The Inheritance Games (#1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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.
Thank you to publisher and The Write Reads for allowing me to be a part of this tour and review this book!
The Inheritance Games will draw you in and keep you questioning what is true! Avery Grambs is just a regular teenage girl until she inherits billions from a man she has never heard of. I immediately understood the comparison to Knives Out. Both of these stories have young women not related to the deceased receiving everything and having to deal with the unhappy, eccentric family.
The mystery in this book is so compelling. I had NO IDEA why Tobias Hawthorne would chose to leave everything to Avery. Everything Avery learns just adds to the mystery. I loved how Hawthorne left behind clues for her and the family. This gave the story a strong classic mystery feel. Additionally, there was a good balance of clues I could figure out, which made me feel accomplished, and revelations that took me by surprise, which kept the mystery alive.
I enjoyed Avery’s character a lot more than I expected I would. She is tough and smart but also being caring and loyal. I appreciate that the author gave her this vulnerability and uncertainness in her new situation while also proving she is valuable in her own right without the money. I struggled at first to differentiate between the Hawthorne bothers, particularly Jameson and Grayson, but picked up on who everyone was before long. Although the romance was not a strong point in the book, a love triangle was hinted at from the beginning. I am sure it will be a bigger factor in the next book now that Avery knows the Hawthornes better.
Overall, the Inheritance Games was such a fun read. I predict readers will be sucked in to the mystery and fly through it!
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