When I read The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes I knew I had read something special. So much so that I was willing to forgo my avoidance of book series and fully invest in Avery Grambs story. As soon as I had finished The Inheritance Games I pre-ordered the sequel - The Hawthorne Legacy. I hoped that I would enjoy it just as much as the first in the series. I was not disappointed.

The story follows on from The Inheritance Games. We follow Avery and the four Hawthorne brothers as they try to solve the puzzle as to why they had been disinherited and Avery - a stranger - was left it all.

With more danger and drama than The Inheritance Games, Jennifer Lynn Barnes has cleverly begun to slowly peel away at the clues from the original and woven them seamlessly into The Hawthorne Legacy. There are jaw-dropping moments when you realise this. Your brain starts to hurt with just how clever Jennifer Lynn Barnes is at creating mystery and thriller.

Needless to say I loved The Hawthorne Legacy and hope beyond hope that there is a third in the series.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is available now.

For more information regarding Jennifer Lynn Barnes (@jenlynnbarnes) please visit www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com.

For more information regarding Penguin Random House Children's UK (@penguinrandom) please visit www.penguinrandomhouse.com.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel continues Avery's journey in solving a mystery that is found at the end of the last novel. She also finds other mysteries revolving around the members of Hawthorne family and herself while maneuvering her new life as a heiress with threats coming to her from many sides.

Basically, the things that I like about this novel are the same as the previous novel, The Inheritance Games. Its short chapters make the plot more intense throughout the story. There are quite a number of secrets that are unveiled in this story, some of them are quite shocking to me. The romance part is also there but I am not really attracted to it compared to the mystery and thriller part. Basically, this second installment is quite intense and I am really excited to know what happens in the next installment of the series. If you are a fan of the previous novel or a fan of YA mystery and thriller novels, I encouraged you to read this novel. However, if you have not read the previous novel yet, for me, it is better to read that one first before reading this book because some scenes in the previous book are mentioned in this story and might cause confusion for some readers.

This is the second instalment in The Inheritance Games series.

Avery Gramb was once an average teen girl struggling to get by and with few plans for the future. Her sister became her legal guardian, after the death of her mother and with her unwillingness to want anything to do with her absent and untrustworthy father, and their family consisted of just the two of them. No-one knew her name.

Avery Gramb is now the billionaire heiress with multiple holiday homes, private planes she can summon at the click of her fingers, a sports team she owns, and untold other wonders. She also now shares her home with the Hawthorne boys, grandson's of the man who died and left his entire fortune to a stranger, whilst mostly disinheriting his own blood. The puzzle as to why is the only one of the many mysteries he left for them all to solve, after his passing.

This book was just something else! The sheer quantities of grand reveals, secrets uncovered, and new mysteries formed was just astounding! Just when I started to believe I was making some progress in deciphering one of the puzzles of this story, another appeared or I realised I had been entirely misdirected. I really loved how the answers to many of these came from clues and codes, which gave this novel an interactive feel as I worked towards gaining them, along with Avery and her boys.

The interpersonal relationships between them all took a lesser focus but I found them no less intriguing. So many of the characters were products of their ruthless upbringings and it took a long time for their walls to tumble and for both Avery and the reader to learn who they truly were. I loved getting to know them all and shared an interest in a happiness of every single one of them.

This book provided a resolution to many mysteries that had been plaguing me for over a year and since I read book one in this series. It didn't however, provide a complete resolution and I now remain just as eager to get the next series instalment in my hands and to immerse myself back into this twisted family, with their sinister and sorrowful pasts.

The follow-up to The Inheritance Games sees more secrets from the past emerge, credible threats to Avery's life arise, and the love triangle between Avery, Grayson, and Jameson continues. Avery is unsure who to trust, everyone has their own secrets and agendas, but she can't sit on the fence forever.

I loved the first book, and I loved this one too. It may not have been quite as good as the first one, but it was fairly close. There are lots of twists and turns and people involved, and I think I should have refreshed my mind on who was who in the Hawthorne family, but no matter - it was a fast-paced thrill ride with a smattering of romance. I still ship Avery/Jameson over Avery/Grayson as I think AJ has much more chemistry than AG, but I think there are more revelations to come there. I cannot wait for the third book.

Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House Children's UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

So let me preface my review by saying that I don't typically read mystery/thriller and I ended up buying the first book of this trilogy only recently (as opposed to when it first came out) because a bookstagramer had a pile of books in her hand for recommendation and most of them I had read and loved, so logically we had similar taste, right? So when I read the 1st book, after her recommendation, I was *completely* hooked! Better than the film "Knives Out" that it's being compared to!

Some people may suggest it suffers from 2nd book syndrome, but I don't agree. It's very gripping. The puzzles continue to be very clever. The characters, well, there's a lot more going on there and it's juicy! Some people may be against the love triangle and normally I am too. But not here! I love this love triangle. Also, certain secondary characters are given more room to shine and they do it beautifully. A certain best friend shows up with her non-sweary-swears and brings extra sass - what a joy, as a reader, to have more of her. Lots and lots of surprises and reveals that surprised me - I don't think it's because I"m not a big mystery/thriller but because Jennifer is a great writer!

A negative, in my opinion, has more to do with my own lack of patience really. Other readers may not agree with me. But I had that feeling underneath of "c'mon...c'mon...c'mon... lets get on with it!". Not that it drags per se, But it took a long time to resolve some of the puzzles and dramas and other juicy bits.

For what's worth, I highly recommend you continue to read this trilogy and then wait impatiently for the resolution in the final book right alongside me!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book, I read the inheritance games a few months ago and devoured it in one day. To say that book surpassed any and all expectations would be an understatement.

I could not wait to get stuck into the Hawthorne legacy and from the very beginning we were straight into the story with so many twists and turns that I actually didn’t know where the story was going and I must admit most of my guesses were incorrect. I.can’t actually say mush about the plot as I’m afraid of giving away anything. All I’ll say is it’s well worth the wait!

If you want an entertaining, fast paced series with plenty of mystery and then this is the one for you. It follows on from what we learned in book one (no spoilers here!) and just when you think it’s all figured you’re wrong lol.

Highly recommend.

i absolutely loved the inheritance games and i was ecstatic when i got approved for this arc! the hawthorne legacy carried on with the fast-paced nature of the inheritance games and built on the pre-told mystery. most of the plot twists made my jaw drop with surprise and i couldn't stop reading this book. the short chapters in this book fit perfectly with the fast paced storyline and the characters were perfection. from the romance, to the mystery, to the family themes, this book was amazing!

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The Hawthorne Legacy picks up two weeks after the end of the first book and draws you back into the world of Avery, Libby and the Hawthornes.

Following Avery’s discovery at the end of The Inheritance Games, the sequel brings together familiar and new characters to solve more riddles and puzzles in order to find the answers Avery has been looking for.

During The Hawthorne Legacy, Barnes fleshes out the lives, personalities and relationships of the characters (and Hawthorne House) and made me enjoy characters that I didn’t think I would after the first book. My favourite development from the first book to the second was seeing the Hawthorne brothers work together.

There were so many fun twists and turns throughout that I would develop theories and then doubt myself and then doubt my doubts! Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of my favourite authors and she has yet again written a thrilling mystery that I can’t wait to reread over and over.

Whilst I now await the third book, The Final Gambit, get your hands on The Hawthorne Legacy and read it because you won’t regret it.

The Hawthorne Legacy begins immediately where the first book in the series, The Inheritance Games ended.

If you are not familiar with the plot, The Inheritance Games features teenager Avery Gramps who was living with her older sister after the death of her mother. She was invited to the will reading of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, whom she didn’t know, and in front of his whole family was left his entire estate, including houses, holiday homes, jets, money, charities, etc. The one condition of the will was that she had to spend a year living at the Hawthorne estate.

Unsure as to why she has been left everything she and the Hawthorne grandsons, Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander set out to discover the reason and follow a whole host of clues.

In book two The Hawthorne Legacy, Avery is set on proving that something she uncovers in book one is in fact true but the more she and the boys dig, the more they discover that some things shouldn’t be unearthed. Plus, just like in the first book Avery has people wanting her dead and now has bodyguards with her wherever she goes.

This YA mystery is exceptionally entertaining and contains intriguing, charming, and amusing characters. We get to see more of the grandsons than we did in the first book and more of Max, Avery’s best friend too, who is still unable to swear and uses a whole host of words when she needs to.

The plot is enjoyable, fast-paced, and kept me entertained from beginning to end. It is filled to the brim with red herrings, twists, turns, secrets, and cryptic clues though what else would you expect from a book that is all about working out puzzles. I now can’t wait for book three to arrive next year.

Being reuinited with Avery and the Hawthorne brothers was like being back with old friends. Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes has the ability to sweep you up and connect you with everyone in their own, distinctive ways, from Avery, to her security guard Oren. You feel each of them making space for you on the page, ready to go off on their great game.

Avery has a puzzle to solve. But she’s not doing it alone, and none of them are playing by the same rules. The tension sizzling between both Grayson and Jameson, Xander being set to follow the path where it follows, and Nash dipping in and out with Libby… This book was a constant stream of action, with a side dose of hormones.

As well as the mystery at hand, which was as well constructed and brilliant as Barnes’ work ever is, what was done really perfectly was how human Avery and the brothers were made to feel. Being a billionaire genius crew, it’s easy to forget that they are just a group of teenagers at the end of the day, with far more at stake than a double or nothing bet. And as overwhelmed by it all Avery is, she is trying to get to grips who who she now has to become, not just in a grand society sense, but in that she has a responsibility to so many people via the companies she is now in charge of.

The book follows on very quickly – if not immediately – from the first book, and the momentum of everything that has happened in the weeks recently to Avery and the crew doesn’t let up, leaving her spinning and in desperate need to find some time to let go. Finding that time, however, might prove more risky than she ever thought.

As brilliant as book one, as witty and wonderful as ever, The Hawthorne Legancy is the perfect next step in Avery’s journey. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

I’m torn about my feelings for this book. It was such a gripping read (with extremely short chapters which meant I raced through!) but simultaneously I found it really far fetched. The same goes for the first book which I was indifferent about. I neither hated it nor loved it but the cliffhanger was so good that I needed to immediately pick up the second in the series. I did enjoy The Hawthorne Legacy and would recommend it for very fast-paced, thrilling reading, but it’s just lacking something for me that tips it into ‘brilliant’.

I absolutely loved The Inheritance Games, which was the first instalment in this series, so I was beyond excited when I was approved for the arc of this book; The Hawthorne Legacy. I loved how slick, clever and intricate the first novel was so I was looking forward to seeing where the story went next + solving the next set of mysteries which Avery and the Hawthorne boys came across.

One of the elements I loved most about the novel, much like in the first one was the series of little mysteries which were part of the larger whole and how there were clues sprinkled throughout. Think secret rooms, coded messages, decades old letters and family drama galore and you'll get a feel for this book. The central mystery in this sequel is figuring out how Tobias Hawthorne survived the fire which he supposedly died in years before and how Avery may be connected to the twisted Hawthorne legacy. I feel like there were many threads in this book and some of them are more well executed than others but overall, I was satisfied with the conclusion and am looking forward to the next book a lot.

I also like how while there are sprinkles of romance, it's not a central focus in the novel but it is a bit more of a feature here. I'm team Grayson and that's all I'll say. I don't particularly enjoy love triangles and they can be a bit played out but I think I know how it's all going to conclude eventually.

Overall, I liked this book and feel like it's a solid sequel. If you loved The Inheritance Games then I feel like you're going to enjoy this one just as much.

I loved The Inheritance Games when I read it earlier this year – the perfect combination of Knives Out stakes with Gossip Girl riches and pettiness; I was eagerly counting down the days until the release of The Hawthorne Legacy. The story picks up almost right off where we left in the previous book. Upon discovering that Toby Hawthorne is alive, there is a new set of stakes and puzzles for Avery to decipher, and this time everything, including her life, is at stake. If Toby came and reclaimed his right as a Hawthorne heir, the jaded Hawthorne extended family could contest the will, and Avery could vanish into obscurity once more.

I loved the continued development of all the main characters, especially the brothers. I felt myself root for them more and more, and each discovery made me excited for what this would do to them. I also thought the puzzles and riddles were brilliant; the perfect balance of complicated but easy to understand. I never felt like I was an idiot for not working out a puzzle simultaneously as everyone else, and I felt the same excitement and shock as them when I did; that's important with mystery books. It felt like I, too, was running around Hawthorne House.

I will admit, though, I was disappointed that Jennifer Lynn Barnes used certain cliches. For example, when the "secretly related" card was used, it felt too simple for a book that included deciphering codes and complex legal and literary knowledge. To me, it felt like it capped the mystery and excitement because it's a plot we have already seen multiple times. Also, as this book is the second in a trilogy, occasionally, it fell into the well-known trap of just "fluff writing" to build up for the final book. However, I wouldn't claim this entire book to be like this, as there were plenty of moments that left me on the edge of my seat.

I am looking forward to reading the final book and seeing how the story plays out, and I would recommend it to readers who want to get into the mystery/thriller genre. I gave it 3.5 stars and have high expectations that the best is yet to come.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of this book to read! All opinions are my own.

The second book of The Inheritance Games trilogy picks up exactly where the first one left off. With the big reveal about Harry’s identity. It takes no time to get going and carries on at full speed for the whole of the novel. Like the first one this is full of mystery and intrigue.

If you’ve read the first book, then this is essentially more of the same. If you haven’t, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. The first book is essential to this one and while the opening few chapters does a good job of recapping the story it is more of a refresher for returning readers than summaries for newcomers. Go back and read book one, it’s worth it.

The puzzle that the late Tobias Hawthorne has left behind for our heroes to follow reveals the truth of what happened to Toby and the fire on Hawthorne Island twenty years ago. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. It’s a lot bigger in scope than the first one, which mostly took place either at Hawthorne Manor or at Avery’s school. There is more travelling, more puzzles and a lot more assassination threat.

The characters are all back and Max is part of the main group this time around. In the first book she was only included as someone Avery spoke to over the phone, she appears in person and is a great character, playing off Xander nicely. A lot of events seem to happen without Avery being present, and since this is a first person story, it’s a little disappointing that we don’t get to read everything. I would have liked to follow Libby and Nash on their journey. It makes sense.

The only real negative for this one is the love triangle, for me, doesn’t work. It seems really forced and just tacked on. The mystery is enough for me to keep reading and I didn’t enjoy the flip-flopping between Grayson and Jameson.

While the book isn’t as strong as the first one, I really liked that this wasn’t a pointless sequel, some of the clues have been there since the first few chapters of book one, it really feels like this was planned from the beginning. Saying that, I’m not completely sure where Barnes is going for book three. Unlike the first one, The Hawthorne Legacy doesn’t end on a big reveal, it ends as a quite nice resolution. When The Final Gambit arrives next year, it will be interesting to see where this goes.

Characters – 8/10
I have been waiting for this sequel and I was not disappointed. Let’s talk about the characters. I like Avery, and I thought she had a lot more agency in this book than in the first. She makes her own decisions and I really appreciated that.

The Hawthorne brothers were on their best behaviour in this one. I’ve never been a fan of the love triangle (or corner) trope, but I didn’t mind it in this book. Jameson’s development was top tier, but I felt like the author purposefully pushed Grey aside because Jameson was the favourite. We didn’t see enough of Grey in this one.

We were introduced to a lot of new characters. The cast of this book was already big, but Barnes just kept yeeting the characters in there. Eventually, it became impossible to keep track of who was who.

Atmosphere – 8/10
I think it would be fun to live in a mystery house, solving clues. This book starts off right after the Inheritance Games and I am a fan. Especially considering how the last book ended. I love the setting of this book. The mystery house just keeps giving, and we even explore some new places. This book was a lot of fun.

Writing – 9/10
The writing was excellent. I enjoy short, to the point writing that still somehow packs a major punch. Barnes really knows how to make you emotional and how to keep you reading. I finished this book in like one session.

Plot – 9/10
As I mentioned, I could not put this book down. I knew I would love it, but I didn’t think I would love it this much. The Hawthorne Legacy is fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Intrigue – 8/10
My one major gripe with this book is that things become a bit convoluted toward the end. I liked the clue paths and the way things slotted together, but at some point things got crazy. There were too many characters to keep track of and the most random people kept popping up. There were too many twists in the end like the author was trying to make every single thing happen to her characters.

Logic – 8/10
I also don’t think this series needs another book. It was intended to be a duology, but now it’s a trilogy. I’ll still read the next book, but I still feel it was unnecessary.

Enjoyment – 8/10
I really enjoyed this book, despite some flaws. If you want a quick, fun mystery, I highly recommend this series.

My favourite character in the first book was Xander, this book completely solidified my love for him. In this second book we saw a completely different side to him; in the first he was very much aside because he didn't really want to get involved in the mystery, but this time, because the mystery was specifically for him to solve, he was always popping up in scenes and acting so much more confident than we've ever seen him. The only thing I ask, is that in the last book there is some sort of conformation of his sexuality because he is very much queercoded and, seeing as the only queer characters in this book are a side couple, it would be nice to have that representation.

I think the only reason this is a 4 star and not a 5 star like the first book is because I was a lot more confused reading this one, especially towards the end. Without spoiling anything (obviously) there were a few long explanation paragraphs that I had to read a few times before I understood how everything linked together, specifically when it came to the family tree elements. This is compared to the first one where I understood a lot of what they were straight away. This confusion made it a little hard to read for long periods of time, even if I wanted to because it was so intense.

Finally, I can't write this review without mentioning the romance. The slow burn was so real throughout these two books but it made the moment when Avery finally made her choice so much more satisfying. If you want to know my opinion, I utterly loathe Grayson so I am team Jameson all the way.

I’ll give credit where credit is due, this book is a lot less predictable than the first one. I think I guess the gist of most of the major plot twists but they still left me - 😦.
I feel like the continuation of the love triangle was a bit over done, I didn’t see a need for it especially when Avery had zero connection with one of the participants(Grayson) I felt like I was being told “we DO have a connection” rather than seeing it with their interactions. Nevertheless, I did not complain with the outcome at all, I am thoroughly in love with Jameson.
(I have a sneaky suspicion this is gonna come crumbling down in the next book though…)
My only complaint, WHAT IS UP WITH THE UK COVERS?? I’m sorry but they are seriously underwhelming especially when compared to the USA editions.
Anyway, I did enjoy the book immensely - maybe slightly less than the first book, however, I can just feel the build up to an amazing finale and I cannot WAIT.

The Inheritance Games is quickly becoming my most binge-worthy reading series of all time! I was initially drawn to it through my love of treasure hunts, puzzles and riddles and devoured the first book in just one sitting. Unravelling all of the clues and passageways was a major part of the reading thrill for me and whilst there were still trap doors and hidden messages in abundance, The Hawthorne Legacy allows the family saga and character development to take center stage.

After having so many secrets spilled, you could definitely be forgiven for pondering where on earth this series could go next - well panic not as Jennifer Lynn Barnes has found the fictional supply of cornflour for this one as the plot just gets thicker and thicker!

Billion-dollar inheritance aside, Avery's character is still on one hell of a journey - there's the ongoing media training and confidence aspect of being thrust into the limelight, her increasingly complicated relationship with sister Libby, the resurfacing of her long-gone father, the quest to find the mysterious homeless guy she played chess with and of course, who could forget her Mum's 'I have a secret'? (which ends up blowing up a major plot line) - that's without even getting started on mentioning those four particular Hawthorne grandsons...!

Enter: Max! Her character was light relief and added buckets of humour with her non-sweary mannerisms and attempts to help Avery filter through her variety of thoughts and problems. I loved her presence in this novel.

As for the romance element - I'm torn! I'm mainly here for the secrets and intrigue, so I was grateful that Avery's romantic relationships didn't dominate the plot. There is still enough here to keep it interesting and mystifying but it seems like the strangest of love triangles which keeps flip-flopping round and my verdict is still out on who I'm really rooting for. I genuinely can't make up my mind whether I'm Team Jameson or Team Grayson and I'm convinced it could still all change yet again in the final book!

Now that a large proportion of Hawthorne HQ has been explored, I was curious to wonder where all of the sleuthing would come from this time round. I was so happy to see the treasure-hunting taking off in previously unseen wings and even jet-setting locations. Those elements were by far my favourite parts of the novel! Invisible ink, curious objects, numerical codes... all of the same features I adored in the first instalment were so cleverly intertwined into the plot. Some of which were brilliantly guessworthy and many more twists which kept me revising my theories left, right and center.

If you enjoyed The Inheritance Games then you're absolutely going to need and love continuing this incredible series!
But reader, a little word of warning...
...Arm yourself with your reading tennis racket for this one because the secrets, action, drama and reveals keep pinging at you so thick and fast, you won't dare to put this book down!

Now, when can I get hands on The Final Gambit...?

This is a great ending to a thrilling duology. It is absolutely gripping and the characters are so well thought out. I did still have a couple of questions left at the end but I think that just means a re-read is in order.

The moment I finished reading The Inheritance Games, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book. So imagine my excitement when I was approved for an ARC of this one. I couldn’t wait to dive in. I had such high expectations for this book and it surpassed each and every one. This book was utter perfection right from the get go and I have once again been left dying to get my hands on the next book.

The Hawthorne Legacy picks up where The Inheritance Games left off, with Avery living in Hawthorne manor and still trying to figure out why she was left all of this fortune. When I finished the first book in this series, I was a little worried that the mystery element wouldn’t be as big of a focus because of all the revelations that happened in the first book. I needn’t have worried. There was so much more mystery and so many twists and turns around every corner. This series is so fast paced and once the mystery elements start coming into the story, you just can’t stop reading until you have devoured the entire novel.

I once again fell head over heels in love with this book and it’s characters. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen to them all. My views on the characters changed a lot throughout this book. If you’d have asked my opinion on the romance before I read this book I’d have told you I’m Team Grayson all the way… now I’m firmly planted on Team Jameson. I love them both, I really do but Jameson made me swoon… a lot in this one and so he’s definitely winning in the fight for my… err… I mean Avery’s… heart.

The Hawthorne Legacy is packed full of twists and turns around every single corner. Some of them I guessed… but most of them left me absolutely reeling. I couldn’t put this book down. Right from the start I was completely obsessed with the mystery and all of the clues. I had so many theories and I needed to know if I was right. You think the characters are the ones discovering the mystery but I can guarantee you will be trying to figure it out as well.

I loved every single second of this book. Honestly, it was even better than the first book and I am left absolutely gobsmacked and dying to get my hands on the third and final book. I will be counting down the days! Is it 2022 yet? I need it to be so I can finally find out what the hell is going on. If you haven’t started this series yet… what are you waiting for? It’s so amazing! Go pick it up now! You won’t be sorry… I promise!