To Best the Boys

By: Mary Weber

Narrated by: Liz Pearce

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The task is simple: Don a disguise. Survive the labyrinth. Best the boys.

In a thrilling new fantasy from the best-selling 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 54 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, 16-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.

©2019 Mary Christine Weber (P)2019 Recorded Books

Futuristic Victorian Dystopian

This novel was interesting for many reasons. It felt like a dystopian novel set in a Victorian future. I loved that it was unnecessary to use crude language and the performance was outstanding! Great find!

best book of the year

if you ever read ready players one and enjoyed it you'll love this book. exceptional storytelling. as the mom of a child with special needs reading characters similar toy daughter made my heart squeeze in the best way. I cam hands down say this is my favorite book I've read this year.
also this is hands down my favorite audio performance. well done all around.

Fantastic!

I loved this book! A perfect mix of fantasy and reality. Relatable and loveable characters. Interesting plot and an admirable message.

Timely tale

This story encompasses many elements of today’s struggles with prejudice and societal discrimination. Perceptions are not always accurate and things are not always what they seem to be. Highly recommended listening.

Ugh. Bleh. Meh.

It had so much potential only to never really develop or get off the ground. Descriptions and dialogue were a little heavy handed or on the nose and unfortunately exaggerated by the narrator. The MC also succumbs to same frustration I have with many other YA leads: having great thoughts and then NEVER EXPRESSING THEM. And then they can't figure out why things are the way they are. It's infuriating.

I'm only glad I read it so I won't be curious any more. Had some interesting ideas that I hope inspire a better storyteller to take and build upon.

Excellent read!

What I love the most about Mary Weber's books is that she isn't afraid to write about real life issues. I love her incorporation of real problems within the exciting setting of her stories. Rhen is a lovable character who is easy to relate to. I was cheering for her at page one! I definitely wish this was a series!

Simply Wonderful!

The narrator pulled me into the story and helped truly bring it to life! Excellent job!

Wish the competition was featured more

I have to say, I feel a bit mislead by the summary and cover. I thought this would be about Rhen disguising herself as a boy and competing in a labyrinth challenge. That was there, but only took up about 1/4 of the story. The first half was telling us about this disease that seems to only be killing the poor and Rhen trying to find a cure for her mom. I felt like it was slow, because I was waiting for the challenge to start. Once we got into the labyrinth, things were crazy and I enjoyed the puzzles and competition, I just wish it were longer.
The last bit I found a bit confusing. Why was there an additional test after someone won the competition? We did get an answer as to where the disease came from, but no cure so that was a bit of a bummer.
I really liked Lute and Beryll, they're so sweet and defend the girls to some of the jerks who want to trash talk them. Seleni is the best friend you could want and I admired the way she put herself in danger to be there for Rhen. Speaking of our main character, I liked that she was smart and unwilling to accept the role she's supposed to play just because she's a woman. She was kind of weird, calling Lute's lips "anatomically perfect" multiple times, and a bit indecisive about some things. Also, I couldn't believe the guys would fall for Rhen and Seleni's male disguises. They were so bare bones, hiding your hair and some dirt on your face, really? I feel like it could have been better.
Overall it was an okay read, I just wish it wasn't marketed as being all about the competition because that's only a small part of it.