A review by baexlee
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

4.75

The Hawthorne Legacy is the perfect follow up to the clues and threads left behind in The Inheritance Games. Rather than a new mystery that is uncovered following the seemingly neatly wrapped mystery left behind in the first novel, the new clues and riddles build further on the history of the Hawthorne family and delve deeply into the previous generations secrets and lies. Characters that had previously been semi-developed suddenly have a game of their own left behind, that our main character has the added challenge of uncovering their personal histories in order to understand the clues that Tobias has left behind. Despite never being seen alive in the book, the character of Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne is one of the brightest stars, shown through the clues and patterns of behavior left behind in for Avery to uncover. It's impossible not to have an impression of the both larger than life character he was, as well as the human man that he was behind all the pomp and circumstance. 

Ultimately the only reason I cannot give this a five star review is the ending falling a bit flat. After all the clues come together things don't end in a way that was ultimately satisfying. Perhaps it's not meant to truly feel resolved but it felt rushed and a bit half-hearted. 
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