Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - The Inheritance Games

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

109 reviews

christinaj1021's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Overall, I adored this book. The puzzles, the theories, the suspense! This is what I look for in a book! It kept me engaged and always wanting to- NEEDING to- turn the page to find out what happens next.

My only real criticism is that there is a noticeable lack of physical descriptors for basically every character, including the FMC. Like, it was page 276 when we hear that her eye color is hazel- a detail most authors include significantly earlier. It caused me to have very half-formed (or less) visions of characters in my head. I get not wanting to info dump but... I pertained need a bit more.

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ashleyvharris's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Inheritance Games is a fun, twisty mystery with great atmosphere.

My thoughts on this book have been a bit uncertain. On the surface, I appreciate Barnes’ story of puzzles and mystery and ultimately the importance of relationships in our lives. But the more I sit with the story, the more I am bothered by the nonchalance with which the emotional abuse of the Hawthorne grandsons is treated.

Tobias Hawthorne pitted his grandsons against one another with his “games” and raised them to value winning over all else. No wonder

Emily

happened… Their own mother was seemingly more concerned with the money and status they did not inherit rather than the mental and emotional state of her children.

At the very least, it would have been nice to see some acknowledgment that Avery was manipulated and used throughout the first book of this trilogy. Avery understands this reality herself, but the abusive qualities of her relationships with the Hawthornes is never truly addressed.

I thinks there’s so much potential for this story in books 2 and 3. I look forward to continuing this trilogy and hope to see a more overarching commentary about the ways in which money and influence can perpetuate abuse that goes unaddressed. These young characters need a lot of healing.

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ohgull's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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ainnur_matzrol97's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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matildag00's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Really fun and entertaining. Absolutely loved the short chapters and the style of the writing! Was hoping for more mind blowing twists and reveals, they weren't bad but was just hoping for more. The love triangle was fine but something does rub me the wrong way about it being with 2 brothers... idk probably just me though. Am really excited about the second one and I will order it as soon as I get paid and after I pay my parking ticket (oops)!

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taelights's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Honestly I was a bit surprised how much I enjoyed this and I will definitely be continuing the series.

Most of the characters were very interesting and the story itself held my attention so much that I found it was so hard to stop listening at points. There were some really good twists in this book as well that I didn't see coming. I thought the pacing was quick but in a good way that kept me hooked. The mystery and plot I would say is very gripping but not exciting if that makes sense. So definitely don't go into this expecting a thrilling mystery.

The only complaint I have about the book is the romance. I hate love triangles to begin with but especially when I don't want either option with the main character. Honestly both Jameson or Grayson are kind of assholes and other than them being hot I don't get why Avery is so into them. Also it's kind of weird to me personally that these same two brothers were also in a love triangle with another girl prior to Avery…

Also having to do with the romance I thought it was a bit gross how they pulled the whole City of Bones type thing with the romance even if it was only briefly. Like when the sexual tension and flirting first begins between Avery and, i believe, Jameson there is still the question of the DNA test and the possibility that Avery may have inherited due to being related to the Hawthorne family. Which I knew as an audience who knew some basic things about the books that she is not but at this point the characters don't know that. Yet Avery is thirsting over the Hawthorne boys and Jameson(?) is also flirting with her like "it will be a damn shame if we end up being related". Like that whole scene with the first almost kiss between Avery and Jameson(?) when he says that he's just like I'm convinced you're my grandfather's last riddle to figure out and not a Hawthorn. and I'm like boy... you don't know that tho until the DNA test comes back. I'm glad the author didn't drag that plot line out and resolved itself pretty quickly because the amount of time it took to resolve that was bad enough.

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beanie_bob's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

3.75/5 but with room to grow! I had so much fun diving into this book and exploring Hawthorne House with the characters. I think this could be, knock on wood, a YA trilogy that I actually finish. Book one wasn’t flawless but I’m hoping the next books improve upon the groundwork laid here.

Things I liked

Surprisingly the love triangle didn’t bother me. This was a rare occasion where the melodrama worked for me.
The different dynamics each character had with each other. I’m hoping to see even more complex relationships in the next books
The momentum of the plot pushed me to keep reading. I never felt bogged down.

Things I didn’t like

I wanted to see Avery stand on her own more with the puzzle solving
I don’t get what Avery sees Jameson or Grayson, other than them being hot and mean lmao. They’re smart and well crafted for the story, but they are both SO mean to her at different parts and they never apologize.
I do appreciate that the book ends without an established relationship, I think this gives more plausibility to the scenario. I would love to see Avery beat them lmao.

I don’t want to critique the puzzles in this too much because I think for the YA genre they were suitable. However I hope that they step up in difficulty in the next book!

Also I think the author is a Supernatural stan and my proof is that Jameson Winchester Hawthorne has green eyes.

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