Book: To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
Genre: YA Fantasy-ish
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
It took me a minute to get into this one, but once I was fully focused I really enjoyed it.
It's set in a sort of fantasy kingdom type world where all the boys get to compete every year in a contest where the winner gets a scholarship to college. In the first half we meet the characters and get a feel for this world... and the fact that there's a disease killing people and our heroine and her father are trying to find a cure, especially since her mom is dying from it.
We also learn that there are two classes of people, the Uppers and the Lowers. But both can compete in this contest.
Our girl realizes at one point the letter inviting people to compete is vague in saying that it actually has to be boys. So she gets the idea that she can join in.
It's a sort of Hunger Games style thing where the whole town comes out in a festival type atmosphere to watch and wait to see who wins.
Anyway, this contest doesn't start until about half way into the book, but once it starts, it's quite hard to put down! It reminded me of an escape room type game where they have to figure out how to get out, and then get out again, and again... until they finally get to the end... the reward. Our girl goes in with a bunch of her friends and some of them end up being true friends and some not.
Man I did a terrible job of explaining that! But hopefully it intrigues your interest! I found it quite fun with many surprising twists and turns. I don't think this is the beginning of a series, but I still find myself wondering what's next for our girl (and guy!)
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