Book Review: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

The Inheritance Games

    I LOVE this book!!! Like I read this book a few week ago and I am still obssesing over it!!! If you're a fan of Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious, you're going to love this book. The Inheritance Games is full of riddles, secret passageways, invisible ink, money & greed and a love triangle that actually I don't mind for once. 

    Book Summary:  

    Avery Grambs is an ordinary girl who life is flipped upside down when she is summoned to billionaire Tobias Hawthorne's mansion for the reading of his will. To her surprise, the deceased billionaire leaves Avery his entire fortune and ownership over all his assets. Leaving his family with almost nothing in comparison. The Probelm?  Avery has no idea why or who Tobias even is. 

    To receive her inheritance, Avery has to lived at the Hawthorne House for one year. The issue is that Hawthorne manison is filled with secret passage ways and riddles left behind by the deceased billionaire. Also, the Hawthorne House is still occupided by Tobias's greedy and upset relatives. All of whom are eager to sink their claws into Avery and figure out why Tobias chose her as his heir. In order to survive this world of wealth and greed, Avery needs to play the game and survive. 

  What I Loved!!!

-The Protagnist: I really like Avery, our main protagnist. She's funny, caring, and a girl who isn't afraid of a little gamble. And she is also wickedly smart too!!! I love the way her brain pieces parts of a riddle together.  

-The Characters: I love the characters in this book! They don't at all feel like background noise and I think Barnes did a great job of fleshing out each character. I really the Hawthorne family. They're all very quirky and wicked in their own unique way. The Hawthorne family has a fascinating dynamic between them and it was really interesting to read. I also really like Tobais Hawthorne's four grandsons. To say the least, this boys are't boring. (; 

-The Plot: I love a good mystery novel. (However, I would say the Inheritance Game is more a riddle rather than a mystery). And this book did not disappoint. I read this book in one sitting. Simply because my eyes were glued to the page and I couldn't look away in fear I would miss something. Barnes sprinkleds little bread crumbs of clues throughout the book and the mystery of Tobias Hawkthorne isn't just one mystery but rather several all linked together. It's a great mystery but we only solved one half of it. And I can't wait to read the sequel because the cliffhanger had me losing my mind. 

-The Romance: This book has a bit of a romance in it and there is a bit of a love triangle forming. But for once, I don't hate it. The dynamic is fascinating to read about. It's kind of forbidden but oh my goodness, I am LOVING IT. 

What I dislike!!!

- My only gripe with the book is the pacing. Specifcally when it comes to the romantic relationship. I like the romance. I really do. However, I do think some relationships felt very rushed in their development. Grayson and Avery start devloping feelings towards one another but it felt a little a rushed, especially since they both kind of hated each other in the beginning. However, I am very interested to see where Barnes will take this relationship in the next book. 

Overall, I really love this book!!! It's one of my favorite YA books I have read in a long time and it's also one of my favorite books I read in 2020 overall. It's an extremely well written novel that is filled with fascinating characters. I give this book 5 stars without a doubt and I can't wait to read the Sequel. I must know what happens next.