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The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a twisty mystery series that kept me on the edge of my seat. Following a main character who finds herself as the unexpected heir of a billion-dollar fortune, these books contain puzzles, a clever narrator, and a hint of danger at every turn. As a series, this one kept me entertained the whole way through, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good riddle.
Title: The Inheritance Games SeriesSeries: The Inheritance Games
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: 2020-2022
Rating:
Series Rating:
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.
To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.
Series Review: The Inheritance Games, Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Since her mother’s death, Avery Grambs has been living with her half-sister and working as much as she can to eventually finish high school and go off to college. However, when she receives the news that billionaire Tobias Hawthorne has left his entire fortune to her, despite the fact that Avery has never met him, her life is flipped upside down. In order to receive her inheritance, Avery must move into Hawthorne House with the family for one year. However, the more Avery learns about the Hawthornes, the more she believes that there is more to Tobias’s will and her inheritance than she initially thought–making her a player in a mysterious game as she must figure out why Tobias chose her.
❀ Avery is a Great Narrator
I enjoyed Avery’s character, and she is a great narrator for the series. Her life becomes chaotic as she goes from living in her car to living in a mansion with a billion-dollar inheritance waiting for her, and she adapts to her environment well. Because Avery is thrown into the centre of attention, it is difficult for her to know who she can trust as danger lurks wherever she goes, but she stays strong and committed to solving each riddle. I especially enjoyed following along as Avery solves the many puzzles throughout the series and the ways she must work together with the Hawthorne brothers to uncover the truth behind her inheritance.
❀ An Entertaining Series
As a series, I found The Inheritance Games entertaining the whole way through. The books are full of action, and the danger Avery faces adds a bit of suspense that kept me hooked. I will admit that the second and third books in the trilogy felt like a lot of filler to me, but I still ultimately enjoyed the series as a whole and found the ending satisfying.
❀ Keeps Readers Guessing
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a gripping series with high stakes. I loved the idea of a mysterious inheritance, and the main character is clever. While I wished books two and three had a bit more plot to them, this is still a unique series that will keep readers guessing.
About Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
Great series review, Olivia! I’m glad that you enjoyed this trilogy. I haven’t read them yet myself but I remember when they were releasing and I’ve heard nothing but good things about them.
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Book Blitz: The Worst Woman in London Julia Bennet
I am so glad that I gave them a try! Definitely worth picking it up some time! 🙂
Great series review! My daughter recently read this one and I loved it. I’m going to have to put it on my TBR.
I am glad that she loved it, too! I just noticed there is another book coming out in August, so maybe hold off to read them all at once! 🙂
Sounds like a plan!
I’ve always wanted to.read her books but just haven’t gotten around to it. I’m on a horror run book wise.
Awesome series review! We really enjoyed this series and can’t wait for the companion book.
I just noticed that one is coming out soon! I can’t wait! 🙂
I like the summary!
Thanks for the great review. The series sounds fantastic.
The first book in this series is one of our nominees for this year’s Gateway award. I need to give it a try! Great review!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…L-L-L-Little Reviews #46: January 2023
I think that you will enjoy it, Lisa! 🙂
thanks for your review. this sounds like a wonderful book
haven’t read this
I read the first of the series and it was certainly entertaining!
It is definitely worth the hype! 🙂
Awesome series review! We really enjoyed this series and can’t wait for the companion book.
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I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Looks like a good book. I’ll check it out!
I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did! 🙂
Thanks for another great recommendation for my shelf!
Yay!! I hope that you love it! 🙂
I love the covers.. the designs and colors are great!