A review by marissasa
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This mystery book was actually really quick to get through, as the writing was short and snappy to match the fast-paced plot and it kept me interested enough at the end of each chapter to want to just keep reading. However, I feel that I'm not the target audience and couldn't enjoy it as much as if I was (YA, teen girls attracted to egotistical rich white boys) because I found myself not caring about either of the brothers engrossed in the main character's love triangle and actually thought many of the character interactions and dialogue were cringey. I was so over the way the brothers called Avery by her last name or a dumb nickname like "Mystery Girl" and "Heiress", and thought that each of the brothers wasn't really fleshed out more than their initial one-note character traits - the carefree and aloof eldest, the cunning business-minded one, the reckless charmer, and the energetic and goofy youngest brother. Maybe in the following books they will get more development, since this first part is really Avery's story. I was also really annoyed with her sister throughout this whole book and wish Avery had better support than what she was given. I didn't really connect with the entire Emily and Rebecca subplot either and it mostly left me confused more than emotionally connected to the family's struggles. The most interesting parts and the reason I kept reading was all the mystery, riddles, puzzles, and elaborate descriptions and hidden secrets of the Hawthorne House. Although this book could've been better, I can see myself reading the sequels someday to get closure and know what happens after that cliffhanger ending.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings