Book Review: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: The Final Gambit

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Series/Standalone: The Inheritance Games (Book #3)

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

Pages: 400

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"Avery's fortune, life and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about. 

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life and the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help- and whose presence in Hawthorne House can change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake- and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This was a fun audiobook and I think that if you can binge this series it's a great time. My issue might have been that I left so much time in between each installment (as I waiting on library copies). I love the idea of this and how the mansion plays into it. The idea of becoming so incredibly rich practically overnight and walking into a mansion filled with competitive/strategic family members is so fun for me. I think I would enjoy this more if it were an adult, but that is my own issue.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: The Hawthorne Legacy

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Series/Standalone: The Inheritance Games (Book #2)

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Pages: 380

Publisher: Penguin

Year Published: 2021

Format: Audiobook

"Intrigue, riches and romance abound in this thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Inheritance Games perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.

The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all her questions- including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than his own daughters or grandsons.

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she's not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnet Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions and there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture- by any means necessary.

With nonstop action, aspirational jet-setting, family intrigue swoonworthy romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, The Hawthorne Legacy will thrill Jennifer Lynn Barnes fans and new readers alike."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I think this second installment was fun. We picked up right after we left off in the first book which I was grateful for. I liked the growth in our characters and how the author upped the stakes in this second volume. I will finish the series, but it's hard to get ahold of the audiobooks, so it will be a while before I can continue on. I love audiobooks and would strongly recommend them. Overall, a fun read, just not my new favourite like I had hoped.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: The Inheritance Games

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Series/Standalone: The Inheritance Games Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Pages: 376

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"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 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."

My Rating: 4/5

The concept of this was precisely what I like. A mystery with puzzles and twists and turns every which way. Also cute love interests and a weird old house that has secrets all its own. I loved the way our main character reacted to her surroundings and her ability to see things through. I also thought that her being the main character was interesting because she enters the game just as unsure of what's going on as we are. I am curious how Jennifer Lynn Barnes turned this into a trilogy. Can't wait to read more.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny