A review by colorful_lulu
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Overall I really liked the book. If you read the other two inheritance game books then you must read this. This is the final inheritance game novel where the protagonist is Avery and the ending concludes the series really well. We see more of Xander and Nash, both underrated Hawthorns brothers, as well as Rebecca and Thea. And 3 new characters that are really interesting. 
Can’t wait for The Brother Hawthorne next year! 

What I loved: Unlike the first two books where the main mystery was about finding out why Avery was chosen or about Toby, this book focuses on power and money that Avery is very close to inheriting. This brings us a whole different type of mystery for us to solve and Tobias Hawthorn’s shadow is always present everywhere Avery goes. 
I the ending to be a perfect way to end the series but I want to know all the trips that Avery and Jameson went on as well as Xander working with Isaiah (and the obvious relationship between Xander and Max). Hopefully, The Brother Hawthorn will cover more about Jameson’s adventure with Avery and just overall give more details about the brothers. I understand how the amount of information that we know reflects Avery’s relationship with each brother but I wanna know more! 

What I didn't like/wanted different: I personally found Grayson's quiet OOC during the middle of the book. I understand that Grayson is taking more time to process Emily's trauma but we never saw him break like this before, and the only reason why he breaks is that Avery chooses Jameson instead of him. I haven’t read the other 2 inheritance game in a while but Gray never acted like this before. Also, his reason why for becoming close to Eve was so weird. “I’m close to this stranger who claims to be Toby’s daughter not because she looks like Emily, the girl I feel responsible for letting die, but because my crush, the strange girl who inherited my rich grandfather's money, chose my brother instead!” His motivation to get close to Eve could’ve just been that she looks like Emily and he hasn’t moved on, which Jameson literally explained, but at last we must maintain this weird love triangle. 
Minor complaint, maybe it’s because Tobias Hawthorn said “Don’t trust them” but I knew Eve was going to become evil. Maybe it was good foreshadowing that I was able to find but it was quite obvious from how Avery was suspicious of her while everyone told her that she shouldn’t be suspicious. 
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