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konvineo's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at page 108
I'm just so bored, and I'm not going to force myself to finish. I'm not feeling the writing style which tries to be Fancy, Old-timey and Intellectual. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I cannot follow the plot, it feels messy.
Too many names were thrown around in the beginning chapters. It was important names, semi-important names and names of characters that probably will not show up again, and I couldn't tell what was what, because Weber doesn't tell me how the characters are related to Rhen (I fully understand that it might just be me now catching it). Also I kept forgetting Rhen's name... even though she's the one telling the story.
I'm also not a fan of the world that Weber has set up. There's so, so many things going on. You can set up a really shitty existence for your characters without having them deal with:
- Oppression based gender, class and economic status (these three definitely exist at the same time, and a book about it makes sense)
- A terrible unknown disease with no cure and government that refuses to put in the work because it strikes the poor
- Magic, maybe?
- Ghosts
- Ghouls
- Sirens
- Basilisks
- And probably the rest of wikipedias list of mythological creatures
- A weird competition that sometimes kills people or makes them have nervous breakdowns
You can write a whole book about the two first points. You could probably combine it with the last one. But the creatures that is sprinkled in, in an extremely casual way, just destroys the immersion for me.
So yeah, this book is not for me, and I'm going to put it away and start reading something else.
I'm just so bored, and I'm not going to force myself to finish. I'm not feeling the writing style which tries to be Fancy, Old-timey and Intellectual. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I cannot follow the plot, it feels messy.
Too many names were thrown around in the beginning chapters. It was important names, semi-important names and names of characters that probably will not show up again, and I couldn't tell what was what, because Weber doesn't tell me how the characters are related to Rhen (I fully understand that it might just be me now catching it). Also I kept forgetting Rhen's name... even though she's the one telling the story.
I'm also not a fan of the world that Weber has set up. There's so, so many things going on. You can set up a really shitty existence for your characters without having them deal with:
- Oppression based gender, class and economic status (these three definitely exist at the same time, and a book about it makes sense)
- A terrible unknown disease with no cure and government that refuses to put in the work because it strikes the poor
- Magic, maybe?
- Ghosts
- Ghouls
- Sirens
- Basilisks
- And probably the rest of wikipedias list of mythological creatures
- A weird competition that sometimes kills people or makes them have nervous breakdowns
You can write a whole book about the two first points. You could probably combine it with the last one. But the creatures that is sprinkled in, in an extremely casual way, just destroys the immersion for me.
So yeah, this book is not for me, and I'm going to put it away and start reading something else.
ambernagel's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
secondhandpages's review against another edition
5.0
Mary Weber delivers a heart pounding, plot twisting novel that kept me up way past my bed time and into the early morning hours. The characters are flawed, relatable human beings with goals and dreams that we explore with them. Rhen and Seleni are two girls that I would undoubtingly follow without hesitation. The world Weber weaves keeps you on your toes, and devouring the story. The writing is top notch - delivering excellent pacing, once you've made it past the first few chapters - and the character's keep you rooting (or screaming) for them. I would recommend this to anyone who loves books involving puzzles or games that last to the death! 5/5 stars!
For a full review, visit my blog www.secondhandpages.com
For a full review, visit my blog www.secondhandpages.com
thebookishnerd_'s review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tempest_arising's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved the wildly varying characters and their personalities so much! The world building was impeccable and comfortable to read about, and all the relationships, motives, and dynamics were spot on with each and every individual. The conclusion was fulfilling, and the plot twists were surprising, and the character arc of the protagonist is inspiring and incredible. This story has so many perspectives and lessons that were conveyed naturally through her perspective.
justmegan's review against another edition
3.0
I read this so fast! It was like I just started and the next thing I knew, I was finished. I enjoyed it, but it felt really rushed and didn’t have a lot of depth to it. I also felt like at times the book contradicted itself. With all that being said, I’ll most likely read the next book in the series.
dreamsapphic's review against another edition
3.0
things i liked and things i didn't
liked:
- rhen and lute were super cute and the ending was sweet (love a supportive and caring man who encourages their person to follow their dreams!)
- gals beating the boys at their own contest? heck yeah
- it wasn't just rhen against the boys! i'm glad seleni went with her too
didn't:
- first half was pretty slow, only picked up once the competition started halfway thru
- vincent! is! trash! (just in what he did and what he's like, this has nothing to do with the book or the writing lol i'm just venting at this point)
liked:
- rhen and lute were super cute and the ending was sweet (love a supportive and caring man who encourages their person to follow their dreams!)
- gals beating the boys at their own contest? heck yeah
- it wasn't just rhen against the boys! i'm glad seleni went with her too
didn't:
- first half was pretty slow, only picked up once the competition started halfway thru
- vincent! is! trash! (just in what he did and what he's like, this has nothing to do with the book or the writing lol i'm just venting at this point)
ceena's review against another edition
3.0
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Oh man this one just didn't work for me.
There is a lot of good here -- the messages, the potential talking points for book clubs, the concept, but to me it felt slow. We don't actually get into the Labyrinth until over halfway into the book. So, most of the book felt like build up to me, since that was the part I was waiting for. The labyrinth isn't the point of the book though, but Rhen's journey to finding a cure and figuring out what type of future she wants for herself.
Rhen is a good character -- she's smart, a great friend, and a fighter. She also has dyslexia, which I wasn't expecting. I really liked her friend Seleni though, who knows what she wants in life which is to be a wife and mother. We get so many books where being a mother is looked down on, so to have a book where we get both a female scientist and one who wants to have a more traditional role, is pretty cool.
I did find it weird that for as much build up I still didn't completely understand the setting. There are magical beings and potentially magic, but it isn't said how it all works. I was wondering why the disease couldn't have been a magical one if it was acting so strange.
There are definitely a few suspending belief moments in regards to the girls' disguises and how they flawlessly fool everyone by doing the bare minimum.
There is also a romance subplot. I don't necessarily think it was needed, even if I did like the guy and how supportive he is of Rhen and her dreams.
All in all, it isn't a bad book, it ended up being one I wasn't really interested in. I would recommend this one to people who like contemporaries, but are looking for some fantasy-lite with positive female characters and events.
Oh man this one just didn't work for me.
There is a lot of good here -- the messages, the potential talking points for book clubs, the concept, but to me it felt slow. We don't actually get into the Labyrinth until over halfway into the book. So, most of the book felt like build up to me, since that was the part I was waiting for. The labyrinth isn't the point of the book though, but Rhen's journey to finding a cure and figuring out what type of future she wants for herself.
Rhen is a good character -- she's smart, a great friend, and a fighter. She also has dyslexia, which I wasn't expecting. I really liked her friend Seleni though, who knows what she wants in life which is to be a wife and mother. We get so many books where being a mother is looked down on, so to have a book where we get both a female scientist and one who wants to have a more traditional role, is pretty cool.
I did find it weird that for as much build up I still didn't completely understand the setting. There are magical beings and potentially magic, but it isn't said how it all works. I was wondering why the disease couldn't have been a magical one if it was acting so strange.
There are definitely a few suspending belief moments in regards to the girls' disguises and how they flawlessly fool everyone by doing the bare minimum.
There is also a romance subplot. I don't necessarily think it was needed, even if I did like the guy and how supportive he is of Rhen and her dreams.
All in all, it isn't a bad book, it ended up being one I wasn't really interested in. I would recommend this one to people who like contemporaries, but are looking for some fantasy-lite with positive female characters and events.
joseph_al's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ciphertextx's review against another edition
3.0
What a neat little book, honestly.
First of all, it had so many things in it that reminded me of others things that I love. Let's have a list, of things I was reminded of when reading this book: Harry Potter, Labyrinth (the 1986 movie starring David Bowie). Honestly, that's it. And it was Good.
To Best the Boys is exactly what the title says it is - it's about one young lady in a vaguely historical fantasy land who's sick and tired of the sexism that surrounds her, so she's like "okay bitches, move aside, it's Woman Time". She doesn't necessarily undertake this endeavour to be a feminist icon or to prove that women can do it too; she's trying to get a scholarship to a university where she feels she'll have the resources and support to develop a cure for the disease that is slowly killing her mother, and many of the people around her. It just so happens that she becomes a feminist icon in the process. The story overall is a solid commentary on our current political climate.
The writing was a bit whimsical in nature, and often the narrative felt a little bit too light for the situation. I never really felt any of the characters were in danger, even when they were clearly supposed to be. And I never really had my heart racing during any of the more high-octane moments either. I did enjoy the whimsy though, and I love me some rhyming riddles like what were contained within the Labyrinth.
Rhen, the main character...well, I have no strong feelings about her. Actually, I have no strong feelings about any of the characters, which is the main reason I have this story 3 stars and not 4. I liked what Rhen stood for, I liked that she came from a mixed background (an upper-class mother and a distinctly lower-class father), I liked that she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. But I felt she - along with the other characters - lacked any true depth. The story was more plot-driven, which is fine, but I like to really get to feel the characters out personally is all. Rhen is out here representing though, because she has dyslexia! It's not explicitly called dyslexia, but it's certainly what she has. I guess, to me, it felt like giving her this difficulty was a way to show that if you have a learning difficulty, that doesn't make you stupid, which is a nice message to send. She also gets the classic Hair Cutting scene where she cuts her hair super short, and I Live for that stuff.
Seleni, Rhen's cousin (one of the Uppers) was also just kind of there. She helped Rhen out with her sketchy work, she entered this Labyrinth with her so she could look out for her boyfriend who is delicate and soft. I will say this about Seleni though - I loved how her brand of feminism juxtaposed Rhen's. While Rhen was all about not getting married to some obnoxious prick (who only wanted to use her to elevate his status and get things from her) and have his babies and become a housewife - she was about independence and making her own way, Seleni did want all those things, and she proves to us that wanting these things doesn't make her any less of a feminist. Seleni can't wait to get married to her lovely boyfriend Beryll, she's excited to become his wife and a mother to their future children and to look after him. But she is no less badass of a person for it.
Lute, Rhen's love interest, was pretty cool. His background was interesting to me, I liked the fact that he has a disabled younger brother (because inclusivity, man!), I liked that he had real motivation to enter this Labyrinth and he didn't just do it because that's what everyone else seemed to be doing. I'm a bit of a sucker for when one character, particularly a rude douchebag, is shit-talking someone, then that someone's love interest comes for their face fist-first. Like, yaasss, protect her honour, Lute! One point of contention for me throughout the book, though, was that Lute just assumed Rhen was going to marry this Vincent guy, and he got all pissy and standoffish about it. He could have asked her at any point "are you really going to marry him?" or "what's going on here?" or even "do you want this?" but he didn't. He was a big baby about it, and it irritated me, because where is the need to act like that? Smh.
One thing about Lute I'm super glad of is that he recognised Rhen in the Labyrinth pretty quickly despite her disguise. It only makes sense that he - being someone who knows her really well and has for a long time - would see through a haircut, some dirt on her face, and different clothes. He ain't stupid. Then again, he was stupid enough to not even bother asking Rhen about her relationship with Vincent, and Rhen could have literally told him at any point, she just didn't because she'd rather be upset about it.
Vincent, the little prick who seemed hellbent on marrying Rhen and basically taming her into a nice little housewife but also using her to fix his own mistakes, was an asshole, and I literally wanted him to shut up every time he opened his mouth. I'd say I did have strong feelings for him, but more because of what he represented and not because of him himself. He invoked my Rage. At one point, after Rhen goes ham on someone's ass for being a bigot, Vincent basically tells her she over-reacted. This is something most women can relate to, and it made me hate him early on. Because not only does he tell Rhen she went overboard, he actually manages to make her doubt herself for a minute. Later on, when he discovers Rhen in the Labyrinth, he angrily and coldly tells her "We'll discuss this later" and I wrote "Vincent, actually fuck off".
I also had an inkling from early on that Vincent was planning something because of something sketchy, but I never could have imagined what it really was - and I have mixed feelings about it now. He was a dick, and he was selfish, but what happened relating to the thing he seems to be hiding was an accident, and it kind of seems like no one acknowledged that? Like, he made a mistake, he handled it terribly, and he's criminalised by all the other characters for it. Something about that didn't ring as terribly just to me, but maybe I missed something.
Lute and Vincent are good juxtapositions to each other. They've both been her friends previously, they're both romantically interested in her. But then they differ. Vincent is an Upper, and he seeks to marry Rhen to be able to control her and tie her down, and his kindness is entirely conditional. Lute is a Lower, and even though he's a giant pissbaby at times, he loves Rhen enough to offer her friendship if she doesn't want a romance. He offers to look after her family for her with no strings attached. Rhen herself notes that Lute is "willing her to succeed". This isn't a love triangle by any means, but it's very clear who's the better of the two. And I liked that in Rhen finally admitting her feelings to Lute, she tells us "I will belong to me", but she also says that she will be Lute's. She acknowledges that you can belong to someone romantically (if that's how you choose to word it) but you can also be your own person.
I'm a very dense being, and I didn't think to consider how this disease actually started, even though when Rhen mentioned it near the end, it made perfect sense and all the signs are there. It's one thing that didn't seem to be resolved by the end of this book. Maybe there will be a sequel, but I'm honestly not terribly concerned to read it. I'd like to for sure, but it's not a book I'd go out of my way to buy.
Anyway, as for Mr. Holm... I considered it too easy for Mr. Kellen to be Mr. Holm, and I was like "haha, maybe Mr. Holm is a woman" and well, let's just say I had a moment where Mr. Holm's true identity was revealed, and I was rather happy with it.
I liked a lot of the things in this book, but overall it felt kind of bland at times to me. The messages it's conveying are powerful and relevant, and the whimsical way that the story is told is fun, but these two things seem kind of at odds with each other at times, and the characters weren't as dynamic as I would have liked personally. Maybe the book was too short for what it was trying to do?
In conclusion: enjoyable and relevant, but a bit underwhelming.
First of all, it had so many things in it that reminded me of others things that I love. Let's have a list, of things I was reminded of when reading this book: Harry Potter, Labyrinth (the 1986 movie starring David Bowie). Honestly, that's it. And it was Good.
To Best the Boys is exactly what the title says it is - it's about one young lady in a vaguely historical fantasy land who's sick and tired of the sexism that surrounds her, so she's like "okay bitches, move aside, it's Woman Time". She doesn't necessarily undertake this endeavour to be a feminist icon or to prove that women can do it too; she's trying to get a scholarship to a university where she feels she'll have the resources and support to develop a cure for the disease that is slowly killing her mother, and many of the people around her. It just so happens that she becomes a feminist icon in the process. The story overall is a solid commentary on our current political climate.
The writing was a bit whimsical in nature, and often the narrative felt a little bit too light for the situation. I never really felt any of the characters were in danger, even when they were clearly supposed to be. And I never really had my heart racing during any of the more high-octane moments either. I did enjoy the whimsy though, and I love me some rhyming riddles like what were contained within the Labyrinth.
Rhen, the main character...well, I have no strong feelings about her. Actually, I have no strong feelings about any of the characters, which is the main reason I have this story 3 stars and not 4. I liked what Rhen stood for, I liked that she came from a mixed background (an upper-class mother and a distinctly lower-class father), I liked that she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. But I felt she - along with the other characters - lacked any true depth. The story was more plot-driven, which is fine, but I like to really get to feel the characters out personally is all. Rhen is out here representing though, because she has dyslexia! It's not explicitly called dyslexia, but it's certainly what she has. I guess, to me, it felt like giving her this difficulty was a way to show that if you have a learning difficulty, that doesn't make you stupid, which is a nice message to send. She also gets the classic Hair Cutting scene where she cuts her hair super short, and I Live for that stuff.
Seleni, Rhen's cousin (one of the Uppers) was also just kind of there. She helped Rhen out with her sketchy work, she entered this Labyrinth with her so she could look out for her boyfriend who is delicate and soft. I will say this about Seleni though - I loved how her brand of feminism juxtaposed Rhen's. While Rhen was all about not getting married to some obnoxious prick (who only wanted to use her to elevate his status and get things from her) and have his babies and become a housewife - she was about independence and making her own way, Seleni did want all those things, and she proves to us that wanting these things doesn't make her any less of a feminist. Seleni can't wait to get married to her lovely boyfriend Beryll, she's excited to become his wife and a mother to their future children and to look after him. But she is no less badass of a person for it.
Lute, Rhen's love interest, was pretty cool. His background was interesting to me, I liked the fact that he has a disabled younger brother (because inclusivity, man!), I liked that he had real motivation to enter this Labyrinth and he didn't just do it because that's what everyone else seemed to be doing. I'm a bit of a sucker for when one character, particularly a rude douchebag, is shit-talking someone, then that someone's love interest comes for their face fist-first. Like, yaasss, protect her honour, Lute! One point of contention for me throughout the book, though, was that Lute just assumed Rhen was going to marry this Vincent guy, and he got all pissy and standoffish about it. He could have asked her at any point "are you really going to marry him?" or "what's going on here?" or even "do you want this?" but he didn't. He was a big baby about it, and it irritated me, because where is the need to act like that? Smh.
One thing about Lute I'm super glad of is that he recognised Rhen in the Labyrinth pretty quickly despite her disguise. It only makes sense that he - being someone who knows her really well and has for a long time - would see through a haircut, some dirt on her face, and different clothes. He ain't stupid. Then again, he was stupid enough to not even bother asking Rhen about her relationship with Vincent, and Rhen could have literally told him at any point, she just didn't because she'd rather be upset about it.
Vincent, the little prick who seemed hellbent on marrying Rhen and basically taming her into a nice little housewife but also using her to fix his own mistakes, was an asshole, and I literally wanted him to shut up every time he opened his mouth. I'd say I did have strong feelings for him, but more because of what he represented and not because of him himself. He invoked my Rage. At one point, after Rhen goes ham on someone's ass for being a bigot, Vincent basically tells her she over-reacted. This is something most women can relate to, and it made me hate him early on. Because not only does he tell Rhen she went overboard, he actually manages to make her doubt herself for a minute. Later on, when he discovers Rhen in the Labyrinth, he angrily and coldly tells her "We'll discuss this later" and I wrote "Vincent, actually fuck off".
I also had an inkling from early on that Vincent was planning something because of something sketchy, but I never could have imagined what it really was - and I have mixed feelings about it now. He was a dick, and he was selfish, but what happened relating to the thing he seems to be hiding was an accident, and it kind of seems like no one acknowledged that? Like, he made a mistake, he handled it terribly, and he's criminalised by all the other characters for it. Something about that didn't ring as terribly just to me, but maybe I missed something.
Lute and Vincent are good juxtapositions to each other. They've both been her friends previously, they're both romantically interested in her. But then they differ. Vincent is an Upper, and he seeks to marry Rhen to be able to control her and tie her down, and his kindness is entirely conditional. Lute is a Lower, and even though he's a giant pissbaby at times, he loves Rhen enough to offer her friendship if she doesn't want a romance. He offers to look after her family for her with no strings attached. Rhen herself notes that Lute is "willing her to succeed". This isn't a love triangle by any means, but it's very clear who's the better of the two. And I liked that in Rhen finally admitting her feelings to Lute, she tells us "I will belong to me", but she also says that she will be Lute's. She acknowledges that you can belong to someone romantically (if that's how you choose to word it) but you can also be your own person.
I'm a very dense being, and I didn't think to consider how this disease actually started, even though when Rhen mentioned it near the end, it made perfect sense and all the signs are there. It's one thing that didn't seem to be resolved by the end of this book. Maybe there will be a sequel, but I'm honestly not terribly concerned to read it. I'd like to for sure, but it's not a book I'd go out of my way to buy.
Anyway, as for Mr. Holm... I considered it too easy for Mr. Kellen to be Mr. Holm, and I was like "haha, maybe Mr. Holm is a woman" and well, let's just say I had a moment where Mr. Holm's true identity was revealed, and I was rather happy with it.
I liked a lot of the things in this book, but overall it felt kind of bland at times to me. The messages it's conveying are powerful and relevant, and the whimsical way that the story is told is fun, but these two things seem kind of at odds with each other at times, and the characters weren't as dynamic as I would have liked personally. Maybe the book was too short for what it was trying to do?
In conclusion: enjoyable and relevant, but a bit underwhelming.