3.5⭐

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Pigeonhole.
 
I didn’t realise it was YA (Young Adult) fiction before I started. The characters generally seemed quite adult like, although some of the behaviours were perhaps more childlike. The imagination of the author to create Hawthorne “House” is incredible!
 
Avery receives contact from a solicitor and has to live with the 4 Hawthorne brothers for a year as per the terms of the will. But why? And what is Avery’s connection to Tobias Hawthorne, if any?
 
If you, or a young adult, love solving puzzles, riddles and codes then you will love this book!
 
My favourite quote: “I’d gone to school with the same kids all my life. I was wallpaper. No one was looking.”

There is going to be a sequel to this!
 
Both Kindle and paperback versions are available now.

This book is amazing, I couldn’t put it down and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. It’s difficult to say anything other than the blurb because to say practically anything would give things away, but you will not be able to guess what is going to happen next as you are reading, and if anyone said to me that they solved the puzzle before it was revealed I wouldn’t believe them! I understand that it’s been optioned to be made into a series, and this is one that I will be looking out for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children's UK for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"From the first moment I’d seen him, looking away had been nearly impossible."

SH*T 

If there's one thing I'm most sure of it's that Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes flawlessly intriguing and addictive stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The Inheritance Games was one heck of a ride. It took me by surprise and I never wanted it to end. 

The mystery, the intrigue, the revelations, the mind games- all of this made for one heck of a brilliant, gripping book. I don't know what to tell you but boy would I give up a million dollars to live in Hawthorne House. I honestly just want to be friends with Avery, Xander, Jameson, Nash and Grayson. Most especially Grayson. He was barely in the book but this beautiful, broken soul stole my heart. Dreamy sigh. You gotta hand it to the author, she writes very subtle romance but it's oh-so-good. 

Finished this in one sitting and I JUST NEED IT TO BE LONGER. Is that too much to ask?! 

SO FREAKIN' EXCITED FOR BOOK TWO! 

I received an e-arc via Netgalley as part of the blog tour.

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a very tricky book to review. I've never read any of Jennifer Lynn Barnes books so I'm not used to her style and I found it to be very repetitive and sometimes clunky in places. Certain phrases were used in almost every chapter such as:

'They were a twisted, broken mess before you got here, and they'll be a twisted, broken mess once you're gone.'

I understand that authors use this method to convey a person's thoughts and therefore tension about the story itself. Done well it can be a very interesting read but this just felt like Barnes was trying to bump up the word count.

' "You don't like me much," Thea noted. "That's ok. I'm a hypercompetitive, bisexual perfectionist who likes to win and looks like this. I'm no stranger to being hated." '

I found some of the sentences strangely worded and I was very close to even putting the book down altogether. Sometimes the dialogue was extremely forced as though the author felt the characters just needed to speak at that point, even if it meant they didn't speak like actual people, let alone teenagers.

' "Will you show me where you were hurt?" Grayson asked.
I lifted my hand to the collar of my shirt. I pulled it downward - below my collarbone, exposing my wound. '

I was extremely close to giving up on this book at several points but persevered when I felt that something might actually happen...but it didn't. The book is labellled as perfect for fans of Knives Out but is in fact nothing similar, other than a rich old man dies and leaves his family out of his will.

I really did not enjoy this book and will most likely avoid any books by this author in the future. A lowly 2 stars this time ⭐⭐

I've finally found a new YA series to obsess over. The Inheritance Games is so addictive, and the perfect read for cosy autumn nights. Paper Princess meets Knives Out in a clever, compelling read. 

Avery Kylie Grambs is down on her luck. Working in a diner and sleeping in her car, she works hard at school and dreams of a brighter future. One day she is summoned to the will reading for Tobias Hawthorne, a man she has never met, and her world is changed forever. Suddenly she's living in a mansion on a vast country estate, with a family who all have ample motive for wanting her dead. Tobias has left a carefully curated trail for Avery to follow, and she finds herself embroiled with his four handsome and infuriating grandsons in a quest to discover why she is there, and who she really is. That is, if she makes it out alive. This is one of those books that you literally can't put down, with short chapters that compel you to keep reading. It's full of tension and intrigue, with a cast of characters straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. 

Avery is a great leading character. Smart and moral, with a great sense of humour, she's been dealt a rough hand in life and you can't help but will her to succeed. As the story is told from her perspective you puzzle out the clues alongside her, feeling her anger and frustration caused by the Hawthorne family. Speaking of - Avery aside, the four Hawthorne brothers are of course the stars of the show. I honestly can't decide which one I like best. Xander, the joker. Jameson, the rebel. Grayson, the serious one. Nash, the cowboy. They all have their flaws, and I'm not entirely sure that I trust them, but I love them all equally. Hawthorne House is of course a character in itself - all endless corridors, secret tunnels and surprises round every corner. It's dark and foreboding, yet the sort of place that you long to get lost in, to spend days exploring. 

The Inheritance Games is an intricately plotted, well written, fun and exciting read. One of those books you can easily read in one sitting - but be warned it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I need the next installment now please!

*Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the e-arc!*

Not often do I agree with the comparison lines that are ascribed to books but this one is on the money. I really does have that Knives Out vibe to it and if you are a of those kinds of classic mysteries you will definitely enjoy this one! 

The major stand out for this book is its writing. it is extremely well thought out, paced to perfection and writing has such momentum to it that it is very difficult to put this book down. It does an excellent job of pulling you threw the whirlwind upheaval to Avery's life, the overwhelming situation she now finds herself in as well as really constructing the air of mystery around the Hawthorne. The use of micro-cliffhangers and short sharp chapters has you going "oh Ill just read the next one then i'll make dinner", and before you know it you have finished the book. The writing just does a very good job of keeping you interested, wanting to learn more and to solve those puzzles. 

The mystery itself is gloriously frustrating in the best possible way. While, I will say I guessed one of the BIG twists really early on as the foreshadowing was a little obvious, the main scavenger hunt style was just so much fun to read. The end of every chapter had you asking why? Why Avery? Why do this to his Children/Grandchildren? Why now? It also really has you questioning everything. As we only get the information from Avery's perspective, we are just in the dark about all of this as she is. 

There are so many different motivations and machinations intertwining that you, as the reader, have no idea who to trust! The Hawthorne family really do capture the same vibes as Knives Out did. They are all as bad as each other with their own selfish motivations. But they are also deeply flawed and vulnerable in their own ways. Honestly, I wish we had gotten to know them a little more but that would have taken out some of the mystery and the who to trust vibe that makes this book great. Avery herself is a really believable character. She wants to act strong and determined but she is lonely and scared and intimidated by her current situation. 

The only thing, for me, that let this book down was the ending. I wanted to be left reeling from the BIG reveal and then maybe get some set up for book to but instead for me it was a little "oh, that's it" and "hmmm, I saw that coming" which is always a little disappointing. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists, turns and backstabbing and will definitely be diving into the second book next year.

A teenage school girl, a whole lot of money, a mysterious mansion bequeathed to her in a Will. This is not ordinary young adult story. This is one that leads you into places of enigma. What’s the truth, what’s the lies? Secrets and games are afoot that make for a great YA book indeed. One that will get teens wanting to read. It’s good to see one that isn’t pure fantasy and isn’t pure romance; it has elements of a few genres within it.

Avery Grambs, the smart kid at school also likes games. Fun, innocent made-up ones, is how she found out she liked games. She’s just a normal teenager, well, almost, in these short-sharp chapters that entice you to read on as the story moves quickly into its first part of the mystery.
Tobias Hawthorn has sent a note to Avery, a person to her knowledge, she has never met. Instant worries of scams flee around the conversation.

Imagine being at school thinking of science and statistical information and studying Romeo and Juliet when a mysterious billionaire philanthropist leaves you a mansion in his Will?  That’s what began a whole different type of journey for Avery. She meets the family and the Will is read out, enough to make any reader sit-up and take notice. It is staggeringly jaw-dropping!

James Hawthorn, who prefers to call Avery – Mystery Girl, pops up here and there and seems a bit of an enigma himself, almost as much as why would someone, a stranger to him and his family, inherit what should have been there property from Tobias. There is also Grayson who is convinced that Avery used manipulation to get it…
He is also quite a deep character in his thoughts about money, the world and responsibility.

No one is going to make things easy for Avery. Let the games commence! Riddles, puzzles and secret passageways abound, which is a rather thrilling aspect to the story.

Emily brings a certain thought-provoking aspect to this family’s story in her bravery and also some empathy with her parent’s reactions to her.

Going back to the mansion, the big question that makes turns this book into something of a sinister mystery, is the big question – will everyone survive?
The way the book takes some twists, just at the right moments is great! Just when you think it might all be lost, up comes something else and reels you further into the mansion, that anyone staying there would have to be very brave indeed!
The twists ramp up in scale right to an ultimate page-turning crescendo!

A twisted mystery that saved all the best plot twists until the very last second!

The Inheritance Games had me hooked from the very first line. A book filled with mystery and intrigue on every page that only grew and grew as the stakes got higher and more secrets were revealed. 

Avery Grambs lucked out when she inherited the Hawthorne fortune but the game and the Hawthorne grandsons are certainly more than she bargained for. Confused and surrounded she has to figure out what Tobias Hawthorne meant when he left her his fortune. 

A incredible cast of characters and wonderful wring style just bring this book onto another level. I cannot wait to read the second book and I will certainly wait with baited breath to see how the mysteries surrounding the fortune and Avery continue to develop. 

that you to NetGalley and penguin for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Inheritance Games
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: The Inheritance Games #1
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Publisher: Penguin Random House
@gwendalyn_books_

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest 

The Inheritance Games is the first thrilling instalment in a new series from a phenomenal storyteller.

Avery Grambs a seventeen year old teenager, who life is not easy, living in the care of her older half sister on the brink of poverty. Her one notable talent is her astonishing mathematically ability, that seems to go unnoticed in school until very recently. 

Her presence has been requested to a reading of a will, from a man that she has no knowledge of. Even more strange is that her name is actually on will, the reading takes place in Texas,  at the Estate of the late Tobias Hawthorne. Who seems to have made her an heiress to a billion-dollar fortune. She is the only one to receive the bulk from Mr Tobias Hawthorne fortune and known seems to know why. Needless to say this has turned the complete Hawthorne family on its head. 

“The old man was playing the long game.”

There is one catch though, in order for her have access to what is now her astronomical fortune, she must consent to reside at Hawthorne House for a year living alongside his family. Shocked and confused both Avery and the rest of late Hawthorne family, along with the Billionaire grandson’s must take everything in stride, or at least pretend to. The Mansion is a treasure trove of secrets waiting to be solved, along with engaging insane question as to why Avery?

This is a wonderful thrilling book, that will have turning those pages as fast you can. 
A stunning on the edge of your seat kind of read. One that you want to unravel, and align all the jigsaw puzzle pieces together. 
An addictive reading game that takes the reader on a quest, along with Avery to understand the reason behind the eccentric, a done right mischievous Tobias Hawthorne. Like any pretentious family they are overly fond of losing all that money to a compete strange. 
The author seamlessly narration moves along as the mystery unfolds and each every character is a three dimensional. Jennifer Lynn Barnes meticulously uses two of my all favorite tropes in this captivating ya novel. The reader is gifted with a subtle love triangle, along with the “ The Teenage Chosen One” trope.
The plot twist and the authors ability to create an exceptional storyline is the reason she has a cult following.
The book ends on a delightful cliffhanger ending, to allow the reader a set up for more to come in this fast paced Ya Contemporary Thriller.

This one book that you do not want to pass by.
I highly recommend it to my family and friends

Firstly (as always) a huge thank you to @TheWriteReads for organising yet another amazing blog tour, honestly the amount of work that you put in is astounding and also a huge thank you to penguin, the author Jennifer and of course Netgalley too.
In all honesty i hadnt heard much about The Inheritance Games before agreeing to read it, i was completely won over by the tag line that it was similar to One of Us is Lying which i read last month and adored. The cover is also gorgeous and the premise sounded really unique and fun.

The story revolves around Avery who is your not so average teenager in the fact that her mum died of cancer leaving her in the custody of her not much older than her half sister. Avery's life is turned upside down when she finds out that she has inherited billions from Tobias Hawthorne, a man that she has never met at the same time an entire family has been disinherited and they cannot work out why or who this mysterious girl is. 

One of the stipulations of the will is that Avery must immediately move into the family mansion and live there for a year. She finds that not only do the entire Hawthorne family live in this mansion but that she will have to live alongside Tobias' four grandsons, Grayson, Nash, Jameson and Xander. Each boy was the right amount of broody in his own right but i must admit that i didnt fall for any of them (i think i may be too old for teenage book boyfriends now *cries*) When the will is read each of the boys and Avery receive a letter from their grandfather and immediately work out that there is a riddle to be figured out with Avery at its very centre. Along with the riddle Avery becomes increasingly concerned for her safety living amongst the resentful Hawthornes which made for an edge of your seat mystery read.

I very much enjoyed this book and was glad to see it lived up to all of the early hype surrounding it. The chapters are short (which i loved) and the writing flows well. You cant help but root for Avery who has been plunged into this world with no clue how she fits the puzzle. The ending surprised me as i had a ton of theories but none of them came to anything which is the sign of a great read. I just love it when an ending shocks you. Id be really keen to read anything that Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes next as this was a wonderful debut!

THE INHERITANCE GAMES is a Cinderella-esque story with an ordinary girl plucked from the streets and given a dazzling fortune, but there's a niggling question of <em>why</em> overshadowing her new life.

There are two mysteries at the heart of the book - why did Avery inherit and what's caused the deep fracture between the brothers? The dead billionaire liked his riddles, and it becomes immediately clear that Avery's selection as heir is another game of his.

There weren't as many riddles as I was expecting, but I really enjoyed the different twists and turns as the family rage against Avery's inheritance and she tries to uncover the truth. It's a really compulsive read, and part of that is the way it's written with really short chapters. There are over 70 chapters in a book that's only about 400 pages, and each chapter ends on a mini-cliffhanger or <em>dun dun duh</em> moment. That means there's one every 5-6 pages, on average, and it makes it hard to stop turning the pages.

So, the Hawthorne brothers. Rich, suave, messy, and smartly dressed? Full of secrets and with messy family relationships? It's not a new combination, but it's tried and tested. I'm guessing that sort of character works because it's a form of wish fulfilment - the glittering allure of a world few of us get to touch. Why fix something that isn't broken?

You can bet they're a pretty central feature of the story, confusing Avery's emotions (not quite a love triangle, but close). It mostly focuses around Jameson and Grayson (I'm glad they went by Jamie and Gray most of the book because their names are more like surnames in Britain!). Then there's Nash, lurking about to hand out dire warnings, and (Ale)Xander the eccentric, bouncy and brilliant brother who is too genuine to be real.

This is apparently the first in a series, and the epilogue hints that the next book will be about Xander which is super exciting! I feel like he was the most on the sidelines of the brothers, and yet the most eccentric and fun, so I'm hoping to see more of him.

The Inheritance Games is a fast paced mystery that keeps you wanting more and more. I must admit, I was tempted to DNF in the first 20% because nothing seemed to take place. But once I crossed the 30% mark this book took me on such a journey! 

There are so many twists and turns that take you from one character to the next. I completely enjoyed reading about the clues and how each piece fitted into the puzzle until the very end. 

Would definitely recommend

I read this book over the course of a day and to put it simply, I just couldn’t put it down. I’ll just get straight into this review because there is a lot to talk about! I also want to mention that I got an ARC of this book via NetGalley and through The Write Reads / Ultimate Blog Tour and Penguin books, so a big thank you to Dave who runs the tours for working on this.

One of my favourite things about this book was undoubtedly the way the mystery or puzzle element plays out. I loved how there were riddles, literary clues and brain teasers galore in this book and just when the characters thought they had something figured out, they were thrown a curveball. I also liked that there were so many mysteries in this book and multiple layers; there’s the obvious mystery – why was Avery chosen to inherit all of the Hawthorne wealth? but there’s so much more as well which I found so interesting. I always like when a book feels twisty and keeps you on your toes without being confusing or unnecessarily complicated and I feel like Jennifer Lynn Barnes strikes the perfect balance in this book.

As well as the mystery and puzzle elements, I thought the cast of characters were interesting and I thought they all fit into the tone and story really well. We have Avery who is the young ingenue with an edge, the four Hawthorne grandsons who are all as different as night and day and then we have the rest of the Hawthorne family who are hiding their own motivations and secrets. In a book like this, a bigger range of characters is so needed and just added so much to the story, so I’m glad that there were so many intriguing characters. Think in a similar veins to the family in Knives Out, I can totally see why people are comparing some elements of this book to it as the setting is similar with a range of suspicious characters and a mystery at the heart of it all.

I also really liked the sense of atmosphere and setting within the novel, with Hawthorne House being the ideal place for a story like this. It’s easy to follow along with this tale when it’s set in a house with trap doors, hidden passages and tunnels, a few libraries, and a bowling alley for good measure. It’s like a world of immense wealth and ease beyond the average persons wildest dreams so it was fun to read in that sense too as Avery and in turn, we as readers are also thrown into this totally different world.

One of the main things I would have liked to see explored more or reworked was the romance or love triangle element. It just felt so lacklustre to me and I would have much preferred if it had been sidelined all together, I wanted to root for the romance in this book but I just wasn’t feeling it. This is probably more of a personal preference because I don’t typically enjoy love triangles anymore but just thought I’d mention it. I also think some of the pacing and specifically how the chapters end felt very abrupt at times, for instance a chapter will end in the middle of a conversation and then the next chapter picks up at a different place or scene and it just felt choppy and odd. I’m not sure whether this was intentional and maybe just an ARC issue? Either way, it’s strange.

Overall, The Inheritance Games was a truly absorbing read and while there are small things here and there I would change, it was still really enjoyable and I would recommend it to fans of other Y/A thrillers like One of Us is Lying.

I don’t tend to read a huge amount of YA. As a woman in my mid-thirties, I’m acutely aware that I am not the target audience and, whilst I know readers of all ages read (and love!) YA fiction, it’s just not been my go-to area of the bookshop – navigating my teen years in one piece was hellish enough in real life! But when a book comes along that is billed as Cinderella meets Knives Out (one of my favourite films of 2020), you’d better believe it piques my interest and, sure enough, Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games does not disappoint!

Seventeen-year-old Avery Grambs keeps her head down. Sure, she runs the odd side-hustle after school but she studies hard, works every shift she can get, and is determined to save enough to fulfil her college dreams, get out of her half-sister Libby’s tiny rented apartment, and build a better life for both of them.

After she’s accused of cheating on a test at school and yet another argument with Libby’s deadbeat on-off boyfriend Drake leaves her sleeping in her car, it looks as if Avery’s hard work and careful planning might be derailed. But then an extremely handsome young man in a well-tailored suit arrives at Avery’s door with an invitation to the reading of the will of billionaire philanthropist Tobias Hawthorne, a man Avery has never heard of, let alone met.

That young man is Grayson, Tobias’ grandson, and, along with his half-brothers Nate, Xander, and Jameson, he’s expecting to inherit some, if not all, of his grandfather’s vast fortune. But the Hawthorne family – and Avery herself – are in for a shock when Tobias’ vast mansion, along with the majority of his fortune, business assets, and charitable foundation are left to Avery Grambs. Suddenly everyone wants a piece of Avery – and all Avery wants is out. But there’s a catch. In order to inherit, she has to live in Hawthorne House for a year. Filled with hidden passages, mysterious codes, and long-buried mysteries, solving the secrets might be Avery’s trickiest problem yet. And that’s before she discovers a girl has already died there…

The Inheritance Games starts strong and just keeps getting better! I was immediately sucked in to Avery’s situation and, once the will has been read and the Hawthorne family introduced, the plot really picks up the pace. I got so sucked into the story that I finished the book in an evening, staying up well past my bedtime to unravel the mysteries and get to the bottom of why Tobias Hawthorne made Avery Grambs his heir!

The Knives Out comparisons are well-deserved. In addition to the fiendish riddles and hidden clues Tobias Hawthorne has left all over the mansion, Hawthorne House is filled to brimming with an eclectic mix of resentful relatives, faithful family retainers, and assorted associates – any of whom could be looking at Avery with murderous intent. In addition to navigating the mansion’s many twisting passageways and secret staircases, Avery must also learn to manoeuvre through the complex relationships and history of Grayson, Jackson, Xander, Nate and their extended family with her body – and her heart – still intact.

There’s a tense romance subplot amidst all the puzzling that, despite being a love triangle (usually one of my pet hates), I got really engaged in, as well as some of the usual teen dramas involved in negotiating high school, family relationships, and friendships. For the most part however, The Inheritance Games keeps its focus on the mystery plot, with the various subplots tying in to the main story as it develops.

Avery herself is a smart and level-headed main character who is easy to empathise with (even if I did sigh at her propensity to get distracted during key moments by the proximity of one or other of the extremely attractive Hawthorne brothers) and, despite having a very large cast, I found it easy to distinguish between and remember the other key characters. Grayson, Jackson, Xander and Nate have unique personalities that elevate them beyond being the stereotypical ‘potential love interest’, whilst the side characters – ranging from Avery’s best friend Max to her new bodyguard – are pretty well-rounded given the minimal amount of time that can be dedicated to them. I was also impressed that the book managed to touch on so many issues in a pretty sensitive way – from mentions of domestic violence and mental illness, through to the emotional trauma that comes with unexpected death and regret.

By the time I got to the ending, I was absolutely hooked on The Inheritance Games and, given the cliffhanger, thrown in right at the end, I genuinely cannot wait to get my hands on the second part of this brilliant duology. Jennifer Lynn Barnes has written a twisty, well-plotted YA mystery with a page-turning pace, some intriguing puzzles, and an ending that will leave you gasping! Fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and One of Us is Lying are sure to love The Inheritance Games, as will anyone who enjoys getting swept up in a good story!

Gripping, fast-paced and enjoyable.
Teenager Avery leads a normal life, constantly juggling education and jobs to get by. Everything changes when, out of the blue, she is named heir to a stranger's fortune.
Meeting the four grandsons, who had expected to inherit, she is plunged into a puzzle to try and work out why she was chosen and what it all means.
Great fun - well worth reading.

The Inheritance Games tells the story of Avery Grambs, a teenager who lives in the brink of poverty. Until she becomes the heiress of the billion-dollar inheritance of Tobias Hawthorne. But the Hawthorne family disagrees with losing all that money to a stranger.

The Hawthornes are a complicated, dysfunctional family with dark secrets. Tobias Hawthorne plays into that by leaving one last puzzle and bringing a nobody into the family. Why her is the mystery that will keep you hooked throughout the book.

Going into this story, expect continuous puzzles to solve. There are some plot twists you won't see coming, and others that slowly unravel before your eyes. The plot moves forward with barely any time to breathe so that you won't stop reading.

Beware, this is the first book in a series. I was expecting it to be a standalone, so I was surprised when the book ended on a big cliffhanger I need to see solved.

Edit Post






Save draft
Preview
Publish


40/100





Add title
Book Review & Blog Tour | The Inheritance Games
the inheritance games book review
Title: The Inheritance Games
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: The Inheritance Games #1
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Format: eBook

Trigger Warnings:  Violence, Domestic violence
Spoilers?: Nope.

Book Depository
Amazon
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 con-woman, 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.

"A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out." If there was any doubt I would pick up The Inheritance Games, the reference to Knives Out erased it. So here, enjoy the delight that was this story with this The Inheritance Games book review.

READ MORE
plot writing
The Inheritance Games tells the story of Avery Grambs, a teenager who lives in the brink of poverty. Until she becomes the heiress of the billion-dollar inheritance of Tobias Hawthorne. But the Hawthorne family disagrees with losing all that money to a stranger.

The Hawthornes are a complicated, dysfunctional family with dark secrets. Tobias Hawthorne plays into that by leaving one last puzzle and bringing a nobody into the family. Why her is the mystery that will keep you hooked throughout the book.

Going into this story, expect continuous puzzles to solve. There are some plot twists you won't see coming, and others that slowly unravel before your eyes. The plot moves forward with barely any time to breathe so that you won't stop reading.

Beware, this is the first book in a series. I was expecting it to be a standalone, so I was surprised when the book ended on a big cliffhanger I need to see solved.

All the characters in The Inheritance Games are unique and exciting in their way. Their characterization is terrific because you know who is who just by the way they talk or act.

🔸 Avery could easily fall into the "poor, naive girl" stereotype. But instead, she's resilient, with a messy family situation, and fights for her future. She's brilliant and doesn't let the money and grandeur get to her head. There's a mystery of "why her" to solve, and Avery focuses solely on solving it. As the story goes on, you feel everything Avery goes through (which is a lot), and her uncertainty over her circumstances. She does the best she can to adapt to the rich world, without losing herself.

🔹 The Hawthorne brothers are peculiar and stand out from each other. Nash is the aloof cowboy with a savior complex. Xander is the genius and comedy relief. Grayson is the strict family protector. Jameson is the alluring and self-destructive brother. As you get to know them, it's easier to understand their motivations and how they fit into their weird dynamic.

Like a good mystery/thriller, the plot is what moves the story along. But that doesn't mean there aren't some relationships worthy of attention.

From the start, Avery and her step-sister Libby are a unit, and they rely on each other. Their main disagreement is Libby's abusive relationship with her boyfriend, Drake. But in the end, they're there for each other.

Speaking of relationships, oh how I missed a good love triangle. It's a slow-burn, so there isn't much action, but I love Avery and Jameson's chemistry. It's hard to grasp if Jameson is interested in her, or just focused on the game, but there's a connection. On the other hand, Grayson is very protective of Avery but is always struggling with his lack of trust in her and his potential feelings.

The Grayson/Avery/Jameson dynamic reminds me a lot of the Stefan/Elena/Damon dynamic on The Vampire Diaries. Mainly because Grayson and Jameson are somewhat similar to Stefan and Damon, respectively. But Avery is much more interesting and appealing to follow than Elena.

With this The Inheritance Games book review, I hope I can convince you to read this addicting YA mystery/thriller. It's filled with puzzles, complicated characters, plot twists, and danger at every corner.

One review mentions that this is an addictive book, and I have to agree. It’s a good read, and it keeps you guessing all the way through. 

I couldn’t decide whether to trust anyone, which is a good thing. Who was telling the truth, everyone seemed to tell “bits”, but not the whole story....

A really good read, and I can’t wait for part 2...(I also didn’t realise it was a children’s book!!)

My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK

Avery Kylie Grams is a 16 year old school girl, and mathematical genius just about managing to cope after the death of her mother, and living with her half-sister, or in her car.
Her life is completely transformed when she becomes the sole heir of reclusive billionaire Tobias Hawthorne.
However, this means engaging with the dysfunctional Hawthorne family, who obviously distrust her, and also solving various devious puzzles set by Hawthorne.
I’m sure this will appeal to a YA audience, but I couldn’t believe in any of the story – people just don’t act they way these did, in the real world. 
The puzzles (which seem to be a great part of the selling of the book) were childish and obvious, the adults were all stereotypes, and I couldn’t warm to any of them.
It ended in a cliffhanger, but I wont rush to the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Childrens  UK  for the opportunity to read this book.

It is a 4.5!

I accepted the invite to be part of this blog tour because the premise of the story sounded interesting to me. Also, because I am kind of in my Thriller phase right now.

The story begins when Avery, our protagonist, gets called for a will hearing. A will hearing that makes her a the youngest billionaire teenager! It all takes us on a journey filled with riddles, puzzles, fluttering of hearts, and an abundance of money!

There is an array of characters but the major focus remains on three people; Avery, Greyson, and Jameson . The other characters are mentioned many times but we do not see the character development of those in a way we see of these three as they work not exactly in tandem and not exactly hand in hand to solve the last puzzle, the last riddle left by the eccentric billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne.

The thrill of the chase, to find out the reason for how the old man’s worked and what his intentions were in leaving Avery with his wealth and in essence putting her life in danger; inculcating the feelings of enmity in not just his own family against the young girl but also of some of the people in her own life.

In a nutshell, it is an unputdownable book that I finished reading in just one day and waiting impatiently for the sequel to come out.

Highly recommended!

What a satisfying book! It’s so refreshing to read a book that actually keeps me guessing until the end. I really had no idea who was responsible for what or what anything meant. I didn’t even see the twist until it was revealed to me at the end. I kept thinking I had it figured out but then nope! It was a lot of fun and I love books that really keep you guessing.

This book was really entertaining. I thought it had a great cast of characters, who were all so different but enjoyable. I loved Avery! She went from nothing to everything in a day and it didn’t go to her head. Her first instincts were how she could help others. She’s also got a lot of fight in her and I enjoyed her journey with trying to figure everything out.

The one thing that I didn’t enjoy about this book was the hints at a love triangle. I mean… there is definitely a love triangle and I really don’t enjoy those. It made for some very awkward moments. Especially, when Avery knows what happened in the past… I expected more of her when it came to the boys!

This was a really enjoyable read and I love the fact that we get some answers but a cliff hanger at the end. I know this is a series and I’m looking forward to the next book. I do appreciate that we get some clarity on things and we are not left completely in the dark.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone that likes mystery. There’s a lot of interesting characters that I can’t wait to know more about. I really didn’t know who to trust because so many of them were very calculating. It gave for a lot of intrigue and surprises. There’s also a lot of libraries in this mansion. The descriptions of some are just absolutely dreamy. A very enjoyable read!