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A review by mitzee
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Okay this installment was pretty fun. It felt dangerous and mysterious again. I think the second book was a bit too tame and felt repetitive of the first one. This one introduces a new player and the some that are even more unhinged and unpredictable (in my opinion anyway). I also found the end to be pretty fun.
Some notes for myself about what happens in the book:
In this one, Toby/Harry’s daughter comes back and plays the part of the villain for most of the story. Grayson lets his emotions for Emily get the best of him and just falls for anything Eve says. And sides with her instead of Avery until Eves full plan is revealed (talking too much, basic villain shit). I know Barnes (the author) explained it in the previous book but I don’t understand why Eve looks SO much like Emily - like, I guess they would have been cousins but who looks exactly like their cousin? Maybe I just haven’t met anyone like that.
Anyway Eve is trying to get the disc that Avery has because she what’s the Victor Blake fortune. He basically has these discs or coins, like a John Wick coin, that gives you access to everything and a portion of the Blake fortune when he dies. So apparently she doesn’t want it from the Hawthornes but does want it from the Blake’s. I guess because she feels like she doesn’t have a legal stake in the Hawthorne fortune be had she’s not blood related - but it’s not like she was going to get the Blake fortune because of her blood either. She still had to “fight” for that too - despite being a blood relative.
It all ends with Victor making Toby, Avery, and Eve playing chess at each other for what they want. Toby and Avery both throw their games so Eve gets what she wants. Avery hustles Blake and begs for one more chance then beats him at chess. Toby loses both his games - one on purpose but the other not. He basically has to rejoin the Blake family but seems like he’s am fine with it since he has to watch over Eve as her real dad.
Avery wins back safety for herself and the Hawthorne family forever by winning her game against Victor Blake. She finally turns 18 and gives her inherited billions away. Keeping something like 2 or 4B for herself. She sets up a foundation to figure out the best way to give the money to people who can make the best use out of it. That’s the best part of the book and series honestly.
Some notes for myself about what happens in the book:
In this one, Toby/Harry’s daughter comes back and plays the part of the villain for most of the story. Grayson lets his emotions for Emily get the best of him and just falls for anything Eve says. And sides with her instead of Avery until Eves full plan is revealed (talking too much, basic villain shit). I know Barnes (the author) explained it in the previous book but I don’t understand why Eve looks SO much like Emily - like, I guess they would have been cousins but who looks exactly like their cousin? Maybe I just haven’t met anyone like that.
Anyway Eve is trying to get the disc that Avery has because she what’s the Victor Blake fortune. He basically has these discs or coins, like a John Wick coin, that gives you access to everything and a portion of the Blake fortune when he dies. So apparently she doesn’t want it from the Hawthornes but does want it from the Blake’s. I guess because she feels like she doesn’t have a legal stake in the Hawthorne fortune be had she’s not blood related - but it’s not like she was going to get the Blake fortune because of her blood either. She still had to “fight” for that too - despite being a blood relative.
It all ends with Victor making Toby, Avery, and Eve playing chess at each other for what they want. Toby and Avery both throw their games so Eve gets what she wants. Avery hustles Blake and begs for one more chance then beats him at chess. Toby loses both his games - one on purpose but the other not. He basically has to rejoin the Blake family but seems like he’s am fine with it since he has to watch over Eve as her real dad.
Avery wins back safety for herself and the Hawthorne family forever by winning her game against Victor Blake. She finally turns 18 and gives her inherited billions away. Keeping something like 2 or 4B for herself. She sets up a foundation to figure out the best way to give the money to people who can make the best use out of it. That’s the best part of the book and series honestly.