An entertaining YA fantasy set in a world with sirens and ghouls where girls’ only hope to improve their situation is landing a rich husband. Rhen Tellur wants so much more than an advantageous marriage. She wants to be the scientist who finds a cure to a mysterious disease that is taking her mother. She will stop at nothing. Is it necessary to experiment with dead bodies or with rats? She is willing to do so. If only she had more resources, she would be able to do so much more. The answer seems to be marrying Vincent, her rich childhood friend who seems nice but doesn’t make her swoon. Her other option is to disguise herself as a boy and enter a competition whose winner will get a full scholarship to university. Being a YA heroine, she goes with door number 2 and that was my favorite part. The challenges she and her friends and frenemies face are scary and exciting. I wish a larger part of the novel would have been devoted to this, but it is only a third of the book. The rest is still interesting: Rhen’s life and struggles, her crush on hunky fisherman Lute, her experiments to save her mother’s life, but I really wanted more of the action in the labyrinth. The novel is entertaining and proves how women can do anything they set their mind to, and that learning disabilities are no obstacle to a person’s will and determination (Rhen is dyslexic). It’s a fun read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas Nelson!

The novel opens with Rhen, and her two friends, in a morgue. They are stealing DNA samples as there is a deadly disease running through their town, and Rhen and her father are doing all the research and experiments they can to find a cure.

We also find out about an awesome competition/game thing. The premise had me hyped. The first few chapters had me so excited. Unfortunately, I did not love this novel.

The first thing that struck me as odd was the kind of language the characters used. They often used words like "jesting", making it sound 'old timey', but the rest of the lexis kind of hints towards a more modern use of language. One minute the characters are talking as though they're from the twenty-first century, the next minute they sound like they're in a Jane Austen novel. Furthermore, from the start I felt that the novel was clearly set in a semi-fantasy, medieval setting, but then the idea of science and labs and University was introduced, and it left me wondering through the entire novel just when the story was set. By the end of the novel I was still wondering and unfortunately it wasn't made any clearer.

And then we get to the actual plot of the novel. For the first third of the novel it felt like absolutely nothing happened. It was over halfway through before the labyrinth maze competition was even properly mentioned. Considering this was the main selling point of the novel for me - and the main thing mentioned in the synopsis - I was definitely disappointed to discover that it didn't take place over the main course of the novel.

Furthermore, once they are actually in the labyrinth, I feel like the events of what takes place would be really cool to read about, but they're not explained very well and they're over before you've figured out what's happening. Additionally, the test of the labyrinth is supposed to be incredibly difficult but they get down the final round very quickly and it didn't feel like they'd actually done anything other than just 'run and hope for the best'. Oh and of course the final test just happened to be the one skill Rhen actually had. Nobody saw that coming. It would have been far more impressive if she actually had other skills.

Rhen was not a very likeable character for me. While she didn't have the usual 'I have sword, I don't like dresses' lazy feminist personality, the gist was basically the same. Her whole persona was 'I don't want a husband therefore I'm better than you' and that honestly not something I can get on board with. The only character I felt I could get on board with was Seleni. She was the actual feminist icon that I was hoping for in this novel. However, the point of her character - which is actually super cool - is only just scraping the surface of what Weber's trying to say.

I feel like this novel was trying to say a lot but ultimately failed at every hurdle. It tried to make some truly valid feminist points but ended up pushing them to the sidelines and focussing on a plot that a) wasn't what we were promised and b) not at all interesting.

I feel bad rating an ARC that has been gifted to me so low, and I really didn't want to give it a bad review, but as much as I want to I can't bring myself to find a part of this book that I actually liked.

I requested this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow I could not put this book down. Mary Weber created a thrilling story of friendships, love, and challenged obstacles so well. If you are a fan of strong female characters like Katniss from The Hunger Games you will love the main character in this story. Highly recommend reading for a thrilling adventure through a maze against time.

To Best the Boys – Mary Weber

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

Rating: 5 stars

First impression:
YES YES YES YES!

This is how you do a stand-alone fantasy! This. This right here! To Best the Boys might be my favorite book of the year so far. The story is tight, the setting amazing and the characters are alive and relatable. I loved Rhen, I loved the way she would always think long and hard before responding to people (except when it came to science, then she would just spit it out). I loved Lute, who cares for an autistic brother with down syndrome. He loves Ben, and so does his mother, even though caring for Ben cannot be easy. Seleni, whose path is so different from Rhen’s, is remarkable. Even though she wants to be a mother and a wife, this book never paints it as wrong, or less admirable. In short, I adore this book, all the representation and the way it feels so very natural. Nothing felt forced to me. And that’s what made it work.

Pros:
Stand-alone fantasy, amazing and relatable characters, great pacing. Did I mention that a stand-alone????

Cons:
I suppose some people might find the ‘solution’ too simple. Personally, I liked it that way, but to each their own.

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

Release date: 3/19/19
Rating: 3/5 stars
Genre: Young adult fantasy
Features: Strong female characters, supportive family, family illness, female scientist, high-stakes competition, oppressive social systems, women's rights, science/biology
Quotes:

"Careful, Miss Tellur. Women who don't know their place have a habit of losing their place."

"You are a specific kind of species, my girl. A strange and terrifying beauty of mind."

"You win this thing, Rhen Tellur. Enough to make [the boys] regret they weren't born women."

"You take this world and make it what it should be. And don't let the beliefs of a backward system define you. You are the one who has to live with the future, baby girl. So you live it."


What attracted me to this book was the unique plot line. Yes, a number of YA lit books have a "competition" -- Hunger Games, Caraval, Maze Runner -- but this one has a new premise: once a year, a wealthy citizen of the community hosts a dangerous and elaborate game that tests the mental, psychological, and physical strength of the contestants. The victor must be skilled in math and science, and they receive a scholarship to a college as their prize.

I liked that this YA lit book applauded the world of academia, and moreover, math and science for women. Of course, it's even better that the book supports women in science, as the main character is a 17-year-old girl. I won't give any spoilers, but she must go up against the prevailing attitudes and systems of her day to change the status quo and follow her own scientific pursuits.

I also liked that Rhen, the main character, had two supportive and living parents that loved her and each other. It's rare to see this in YA lit. Rhen had her own way of thinking, too, and didn't let society define her for her. She didn't let boys define her either, and she didn't ever change for a boy. (Finally!)

What I didn't like as much: the writing style, world building, and plot development. Each of these was lacking, which is a shame because the basic plot and premise was so promising. These were the main things that brought down my rating, because honestly, they are the things I appreciate most in a book. I think if the book had gone through more editing, some of this could have been remedied.

Overall, though, if you want to read an empowering story about a girl defining her own future with a supportive, intact family and a sweet, healthy romance on the side, this is the book for you.

To Best the Boys was both exciting and thrilling. Although, I found the books to have a slow start, it didn’t lack in detail or thrills. I felt captivated by the amount of details and characters. This book is unlike any other. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves YA fiction or books that break barriers.

I received this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a huge Mary Weber fan since reading Storm Siren. I'm pretty sure To Best the Boys is going down in my book as my favorite!! Loved the characters, the story ... everything!

I liked the premise of this book...girl power, independence and no over the top romance. However, some parts were just boring to me and I found myself skimming a little bit. Not my favorite...but I sure do love that book cover!

I was really hoping that I would enjoy this book however, it did not live up to what I thought it was going to be.

To start off with the writing style, it was...bizarre to say the least. The author used modern colloquial sayings and the characters sounded like they were from the 21st century however, it did not seem to be a very modern world. Or maybe it was, but the worldbuilding was so badly done I had no sense of time in the world or if there was magic or not. At times, the author alluded to ghouls which seemed to be a magical being, but there was no background information on how they came to be, or how they fit into the world at play.

The plot was one of the saving graces of the novel since it had a nice flow to it (it did lull at times), but I found the book to be engaging and I found myself sucked into the plot. This book was a nice filler read, but there was no true substance to it and I did not connect with any of the characters, as character development was not very good in this book.

"Those who never risk are doomed never to risk."

To Best the Boys is tale of a young girl determined to defy the societal expectations forced upon her. Rhen wants nothing more than to use her wits to change the world, and she's willing to risk it all to make that happen.

It's a story of determining one's own future. And what I especially enjoyed about it was that it though settling down and having kids was never Rhen's aspiration, they also made sure no to lessen the importance of that path. Because as in the Rhen's cousin Seleni, it is just as noble a cause, so long as it is one's choice.

"I came to support Beryll. And to show what we can do. But I'm not like you, Rhen. I want you to win-I want you to show them you can. But my way of winning is different, and it's my own choice. 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. Same as I'll be proud of whatever you do."

I look at her and blink. I think I know that. I think I've always known that.

"And I think that desire is just as noble as what you're doing, if that's the life I want and choose. So I'm staying here with what I want. Are we clear?"

I bite my cheek and eye her, then Beryll. Then nod.
Because of course it's clear. Her life may not be for me, but it is for her.

And this is the kind of female support and friendship the world needs. Two women respecting eat other's choices and differences, building each other up.

So while the writing was about average and the story mostly predictable the message conveyed made up for a lot.

This story was one of personal discovery, friendship, fantasy, mystery and a touch of romance. It reminds everyone that we are all meant for different things and only we can decide the life me want.

Overall, a decent read.

This cover was beautiful and when I read the intriguing synopsis that followed, I knew that I was going to have to give this book a read. If you are a fan of The Handmaids tale and Hunger Games then this one is for you.

I loved that this story was not centered around a romance or a love triangle, It was there but it was not the focal point, it was background noise really.
It Is so hard to do it justice just how much I loved this book.

To Best the Boys was a story about independence, breaking tradition, and girl power.

I must admit, I was a little wary of this book. I'm read my fair share of extreme feminist books or "strong" females who are actually Mary Sues. I love Mary Weber's books and was interested to see what she approach she took.

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book! While there were some places I felt fell short, I enjoyed this story as a whole, and I'm here to share my thoughts. :)

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

The plot was definitely not the strongest part of this book. The story started off pretty slow, taking time to set up the world and introduce all of the characters. I don't mind a slow beginning at all, but I feel like it lacked much tension or drive. Once things got going, it escalated quickly and was a whirlwind of action and then it was over. Overall, I felt that it lacked flow and cohesion.

I loved the characters so much! Seleni was so sweet and Beryll was such a gentleman. Rhen was an awesome protagonist, and despite being generic, I loved her voice. But the best part was LUTE. He was a mix of Gilbert Blythe and Mr. Darcy and I LOVED HIM.

The world was a unique mix of historical Europe - dresses and grand estates - with fantasy creatures and magic. It was super interesting, but it was never explained or explored. I really wish Rhen had explored the island or at least given history/explanations of the world and its creatures.

All of the themes were AMAZING. I absolutely loved how Mary tackled relationships, independence, breaking out of the mold, gender roles, and feminism. All of these themes were conveyed in natural ways that weren't preachy, yet there were so clear and empowering. Fantastic job! *claps*

The book reminded me of a mashup of The Hunger Games & The Maze Runner and I LOVED that. While THG & TMR are more focused on physical strength and agility, I loved how the Labyrinth was geared toward the mind. Rhen and the other competitors not only had to be physically strong, but they had to use their brains to complete each task. It made the story more unique, more unpredictable, and way more awesome!

There were so many AmAzInG guys! Beryll was such a gentleman and highly respected Rhen and Seleni. LUTE WAS LOVELY as we all know - I loved how he accepted Rhen for who she was and didn't try to change her. And Rhen's father was absolutely amazing! *flails*  Mary did a wonderful job representing the good guys out there!

On the flipside, she did a fantastic job with the feminism. She created female characters that were physically strong while also being smart, kind, and compassionate, all without bashing women who decide to stay at home. One of my favorite scenes in the entire book was when Seleni told Rhen that she wanted to be a wife and mother and that she wasn't ashamed of it. It was so beautiful, and I love how it showed that whether you're a mom or have a job, you can be a strong, awesome girl.

I loved this book! It was equal parts whimsical and rebellious. Boys use the term "independent woman" as an insult but Rhen (and all women) take it as a compliment. The opening scenes are hilarious; I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. I read the whole thing in a single day.

The main character, Rhen, is a budding scientist and she and her father are doing everything they can to keep Rhen's mother, who is ill, from dying. However, it is not Rhen's mother who is sick. The entire town is suffering from a mysterious illness. Currently, the poor population is taking the brunt of the incurable illness, but it is beginning to cross the boundaries into wealthy families as well. Rhen and her father use fairly advanced science in their ramshackle basement for a cure with pints of blood, stem cells, and DNA research. Rhen realizes they will never find the cure as long as they have to use subpar equipment in a poor basement. None of the universities or the town's elites put any money into the situation, blaming it on how dirty the poor are. Rhen's only hope - to enter the yearly tournament that awards one student a full scholarship to the most prestige men's college in the kingdoms. The rest of the book reads like Mulan meets the Tri-Wizard's tournament from Harry Potter.

I laughed and cried. I cannot recommend it enough! The book was free from sex and too much violence as well as cursing, so there is not a trigger warning I would include with the book. With that said, I would recommend this book to teenagers and older especially to anyone who loves fantasy and those who love stories of rebellious women!

3.5 stars

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

The best way that I can describe To Best the Boys is The Maze Runner with a sprinkle of Caraval.

In a region that functions on male dominance, one girl, Rhen, disguises herself as a boy in order to "best the boys" and win a university scholarship that will enable her to further her progress in finding a cure for a fatal disease that is spreading the town and taking control of her mother.

The whole labyrinth journey gave me big maze runner vibes - a group of boys (and two disguised girls) are trying to maneuver their way through the labyrinth, without dying. This is organized by the mysterious Mr. Holmes, whom nobody knows who he is or what he looks like. That's what made me think of Caraval, as the whole game is being run and designed by a mystifying stranger.

I didn't find the story very original or engaging, but I think that is it a solid book for someone who hasn't read anything of this genre/storyline before.

To Best the Boys was a splendid fast paced fantasy adventure with plenty of political shenanigans! Rhen Tellur was such a lovable character and I rooted for her all the way! Through her struggles and vulnerability, I admired her strength and courage to break the rules and pursue an impossible task in a male dominated society. The sirens that haunted the waters and the creepy ghouls that walk the graveyards added to the suspense. While the ending was a wee bit predictable and I would have enjoyed a little more closure as far as Rhen’s path, this book was totally worth reading.

I loved the premise of this book but I just didn’t love the actual thing.

I enjoyed the friendship between Rhen and Seleni and how loyal Seleni was to her friend, but I’m afraid that on the whole, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I really enjoyed this story, it took reading more than one chapter to get hooked but once I did I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the puzzles that they faced while in the labyrinth and the determination Rhen had to succeed. I liked the characters and the world building and seeing the gender barrier to education fought.

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

Who, What, Where?

To Best the Boys is set in the province of Caldon in which every year an epic competition hosted by the mysterious Mr Holm is held for eligible aged boys to compete for the chance to win a scholarship to the prestigious Stemwick University. Only one can win, and the competition is not for the faint of heart as contestants have died in previous years.

Our lead is Rhen Teller, a sixteen-year-old girl with a talent for biological science. Alongside her father, Rhen has desperately been trying to devise a cure for the deadly disease spreading through the lower classes and slowly killing her mother. Rhen concludes that in order to gain access to the resources and technology she needs to do her research, her best option is to attend university by winning the scholarship. The only problem? It’s an all-male institution. And so, along with her cousin Seleni, Rhen devises a plan to disguise herself as a boy to not only take home the prize but show the boys what an intelligent young woman can do.

Why You Should Read this Book:

A SOLID LEAD
From as early as the dedication, To Best the Boys sets itself up to be a female empowering story and if there’s one thing you need for a book like this, it’s a strong central character. Rhen was one of my favourite components of the book. She’s certainly strong, but also smart, hardworking, quick thinking, confident in her abilities (despite others’ attempts to discount her), and a little bit sassy.

“Miss Lake, I’d heard your cousin would be a fun one, but I’d no idea how pleasurable. You must bring her around, more often. I think I’d enjoy getting to know more of her…spirit.”

…I lower my voice and flick my gaze down his body. “Mr Germaine, I assure you – were you given the opportunity to know more of my spirit, I believe I’d find the whole experience wholly unsatisfying.”

Whilst possessing these bolder traits, Rhen does have a gentler side, too. She’s kind, empathetic, and extremely passionate about using her skills to try and help others in her community. The fact that she isn’t squeamish and starts the novel off at the morgue rooting around a dead body additionally makes for a great first impression.

FEMINIST THEMES
I can never resist a good YA with feminist undertones and To Best the Boys does well on this front. The world itself is designed around forcing women into very traditional mother/wife roles with very little activities beyond things such as sewing and baking. By having intelligent female leads actively pursuing what they want in such a setting, the theme of female empowerment shines through very clearly and as a young woman, it’s hard not to feel great reading it.

“You win this thing, Rhen Teller. Enough to make Vincent and Germaine regret they weren’t born women”.

I really enjoyed the fact that despite the more historical kind of setting, Weber still manages to make quite a few comments on equality issues that apply even in today’s society, and in doing so she really emphasises just how stupid they are. For example, girls as distractions for boys in educational settings. The other thing that I massively appreciated was Weber’s attitude towards equality and feminism. It’s about women having the freedom and opportunities to choose what to do with their future, even if, like Seleni, their choice is to be a wife and mother. You do you, Seleni!

CUTE ROMANCE
“If I go, you go with me.”

“I’ve already won,” he whispers.

Can I once again just say, thank god for authors who know how to write romances that don’t take over the rest of the story. The romance in this book is a nice, little subplot. It pops up now and again and the exchanges between fisherman, Lute, and Rhen are pretty sweet, even if Rhen spends a lot of time commenting on Lute’s luscious lips. Girl, we’ve all been there. However, the best part of this relationship, very much fitting with the overall gist of the book, is that Lute is completely supportive of Rhen being her intelligent, beat all the rest, best self and has absolutely no issues being with a woman who is smarter and more successful than he is. Basically, I am totally here for it.

DIVERSITY
I have to give points to Weber for trying to include some aspects of diversity in terms of learning disabilities into the novel. They’re not extremely prominent but they’re there. Rhen, herself, is dyslexic and it was great to see a heroine showcase the fact that having a learning difficulty does not make you stupid or mean it’s impossible for you to excel academically and in life. It may require additional time and effort, but you can get there.

Why You Might Want to Skip It:

UNMEMORABLE & LACKING WORLD BUILDING
One of the things that I often find gets choppy in fantasy standalones is the world building and, unfortunately, it’s also the case with this book. When the novel starts out, the setting is reminiscent of a seaside town in historical England. We’re given a couple of geographical details and some facts about gender roles, the class divide and the fact that fishing is a big industry, but otherwise, it all feels a little bland and also entirely non-magical. That is, until suddenly *poof*, we find out the world has magical creatures – ghouls, sirens, basilisks, oh my. I love magical creatures, don’t get me wrong, but the problem I had with their use here is that they don’t feel properly integrated into the rest of the world. Aside from some elements of the competition, for the most part, they seem like the only magical element in it. As a result, I just ended up largely disinterested in the setting and, at times, a little mystified.

RUSHED COMPETITION
I feel as though my expectations may partially be to blame for this one, but it is what it is. When I went into this, I expected that, after some time setting the scene and introducing the characters, the majority of the story would take place in the labyrinth. To my surprise, the book builds up to it only for the actual competition to consist of probably only a bit over a third of the story. Although the novel is around 350 pages long, as I was reading through, I couldn’t help feeling like the tasks were rushed and some lacking in excitement. While I’m aware this isn’t The Hunger Games, I expected slightly more.

WTF ENDING
The final challenge is certainly not lacking in drama (even though that drama is not of Mr Holm’s making). Yet, even after having flicked back and re-read through this scene, colour me confused. Everything happens very quickly and although I’m aware of the outcome, how in the world did we end up there and why was it allowed? What was even the point of the entire last challenge if someone could “win” this way. Trying to avoid spoilers here is extremely difficult but I feel as though the way the competition ends isn’t consistent with the idea of besting the boys. While I was on board with the result and everything that followed was great, it always felt somehow…tainted by how it was gained.
___________________________________________________
To Best the Boys is a reasonably entertaining read with some strong female empowerment themes and a likeable lead. However, due to its plot flaws and lack of a distinctive world, unfortunately, for me, it’s unlikely to be highly memorable or encourage a re-read.

3 STARS

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

First Thoughts: I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I was not a fan. While I was able to follow the plotline better compared to other works of the author, I still found myself confused for the majority of the story. I disliked the characters, finding them stereotypical and predictable, and while the story contained beautiful sentences at times, it didn’t ultimately compare to the quality of the rest of the story.

Analyzation:

I really disliked the characters. Rhen’s pretty much your average YA female lead: bold, called “feisty”, compassionate but also selfish, takes risks for her family, “untamable”, doesn’t think she’s beautiful, feminist, helplessly in love, etc. Also, the love triangle irritated me, mostly because of its predictability and stereotypical nature, but it was also ridiculous from the start—Vincent was never a candidate, so Rhen basically flips between being a bold feminist who doesn’t need a man, and a weak, helpless woman who can’t stand up to Vincent for anything. Similarly, she passionately agrees with the topic of not letting a man rule your life, but then she falls helplessly in love with Lute and lets all logic fall by the wayside. You can’t have your cake and eat it too—make up your mind on your stance, Rhen.

Vincent was horrid, underdeveloped, and just really a painful character. Lute was your typical expected YA love interest—meager, quiet, sweet with his siblings, concerned with others, secretly bold, will do anything for Rhen. Seleni was your typical best friend, and regarding Ben, as much as I appreciated the author’s heart at including him, completed the stereotype by providing the helpless little sibling character that tugs on the reader’s heartstrings and subsequently makes them care for the older sibling/main character.

The Labyrinth thing, despite being the center which the book revolved around, I actually could have done without. It didn’t actually do much for Rhen in regards to her mission to cure the disease—or at least, not a strong enough purpose that it couldn’t have been replaced by another event. Furthermore, it became tedious to read about. Despite supposedly being the most exciting part of the book, I found myself skimming the scenes because I was generally uninterested; it felt disconnected from the rest of the story. And of course Rhen won—how else does any YA story end except for the heroine to win the impossible?

Regarding the feminist themes, I really didn’t like them due to the contradictory nature of the characters, but I did really like Seleni’s point at the end that her dream was just to be a wife and a mother and that there was no shame in that—that Rhen’s vision can be to break the gender boundaries and Seleni can be a housewife and that’s alright because everyone needs and wants something different.

Notes:

I did not like all the demonic elements with the ghouls and ghosts and spirits, especially because there was no real dramatic defeat of them—at least not significant enough that I remember. I’m fine with these elements in books when it’s light-versus-darkness and showing how light can overcome, but when it’s just thrown in there, I really do not appreciate it. The demonic world is not one I really want to be reading about when it’s just there to add suspense or thrill.

Also: the beginning of the story completely tuned me off with all the graphic descriptions of dead bodies and dead bodies exploding. It kept me away from the book for a long time before I finally made myself push through to finish it.

Overall:

Overall, I found the writing choppy, the characters hard to like,, the plot difficult to follow and the demonic elements troublesome. There were pieces of the story I liked, but not many. I did finish the book, though, so that says something; then again, if not for this being a Netgalley read, I may have given up faster.

Rating: 2.0 / 5.0

So Goodreads are my first review of this book when I had just finished it. I remember Giving it 4 stars and really liking the strong female characters and fast pace of the story.

However I hate saying that a week later, I have forgotten a lot of it and an having to think really hard on the plot points. It was enjoyable and I would recommend it but not one of those books that stays with me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the free ARC!