Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson through NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this title for review. . Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The “crippling disease” is affecting the poor in the province of Caldon. It is taking lives by slowly making the host immobile and shutting down their vital organs. Seventeen year old, Rhen Tellur with the help of her father has set out to find a cure for it. Otherwise, the next life this wretched disease takes will belong to Rhen’s mother. And Rhen simply cannot let that happen.

Although her father is a doctor and she is his star pupil, they still don’t have the resources they need to fight a disease of this magnitude. Their lab and supplies are subpar at best. Therefore, Rhen decides to find another way to get what they need and ultimately save her mother. She decides, with her cousin Seleni by her side, to compete for the revered scholarship to attend Stemwick University. A scholarship that if received, would give Rhen access not only to the education she desires, but to the labs and scientific equipment needed to develop a cure. The only problem is the competition and the University is limited to males only.

I truly enjoyed this book. Rhen is a multi-faceted character who is smart, and talented yet deals with dyslexia. The author spent just enough time describing Rhen’s difficulties with letters and numbers to let the reader understand her disability. Otherwise, the author paints Rhen to be strong and independent in a society that is made to cater to males. She is fierce. Normally, I am not a huge fan of fantasy books. However, in my opinion this book didn’t flow like a normal fantasy book at all. And I was happy that it didn’t end with a cliffhanger. I think it will be great for fantasy and science fiction readers alike. I believe this will be a hit amongst my middle school students. I am excited to add it to our library shelves.

A book for those who just love a good adventure book with a awesome girl lead that you just can't help but love. A book that just has you feel with her, and have fun!

Mary Weber is just a amazing writer and someone who I have to keep my eye out for other books because if this was was this amazing I can't imagine other ones! I mean, I can, I can see it in my bookshelves collection growing!

10/10 recommend!

Unfortunately this book didn’t appeal to me once I read a few chapters. I do hope to give it another shot in the future.

To Best The Boys
The main character is Rhen Tellur,a female who is struggling within a gender and class inequality world. Instead of excepting her fate, she she takes charge of her own future . She dons a disguise and enters a yearly competition in a dangerous labyrinth maze along with her female cousin. Fast paced and exciting to read . Weber keeps you on the edge of your seat . Subtle Romance and a little feminist viewpoint makes for an enjoyable read. Great character building, faced paced. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Mary Weber books.


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

Mary Weber delivers a heart pounding, plot twisting novel that kept me up way past my bed time and into the early morning hours. The characters are flawed, relatable human beings with goals and dreams that we explore with them. Rhen and Seleni are two girls that I would undoubtingly follow without hesitation. The world Weber weaves keeps you on your toes, and devouring the story. The writing is top notch - delivering excellent pacing, once you've made it past the first few chapters - and the character's keep you rooting (or screaming) for them. I would recommend this to anyone who loves books involving puzzles or games that last to the death! 5/5 stars!

For a full review, visit my blog www.secondhandpages.com

This book was a lot more dry than what I was expecting. I assume others will like it just fine but it just wasn't for me.

This is the first Mary Weber book that I've read though I've heard great things about her writing, To Best the Boys didn't hit the mark for me. It was just a little too slow for me and the plot didn't catch my interest. The characters are interesting and the world building was good. The world kind of reminded me of a cross between The Handmaid’s Tale and The Hunger Games.

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

The thing that I really loved about this book was the characters that Weber created. I wanted to root for Rehn the whole time and found myself not wanting to put the book down because I needed to know what happened to her. I found her to be delightfully sassy and outspoken. I also enjoyed the cast of supporting characters, including the villainous tending ones. I also loved the labyrinth part of the story, although it seemed much to short a part of the book for my tastes. I wish the competition section had been longer to really build the setting. I feel like for once a book lacked some of the world building I like to see. Weber tells us there are monsters but we don’t see any of the effects of that in the story. The town doesn’t seem to need protection from them, there is no talk of their effect on jobs or lives. I think delving into that a bit more would have added more atmosphere to the book. Overall it was a really fun read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a girl power YA fantasy read that is quick. This book would also be suitable for middle grade readers.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Oh my! I lost myself in Mary Weber's latest book To Best the Boys. It’s been a long time since I could say that! I loved the setting and characters, the main storyline and how relatable it is to today’s world. To Best the Boys is about a young woman who wants more education and joins the annual scholarship competition that is just for boys. From start to finish, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Now let’s break this story down from this sentence in the blurb: "The task is simple: Don a disguise. Survive the Labyrinth. Best the boys."

Don a Disguise
Rhen Tellur is a fantastic character who I instantly fell in love with. She is driven, smart, and a little quirky. She lives with her father and very sick mother in what can only be described as the slums of her town. She works with her father in his small home laboratory, learning all she can about science, health, and disease…especially disease. A plague has struck her community, and she is desperate to find a treatment. I loved how focused she is on her research, how evident she loves what she does. When the letter for the scholarship comes around as it does every year, Rhen makes a daunting decision. If she can’t get the help and equipment she needs as a girl, she’ll enter the contest and win. I love that she doesn’t even hesitate to cut off her locks, steal a dead man’s clothes, and walk right into the labyrinth.

Survive the Labyrinth
The labyrinth reminded me a lot of Caraval and the maze featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It mostly messes with your mind, putting the characters in situations where they are terrified but must think intelligently to make it to the next round. I loved the puzzles and mystery surrounding the Mr. Holm, the nobleman responsible for the maze and scholarship. It kept me engaged and on edge throughout the book.

Best the Boys
There are basically two boys in Rhen’s life that are causing some complications. Vincent is her childhood friend, one she would have considered her best friend if not for the way he is currently acting. Basically he plans to marry Rhen (even though she doesn’t want too) and use her research for his own gain. Y’all I can’t say what I’d call him 😉 The other is Lute, a local fisherman who Rhen grew up with and has been nursing a crush on for a long time. I loved Lute. He respects what Rhen does and doesn’t hold her back. We all need a Lute.

My Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed To Best the Boys. The setting, which is comparable to our late 1800s-early 1900s, is perfect for the fantasy Weber created. The subtle feminist viewpoint was also perfect. I loved that the author shows two feminists with different life goals and (guess what!) they supported rather than tore each other down. (Y’all I didn’t mention Seleni in my review, but she is the opposite of Rhen and a fantastic character). This notion that a woman can pursue a career and have a family at the same time is relevant in today’s society, and I love how it was shown here. If you enjoy historical fantasy, a touch of romance, and a lot of suspense/action, I highly recommend it.

“I’ve always known the unexplainable is possible here.”

I flew through this book! It was not what I expected at all and I loved it all the more because of that! The actual contest doesn’t take place until we’re over 50% of the the way through book, which was definitely unexpected. But this worked so well, because we as readers then have a better understanding and love of the characters who are entering it. We know all too well what’s at stake and really feel for them.

The story mainly follows two heroines, Rhen and Seleni, who although cousins have been raised with very different lifestyles. Rhen in the Lower class, Seleni in the Upper. The friendship between these two was so strong - and rather then in spite of their differences, I believe it was strong because of their differences. They had so much respect for each other, and gave each other devoted support in their separate goals:

“I’ve always wanted the life of a wife, and mother, and helpmate to my husband, and I know you may not think much of that, but it’s what I want. And I’d be proud of it.”

It seems as though women who want to have a family life and be homemakers are being looked down on more and more in YA fiction, in favour of women who want big careers. The fact that Mary Webber wrote Seleni as a strong, independent female, who knew her mind and knew that raising a family was what she wanted, is so commendable and admirable! My hat goes off to you Miss Webber!

Really though, all of the characters were so individual and well thought out. I loved Da and how he interacted with Rhen (and her Uncle, if I’m honest!) Holm too was such an intriguing and satisfying character.

Rhen’s inner dialogue throughout the book was so beautiful and descriptive at times, painting such a vivid picture of the atmosphere:

“My lungs and stomach fight the urge to run back outside. Where the air doesn’t feel like a shroud and my dread doesn’t sound so loud.”

Really, there are so many quotes I could use. The final sentences in the book are plastered on my mind as so encouraging and inspiring. But because they contain spoilers, I’ll use this one instead:

“You take this world and make it what it should be.”

Also, the fact that this was in the acknowledgements:

“Jesus. Because you are all this heart exists for.”

It’s always such a joy to have Christian authors on the field. Especially ones who can write like this.

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

**4.5 Stars**

To Best the Boys was a powerhouse of a novel meant to uplift and challenge the beliefs and restraints of womanhood. Weber’s atmospheric storytelling brought the port side province to life and gave great depth to the main character leading the charge. The portrayal of a society split by class and then by gender was spot on in its closeness to reality, making it easy to become Rhen—to fight with and for her. And within its borderline gothic-y feel, the story of a girl fighting for a chance at becoming something was truly the most powerful and enjoyable element.

I admired the gumption and brains and progressiveness of Rhen’s character; how she wasn’t just one thing, but many. The intrinsic nature of being flawed, smart, and selfless both served and hindered her journey in equal measure by building tension, and I loved every second of it. For a story about female empowerment, the subtle romance never once detracted from it—instead simply adding another wonderful layer to Rhen’s journey. The beautiful slow burn of it felt effortless and sweet, and as the action grew so did their ingrained connection to one another. To Best the Boys was an enticing character-driven tale that will force you to devour it.

To Best the Boys was an unexpected delight that I had such a fun time reading! Going into this book, I knew the premise sounded like something I would love--girls proving themselves against boys, mazes and labyrinths, riddles, etc., all things that I love, but I had no idea if it would be executed as well as I hoped and I'm so glad to be able to say that it was.

As the premise explains, To Best the Boys centers around a mysterious, potentially deadly maze-like competition in which the winner receives a scholarship to attend a highly acclaimed (all male) university. Despite the fact that the main event of this book is the maze competition, there are still many other components--such as class struggles, women's right, and more--that make up the bulk of the story. I loved the creativity and deveolopment of the maze and how Weber made everything work together into one cohesive plot.

The characters were really varied throughout the book and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know most of them. Rhen, the protagonist, was particularly promising and endeared me to her almost immediately. I especially liked that she seemed to really know what were and weren't her strengths, as she would readily admit that she wasn't good at things that weren't math or science-related. That type of honesty is refreshing to read, especially when it's a character who is constantly trying to prove themselves. I also loved Rhen best friend, Seleni, largely because of what an honest and loyal friend she was to Rhen throughout every moment. The two friends never gave up on one other and I admired it so much. There were some male characters that drove me crazy in this book with their arrogant attitudes, but I'm pretty sure that they were supposed to so the job was done well. Also, for those wondering: there is some romance in this story, but it is never the main focus and is actually done pretty well in my opinion.

Within the labyrinth competition itself were plenty of puzzles that the characters had to solve, so if you're a reader that likes puzzles you'll love solving them along with the characters. I'll admit that I was slightly disappointed because I thought that the main game portion would be longer and a bit different than it was, but I did still really enjoy it. The only other somewhat disappointing part of this book for me was that one main component related to the game that I think was supposed to be a huge mystery, but it was actually something that I predicted extremely early on and that felt slightly cliche'd.

One of my hands down favorite things was the inclusion and acceptance exemplified between Rhen and her friend Seleni. I loved that Rhen and Seleni were so unfailingly loyal to one another and that although Rhen was portrayed positively as a scientist who doesn't want anything to do with traditional female roles, Seleni was also portrayed positively as a woman who wanted more than anything to take on the role of wife to her future potential husband and have a 'traditional' woman's role--and both were perfectly acceptable and positive! It's so important to me that any and all life choice made by women are accepted because so often books simply show women who reject 'traditional' female roles as being positive, when in reality there are plenty of women who are okay with those and want those roles. I really just wanted to point that out in this review because it's something that really stood out to me and made me happy to see. Celebrating different perspectives and goals is incredibly important.

To Best the Boys covers a lot of different themes from gender roles to mental issues to class issues and so much more, all wrapped up in an exciting story that kept me engaged the entire time.Overall, I had a really enjoyable time reading this book and look forward to seeing what other works Mary Weber has written!

I love reading about girls who are into science, but be warned theres some animal testing that happens in this novel. Besides that I enjoyed seeing how Rhens mind worked. It was hilarious how she thought about dissecting a cute guys face to see if his lips were naturally pouty or if he was always in the mood for kissing. As for the romance I thought it was really cute and was totally rooting for them, but Im not the biggest fan of miscommunication as the source of romantic conflict. I also dont understand how someone can change so much. The progression from being a friend to being just as bad as the bullies didnt feel completely authentic. I did love the female friendship between Rhen and her cousin Seleni. Their absolute acceptance each others differences was admirable. I also really liked Rhens relationship with her parents and how supportive they were.

I did like how the plot focused on Rhen trying to find a cure for a deadly disease spreading through the poorer communities that her mother got infected with. Trying to save her mother was a noble goal. Seeing her discover where she belongs and struggling with following her dream or staying to help her parents had me really feeling for her. I didnt really get into the story until they enter the maze which doesnt happen until over half way through the novel so the plot was a little slow to get going. It didnt make sense that some of the boys didnt get pulled from the game for injuring other contestants since the rules are clearly against that. I was also frustrated with the main characters decision to be on the bullies team when she could have simply avoided them.

This world had a mix of science and magic which isnt something I see very often. It was a little confusing at times because I wasnt sure what category to place certain things, especially when it came to Holm. I did really enjoyed the addition of ghouls, sirens and basilisk though. Just like in her last series I felt like the ending was a little longer than it needed to be. However it was nice to have it all wrap up in one book. The writing was alright, but it does have a fair amount of descriptions so the pace wasnt a gripping as Id hoped it would be. It did help make some scenes feel atmospheric, but in other cases it just dragged the story. I really loved the overall message this book was sending. Its important for women to believe they can do whatever they set their mind to even if that doesnt conform to typical gender norms.

Like most of the book reviews I write, this book is by an author I've been wanting to read for FOREVER and just haven't gotten around to yet! As the release date for To Best the Boys is coming up, I figured I'd give it a shot, and EEEEEEE the hype for Mary Weber did not disappoint!

The people who said that this book was like a combination of Caravel and The Scorpio Races were spot-on: it was a The Scorpio Races setting (especially the mostly realistic, but with ~special~ creatures bit), with the labyrinth bit being a lot like Caravel. And since I loved both those books, it stands to reason that I loved this one too!

EEEEEEE I loved Rhen so much! She was a badass, smart, STEM girl during a time where it was expected for girls to just,,,cook and have babies, and she KNEW things and wanted to learn things and wanted to go to university but still had crushes and wanted to love a boy and EEE CAN I BE HER PLEASE. Her relationship with her parents was also 12/10!!! They love each other so much, and they love her so much, and she loves them so much and ADKSDFKLRVC I mean honestly the fact that they're both alive is laudable in and of itself loLLL

Her cousin Seleni was another important character in the story: she was also brave and daring but she /liked/ frills and dresses and /wanted/ to have babies and DIDN'T want to go to uni, and the story made the distinction that both of them were OKAY!

And the boys!!! Lute and Beryll (but mostly Lute, of course) were such great gentlemen, and Lute IS JUST PRECIOUS, okay?? Also Vincent is a literal piece of garbage #ooF. I really really enjoyed how the relationships were already there, so it wasn't like "oh, they met in the maze and now they're kissing" it's more like "oh, we've liked each other foREVER and like OOPS WE KISSED" and if you've ever read any of my reviews, you'll know that I LOVE THAT!!!

Another thing I really liked about this book was the distinction between the upper-class and the lower-class. The people putting in regulations, and the politicians (a big @ VINCENT), and the fishermen, who are just tRYING THEIR HARDEST to live and make a living.

The disability rep was also so, so good in this book! I did not expect a book that seemed to be set in the 19th/20th (ish) century, to speak about disability (namely, autism, down syndrome, dyslexia) so kindly, and so well, and I loved that!

My Rating-
9/10

Things Liked-
-RHEN!!! She gets her own bulletpoint for being a badass
-Also 12/10 feminism rep
-and the other characters: Lute, Beryll, Rhen's dad, Mr. Holm!!
-The light--and apt--romance!
-SCIENCE THINGS--it made me not want to change majors lollll
-Disability rep!
-Being like two of my favorite YAs, like, EEE
-It was such a cool setting!! looking at it holistically it really doesn't make sense, but it was described so well that it worked!
-also that writing style was so smooth and clear and beautiful I LOVED IT!!

Things Disliked-
-some of the endings seemed to tie up too nicely?

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review; I was not required to write a positive review.

This review first appeared on: https://losingthebusyness.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/book-review-to-best-the-boys-by-mary-weber/

This was quite a delightful read for me, but unfortunately not the best fantasy read I have read. What reeled me in was women disguising themselves in order to beat the patriarchy. Two of my favourite things.

What fell flat for me was the maze was supposed to be this dangerous thing but if the contestants got into a too serious situation the one hosting the maze Mr. Holm, bails them out Also our MC`s Rhen and her cousin Seleni didn't actually go into the maze until well past the halfway point.


What I did love was when they actually got into the maze and despite its lack of danger I really enjoyed the puzzles and games they had to solve, very DaVanci Code. The villain was also awesome in the way that they were horrible through and through and you love to hate him. I also really enjoyed the friendship Rhen had with her cousin Selini despite their social difference and desires( Rhen wanting to get an education and Selini just wanting to get married) They supported each other in every way. I also really loved Rhen her actions into falsifying her identity wasn't just to trick the boys but to help the people who can't help themselves. .Rhen was a genuinely good person.

Overall To Best the Boys was a good fantasy read despite its slow beginning and some plot issues. Has great friendship, women supporting women a dastardly villain and when they finally entered the maze it was fun to see all the surprises and puzzles.

5/5 stars

To Best the Boys was my first Mary Weber book, but it definitely won't be my last! I absolutely loved every aspect of the world she built which was full of fantasy, friendship, historical fiction, science and magic.

The world itself was unique. I loved how she blended a believable world of science set back in a historical time with a magical one. The story was so immersive I forgot on several occasions that I wasn't just reading historical fiction. During those times, a fantasy element would pop up and surprise me such as the wail of a siren or the glimpse of a ghoul at night. I loved those subtle mentions of a world that was clearly not our own!

The variety of characters, especially males, in this story was astounding. Rhen's female coming of age story definitely has it's many difficult characters including patronizing elderly males and the male friend who thinks women should be content to only marry. However, it also shows you the male friend that encourages Rhen to keep trying and a father that treats his daughter as an intelligent equal. I understand that this tale seems to be a feminist story, but I appreciated that the author never bashed the opposite sex to tell it. The author merely presents you with a variety of good and bad characters and let's you make up your own mind from their actions while reading. This is so rare and I appreciateThis story just proves you can uplift those that need it without tearing down others. There were also several representations of disabilities and different types of families that blended in seamlessly with the story. I loved that it felt completely natural and not overdone.

I loved that this story took it's time in the beginning to develop all of these characters, the middle with the maze contest, and an ending that never felt rushed. I really enjoyed reading about Rhen, Seleni, Beryll and Lute. Rhen's home life, love for her family and education through her father is what truly led her to the maze and I'm glad the author took the time to make it more than a story about a contest.

This story felt like a letter to girls everywhere or to anyone that finds themselves too scared to follow their dreams. I highly recommend it if you need an uplifting fantasy story that will keep you turning pages, put a smile on your face and make your day!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much to the publisher, the author and NetGalley.

I received an eARC of this novel from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for my open and honest review.

“Rhen Tellus opened it simply to see if she could scrape off the ink and derive which substances it’s been created from. Using her father’s strangely fashioned microscope. Which is how she discovered that this time the lettering was created from two types of resin, a binding paste, gold flecks, and a drop of something that smelled quite remarkably like magic.”

To Best the Boys is a lot of great and grand things. It is surprising, exciting, sad, bittersweet, and most of all remarkable. Mary Weber wrote a noteworthy book. It is a YA dipped in light fantasy without coming off as silly or unsophisticated, a rare feat nowadays. I cheered Rhen, she is a hero that young and teenage girls can look up to. Who says that women can’t be excellent at science and math? Who says they can’t look at dead bodies and not squeal. Rhen can! Rhen is the person capable of doing the saving, and if you listen to her, respect her opinion, she might help you out along the way and be your savior instead.

Rhen is a woman in her late teens trapped in her families financial situation. They dare to be working class people. Rhen’s parents, her mother born an Upper and her father born a lesser, fell in love and married against her mother’s families wishes. Rhen’s family has been shunned by her mother’s side her entire life. But, in a city built on familial connections, Rhen has been associating with her Aunt and cousin Seleni most of her life. In a bid to help her out of the Lesser social class. Rhen is a bit of a prodigy in math and sciences, and along with her father work tirelessly to find a cure to whatever is ailing the poorer classes in her port town. Those affected include Rhen’s mother. Here is the impetus of the story. Rhen must work tirelessly to find a cure, but Rhen is a woman and therefore not worthy of having her opinions heard. She is stuck in a catch-22 unless she can change the social equation. Each year a wealthy aristocrat and inventor holds a contest of magical and mathematical tests.

“All gentlepersons of university age (respectively seventeen to nineteen) are cordially invited to test for the esteemed annual scholarship given by Mr. Holm toward one full-ride fellowship at Stemwick Men’s University. Aptitude contenders will appear at nine o’clock in front of Holm’s Castle entrance above the seaside town of Pinsbury Port on the evening of 22 September, during the festival of the Autumnal Equinox.”

If Rhen can win the tests, she can gain access to the education that is necessary to help her friends, family, and people of Pinsbury Port fight off this spreading disease. She has the need and drive to succeed in this. What she faces as a contestant is fantastical creatures, science, math, and logic puzzles. As well as other contestants conspiring against her. You know she can do this, but Weber affectively amps up the suspense of the story until the reader is on proverbial pins and needles.

How does this story mimic our world today?

Although we live in a reasonably forward-thinking world, generally speaking, little girls face the same challenges of sexism when it comes to STEM(science, technology, engineering, math). Woman are still considered too illogical by some to be analytical enough to be a scientist. There are still real sociological and environmental barriers that girls need to overcome to become immersed in STEM. This story echoes that. Rhen is a woman continually being told that she does not have the mind and attitude for male-dominated STEM subjects.

Different men in Rhen’s Life

A quality I appreciated in this story was how men were depicted. Men are just as varied in personality, intelligence and spirit as women are. The author could have gone the route of stereotyping the male characters, but she didn’t. There was no type-casting for characters. Each of the players in this story has an individual mind and personality that mimics the variances in actual culture.

Political opinions and class warfare

Rhen comes from a poorer class, and although it is a peripheral plot point, Rhen’s working-class neighbors and friends have to deal with out of touch upper-class people thinking they know what is best for them. Those decisions cause a significant calamity for the working middle class and poor people of this village. It is an important vignette that mirrors political and social change taking place in our world even as we speak.

What I did not like
There is very little not to like with this story. My only slight complaint was that I felt like maybe there were one too many ideas in the plot. The plotline with the town’s fisherman seemed just a little much. Maybe that plotline would have been better seen in book 2.

Should you read this?
Absolutely. I cannot stress this enough, I loved this book. It is exceptionally well written, the plot is interesting, the characters are cheer-worthy. The message is one that can resonate with young girls, and when you get to the end, the reader feels empowered. You want to do better in your life and for those around you after reading this book.

Quotes taken from eARC are subject to change upon publishing.

I received a review copy of To Best The Boys by Mary Weber through Thomas Neilson via Netgallery. This is my honest opinion about this book.

I found to begin with the story was ok. It was interesting but it wasn’t grabbing my attention. This changed about half way through. I think when things started ‘snowballing’ it grabbed me and dragged me along for the ride.

I enjoyed the main character Rhen. She is smart and witty. She is strong willed and goes after what she wants with determination.

I’ll tell you one of the main reasons why I loved this book and it has nothing to do with the well-rounded characters, the eerie atmosphere or the fantastic pacing and excellent storytelling.

It was Seleni. Here we have a girl isn’t a tomboy, doesn’t particularly like getting dirty or fighting but will do anything for the people she loves. She goes into the labyrinth to keep her intended fiancee and her cousin safe. She is scared and sweet and all she wants to do is get married and raise a family.

And that is all right.

Mary Weber doesn’t put her down, doesn’t make her less of a person because her choice isn’t to rally the forces and change the world. Seleni isn’t ‘feisty’ or pathetic. She isn’t a damsel in distress or a love-struck idiot. She is a well-rounded, fully capable woman who knows what she wants and will fight for it.

Rhen’s story is compelling and you genuinely feel for her circumstances. You want her to win, to thrive and overcome the odds. You can feel her desperation for her mother and the way she feels choked by a restrictive society. You understand her motives and her actions and you are rooting for her all of the way.

Even the ancillary characters are well done. The requisite fiancee and the autistic brother, the overbearing uncle and the eccentric recluse all are excellently fleshed out. Even the villains of the piece have some redeeming qualities, although not many.

The main villain was well hidden and the reveal was nothing short of brilliant.

The only thing I wasn’t as fond of was the weird mist creatures which I really didn’t think were useful to the story.

That said I will highly recommend it and will buy it upon its release.

Beautifully written. I loved the characters. It's easy to get in to the story. I didn't quite enjoy the ending. But definitely a good read.