Review: To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

Book Description

Perfect for fans of The Scorpio Races and Caraval, To Best the Boys is a new fantasy novel from the beloved and bestselling author of the Storm Siren trilogy, Mary Weber.

“To Best the Boys is an addicting read.” —JODI MEADOWS, New York Times bestselling author of The Incarnate Trilogy and coauthor of My Lady Jane

The task is simple:

Don a disguise.

Survive the labyrinth.

Best the boys.

In a thrilling new fantasy from the bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, 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 have received a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. The poorer residents look to see if 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 train in wifely duties and men pursue 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 is ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the deadly maze.

Welcome to the labyrinth.

“Atmospheric, romantic, inspiring.” —KRISTEN CICCARELLI, internationally bestselling author of The Last Namsara

My Review: 

Captivating and maybe, just maybe, the best Mary Weber book yet! I have read four other books by Mary Weber. I've read her Storm Siren Trilogy and The Evaporation of Sofi Snow. I have noticed that I sometimes have a hard time at the beginning of her books, but usually that doesn't take too long to change and then I am hooked. To Best the Boys definitely followed this trend. I was a bit concerned I wouldn't be able to get lost in the story the way I love to do, but man by the time the characters made it to the labyrinth I could barely read fast enough. I just had to know what was going to happen! It's seriously hard to even find the words to describe my thoughts on this one. It's absolutely unique but with small reminiscences of some of my other favorite stories such as Hunger Games and Maze Runner. Maybe even a bit of Mulan! I mean Rhen did disguise herself as a boy and showed that she was capable and smart. I loved that it promoted Girl Power without being hateful, preachy, or one-sided. Rhen and Seleni are super close yet are two very different girls who see their ideal roles very differently, but neither look down on the other or think the other should change. That's what I'm talking about! Romance does come into play as a well. Which makes me one happy girl. I have to admit I love how Lute respects Rhen, knows exactly who she is, and likes that about her. He's major boyfriend goals. I seriously loved To Best the Boys! If you like YA fantasy with romance then I think that you will too! 

**  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.  **