic fight scene that is over within 20 pages. I think there was a lot of potential here with the maze, but after almost 50% spent on the lead-up to the maze, I just wasn't invested in the outcome anymore.
I understand that the first half of the story is constructed so as to situate the reader in this world and to get to know the characters, but seeing as this was supposed to be about a competition, I don't comprehend how we could spend most of the book nowhere near it.
Hard as I tried, I couldn't bring myself to feel connected to any of the characters. Lute was the stereotypical brooding male love interest with a soft spot, and the other secondary characters didn't have an ounce of personality - they just fell flat for me. Seleni was mostly there to be girly and into high society to set off Rhen's much more profound, and important goals like finding a cure for the plague.
I couldn't even connect with Rhen that much - I know she's supposed to be portrayed as this fierce, strong protagonist, but up until the maze she was just very immature and bland for me.

All Rhen Tellur wants is to find a cure for her dying mother. But two things stand in her way: first, she's a Lower so no one is going to take her seriously as a scientist and second, she's a girl so no one's going to take her seriously as a scientist. There's only one way to get into university--to best the boys in Holm's annual scholarship competition, and then somehow convince the university to let her take the entrance exams.

To Best the Boys has shades of The Hunger Games in it--to win the full scholarship, the boys enter a labyrinth where they must defeat the levels, and each other, to emerge the winner. It's hinted that boys have died before, though only because they didn't play by the rules.

In some ways, the world feels briefly sketched--you don't get a full picture of Caldon, but you know that it's a dangerous place. Sirens and ghouls are bloodthirsty; it's best not to be out in the dark when the mist is about. There's magic in this world, but Weber never really tells us what it is or how it works. Does Holm perform real magic? Or are they just illusions? What truly happens in the Labyrinth? It's masks and illusions, rather like V for Vendetta: what's real and what's not?

Yet at the same time, you also feel that you don't need it fully sketched out--the problems they face seem too real, too much like the real world. There's a stark divide between the Uppers and the Lowers, where the ruling elite make decisions for the working poor without understanding the full impact of what they do. The anger the men of Pinsbury Port feel is all too real--the unthinking anger that fills us when we feel trapped by our circumstances, by the things that those entrusted with our welfare betray us.

Weber is at her best when she's tapping into Rhen's emotions; the awkwardness of youth and young love, anger at the injustice of life and societal expectations, the passion that informs her rash decisions and the strength she gains from true friends. As smart as Rhen is, she has her blind spots, especially when it comes to Lute Wilkes and Victor King.

The Labyrinth reveals the characters of the youth of Caldon, even as it forges them in the fire of its trials. And Holm stands in judgement of their worth.

Note: I received a digital copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. I was given the book with no expectation of a positive review and the review is my own.

Review will post on blog.annatsp.com on 26/12/18

Well that was a thrilling and delightful surprise! I honestly wasn't sure what I was reading during the first couple chapters of this book. There were corpses, ghouls, diseases and a whole lot of sassy humor! I had seen many of my fellow readers picking this one up and wanted to know what it was about. I didn't read the synopsis (does this surprise anyone at this point?) because I've really enjoyed other books by Mary Weber. HUGE thank you to Thomas Nelson and #NetGalley for granting my review request.

TO BEST THE BOYS is a story about defying the odds and taking charge of your own future. Rhen Tellur is headstrong, passionate, and fights for what she believes in. Damn the consequences. All she wants is to find a cure for the disease that's sure to kill her mother. But as a Lower, and a woman, she doesn't have the resources to get her there in time. When the invitation to the annual Festival of the Equinox and Labyrinth competition comes she's struck with an idea. Enter under the guise of a boy and win the scholarship to save her family and her community.

Things really picked up once they entered the Labyrinth and are faced with challenges and puzzles. It reminded me a little of the Triwizard tournament and The Maze Runner, mixed with an escape room! Will Rhen be discovered and kicked out of the competition? Or will she make it though to the end and surprise everyone, including herself? You’ll have to read to find out!

This book was full of mystery, action, suspense, betrayal and whole cast of amazing characters. I found myself hooked to the story immediately and couldn't wait to read more. I think anyone who’s a fan of YA fantasy and magical realism will enjoy it. I loved every minute of it. When I finished reading it I had one of those satisfied but also wishing for more words feeling. Another fantastic read from Mary Weber and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

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

This was a really good book! The world building was great, the characters were vibrant. I thought it was really nice, highly recommend!

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

This was GOOD. I was already excited about this book because, I mean, “To Best the Boys”? Sign me up! And I was not disappointed; I read it in one sitting. Rhen is one the most likable characters I’ve ever come across in a very long time. Not only is she exceptionally smart but she’s kind and stands up for herself and others. Though it wasn’t the center of the novel, her romance with Lute was so lovely and I actually LIKED him! Great plot, characters, and writing. Just overall a fantastic novel.

I finished this book and sat back, my mind a tangle of how to review To Best the Boys, and pondering: what exactly did I just spend all these hours reading?

First of all, this is not the kind of story I would expect from Thomas Nelson--a publisher I have always found to be in the past based on a foundation of Christian faith. Then, the author, I had been under the assumption was Christian, and has professed faith in God. Perhaps I misunderstood. This is my first read by this author. Does she always write like this? After To Best the Boys, I'm not so sure I want to read her other books that have been on my TBR for awhile now.

As a headline, I would call this experience: Disturbing, and Grossly Disappointing.

A style and setting with the darker grit of Fable, the author presents a tale set within a fantasy world built upon a foundation of evil--a land plagued by ghouls haunting the fog at night in search of bodies to possess, surrounded by waters teaming with man-devouring sirens, and overshadowed by a mysterious mansion filled with dark magic and unexplained powers.

This is the world our main character challenges, a place where girls' intelligence are overlooked; a world ruled by men. A place where disease is destroying the lives around her--and in her own home, the life of her mother. Scrambling to find a cure, but time is running out and nothing is working.

In this world, there is no light--only darkness. On the spiritual side, there is plenty in the way of darkness and evil, but nothing even mentioned for its opposite. What path is Christian publishing going down, where there is not a single mention of God, not even the existence of God present in its novels?

Mr Kellen (or whatever this person is) creeped me out, Especially toward the end. I wish I could explain this better, but there is no way without making it a spoiler. So I won't. I am not sure if the author meant to present this character in a positive or negative light, but I was left with a sick taste at the back of my throat--disturbed in my spirit most strongly during these scenes.

The focus of this story is clearly driven only toward the high of fantasy action/adventure with hints of horror. A lack of spiritual truth; a lack of Light at all. I cannot recommend this to any reader, and am in serious doubt of both this author and now this publisher. I hate to be so blunt, and I hate for my review to be negative. But that's the truth of it.

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

Many thanks of Thomas Nelson for providing me with a complimentary copy of To Best the Boys via NetGalley.  All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In a world where only the men are provided opportunities for higher education and careers of their choosing, Rhen desperately wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a scientist.  Especially as she is desperate to find a cure for the baffling disease killing her mother and others in her town.  When she realises she isn't going to succeed without access to a proper lab, she decides to enter the yearly contest for a university scholarship.  The contest is no normal contest though, the hopeful candidates must navigate their way through a labyrinth that not everyone survives.

I absolutely loved this book.  I couldn't put it down!  The characters were interesting and there were several twists I didn't see coming.  We often get either a fast paced story, OR great character and world building, but Mary Weber somehow managed to deliver on both accounts.  The storyline was wonderful and I adore anything to do with games and mazes, so this was right up my alley.  I loved the fact that To Best the Boys also mixed science and fantasy so well.  There were ghouls and sirens, but also chemical compounds, microscope and blood work.  You know what else there was in this book? PARENTS.  Like, actual parents.  I know, a YA fantasy book where the main characters aren't orphans for once.  Amazing!  

I can't say too much more without spoilers, but I'd highly recommend this book if you love intense trials, smart women who defy societal norms, magic and a touch of romance that doesn't interfere with or take over the storyline!

What a story. This book is now ranked as my most anticipated book released in 2019! I cannot wait to get my physical copy and force this story upon my friends. Mary crafted a story that showed the strength of women in a way that I've never read before. I really appreciated that she showed how women who want to be wives and mothers are just as strong and just as important as the women who are pursuing a career. Seleni and Rhen were both very strong women and Mary excellenty and artistically portrayed their different strengths as women.
I very much enjoyed the relationship war between Lute, Rhen, and Vincent. And while Beryll often grated on my nerves, I appreciated his and Seleni's relationship and how they would do anything for each other.
At first, I had a difficult time understanding the story world as there were so many fantasy elements tied in and I wasn't sure how they all fit with the characters and the story. But the more I read and the more the characters interacted with the different settings and fantasy elements, the more I understood and loved it!
I also wish that the ending hadn't felt so rushed (especially with Rhen's discovery that Vincent crafted the disease. That felt a little far-fetched in how she discovered that). And also that I would know if Rhen's mother was going to survive or not. I became very invested in Rhen's journey to save her mother and not knowing if she would be healed or not bothered me.
Overall, however, I absolutely loved this book! It was wonderfully written, the characters were very realistic, and the story world was fascinating! Mary Weber is an extremely talented writer!

Girl Power!


I loved this book so much. I literally finished it with the biggest smile on my face.

We’ll talk messaging only for a moment here. Basic message is that girls can do anything – they can be students, warriors, doctors, wives. There’s no wrong answer – and girls are smart and bold and strong enough to do it.

Moving away from messaging, we have an adventure here. There’s romance, betrayal, murder and violence. There are villains to abhor and heroines and heroes to love. There are moments that bring tears of sadness and others that bring tears from laughter.

It’s just everything.

So very happy I read this one!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

I think this one will be easier with a bulleted list.

What I liked:
• Strong, independent female lead. Rhen was always in the thick of things and mostly kept her cool in rough situations.
• Interesting “tasks” in the maze. And also interesting how they were solved by thinking “outside the box”.
• Great world building. I could definitely picture this town, in an alternate world like ours, with a little bit of magic. The plague brought about thoughts of London.
• The mild romance that took a backseat to the main drive of the book.
• The Victorian type setting with grand parties and class systems.

What I didn’t like:
• The flat secondary characters. Vincent and Germaine were cookie cutter blokes. Seleni was a hyper upper who thought of being a good wife and mother. Lute was the brooding male lead with a sensitive side.
• The “magic” beings throughout. I felt that the ghouls, basilisks, and sirens were used to make the land feel magical and really didn’t play a role in the story. They were only briefly seen, if at all, and could have been replaced by something more original.
• The long lead up. The beginning was long. We didn’t go into the maze until about 60% and we were out at 80%. Seeing the state of the city was nice, but there was too much going on that the author wanted to address that it ended up getting in the way of the actual story. There was politics (which was never resolved), social stations (which were never changed), and a love triangle (which kind of sorted itself out).
• The briefness of the tasks. There was not a lot of time spent in the maze and each task was quite short. There was a lot of talk and thinking going on in between.
• No resolutions. As stated before, the political issues never get resolved, Rhen is still separated from the men to take a test, the plague lives on, and, although discussed, the love story is still up in the air. Everything ends almost as it began, while this reader wonder why she wasted her time.

This title was interesting, and that is what kept me reading, but needed a lot of work for me to purchase it for me patrons.

First off i want some of the food mentioned in this book secondly...great book setting...also just yes.. this book was bloody brilliant and I am now enveloped with it and need more! The character development heightens at the right peaks and the action once it started was non stop. It almost reminded me of a Hunger Games style but it was its own book and completely blew me away! Fabulous writing all the way!

Actual rating 3.75

What an important and great story! I really enjoyed it. Our main character Rhen is strong and independent, she reminded me of Audrey Rose from Stalking Jack the Reaper. She has a passion for science and knowledge. She wants to make everyone's life better. She wants to make the difference. And in the world where girls are not even allowed to attend school, these qualities are very important. Sadly, even nowadays, there is too much discrimination and there are places where girls exist solely to please their husbands. So, I'm really glad that the author brought up that issue.
I liked that this book is not heavy on romance, and the characters don't make stupid decisions, they act their age and all are very well developed. We have a back story and a good character arc. I enjoyed getting to know them all, they felt like real people (even the side characters).
But, I wish there was more world building. I felt like something was missing. I'm still not sure if there is magic in this world and how things work. We learn a lot about the politics but not enough about everything else. I wish there were more details and history of this place, and where exactly is this place, you know?
Also, I found this story a bit slow paced. And we didn't get to the main course until way after the half mark. And the trials in the Labyrinth were very short. I imagined it would take days or even weeks and they would be more complicated.
The ending was a bit too convenient, and once again I felt like something was missing.
I believe this is a stand alone which is sad, it has a of potential for another book. I would like to see more of Rhen and her journey.
I haven't read other books by Mary Weber, but I loved her writing style so I will definitely check out her other works.

I read this book in one sitting! I loved the cast of characters, the adventure, the romance, and the writing style!
Hands down my favorite Mary Weber book!

I loved this story! It was fairly fast paced and hard to put down. Mary does a great job of building a world that is part magic and part old fashioned, I suppose making it more of a steam punk story. I enjoyed Rhen and Seleni and their spirit. I would of liked a bit more to the story, but I enjoyed it tremendously non the less. This is an excellent book to pick up!
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

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

This book was seriously the ultimate brilliance. Girls surviving in a boy's world is pure excellence and inspiring. There was excitement at every chapter, Rhen is a girl that a lot of teens in our community can relate to and how she has to overcome adversity for her survival, you'll be at the edge of your seat finding out if she will make it and not only survive but dominate. Rhen symbolizes women empowerment and the strength they have when faced with difficult challenges and that above all is why I enjoyed this book and I think our young patrons will enjoy it too.

We will definitely consider this title for our YFiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

This book was absolutely amazing, and I loved every minute of it. This book has come the closest to matching the feel/tone of one of my all-time favorites--The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. Fans of that masterpiece and Mary Weber's previous work should adore this book.

Some highlights:
- Girl Power (without being ragingly feminist). While the story did feature platonic and romantic relationships, the heart of the story was the message that it's okay just to be you. Not someone's friend, girlfriend, daughter, etc, but just be you for you.
- Atmospheric writing with all sorts of creepy beasties. I like a good spine-tingling story with all sorts of mythological monsters--so long as it doesn't get too gory, of course. This one fits the bill.
- Ocean imagery/setting--this will get me every time. The ocean is hugely important to me, with both my personal life and writing, so I love to see it represented in books, both literally and allegorically.

Lowlights:
- Wasn't long enough. Seriously, I would love to read a whole series set in this world. I wanted so much more of Pinsbury Port, and the surrounding country, and setting, and people. Can we pretty please make this a series?

5 stars.
Ages 14 and up
(Some violence, non-graphic, and allusions against women's honor. Some frightening scenes of peril, and one off-page death.)

For more reviews, follow my blog at gabriellenblog.wordpress.com

A lot of this book will feel familiar to readers: There are two distinct classes, uppers and lowers (I’m sure you can figure that one out), that makes achieving valuable social change difficult; then there’s rigid and firmly entrenched gender roles, where the men and boys get educations and the women and girls tend to the home – any one who breaks from this pattern is seen as a rebel who needs to be tamed; and then there’s he whole dystopian survive the contest trope. But guess what, these things are familiar because they work, and in To Best The Boys they work incredibly well together.

We’re brought into a society where courtship is formalized, exposed ankles are scandalous, and walking home with the wrong fellow can ruin your reputation. Enter Rhen Tellur – she’s bright, driven, irreverent and against all odds an absolutely brilliant scientist. She’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty, or even covered in the effluence of a dead body, she’s determined to find a cure for the crippling disease that’s making it’s way through the Lower community in Pinsbury Port – especially since the Uppers only seem to care about their parties, pastries, and stationary choices.

Matters are complicated but the fact that Rhen belongs to both worlds – her mother was once an Upper who lost her standing when she married a brilliant (but Lower) alchemist. As a result, Rhen must divide her time on either side of the river attending Upper parties with her cousin Seleni only to return home to the working class community in which she lives to run experiments with her father in their basement laboratory. Why the duality when Rhen could easily accept what’s offered from the Uppers? He mother has been hit with Crippling Disease.

Oh, and lets just make things a little more complicated – brilliant though she may be, the last hope of the lowers, she’s also dyslexic.

Cue the moment of awakening where the next Katniss/ Tris/ Eowyn is born. Rhen boldly says the ‘hull’ with it all and enters an all-boys competition to win an education and hopefully save her mother. And let’s be honest here, I fell for this story hook, line and sinker (fishing pun and reference to lover-boy Lute fully intended). I can’t say too much more about the plot without risking spoilers other than Rhen’s time in the maze is fast paced, exhilarating, and utterly amazing.

The supporting characters are wonderful as well – Beryll with his constant screams and disapproval, Seleni with her unwavering commitment to supporting the ones she loves, Vincent with his ridiculous ego unbearable condescension, and Lute with his brooding and unpredictable moods. Now add in a healthy dose of magic, ghouls in the mist, sirens out at sea, and a parliament that only serves the rich and you have the perfect recipe for a smashing read.

The only reason why this baby didn’t land a 5* review is that some of the bigger issues, such as gender disparity, are too often and too obviously stated. I think that the story itself was strong enough to cary this message without being outright, and the constant reminders almost devalues the intelligence of the reader when it comes to drawing conclusions and making connections. Don’t get me wrong, my feminist heart is rejoicing after reading this sucker, I’m just someone that believes in the power of a whisper over that of a shout.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect after reading the blurb and though it wasn't a traditional Fantasy novel, it still had an enjoyable and interesting story line that kept me reading until the end.

Rhen is an easily relatable character and I really enjoyed her character arc. I also loved Rhoe and the fact that he only wanted Rhens best interests. Making sure she finished the contest putting himself at rick and loosing his chance at a scholarship.

An interesting plot and an enjoyable and easy read!