Reviews - The Inheritance Games

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

49.1k reviews for:

It was alright. I got all the way through, and it was easy and fast-paced and I didn't dislike the main character or run into TOO many over-the-top cringe YA moments, so in that sense, it was nice. I love puzzles and secrets (though these ones didn't feel particularly inspiring), and though there was drama, it wasn't overdone. Sometimes it even felt a little anime or kdrama-ish with the setup of having to move into a house with four attractive young men.

However, the payoff just wasn't super profound or riveting for me, and the romance felt very forced. The attraction of all characters to each other was solely based on looks and not much more. Avery and the brothers are SUPPOSED to be puzzle masterminds. Where's the clever back and forths, the witty banter, the true geek out moments or SOMETHING that showed some actual chemistry instead of just her hormones acting up when anybody's body was close to hers? The few moments like that were dry, and quickly pushed aside for more hormone-driven angst. There was nothing actually touching or meaningful that happened between any of them for them to grow together as people or really get close. They revealed things to each other, but none of it actually felt emotionally intimate or like they were learning anything about Avery as a person except the initial "hey, she likes puzzles too". (Which was BASICALLY all we got to see as well, besides: hey, she independent too but also lonely.) It was slightly unbelievable that they'd even be falling for her so fast, given the situation. But Avery was at least a strong enough character to be likeable and the story was a fast-paced and interesting ride. I'm just pretty sure it didn't drag me in enough to want more of it.

(I should also note that I was listening to the audiobook... the voice narration was alright, but the southern accents were HORRIBLE and high-pitched, making the guys sound whiny and sometimes off-putting and the girls sound cloying. The attitude thrown into Avery's reactions felt over the top and angry in places where perhaps it was meant to sound dry or sarcastic instead, so while I'm not positive I admit that could very well be biasing my feelings. lol)

petala_florum's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lowinchen's review against another edition

5.0

I loved it so much. I heard that it would be like Knives Out (movie) and that got me interested. I couldn’t put this book down, had to read just one more chapter and loved the plot, the riddles, the love story on the side. I never thought I’d have a favorite book but this is my favorite book <3