As someone who did not enjoy the Storm Siren trilogy, I can confidently say that I really enjoyed this next book from her! When reading this novel, I felt that the conflicts, character interactions, setting, plot, everything was absolutely perfect! I would not change this book in any way! I felt attatched to everyone, even those I never expected to like. I also felt some of the topics spoke to me in a way I haven't felt from YA Fantasy in a while. If this isn't a powerful feminist novel with so many elements to entrance all genders and sexes, then I don't know what is. This is one I would recommend to everyone I know! For once, I finally feel like I genuinely enjoyed Weber's work, and I'm really looking forward to what she writes next.

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

Where do I start? This book was a feast for the senses. From the coastal town setting to the warm labyrinth cakes, to the salty air, to the blood and microscopes, contrasts of elite and dirty fishermen, to the surprise villain, this book wraps you up in a beautiful, not-too-strong fantasy world, and holds you to the very end. The characters were strong and vivid, the plot moving along with just enough down-time and character development to really pack a punch when the action starts up--sometimes with little or no warning.

My favorite book of Mary's so far.

I loved this book. Rhen is such a badass. I love how she and Seleni supported each other, despite being 2 entirely different people. I really loved the message that this book carried, women can do anything men can. Rhen never wanted to prove she was better than the men in the contest, she wanted to show that women can do just as well.

I'm kind of sad that it's a standalone. I would love to see another book set a (few) year(s) later.

I guess it's time I get back to finishing the Storm Siren Trilogy =)

Got to say that I'm pleasantly surprised by this book. It was quite good actually and I really liked the heroine, Rhen and the whole concept of the story. When I first read the blurb my first though was that the story was going to be something similar to The Hunger Games and there was some resemblance to it, with the game and the oppression, but not as much as I thought it would be. In the end that was a huge plus, since otherwise I think the plot would be a bit boring to read.
Aside from that the plot is much more focused on Rhen, her mother's sickness and how to find a cure to save her. In the end the only hope for Rhen to save her mother is by breaking tradition and entering a game to win a scholarship that would later on give her the means to create said cure.

The romance aspect of the story was all right, but to me it didn't feel like it was the center of the story. Which made the story better for me, as a reader. Lute was a cute character and I really grew to like him, sadly I can't say the same for Vincent. Now, he was just a terrible boy and he deserved everything that came his way. Beside those two I also was quite fond of Rhen's counsin, Seleni and Mr. Holm. To me, Seleni felt like Rhen's other half. Both go though thick and thin together, no matter the consequences. I really loved that. They were more like real sisters than cousins. And as for Mr. Holm, let's just say that there is more to this character than meets the eye. This character brings all the elements of magic with him.

Last but not least, is my favourite character and that obviously has to be Rhen. She was such a strong yet gentle character that one couldn't help but fall in love with. Her mind preceded her time and it was so great to see a girl in those times breaking the norm. She stood up for herself and her loved ones and if she had to break a few rules, so be it. You could say she was the black sheep of the society and she was at the same time also, at least for me, the beginning of a new era where woman's rights would exist and be heard.

All in all, this is a great story with strong characters and a great plot. It's also a quick read, so why not give it a chance...

I wanted to love this novel, there was so much going for it, but it left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
I really feel as though the protagonist is trying too hard to be 'cool', she is so obviously trying to break a trend, rather than focusing on winning her place at the school.

I loved the premise of this novel, I wanted it to be amazing, but for me it was just okay. I am sure that this will be popular with many readers though.

This has been one of my most anticipated releases, and it did not disappoint! A thoughtful and rollicking ride, I fell in love with the rich and layered world and want to read more stories set in it.

The pacing was snappy and quick, especially once the characters were ensconced inside the maze and the competition began, though sometimes it felt like it moved a tad too quickly for my tastes. Probably because I wanted to spend more time with all the characters in the maze, since those were my favorite scenes.

Overall, the characters and theme of the book--the varied and relevant strength of girls--were engaging and well-written. A very enjoyable read!

best


352 pages
Expected publication: March 5th 2019 by Thomas Nelson



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

To Best the Boys brings into a world where women are expected to be housewives and monsters such your soul out. Let me back up.

Rhen is a girl who wants to make a difference in a society where women are oppressed. She excels in science and to find a cure for an illness that is slowly killing many, including her mother, she enters a competition (I won't say how) and vies for a scholarship to the best university so that dream of finding a cure can be realized.

WHAT I LIKED: I loved the premise of the book. I loved the writing, and I loved Rhen. She, despite the odds against her, raged against the patriarchy and you know I love me some raging. The dialogue was witty and the characters finely sculpted. I particularly like it when girls are obsessed with the macabre. Especially dead bodies and dissecting and such. I've been reading quite a few of those, and I hope there's more to satiate me.

The labyrinth portion was a fun little romp of death and magic.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: What I did not expect was to go almost halfway through the book with nothing of consequence truly happening. I get that we needed the build the world, but it seemed like overkill. The world seemed a bit thrown together, with all the strange creatures and such. I couldn't get a grasp on it.

Overall, the book was fun and the second half made up for the first. Strong female characters and woman empowerment galore.

This was one of my most anticipated books of next year. As soon as I heard about it I pre-ordered it. I was SO excited to get approved for an early copy. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped.

Although I really tried to love this one, I never quite got there. The plot was intriguing, and very unique. I really enjoyed the competition, the issues that arose surrounding Rhen’s involvement, and the social issues facing the town. I would have liked the competition to start sooner with less lead up. I know it was supposed to give us some backstory and get us invested in the characters, but I don’t think it was effective. The first part of the book dragged and felt unnecessary to me.

I didn’t dislike the book. But I was never able to become fully immersed in the world. I wanted the world to be fleshed out a bit better. I never felt like I fully had a handle on it. I found most of the characters interesting, but Rhen’s inner monologue often felt conflicted to the point of confusion, which made it hard to ever really connect with her. I also felt the dialogue was inconsistent. Sometimes it sounded old fashioned and proper, sometimes modern, and the switches were jarring.

I would still recommend this book to others. Though it’s not my favorite, overall I enjoyed it.

To Best the Boys is a fun YA read featuring action/adventure that also touches on feminism. Rhen is a scientist from the poor side of town. Although she is smarter than most kids her age, she is also a girl so intelligence is a trait most frown upon. In her patriarchal society, boys compete for the chance to attend the prestigious university on a scholarship from a mysterious benefactor while girls do needlework. A chance encounter with a potential suitor, and a dangerous plot to eliminate other male contestants force Rhen and her cousin into the dangerous competition disguised as boys.

I really enjoyed Rhen's struggle to prove herself in spite of the circumstances. While romance is a subplot of this story, the really focus is Rhen's path to self discovery and self worth. She is a pioneer in her country as a woman poised to change gender norms. The book is short and splits into two sections (before the competition and during the competition) so the pace was exhilarating. The twist in the end I thought was a bit predictable of most YA or dramas but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

4 solid stars for a wild read!

When I first heard about Mary Weber's To Best the Boys, my first thought was I have to read this book! It's exactly the kind of book I want to read. A strong, scientifically-minded heroine setting off to prove she's as worthy as the boys and to find cure for her dying mother. At the same time, the premise had so many potential landmines I feared it as much as a contestant entering the labyrinth. But the book passes each obstacle with skill and ingenuity. You have to read the book to find out how the characters fare.
Rhen is an engaging heroine. Seleni, Lute, and Beryll round out the story as fun sidekicks with their own stories to tell. The adversaries were a bit more of a challenge. At first they appeared to be two-dimensional villains, but as the story progressed they filled out nicely and added to the story, especially once the heroes and villains entered the labyrinth. Without giving away the best part, I will say the ending is satisfying for all of the characters, which only adds to the message, which is more "be your best" than "best the boys".

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley.

A story as mysterious and unique as the Labyrinth maze that lurks within its pages!

Our MC Rhen Tellur is stretched pretty thin. By day she's being courted by the prominent Vincent King who is considered an "Upper" to her "Lower" social status and by night, she along with her cousin Seleni and Seleni's boyfriend Beryll, steals blood from fresh cadavers to use to test a potential cure to a disease that is slowly taking the town and Rhen's mother.

Smart, head strong, brave, and absolute in her actions, Rhen realizes that she could not only change the course of its history, but could also help further her research in potential cures, by winning the Holms Scholarship by being the lone survivor of the unexplainable Labyrinth maze. Even more of an issue than the maze itself is the fact that it is an all boys event. Because surely no girl would ever be worthy of it. Boo and hiss.

Along side Seleni once again, the girls hatch a plan to dress as boys, enter the event, and prove that girls are just as good, if not better, than the boys. But Rhen doesn't count on Vincent or protective Lute Wilkes to also be there. And as the maze gets deeper and deeper, the more true colors and feelings start to surface.

The first chapter instantly grabbed me and was so fun to read. I was laughing out loud with certain dialogue. It definitely set the tone of the relationship between those involved. But as you get further into the story and closer to the actual maze, the story shifts to this mysterious almost eerie tone that certainly encompasses the overall atmosphere of being inside the Labyrinth.

The story is magical and special, the characters (good and bad) are awesome, and the swoons are swoon-worthy. Really enjoyed it from start to finish. And bonus: it's a standalone! Will definitely be adding it to my collection!

This book was a solid read. It took me a bit to get into it, but things picked up at about the 15 percent mark so I write that off to establishing world building.

The idea is that we are in a world where gender roles are very present. Its sort of a futuristic past with magic? Haha, that's the best way to describe it. Honestly, the vibe for me was a lot like Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, setting wise. The town is divided socially as well, with a lower working class an an upper bureaucratic type.

Rhen is a scientist and a girl. She is expected to marry and be a homemaker and party thrower, even if she doesn't want it. Being put in this box gives her anxiety and frustration. Which eventually leads to her decision to enter a boys scholarship competition.

Make note, there is a lot of build up prior to the competition beginning. The whole thing is not set within the competition. It does a take some time in the beginning to establish the characters, steaks and world before actually entering the competition.

There is romance, with enough tension and angst to satisfy those looking for such a thing. The first meeting of the love interest was so delightfully tropey for me- she crashes into him. He scowls. She gets blood on his jacket. Its wonderful.

The only thing that got frustrating was the extreme gender role examples. They were reinforced over and over and over. It made it unrealistic in my eyes. None of the other women, but her mother had a problem with this world. I had issues with that. Why is she the only one feeling oppressed? These things were somewhat resolved by the end, but its something I will continue to think on.

This is not a Christian book, but perfect for the christian reader. It explores a lot of biblical ideas of what it is like to be a woman and it is wonderful in its approach. For those who know what they're looking for there are plenty of biblical references. Seleni, her friend decides to confront Rhen at one point about how she wants to be a helpmate to her husband, and a homemaker. And Rhen understands that both things are okay. I liked this a lot.

The theme of the story lies with women and their power. Some of the women are content, others are not. Some of the women make the choice to marry up, some women make the choice to marry down. It explores the complexities of each of these situations very well and in a way that was truly well-rounded.

Overall, I was impressed with the story and concept. It is a standalone, so the story wraps up nicely. I have admired Weber's work since Storm Siren, so I am happy to support her in her next world!

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

Disclaimer: I received this ARC courtesy of Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. I am grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC for my readers, but this will not influence my final rating. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and based solely on the book. 

Lately I've had an unquenchable thirst for female heroines who defy societal expectations. As if sensing my desperate need, Weber graced the markets with Rhen Tellur, a sixteen-year-old scientist who's had enough of following the rules in her male-dominated society. In To Best the Boys, Rhen joins a competition reserved for men so she just might gain entry to university — which, again, is a men-only club — and stop a deadly disease that is ravaging her port town.

Rhen is a strongly crafted character. Her motivations to cure the disease stem from her afflicted mother while her father instructs her in the sciences. I loved seeing Rhen's passion for science echo off her father's: the pair working in tandem to find a cure made for great father-daughter moments in the book. The trio live among Lower society, but Rhen is introduced to Upper society by her cousin Seleni. The two cultures inform Rhen's worldview on what is acceptable and what just simply isn't.

Despite its predominance in the summary, the labyrinth competition only takes up about 40% of the novel. Prior to entering, readers are given insight to why Rhen would make such a drastic decision. We also learn about the disease spreading in the port town. Most importantly: we are teased about the dangers of the Labyrinth, how impossible the tasks must be, how few make it through. 

Once the Labyrinth competition begins, I was fully hooked on every action/puzzle sequence. As promised, this competition is as much about wits as it is about strength, often indirectly posing the question on what "intelligences" are most important and whether the way we are tested in school is actually efficient. For such a large competition, the amount of actual tasks was small (only three), only tested lower level skills, and still managed to narrow down to one winner, but I enjoyed every minute. 

The world-building in this novel did leave something to ask for, though the characters spoke loudly enough to more than make up. The fantasy aspect did not entirely feel needed (apart from scenes in the Labyrinth where creatures of myth played a role, they were under-described and little used). The time period was not fully clear: men were required to court women they wished to marry but a lot of common era language is used. 

An interesting dynamic in the book was the friendship between Rhen and Seleni. While Rhen fights for greater independence, Seleni makes an opposite stand: she is happy being a housewife. I liked this plot line for the simple fact that female rights means being able to choose, and Seleni shows that this goes both ways. 

Quick shout out for representation moments: 

Down syndrome in a side character 
Dyslexia in a main character

Review to be posted on blog (https://bookprincessreviews.wordpress.com/): Feb 21 2019
Review to be posted on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2577266885): Feb 21 2019

To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

Where do I even start?! I loved this book. I loved Rhen, and the entire cast of characters right down to the bad guys.

I loved their quaint little port, the science, the spookies, and the romance. It had a vibe that reminded me of Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp. Very cool!

So, now I have to make some time to read it again. ;)

What an excellent read!

Buy it now and be prepared to enjoy it all in one-sitting, since you will not be able to put it down!

Without giving anything away, Iet me share four reasons why this book is a story I will read repeatedly!


1) This novel compelling spotilights a wide-range of human conditions:
the divide created when a community allows a social caste-system to exist;
the bravery of both those who endure physical affliction and those who endeavor to cure it;
the ever-present temptation to lessen one's integrity in order to increase prestige; and the complex nature of interactions between people.
(Relationship explored include: the bond between a daughter and her parents; the dynamics between girl and her crew; friction which often exists with "those" relatives; the electricity of a romantic connection; and the disheartening disconnect between who a woman is and what society is willing to accept her as.)

So much excellent food for thought!

Truly, a Jane Austen quality novel for this generation!

2) The remarkable and original concept plays out in world that is a glorious fusion of historical and magical settings.
One of the most fascinating book "countries" I have ever encountered.

3) The characters (villains included!) are well-rounded, relatable, captivating and thought-provoking.


4) The narrative is breathtakingly beautiful! The author's beautifully scripted imagery delighted me throughout the story.


This book is about as close to perfection as a story can come.
I will admit that a few of the plot points in the novel resolved too easily/quickly for my personal taste.
BUT nothing that lessened my overall delight in the book.
If anything, the story was so intriguing I wanted even more of it!

My recommendation? Buy two copies, because you will want to lend this book to your friends AND you will not be willing to ever part with your copy!

***I received an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.***

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 by Mary Weber had me me hooked from the start. This book was a fantastic read and I couldn't put it, down. I think this will be a hit with all ages and genders. GREAT STORY!!! MUST READ

Cute story for young readers. I prefer more adult themes but for a young audience this story is perfect.

An assertion of female strength. To Best the Boys is a triumph in every way. From multilayered, complex characters to a haunting, vivid setting, this book will grip you. I was hooked from the first line and could not put it down until the end. I would like to thank the publishers for granting me access to this title.

5 stars - Incredible YA fantasy stand-alone.

While ‘To Best the Boys’ is set in a fictional fantasy world, it would be entirely believable as YA historical fiction if not for the touch of magic and supernatural elements.

Rhen Tellur and her cousin Seleni are strong, fearless ladies and the best of friends despite their different upbringings. Rhen’s mother was outcast from the posh ‘Upper’ lifestyle she was born into when she married a ‘Lower’ for love. As such, Rhen has grown up with the love and support of two amazing and smart parents. Against community ‘norms’ they have nurtured Rhen’s interest in science as well as her baking skills.

Through Rhen’s friendship with Seleni, readers encounter a multitude of teenagers, both stuffy, political Uppers and goofy yet hard-working Lowers; all of whom provide sarcasm and humor in the way teenagers usually do. (A set of brothers even remind me of Fred and George Weasley.)

As the blurb suggests, the cousins do, indeed, enter the scholarship competition disguised as girls – to best the boys and change their circumstances. Their time spent in the labyrinth is a joy to read. But this book is so much more than that. There’s class and gender inequality, there’s magic in the ever-surprising labyrinth, there’s family love and young romantic love and tugging on heartstrings.

It’s a beautiful, touching story that I cannot recommend highly enough.

‘To Best the Boys’ will be available on March 19, 2019. #ToBestTheBoys #NetGalley I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

This was not what I was expecting at all and I was really pleasantly surprised. I did have a bit of a knee jerk eek reaction to the title but get past that because this is a great book. Set in a regency inspired fantasy world replete with magical creatures, this is a low gore Hunger Games (not to mention a far better Maze Runner than the Maze Runner) where a coveted University scholarship is won through solving a labyrinth. Okay so anything with a Labyrinth or maze (apart from the Maze Runner - yawn) is basically catnip to me, but this really was exceptionally well done. Very trope-y but in the best possible way; there's nothing wrong with tropes if they're done right and this was. Everything was delivered fresh and new. Recommended for those who like dynamic female leads solving difficult tasks.