To Best the Boys

by Mary Weber

[alisoninbookland]

ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’m a total sucker for books where young ladies rebel against the cultural norms of the time and stick it to The Man. To Best The Boys is exactly what I had hoped it would be. Rhen, in an effort to aid her dying mother, enters a contest to survive a labyrinth and win a scholarship. That was enough to draw me in. I loved Rhen’s spunk. Her desire of knowledge (and willingness to get a bit dirty) reminded me of Audrey Rose from Stalking Jack the Ripper.

I particularly enjoyed Weber’s acknowledgment of different types of women and how there’s no wrong path. Rhen wants to pursue ‘manly’ pursuit such as science and education. Seleni wants to marry her beau and be a wife and mother. It’s refreshing to see two women supporting each other’s dreams as worthy and valuable.

My biggest complaint with the story was how long it took to get to the labyrinth and we didn’t stay nearly long enough for my taste. It took approximately half the book before Rhen enters the labyrinth. The first half of the book was necessary build up: the disease, Rhen’s family, Rhen not fitting in the area of town, the clash between the Uppers and Lowers, other elements that set the mood. All of that is crucial but I was ready to jump into the labyrinth.

I don’t want to spoil too much about the labyrinth because it’s a thrilling adventure. You really never know what to expect and you’re kept on your toes. The puzzles really are difficult! I wanted more. Puzzles are my favorite.

This book is really difficult to categorize into a genre. It could be a fantasy because there are some particularly fantastical elements in the labyrinth. I would almost say it reads more like historical fiction (despite the fact that there’s no specified time period; it just reads as old-timey).

All in all, it’s a refreshing stand-alone about fighting for your dreams and not letting anything stand in your way.

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