Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Final Gambit

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The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

10 reviews

litliz's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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things100's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

A great conclusion to the inheritance games trilogy. The twists the turns were so amazing and unexpected

the fact that Toby’s daughter betrayed Toby and Avery and helped kidnap him

such a great read, even though I’m not sure how the next two books go in the series I can’t wait to read them

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teabrewer's review

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-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

1.5

The series should have ended on the second book, at least. All I could think since the very first page was that the author was really scrapping the bottom of a barrel where the food was also slightly past expiration date. Maybe if this book wasn't part of this series I would have been slightly more tolerant. To b honest, at some points I just skipped full pagest to end the suffering sooner. I do appreciate that the author at least tried to pretend this all had been planned from the beggining but there are only so many places a story that was already finished could go.

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kkimball's review

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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trips's review

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

this book was better paced and more cohesive than the 2nd book in the series.

Still didn't care for Avery wallowing in her two romance choices, but that's definitely just a me thing, lol. There is also a lot less of it in this book, so yay.
The stakes were high and the mystery unfolds in an entertaining, popcorn-y kinda way. The puzzles were actually more puzzley which I was happy to see, as it felt like there wasn't as much of that in the 2nd book. Not always into a random 3rd act character joining the crew in the third book of a series but this character ended up making sense to the plot, her character arc was handled well overall.

Its definitely a very cheesy but I had a good time reading this series overall. I also feel a sense of freedom, having finished it though... 😅

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btwnprintedpgs's review

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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livvmarks's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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rinku's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The Last Gambit concludes the main trilogy of The Inheritance Games in a satisfying way which makes me so happy since I’ve read quite a few finales in the last weeks that disappointed me.

To become the official heir of Tobias Hawthorne, Avery just has to last at the Hawthorne house for a few more weeks. Everything seems fine until Eve, who was briefly mentioned in the previous book, arrives at the Hawthorne house, needing help from Avery and the brothers because Toby was kidnapped. Avery and her friends have to figure out who the kidnapper is and what his intentions are. Like it’s typical for the series, the kidnapper sends them different very mysterious riddles they need to solve to learn more about him.

Probably the reason why I can’t give this novel five stars is Eve who annoyed the hell out of me. I almost hated every scene with her, and it was so terrible to see how irrational Grayson behaves since she looks like Emily and

it’s even more terrible how much Eve manipulates him because of it. Luckily, he’s able to free himself from her and consequently Emily in the end

. I also felt so sorry for Avery who started to feel like she doesn’t belong to the Hawthorne’s and Eve’s presence in general creates so much drama.

Just like in the previous books, I was really invested in all the still fun riddles and the family drama, even though I was a bit confused this time because I couldn’t remember all the relationships – maybe a family tree would’ve been nice, I don’t know. The reveal that

Eve is working together with Blake

was not really shocking to me though since it was kinda obvious from the beginning.

In contrast, I really loved how everything slowly comes together which was just so satisfying. Towards the end, it becomes clear that

Tobias Hawthorne predicted almost everything up to this point. He’s honestly so evil for using Avery so that his boys don’t get hurt, if I understood it correctly. Still, “hearing” his voice for the first time was such an impactful moment

. We of course get more drama with

Blake kidnapping Alisa and Grayson swapping himself for her. It was so amazing how Avery was able to win against Blake, even though Toby had to sacrifice himself for it, and how she wants to give away most of her fortune

I’m probably repeating myself, but I love all the characters so much (besides Eve lmao). Avery’s development throughout the trilogy is amazing and I love how she’s already doing good things with all her money. It was even greater how she takes the initiative and makes her own plans. The Hawthorne brothers are still all so precious, and I can’t even say who’s my favorite since I like them so much. I especially liked Xander here; he’s funny as always and it was so wholesome

how he met his dad who’s the only dad of the brothers who accepts his sons. I also love how we learn in the epilogue that he now works with his father

Other mentionable characters are Thea, Alisa, and Oren who I like so much; especially

Oren saving Avery from Eve was such a great moment. Of course, it’s his job but it was still amazing

. Another thing I appreciated was that we got more backstory for Tobias Hawthorne and that he gets more criticized. We also need to talk about the elephant in the room: the solution of the love triangle that seems to really divide people. I

was also team Grayson and hence I’m a bit sad that Avery ends up with Jameson. Grayson’s confession was so heart-breaking, and I hope he still will find happiness one day

All things considered, the main trilogy of The Inheritance Games deserves its hype in my opinion. After reading the first book, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the series as much as other people do, but I did in the end. I know that many people don’t like the second book but it was my absolute favorite. We get to know the amazing characters so much better, and the mystery is so engaging throughout the whole series and leaves us with a great conclusion. The premise of the series is just so creative and I’m really curious how the story will continue in The Brothers Hawthorne.

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fremzz's review

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emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.75

*4.75 Maybe I’ll change my rating idk I need time to process this.

I cried a lot. It was really good.

JUSTICE FOR TOBY! My man was left IN SHAMBLES and for what? Avery could have done something to save him I KNOW SHE COULD but now we won’t get resolution on his basically imprisonment 😐😐. Also the was she was like “I’ll destroy the whole world to save Toby 🤪” AND HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO WASN’T SAVED?!?! We need JUSTICE.
He was the main reason why I cried. Miss Jennifer really wrote the line “I see so much of your mother in you” and expected for me to just live with it. No. I cried so much my face was RED. I’m in shambles.
Nash is the BLUEPRINT. You say anything bad about him and you’re just wrong. I never thought I would say this but cowboy hats are IT. Nash is lowkey a trend setter like I might buy one idk. AND THATS ALL NASH. I want a man that tells me he sees me having a baby girl LIKE?!?!?
Also I have to talk about Xander aka the love of my live. He had the best lines no explanation needed. We got robbed of Max x Xander content and that’s criminal. I would do anything for him. Literally. When he met his dad I wanted to get on there and cry with him because HE DESERVES SO MUCH. Also his dad 😏😏. STOP

I have to address the elephant in the room aka the love triangle aka the most criminal thing in history aka the reason for half of my tears. So I was team Grayson. I still am team Grayson. I don’t have strong feelings about Jameson like he’s done some iffy things but he’s a good guy and he def made me smile like twice. That said I needed more Grayson scenes. Just two more. Or at least make the wine cellar thing a little bit spicier because it was hyped up for PAGEEEEEES and for what? YOU DID THIS FOR WHAT?
That said I’m EXTREMELY HAPPY that Grayson x Eve wasn’t a thing because if it had been I would have gone out to the STREETS to complain about it. She was a master manipulator who got the ending she DESERVED! I was sus of her from the start and when I was proven right I did a victory dance.
I’ve seen a lot of people saying Grayson was done dirty and while I would have wanted a liiiiiitle bit more from him I still think he had a happy ending and I really did like the resolution of his relationship with Avery.
The quote “He looked at me one last time. ‘There are so many things that I will never say.’” Is going to hunt me forever. Taylor Swift wrote the lyrics “you drew stars around my scars but now I’m bleeding” JUST FOR THEM
I didn’t give it the full five stars because I ain’t going to lie I wanted my team to win and sometimes my emotions take a toll on my ratings #sorrynotsorry
Still objectively an AMAZING book that gave everything that need to be gave. #justicefortoby

Also if you need more Grayson content read the Barnes and noble extra scene because not only is it iconic it gave me the Grayson content I was starved of. Living off crumbs.

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merah's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

One of the best series I've read in my life. Incredible.
I'm so so unbelievably sad it's over. I can't even.

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