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momwithareadingproblem 's review for:
To Best the Boys
by Mary Weber
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Oh my! I lost myself in Mary Weber's latest book To Best the Boys. It’s been a long time since I could say that! I loved the setting and characters, the main storyline and how relatable it is to today’s world. To Best the Boys is about a young woman who wants more education and joins the annual scholarship competition that is just for boys. From start to finish, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Now let’s break this story down from this sentence in the blurb: "The task is simple: Don a disguise. Survive the Labyrinth. Best the boys."
Don a Disguise
Rhen Tellur is a fantastic character who I instantly fell in love with. She is driven, smart, and a little quirky. She lives with her father and very sick mother in what can only be described as the slums of her town. She works with her father in his small home laboratory, learning all she can about science, health, and disease…especially disease. A plague has struck her community, and she is desperate to find a treatment. I loved how focused she is on her research, how evident she loves what she does. When the letter for the scholarship comes around as it does every year, Rhen makes a daunting decision. If she can’t get the help and equipment she needs as a girl, she’ll enter the contest and win. I love that she doesn’t even hesitate to cut off her locks, steal a dead man’s clothes, and walk right into the labyrinth.
Survive the Labyrinth
The labyrinth reminded me a lot of [b:Caraval|27883214|Caraval (Caraval, #1)|Stephanie Garber|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465563623s/27883214.jpg|45697227] and the maze featured in [b:Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|6|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)|J.K. Rowling|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361482611s/6.jpg|3046572]. It mostly messes with your mind, putting the characters in situations where they are terrified but must think intelligently to make it to the next round. I loved the puzzles and mystery surrounding the Mr. Holm, the nobleman responsible for the maze and scholarship. It kept me engaged and on edge throughout the book.
Best the Boys
There are basically two boys in Rhen’s life that are causing some complications. Vincent is her childhood friend, one she would have considered her best friend if not for the way he is currently acting. Basically he plans to marry Rhen (even though she doesn’t want too) and use her research for his own gain. Y’all I can’t say what I’d call him 😉 The other is Lute, a local fisherman who Rhen grew up with and has been nursing a crush on for a long time. I loved Lute. He respects what Rhen does and doesn’t hold her back. We all need a Lute.
My Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed To Best the Boys. The setting, which is comparable to our late 1800s-early 1900s, is perfect for the fantasy Weber created. The subtle feminist viewpoint was also perfect. I loved that the author shows two feminists with different life goals and (guess what!) they supported rather than tore each other down. (Y’all I didn’t mention Seleni in my review, but she is the opposite of Rhen and a fantastic character). This notion that a woman can pursue a career and have a family at the same time is relevant in today’s society, and I love how it was shown here. If you enjoy historical fantasy, a touch of romance, and a lot of suspense/action, I highly recommend it.
Oh my! I lost myself in Mary Weber's latest book To Best the Boys. It’s been a long time since I could say that! I loved the setting and characters, the main storyline and how relatable it is to today’s world. To Best the Boys is about a young woman who wants more education and joins the annual scholarship competition that is just for boys. From start to finish, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Now let’s break this story down from this sentence in the blurb: "The task is simple: Don a disguise. Survive the Labyrinth. Best the boys."
Don a Disguise
Rhen Tellur is a fantastic character who I instantly fell in love with. She is driven, smart, and a little quirky. She lives with her father and very sick mother in what can only be described as the slums of her town. She works with her father in his small home laboratory, learning all she can about science, health, and disease…especially disease. A plague has struck her community, and she is desperate to find a treatment. I loved how focused she is on her research, how evident she loves what she does. When the letter for the scholarship comes around as it does every year, Rhen makes a daunting decision. If she can’t get the help and equipment she needs as a girl, she’ll enter the contest and win. I love that she doesn’t even hesitate to cut off her locks, steal a dead man’s clothes, and walk right into the labyrinth.
Survive the Labyrinth
The labyrinth reminded me a lot of [b:Caraval|27883214|Caraval (Caraval, #1)|Stephanie Garber|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465563623s/27883214.jpg|45697227] and the maze featured in [b:Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|6|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)|J.K. Rowling|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361482611s/6.jpg|3046572]. It mostly messes with your mind, putting the characters in situations where they are terrified but must think intelligently to make it to the next round. I loved the puzzles and mystery surrounding the Mr. Holm, the nobleman responsible for the maze and scholarship. It kept me engaged and on edge throughout the book.
Best the Boys
There are basically two boys in Rhen’s life that are causing some complications. Vincent is her childhood friend, one she would have considered her best friend if not for the way he is currently acting. Basically he plans to marry Rhen (even though she doesn’t want too) and use her research for his own gain. Y’all I can’t say what I’d call him 😉 The other is Lute, a local fisherman who Rhen grew up with and has been nursing a crush on for a long time. I loved Lute. He respects what Rhen does and doesn’t hold her back. We all need a Lute.
My Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed To Best the Boys. The setting, which is comparable to our late 1800s-early 1900s, is perfect for the fantasy Weber created. The subtle feminist viewpoint was also perfect. I loved that the author shows two feminists with different life goals and (guess what!) they supported rather than tore each other down. (Y’all I didn’t mention Seleni in my review, but she is the opposite of Rhen and a fantastic character). This notion that a woman can pursue a career and have a family at the same time is relevant in today’s society, and I love how it was shown here. If you enjoy historical fantasy, a touch of romance, and a lot of suspense/action, I highly recommend it.