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To Best the Boys

de Mary Weber

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20011134,441 (3.65)Cap
"In a new fantasy novel from Mary Weber, bestselling author of the Storm Siren series and the Sofi Snow books, one girl makes a stand against society and enters a world made exclusively for boys. 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. In the province of Caldon, where women are trained in wifely duties and men are encouraged into collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her Mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands--through the annual all-male scholarship competition. 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"--… (més)
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The first half was SO GOOD!! Perfection.

The second half... it was okay. I don’t know if I 100% buy the tests in the Labyrinth & the romance got a little too romancey for me.

But still!! Really good book!! You should totally read it!


This is not my usual sort of book. I don't read a lot of Fantasy or books set in Historical times, but I knew I was going to make an exception for this book because I was in the mood for a good old-fashioned YA competition book. These types of books were being published on the regular about 5 years ago, but now?? I barely ever see them!

I would call this Light Fantasy. There are some fantastical elements--some sea creatures, ghosts, and magic-- but we more hear about them rather than see them first hand. For the most part, this feels like it's set in the 1700-1800's, with the exception that they seem to know about germ theory. They wear the clothes, have the technology, and have the caste system of that time period, but I think it's supposed to be a different world because of the monsters and such? You know, I'm really not sure.

Anyway, this book was about a teenager named Rhen Tellur-- a girl who lives in a traditional society, but wants to go to college and become a scientist. Every year the town of Pinsbury Port holds a scholarship competition for all eligible boys. It's dangerous and mysterious and certainly not something a lady would be invited to participate in. This year is different though.... this year a deadly disease is spreading through the poor sections of town, and Rhen's mother is one of the affected. Rhen decides she needs to follow her dreams and prove that a woman can go to college-- and what better way to show them all than by winning the all-boys competition???

This book was a tale of 2 halves for me. The first half was PERFECTION. I was getting [b:Stalking Jack the Ripper|40727470|Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1)|Kerri Maniscalco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530823449l/40727470._SY75_.jpg|47434536] vibes, and I was SO intrigued with the Historical Fantasy setting. The set-up to Rhen going into the labyrinth was EVERYTHING.

THEN: she goes into the labyrinth and everything went downhill for me. The contest felt rushed. The obstacles that they came across didn't feel very well thought out or intricate. It was also frustrating how they worked in a group. If there's only one winner, why were they so determined to stay together and help each other?? I didn't get it. The person who wins just sort of stumbles along until it's over and they're the last man/or woman standing. I wanted that person to win unequivocally and I didn't get that. MEH.

I hated writing the previous paragraph, just so you know. After being ADDICTED to this book in the first half, I wanted that quest to be epic!! I wanted the 2 girls disguising themselves to be believable (it wasn't, they literally wear hats and people are like WHO ARE THESE 2 BOYS???). I wanted the second half to be as spellbinding as the first half.

In the end, I'm not sad that I read this book. I really liked reading about Rhen and her father and their scientific research. I liked reading about Pinsbury Port and hearing about all the magic that was bubbling just under the surface.

I think my favorite part of the whole book was the relationship that Rhen had with her cousin Seleni. I liked that even though Rhen wanted more out of life than what society was trying to give her, it was still okay that Seleni wanted traditional things. I felt that. As much as it feels good to progress what it means to be a woman, it's good to be reminded that it's still okay for women to be happy with and want to live in traditional roles. We can have it all-- or not. The point is, we get a choice!

OVERALL: If you like kick-ass heroines, historical fantasy worlds, a touch of supernatural, and SCIENCE-- I say give this one a whirl. The labyrinth/competition felt rushed, but the build-up to it was fantastic.

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  Michelle_PPDB | Mar 18, 2023 |
A nice enough book, easy reading but very predictable, juvenile and slightly irritating/dated dialogue. I think I would have liked this as a 10-15yr old, writing style similar to Percy Jackson with a story similar to maze runner with a lot less depth and detail. The feminist element is probably the best I can praise this book on, it’s a pleasant story but nothing special. ( )
  katejo99 | Jan 28, 2023 |
More on Chill and read

I was so glad to receive “To Best the Boys”, the new book from Mary Weber, with my FairyLoot box! I was only worried when I would be able to read it, as my tbr list is rather huge, but I managed to squeeze it somewhere in the middle! Good thing is that it was easy to read and the story went flawless, so it took me less than two days to finish it!

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port receive the same letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. Everyone is expecting it for different reason. The poor fellows expect it to see that they are not forgotten and they still belong somewhere. The rich fellows expect it to see the odds their sons have at winning and Rhen Tellur expects it so she can analyse the ink and find out the substances it’s created from.

She is a young scientist, helping her father in his medicine work, helping people all around the port and experimenting on vaccines and cures in order to help her fellow citizens in need and her sick mother. A disease is spread above the port town and many people have been affected, her mother being one of them. Young Rhen is trying to find a cure, by using rats as guinea pigs and by getting data from the unlucky ones defeated by the disease. This is not what a young girl should be dealing with, by the society standards, but she was raised that way, with a free mind and free thinking and her nature very much complies to that attitude!

In the book era, which is something of 18th century along with ghouls, sirens and other mythical creatures, women are raised to become wives and mothers, while men are raised to be educated and providers for their families. This is a man’s world and a woman that does not know her place, may lose it after all. It’a world most of us have not lived in, but one we have surely read of. All those things that have been fought for by women before this time, are still to be conquered for Rhen and she is one of those to be fighting for gender equality and free will.

Rhen is a fighter. She is a young girl that believes in herself and she would do anything in her power to save her mother and along with her any other that suffers from the crippling disease. She has been bullied by those who believe themselves better than her and she has responded with dignity, holding her head up. She knows that you are who you are and you will become who you want to be, only be believing in yourself and act on it. She is not afraid to stand for herself and for those in need, but she also knows when to stop talking in order to avoid the opposite result.

Rhen’s cousin Seleni, is nothing like her. Seleni’s dream is to become a wife and a mother, but she fully respects her cousin’s dream, as she expects Rhen to respect her own dream. She is in love with young Beryll and is very nervous that his parents won’t accept her. Beryll is a young man with a faint heart but a strong feeling of responsibility and a person that can understand more than he shows. Vincent is the boy that once was Rhen’s best friend but now has become a total stranger. He used to be intrigued by science but all of a sudden he decided to pursue a career he always despised, that of a politician, just like his father. Lute is the strong responsible young boy that has a family to look after but doesn’t want to miss his own dreams in the process. He is true and honest and a reliable young man!

The labyrinth competition is a clever one and it intents to test one’s knowledge, as well as their character. Since this is a competition to win a university scholarship, a good amount of knowledge is needed for someone to be able to get out of the labyrinth. At the same time, it is also an adventure, where companionship is being built and true character is revealed in the end. Mr Holms, the benefactor of the scholarship is a mysterious person. Almost no person in the Pinsbury Port has seen him, but pretty much everyone is intrigued by him. There are many rumors as to who he might be or what he is capable of, and as far as the competition is concerned, not everyone is sure when he is serious or he is joking. He is their local legend and they are looking forward to the Autumn festival and the competition every year! ( )
  GeorgiaKo | Dec 1, 2020 |
This review is posted on both my personal account and the account for Crossroads Public Library.

Actual Rating: Solid 4 Stars.

Look, I’m not going to describe the plot to you guys. The summary is available, so let’s just dive in: this was a good book. I loved Rhen’s spirit - she was fierce and intelligent, but she also had vulnerabilities that you don’t always see in YA protagonists. Lute was great. Vincent was not. I loved the Girl Power, ladies can be scientists and mathematicians too message of the whole book. My friends know that I am a crazy escape room fanatic, so I got way too into the puzzle solving aspect of the Labyrinth. I honestly wish there had been more to it than what we got. There were a handful of moments that even made me laugh.

I enjoyed this book, but.

Parts of the world building had me a little confused. Not quite the social aspect: I definitely understand a society that discourages girls and young women from pursuing careers in the sciences. Rather, the magic aspect of it had me kind of “?” There seem to be several mystical creatures: we encounter sirens, ghouls, basilisks, etc. One of the big plot twists involves magic as well. But they’re such little pieces of the environment that they don’t really feel like they’re a part of the story. Instead they just feel like convenient ways to explain plot holes and move the story along. A *little* exposition on the magic system would have gone a long way for me. And, since the study of science was such an important part of this book, why put mystical elements in at all? I don’t know, I guess I just personally needed either more magic or no magic. ( )
  zombiibean | Nov 20, 2020 |
3.5 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Weber’s last couple of books (The Evaporation of Sofi Snow and Reclaiming Shilo Snow) and the cover of her 2019 release is just amazing. Plus, what gal’s interest wouldn’t be piqued with that title? Yet there was one thing about this book that didn’t quite click with me in To Best the Boys.

The build up to the labyrinth took too long. The book was halfway over before the players entered the maze. Yes, I understand the need for some of the background and introduction to Rhen and her group but it slowed the beginning down meaning I didn’t get pulled into the story as quickly as I had in Weber’s other reads.

That said, the pace most definitely picked up once the challenge begins, and everyone is fighting for the prize. I loved that the tasks in the maze were psychological as well as tests of intelligence and character. I also appreciate the diversity of the characters and their abilities. In and out of the maze, the supporting cast deal with some learning and physical disabilities.

As Rhen takes a stand against the oppression her society harbors toward women, she gives girls—both young and old—a message of empowerment through her actions.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. ( )
  Suzie27 | May 30, 2019 |
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"In a new fantasy novel from Mary Weber, bestselling author of the Storm Siren series and the Sofi Snow books, one girl makes a stand against society and enters a world made exclusively for boys. 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. In the province of Caldon, where women are trained in wifely duties and men are encouraged into collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her Mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands--through the annual all-male scholarship competition. 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"--

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