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.

"For the girl who's been told to quiet down, calm down, sit down, or just leave it to the men-this is for you. And to those who told you such things? Watch. Us. Rise."

This is the dedication for To Best the Boys and it made me cry. Because that’s what this book is about. Smart, capable, loveable, don't-tell-us-no girls. Don’t get me wrong, I love my headstrong, brooding, girls who go at it alone, but it was also such a welcome change to have a main character who was loved and had a strong support system and family and a best friend to share her struggles with. I cried so many times reading this book because it was so affirming and powerful and wonderfully told. It’s all that AND a compelling fantasy story with a heart melting romance to boot. I appreciated the focus on Rhen's prowess with science and her intelligence. Weber sets up such a fascinating and well developed world even before the Labyrinth is introduced that I couldn't put the book down. I loved Rhen my all my heart and can not stop thinking about her in Labyrinth fighting for her dreams the way so many of us have and do every day.

I am a total sucker for the girls disguised as boys to beat them at their own game trope. I’m not sure what I would categorize this book as. I think historical fantasy makes it sound like there’s far more magic than there is. But historical fiction is just too bland I think. I think fantastical historical fiction is about as good as I can get. In this book we have Rhen, she is a science-obsessed tomboy in a world where women are meant to be pretty and gossip obsessed homemakers. Her father is disgraced and her mother is gravely ill. Her mission. To win the annual competition for a scholarship to the all-male elite university. Along with her cousin, whose reasons for joining lean more towards the traditional husband catching, Rhen joins the competition and might just show the town what girls are really made of. This book was so much fun to read and I love how insanely awkward Rhen is. Her habit of explaining stuff about dead bodies when she’s nervous just had me cracking up the entire time I was reading. It was really cool to see her struggle with growing up from the crush she’s had for ages to realizing that she doesn’t have to be a docile little wife at the hearth at the expense of her education and passions. I also really love a scene between her and Seleni where Seleni tells her off about how deciding to be a traditional wife, mother, and helpmeet is just as amazing and noble as being the strong heroine who saves the day and has a career.

You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com

Releasing on the 19th of March 2019

Actual rating of 4.5

Rhen Tellur is not like the other girls, she desecrates corpses by stealing vials of their blood and works on science experiments with her Da in her spare time. She's trying to find a cure. A cure for a disease that has swept through the Lower class of her city, a disease that has also infected her mother. If only she could get access to more in depth laboratory equipment, she might have a chance, but the likelihood of that happening is slim to none. Her Da was ostracised from the university after a woman died, so there's no hope there either. Each year Mr. Holm, a crazy, eccentric and elusive man of unfathomable wealth hosts a contest. All gentlepersons of university age are invited to traverse his labyrinth, the winner receives a full ride scholarship to Stemwick University for young men. If only Rhen could enter alongside the boys, she knows that she has a good chance of winning that scholarship, which in turn would help her mother. In a world rife with social unrest that does not recognise equality, what's a girl to do?

I absolutely adored this book. Weber has created such a wonderful world full of whimsy and magic and I love it. I love the ghouls and the sirens, and I love how Weber has managed to meld a world that all at once seems to be set back in an 1800s style setting, yet is rife with technology and scientists aren't persecuted as witches. It all just works SO well. I could see the cobble stoned streets, see the clothes, smell the salt air. It all just worked brilliantly.

Rhen was an incredibly likeable character and was a 17 year old girl with the entire weight of the world on her shoulders. Imagine knowing that you are intelligent enough to find the keys to curing something, yet it constantly eluding you. How frustrating. Yet, she doesn't give up. She keeps trying because to give up means that she cannot save her mum. All of this, she does in order to save her mother, and in turn, her father. Rhen gets to see both sides of how her city lives because her Cousin Seleni is Upper, meaning she has the frocks, the shoes, and the heated mansion fit for parties. However, Seleni is not like majority of the other Uppers, she has sympathy, and she loves Rhen to pieces. Along with Beryl, Seleni's love interest, we have a wonderful cast of contrasting characters that just throws the story into another dimension. You can feel the desperation, the fear, as well as the burning hatred for many of the characters in this story. They are all incredibly well written, and all play a part, the fit the story absolutely perfectly.

This isn't just a young adult fantasy story about a bunch of teenagers battling it out for a scholarship, it has so many layers to it. It mirrors our world so much that one can't help but make the connections while reading. It deals with social unrest that comes from political agendas, it looks at how the 'lower' class reacts when the higher ups make decisions on things that they have absolutely no idea about. How making decisions on things that DON'T affect them is unjust and unfair. It shows us how disconnected politicians can be from the 'little people' they are making promises to, to protect them, make things better, when in turn they generally just make things worse. It looks at equality, and how even today we still face it. In male run industries that are generally labelled as 'Men's work' and how females struggle today to fit in and be heard, to have their knowledge of the industry or subject be trusted just as much as their male counterparts. Yes it's not as bad as it once was, at one time we weren't even allowed to vote, but that doesn't take away from the fact that we still face this prejudice today in some aspects of life. This book deals HEAVILY with inequality. While it shows us these things that as a single person we cannot change, it also illustrates the main point of DO NOT GIVE UP. Don't give up on your dreams, whatever you do. Things won't change in one night, but eventually they can if we just keep trying.

I found this book incredibly relatable because of the topics that it touched on. Especially being a female studying in a primarily male industry. I know the struggles that I will have to face when I step back out into the workforce, but I'm prepared, and nothing will stop me getting to where I want to go. This book really brings home the feelings of pushing through.

The story itself was brilliant. I loved the way it was written and I was hooked from the word go. It's fast paced and completely immersive in it's story telling. I was a bit surprised as I had thought that the majority of the book would be about the contest, however, we don't actually even enter the labyrinth until around half way through. That's okay though, the beginning of the book was used to set the scene of the world, which is imperative to the story itself. It gave us time to get to know the characters so we were able to sympathise with their dreams and their wants. I loved the twists and turns and the surprises were definitely surprising, bar one, which I had worked out way before Rhen had, but that's okay.

Some people point out a love triangle, to me however, I don't believe there is one in this book. Yes, we have Rhen, our fiery, feisty protagonist, and we have her Upper 'friend' Vincent King who is obviously interested in courting her, and we have Lute, the Lower fishermen whom Rhen obviously holds a candle for. However, at no point is Rhen ever really torn between these two. Points are made that "should he have made this advance two years ago, would I have reacted differently?" but that's it. It's clear from the beginning that Rhen has grown apart from Vincent and does not like the idea of being romantically involved. So in my eyes, there is no love triangle, there's a nice smattering of romance throughout the book that gives it a bit of extra charm, and there's the annoyance of a boy making assumptions about a girl who 'clearly can't think for themselves' pfft. Fuck off Vincent. And that's how I feel about Vincent haha.

So if you like a fast paced, YA romp through a world that is teeming with real world issues and a hardy dose of NEVER GIVE UP, definitely pick up a copy of To Best the Boys.

I had been seeing “ To Best the Boys” by Mary Weber on numerous anticipated lists from friends and such. I was super excited to read it. If I could describe this fantasy adventure, I would say it is a mix of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Hunger Games, and The Maze Runner all rolled up into one but a bit lighter. Rhen was a very likeable character. This book had a very strong message. There was some romance but I am so glad it was not majorly focused on. I would like a little more worldbuilding. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author!!

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

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. Every year, 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. 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 maze.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I always love stories with strong females who outshine their male counterparts, ever since I was a kid and saw Mulan in theater (three times). Then add in some fantasy and science and I knew I had to read this. I also was drawn to the unique titles of the book and, of course, that gorgeous cover!

Rhen is an extraordinary narrator and protagonist. And I don’t just mean because of the things she does in the story. She has a strong and memorable personality that carries you through the book. Her voice really engages the reader with the plot and made me really relate to her, even though we really share no interests or personality traits. The other characters in the book, her cousin, her love interest, her friends, are all well rounded as well. Each character has flaws, but also redeemable qualities, including the antagonist. At times the cast felt a bit too big for a book of this size, but everyone plays a necessary role in the plot, so it made sense.

The town of Pinsbury Port, where the entirety of this story takes place, plays on a lot of tropes already established in the Fantasy genre, but adds in new elements that keep the setting fresh and interesting. While mythical creatures are part of the plot, they’re also an active part of the setting, adding to the sights, sounds and (unfortunately) smells of Rhen’s hometown. It was great to see an element of the plot so fully incorporated in the world from the first few pages and onward. I also really enjoyed how, while there is magic in this world, science and medicine are also prominent and just as important to the story as magic. The mixture of these different elements in what could have been a very mundane and run-of-the-mill fantasy setting made this world exciting and memorable.

I was immediately pulled into the plot of this book. From the first scene, where Rhen is sneaking into the morgue to take blood samples from dead bodies, I felt like I could not put this book down. It’s fast paced and not very long. If you an avid reader, you can probably get through this in a weekend. However, I did struggle with the pacing of the book. It is definitely quick, but there were some areas I really wanted things slowed down a bit. For example, the labyrinth trial, which the entire book leads up to, didn’t really start until halfway through the book, and was over around 80% of the way through it. More time is spent leading up to the labyrinth than you actually spend in it. Similarly, the ending was drawn out a bit too long for my tastes. I would have loved to see some of the twists and reveals that were in the last 20% of the book be more spread out through the story.

To Best the Boys is Mary Weber’s latest book and is a real treat for feminist fantasy lovers. The book celebrates women on all types in addition to just being a great and fun story. The settings and characters of the book will captivate you and stay with you long after you put the book back on your shelf. The plot is fast-paced and overall, this is a quick and enjoy read for fans of the genre.

You Can Buy To Best The Boys Now On Amazon, Barnes & Noble Or Your Favorite Local Bookstore.

I love Mary Weber as much as her food recipes she shares with us every single month! I don’t usually decide whether to read a certain book by its cover, but this cover made me want to find out more about it. When I read the synopsis, I had to read it, as it captures women fighting for their rights in a young-adult format, and it simply was something I couldn’t miss.

I will be honest with you and say that this book didn’t deliver. Maybe it was my expectations, after all, that got me too excited for my own good.

Let’s start with Rhen. She is a girl that loves science, and her father has taught her everything he knows. They are poor family and don’t have all the equipment in the world, but that doesn’t stop them to keep discovering and learning every day. In their kingdom, an unknown disease comes around, and Rhen’s mum is ill, with no cure yet. Rhen wants desperately to find a cure, and a rich boy wanting to marry her might promise her all the equipment she needs, but now it’s time that she lacks.

When the men’s annual tournament is about to begin, with boys fighting for the science scholarship, Rhen knows that she has no choice but to enter, disguised as a boy, and try to win this – for her, for her dad, and most importantly, for her mum.

The book flows really slowly. We get to about half of the book when Rhen decides to enter the tournament. I expected this to happen in the first couple of chapters, and to then have the adventure from within the labyrinth. For me, it was quite a slow beginning, but some of you might enjoy that. The writing is beautiful throughout.

I loved the fighter within Rhen. She is a fierce person, determined to fight for what she wants. Even though throughout the book she has trouble with realising what is it that she really wants, we can see a bit of character development in her.

As a book that is supposed to cover gender equality, and women fighting for the same rights as men, this book didn’t really deliver. The letter states that every gentleperson – not gentleman. Which means, that inequality never truly exists at all. Women could have entered this competition, but they just chose not to.

The whole competition, the labyrinth and the scholarship lacks details and has enormous loopholes: one scholarship is given to one person – the one that wins the labyrinth. And after the winner is chosen, we have a scene where they all take a test, including the winner?

The disguise was a huge and important part of this book, as Rhen and her friend are pretending to be boys. Rhen cuts her hair, and her friend just pins it and ties it with a hat. They both wear boy clothes and barely remember to lower their voices. And that is all they do to not get recognised. And somehow, the people that know them their whole life fail to recognise them. A bit unbelievable…

I wish I loved this book, because I truly fell in love with the cover and the synopsis. But the whole labyrinth set-up seemed to be a side-story, with the illness being the main story, and the realisation of what Rhen actually wants to achieve. Random characters were introduced, that didn’t drive the story one bit, and the author also happened to throw in an inconsistent romance and a love triangle.

I hate to say this, but the book seems like an unfinished draft. It seemed so promising, and all I thought I would get out of this was non-existent.

I am not sure if I would want to recommend this book to you guys. If you want to give it a try, I encourage you, and would love to talk about it and hear what you think, but if you are here because you loved the synopsis, this book will probably not satisfy you.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley, for giving me a complimentary ARC e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's the first book I read by this author and I'm happy I did it because it was a great discovery.
I appreciated the strong female character and the feminist topic present in this book, it's entertaining and it makes you think at the same time.
The style of writing is amazing, full humour and care for details. The characters are well written and fleshed out.
The plot was engaging and I was hooked since the first pages.
A great discovery, I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

3.75 stars

I didn't know what to expect from To Best the Boysbut in the end it was a good reading! I liked how the main character was not the classic damsel in distress. On the contrary, she was smart and resilient and she fought for her dreams and rights, and also had the courage to question men's superiority. The romance was cute but not too overwhelming to create annoyance, while what I think was one of the best parts was the relationship and love she had for her family. So, why don't give full 4 stars? Because the last chapters were a little bit rushed; they could have been developed better. But I still recommend this book!

I loved this book! It has a strong, spunky female, Rhen Tellur, as the main character. She is from the lower, poorer level in a time and place where the more fortunate have power and men rule the world. While her best friend, Seleni, desires nothing more out of life then to become a wife and mother, Rhen’s interest in sickness and disease, especially as it relates to helping her mother who is ill, pushes her to wish for more in life.

The little details that make up this world, from sirens in the water to the dead who walk in the graveyard at night, add an extra layer to this amazing fantasy book. The characters are so realistic, I felt as if I personally knew them.

This is without a doubt a five star book.

4.5 Stars

This has been posted to all links in my bio.

Maybe it was just me, but I went To Best the Boys by Mary Weber expecting one thing and getting something completely different. So much in fact that I found myself rewriting this review multiple times (hence it being a day late). I believe it might also be my longest review to date!
From the publisher:

The task is simple:
Don a disguise.
Survive the labyrinth.
Best the boys.
It was enough to grab my attention and request an ARC of the book that I was thrilled to have approved. When I read it?



Don’t get me wrong. I mean this in all due compliment to Weber. I’m just not sure why the book isn’t published on more merit than it is given. It is so much more than just a girl who attempts “to best the boys” in a yearly labyrinth that is, and always has been a boys-only club where the winner’s prize is a scholarship to a prestigious university.
“I assume he’s referring to the competition tomorrow at Holm Castle… that I wish I could, too, for as long as I can remember. But society’s more likely to embrace cross-stich as a sort than toss out its long-standing history of gender roles. No matter that Mum and I can cut up a corpse or do an equation the same or better than half the blokes my age.”

Beyond the obvious storyline of a girl living in a patriarchal society, Rhen is a sharp-tongued girl who doesn’t feel at home in either the upper or lower class. Her mother was born in upper class of society but married a lower-class, but brilliant scientist and upon doing so was shunned from that world.
However, her daughter, Rhen is still invited to all high-society events and expected to marry back into that world. This something Rhen is not so comfortable doing. Having become a great scientist herself, under the tutelage of her father, she is much more comfortable among the common place of society than the upper class. At a young age, her parents started homeschooling Rhen due to a difficulty in reading and excellence in science, and work with cadavers. Yet, because of her the upper-calls welcoming nature of Rhen, the commoners don’t see her in this manner. This leaves Rhen feeling like she doesn’t quite fit in anywhere or with anyone. When asked where she is from she once quips,
“Oh, from all over and nowhere and everywhere at once.”
Don’t let this comment fool you. Rhen is no shrinking violet. She is strong, sharp tongued and able to hold her best with anyone from each part of society, whether they want to accept her or not.
During this same function, and an event portside, Rhen starts coming across clues that quickly lead her to the realization that there are other nefarious acts at work. While she once hoped that if the those that had power knew of what was happening in the lower class- the disease, the poverty, the struggles that they might do something about it? Well that naivety quickly slips away to the realization that not only do they not care to do anything about it but may have a foot in causing it.
Interwoven well by Weber, social-warfare begins to come into play first through Rhen’s eyes. While at a high-society gathering, Germaine, a boy of high-standing puts it very bluntly to Rhen why those that are from the lower ranks of society should never be permitted to participate.
“Why waste an education on someone with less ability? Less aptitude- less motivation? There’s a reason why those in the Lower district live there, <Rhen>.”
One of the two greatest hardships of the lower class is when an announcement was made that severe limitations would be made on the port utilized as one of the main sources of income by those in the lower class. The thing I expected while reading To Best the Boys that Billy Joel would start crashing into my head at about 40% through the book but there it was. I couldn’t help but think of the song Downeaster Alexa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVlDSzbrH5M

Especially the following lines:
I got bills to pay and children who need clothes
I know there's fish out there but where God only knows
They say these waters aren't what they used to be
But I got people back on land who count on me
I was a bay man like my father was before
Can't make a living as a bay man anymore
There ain't much future for a man who works the sea
But there ain't no island left for islanders like me
The second and even greater threat is a spreading plague that is spreading and killing lower class citizens quicker by the day. Rhen’s own mother is now fighting it. Rhen’s father and she are sure they are getting closer to a cure but without research funding, it is slow going. Now that Rhen is learning the truth behind those with the most power in society, she sees that hope dimming by the second.

Without giving anymore away, I know, I’m sorry but I always try to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible, I will say that this spurs her, and her ever adoring cousin Seleni into action, and into the part of the book we expected to take place. What I will say is that even within the part of the book I did expect from its description is that there is a sucker punch that I never saw coming. I was shocked and incredibly thrown off guard by plot twist Weber pulls off. It is both completely believable, completely works and completely unpredictable.
All the characters… ok, all the good characters are a delight. Throughout the book you build a different bond for each character. Each having a unique voice and personality that remains consistent throughout the book. Weber doesn’t waiver in keeping each character unique and this makes bonding with them that much deeper for the reader. By the time you get to the labyrinth? You are on the brink of suspense rooting and worrying for different characters.
I knocked off a 1/2 a star for one reason. For me? I adored the book. Even in not expecting all that it entailed. I think Weber did a brilliant job bringing it all together. It was a truly in-depth, multi-layered story that never lost its way. It wasn’t confusing nor was it too much.
However, that is me. For some, I could see where they might think it is all a bit too much. I can’t stress the following point enough. I don’t think this should ever deter anyone from reading To Best The Boys. It is a brilliant, fun read that addresses many current social issues without pandering, formulaic or at all obvious.

To Best The Boys is a fabulous surprise. Not only is Rhen a STEM whiz, she's living in a society which reminded me of the past - where men are given all the opportunities, and women aren't allowed, and their roles are very much that of housewife and obedience. And Rhen is just the opposite. Fiercely passionate about science and motivated by the illness of her mother, Rhen is connected to the poorer class where she grew up, and the upper class where her mother's family is from (but who disowned her mother).

But at the heart of To Best the Boys is a story about feminism, friendship, and Rhen's journey to be her own person. There's all these expectations about who she should be, how society expects her to act, and what her future is. And this book is a testament to her struggle to live against the grain, but not only that. But to also bring about change.

4.5 stars!

This book has basically everything I want: an independent-minded, ambitious, and witty protagonist (I have a weird personal bias against describing heroines as "strong" and "sassy," but that's what Rhen is!); an estranged childhood friend (who, as a bonus, *got hot* and has "anatomically perfect lips"); magic, including mythical creatures like sirens and ghouls, and a bit of mystery; intriguing riddles/puzzles that the reader can try to solve alongside the heroes; and even some creative cursing.

The writing itself is also beautiful; while I'm not generally a fan of big epiphanies about society/humanity/one's self, or of cheesy romantic declarations, they're used judiciously and balanced with enough action and character development to balance out. I laughed at so many brilliantly executed lines, and the tension between a certain pairing just *sizzles*. (Which is saying a lot, coming from me, the eternal cynic!)

Rhen Tellur, the heroine, is far and away my favorite part of this story. She's got a bit of a temper, but she's also determined to pursue science and cure diseases. Her best friend/cousin is an Upper (i.e., Seleni's family is rich and disowned Rhen's mother for marrying her poor scientist father) but Rhen lives near and is friends with many people from the poorer part of town: so she kind of has a foot in both worlds, giving her some advantages and limitations of each, and making her a really nuanced and sympathetic character. In a society that would like her to be quiet and defer to her future husband, she flouts convention to stand up for herself and her friends.

The rest of the cast is varied as far as family background and personal goals, and all are either really lovable or lots of fun to hate — though, as far as I'm aware, there's no explicit PoC or LGBT+ representation. I do wish the author had included some, because I think it fits with all the social issues being addressed and could have been as simple as a mention in passing or a very minor sidestory. (This is a big part of where I deducted half a star from my rating, because intersectionality is really important to me.)

I will add that I personally don't think The Scorpio Races is a good comp title — beyond a number of surface similarities (a girl enters the annual traditional competition traditionally meant for boys/men, special cakes to celebrate the occasion, and a love interest who loves the ocean and loves the protagonist because she is "untamable" like the ocean) they just feel like completely different stories to me, with very different moods; that said, this is of course an entirely subjective opinion. And to be clear, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, either! Just that I noticed the blurb and don't think it's entirely accurate.

*A final note:* It is a testament to this book's merits that I loved it so much despite Adobe Digital Editions freezing up every few pages — of course in an ideal world it wouldn't make a difference since technical difficulties have nothing to do with the actual story, but were this story less compelling I would certainly not have persevered to the end.

To Best The Boys catched my eyes on Netgalley some time ago and I screamed inside myself for a bit when I noticed that the author was the same of The Evaporation of Sofi Snow. For various reasons, I became a fan of the sci-fi duology and I was very excited for this title. It didn’t disappoint me but I’ve few notes (that will be at the end of the review).

I don’t know why but I ventured inside the novel thinking that it was a dystopic book… and actually it was a fantasy! And nothing bad to say to that because I’m a fantasy lover.

The first pages open in a way that I really appreciated. The introduction to the protagonist passion is immediate, as much as the introduction to the world building. During the whole book there’s plenty of mention of fantastic creature and how the people who live there relate to those, while also being perfectly capable to maintain distance and balance – enough for the whole village to being not killed.

Now, let me focus a bit on the world building. I want to make people notice that To Best The Boys managed to distance itself from the usual idea we have of fantasy. There are mermaid, basilisk, ghouls and such, but there’s also some kind of technology, science, mechanics. I would not say that it’s nearly something-punk, but for sure it’s a change from the usual idea we have of a fantasy, aka a medieval one. It remain pretty much eurocentric but still…

Another thing that I found interesting is how class and society rules are there but reflect a bit out reality. No people is completely banned to enter a more restricted and closed space. For example, Rhen, the protagonist, walk in two places at once: one of the village with poorer people, and one with the noble class. All because of her family situation. Also, the showing of misogyny in the novel… well, big oof energy as I would say with some friends, because that hit home.

To be honest, I don’t know if I would have the same attitude of Rhen, remaining silent in the whole process or express her reaction with a tactic that wasn’t that effective.

The whole book take in its pages a lot of still very modern issue. The struggle women face, but also the desire and future wish of younger people. At a certain point they must have to face what to do, a thing or another. I loved how it was handled, because whole moving forward, you can leave something behind that you want it or not.

Another thing that I loved was how much corruption and the way richest threat the poorest was highlighted in the novel. Okay, it wasn’t a masterpiece in that sense because there are a lot of nuances that were needed to be explored, but it was a nice call to a reality that I see in my country too, but more focused on how industries put their worker’s health to a risk leading to massive and years long civil cases.

Another thing that I really appreciated were Rhen and Seleni. The whole story of the two of them is about two different girls that have each other back and wants diffrent futures. But none is shamed for chosing it. While Rhen represent a girl who wants to reach the top of studies, science and knowledge, Seleni wants to have a family, be in love, live her life with the person she’s in love with. And while one shouldn’t exclude the other, sometimes a person doesn’t get both, but it’s their future and their own choices. Both of them archive what they want.

I know that I could have spent more time talking about the character but I want to highlight a lot the themes inside the novel. So, keeping this vibes on, here it comes the negative side. While the whole discourse resonated with me, it was still a pretty cis (and maybe not intersectional that much) feminism. Some phrases, especially near the end rubbed me in the wrong way. I’m cis myself, so I maybe I’m saying some big shit here, but I cannot shake this feeling off. Plus, the presence of a certain character… there’s so much to talk about it. Very much, because the presence of a queer acknowledgment was nowhere to be seen. It’s not my place to discuss it further, but I think it’s worth to notice it.

I had such a hard time rating this one! I loved the story itself, but I can’t get over how oddly proportioned it was! It reminded me of Catching Fire. All the first half was just preparation. The actual ‘games’ lasted less than half the book. I feel like this book made all its points, but the way the story was told just didn’t click for me.


THE FIRST ACT LASTED TOO LONG
I wanted to talk first about what irked me about the book and just… get it out of the way. It was impossible for me to ignore the fact that the first part of the book seemed to last forever. It was overall, a quick read, but I got worried because it didn’t feel like it was properly distributed.

Things got weird when I checked the book’s progress and it says ‘41%’. I was nearly to half the book and nothing of what I perceived to have been promised had been delivered. The main character had just barely decided she was going to enter the maze competition for the scholarship. I wasn’t that hard to figure out how the actual competition would last less than it should have.

It was just all quite off pacing wise.


THE FRIENDSHIPS GAVE ME LIFE
With that said, I was so happy to meet all the characters in this story. I couldn’t find it in me to hate any of the characters and their relationships. Sure, there were ones that made me see red, but I have no complaints about how they added to the story.

Rhen’s friends made me smile. It’s always so great when side characters are a real part of the story and not just there to make the main character look good.


THE POINTS ABOUT FEMINISM
This story is unapologetically about empowerement, female empowerement. There’s no subtleties. Rhen knows she’s as capable, as smart, as resourceful as any of the boys going for the scholarship, and perhaps even more than some.


It took a while to get there, but the story said what it needed to say.

To Best the Boys, by Mary Weber, was an aMAZING read from the start. Its about Rhen and Seleni, Every year a competition is held for a university scholarship, but only boys are allowed to compete, so Rhen and Seleni disguise themselves as boys and enter into this crazy Caraval-esque world of a maze to win the scholarship. I really enjoyed the feel of the story with its vivid characters and world and how it wasnt centered on insta love storylines.