A review by thebriellle
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous challenging funny 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

5.0

 
The Inheritance Games is the first (and my personal favorite) book in The Inheritance Games series. It is about the main character, Avery Grambs, who finds herself going from living in her car to inheriting almost all of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. Only problem is, she has no idea who Tobias Hawthorne is or why he’d leave his inheritance to a stranger. Throughout the novel, we follow Avery as she meets the eccentric Hawthorne grandsons: Jameson, Xandar, Grayson, and Nash. Together, they have to solve the riddles Tobias Hawthorne left behind in hopes to figure out the truth behind Avery’s appearance.

There are 3 things that made me instantly obsessed with this novel. One, I’m a sucker for short chapters. Don’t ask me why, but I just mentally feel like I’m reading more. Don’t judge me! Two, romantic subplots with a dash of banter makes me go feral (in a good way) for the characters. And three, I love me a good mystery. And this one will have you creating an evidence board to figure out the answers. Well, not literally, of course. Unless you're into that.

“Why do I have to tell a story?” I asked.
“Because if you don’t tell the story, someone else will tell it for you.”

What I really loved about this novel was how Avery wasn’t a main character that had all the answers all the time. She was flawed and messy and relatable. You know, how actual people are. She had to learn to love, not just other people, but herself. And that’s some character development we need more of.

If you’re wondering if you should get this book (and my impeccable review for some reason hasn't sold you yet), then let me just say this. If you’re in need of a quick, high-stakes, and enjoyable read, then this is the book for you. And a warning to make sure you have the next two books already ordered, because that cliffhanger will leave you scrambling for more.

 
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