A review by thecriticalreader
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I picked up The Inheritance Games while browsing at Barnes and Noble. I found it on the “Book Tok” section and the back cover blurb drew me in immediately. I love books that involve puzzles and mansions with secret passageways. I was a little wary of the book because I generally dislike Y.A. novels, but I decided to give it a try because it sounded so interesting.
 
 
Plot:
Plot is a hugely important part of The Inheritance Games, which sets itself up as a thriller/mystery. The buildup is well executed, with tons of layers, clues, twists, and suspicious characters. I’ve never read a mystery where the ending matches the buildup, and unfortunately The Inheritance Games was no exception. I predicted the ending pretty early in the book, which is rare for me because usually I’m not great at predicting endings. I don’t hold it against the book too much. As I mentioned, I’ve never read a book that has lived up to its build up. Additionally, the ride towards the resolution was so entertaining that my enjoyment of the book did not hinge on its ending. 
 
Characters:
Part of what made The Inheritance Games so entertaining was a large cast of fascinating characters. Of course, since it is a Y.A. novel, many of the characters are extremely attractive teenagers. I didn’t actually mind this as much as usual because every character was interesting and well-written. 
 
Setting:
The setting was super fun because it takes place in a GIGANTIC mansion full of puzzles, secret passageways, etc. It’s pure escapism and I loved it. I wish that Barnes had devoted a bit more description for the mansion and the rooms inside, but it was still fun to read.
 
Themes:
As this is an escapist Y.A. novel, there are not a ton of heavy themes in The Inheritance Games. That being said, it does explore themes of family dynamics, relationships, and power. The book offers more questions than answers, but hopefully these themes will be explored further in the next book. 
 
Writing Style:
Jennifer Barnes writes like a seasoned author. She knows what to keep in, what to omit, and how to write characters and emotions. Her skill really pulls this book together because it makes the characters, especially Avery, seem relatable. 
 
Conclusion:
Even though the resolution of The Inheritance Games did not live up to my hopes (although I’m not sure how it could possibly have lived up to the buildup), I still enjoyed every page of it. I look forward to reading the sequel, The Hawthorne Legacy. 
 
Other Points:
·      I really liked reading Avery’s point of view. She reacted to everything believably, and I loved that she wasn’t the “special” girl who excelled at everything. In fact, she spent most of the book feeling totally out of place and lonely. 

The cover is not to my taste. I think that style (very common among Y.A. books now a days) is eye-catching, but ultimately a bit tacky. 
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