The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows the story of Avery Grambs, a high school student with a tough life who suddenly inherits a vast fortune from a billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into the Hawthorne House and solve a series of puzzles and riddles left behind by Hawthorne. As Avery navigates the challenges of living in the mansion alongside Hawthorne's four grandsons, she must unravel the mystery of why she was chosen for the inheritance, all while facing threats and intrigue from those who feel entitled to the fortune. The book is described as a fast-paced YA mystery with elements of suspense, puzzles, and a touch of romance, keeping readers engaged till the very end.
The Inheritance Games is praised for its engaging plot filled with twists and turns, appealing to readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, and puzzle-solving. The book is noted for its well-crafted characters, particularly Avery and the Hawthorne brothers, each with unique personalities that add depth to the story. The writing style is described as addictive, with a mix of suspense and tension that keeps readers guessing along with the protagonist, creating an immersive reading experience that culminates in a cliffhanger ending, setting the stage for the sequel.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include medium-level violence, some gun violence, attempted murder, and themes of domestic abuse.
Has Romance?
The book features a medium level of romance, primarily through the love triangle involving Avery and the Hawthorne brothers.
From The Publisher:
Don't miss this New York Times bestselling "impossible to put down" (Buzzfeed) novel with deadly stakes, thrilling twists, and juicy secrets-perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out.
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.
Ratings (183)
Incredible (40) | |
Loved It (73) | |
Liked It (41) | |
It Was OK (23) | |
Did Not Like (5) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (341):
Read It (194) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (126) | |
Did Not Finish (7) | |
Not Interested (12) |
13 comment(s)
Interesting. Finished in one day. Not sure I like the triangle, but I guess it is to be expected in any non-standalone YA.
Really a 3.5 but I believe in rounding up. Do not listen to the audiobook. It gets better after chapter 6. Suspend your disbelief and you’ll have fun.
Ehhh. It was…okay.
4.75* Um, I need the second book right now.
I was simply not the target demographic, but I did find this easy to breeze through. I think the ending was extremely obvious as soon as the introduction ended and it was nicely reinforced with the clues in the latter half of the book.
A decent fast read. I enjoyed myself....i wanted it to be more darker and mysterious
I think i was expecting it to be more like The Death of Mrs.Westaway. i wanted more tension
The romance was also weak for me. I didn't feel an ounce of chemistry between the characters
I grew up reading The 39 Clues by Scholastic, and if you had a similar childhood, I think you'd enjoy The Inheritance Games. This book very much reminded me of that series, with the inciting incident being a will reading and the characters having to solve puzzles and uncover mysteries along the way. Of course, there were many differences, but to be completely honest, my nostalgia for 39 Clues is likely what got me through this book. It isn't that I think this book is weak—I just might've been more inclined to DNF it if I didn't get that rush of nostalgia.
Starting; I'm not a huge fan of our protagonist, or any of the characters, to be honest. I felt no romantic chemistry between characters who were supposed to have it, and every character felt like just that: a fictional character rather than a real person. That is a problem I find myself more and more put-off by as I continue my reading journey. I don't know if I just haven't flexed my YA-reading muscles in a long time, but each individual just fell flat for me.
I had no qualms with the plot. The pacing was as it should be, and the reveals were held back just enough to keep my interest. I would've perhaps liked to see more in-depth, intricate puzzles being solves, but we can't have everything.
For such a generally negative review, I decided to rate this book 3-stars, which is generally my average. That means this was an ok book—worth reading, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.
Fans of The Westing game and Suddently a Murder will love it!
Started out wonderfully, but I felt as if the plot dragged through the books in this series. I also thought the romance happened a little too quickly
A book like no other. The Inheritance Games definitely makes my list of favorite books. Jennifer is an amazing author who creates amazing stories and fabricates whole new worlds. Be on the look out for the next two books in this series. The Grandest Games and Games Untold will both come out in 2024.
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The Inheritance Games?
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