Oh wow! I cannot believe how amazing this book is, I just haven’t been able to put it down and am still thinking about it long after reading it! Avery is a typical teenager who’s not had it easy since her mum died, living with her sister and having to work to help pay the rent. But one day a mysterious man invites Avery to the reading of a will of a very wealthy billionnaire who has died. Nobody knows why Avery’s name is in the will, least of all Avery, but they all soon learn that she’s the inheritor of his entire fortune. But why would a billionnaire leave his entire fortune to someone unknown, and why Avery of all people? She makes it a mission to discover a truth, but it won’t be easy, especially with everyone playing games.

This is such an amazing book I think it might be one of my favourites for the entire year! Avery is an average teen who feels completely unnoticed in the world, but soon after inheriting Tobias Hawthorne’s entire fortune and estate, she finds herself unable to blend into the background. Unfortunately for Avery there’s just one catch to inheriting everything and it’s that she must stay on the Hawthorne estate for a whole year. But doing so isn’t easy especially when most of the Hawthorne family is angry about her inheritance. It was so easy to get into this book and I was gripped from the first page. Avery is a character I could really relate to, feeling unimportant yet pretty smart, enjoying playing chess and cracking puzzles. At first the story focuses on Avery and her sister showing us the typical life that they lead, including some difficulties they face, but soon we are introduced to the wealthy Hawthorne family and this is where the story gets really exciting.

As Avery inherits the fortune it becomes clear that there is more to this inheritance than first appears. The deceased liked to play puzzles and riddles with his grandsons and it becomes clear that there is a puzzle to be solved about Avery inheriting everything. I really liked the descriptions of both the characters and the Hawthorne home. The characters all felt so vivid and real and the house filled with everything you could ever want including arcades, theatres and a bowling alley felt so amazing and I could picture everything so well. The various different contraptions and devices that formed some interesting puzzles within the house itself were easy to picture too. Occassionally in some books I read, when the author descripbes some intricate details of some devices I sometimes get lost in the desciption not able to imagine it clearly, but this book does such a good job of making everything so vivid that I could picture everything so clearly in my mind and I felt like I was watching this story as a movie.

A lot happens in the tale and it’s really interesting. I especially like the different relationships that develop throughout, especially around Grayson, Jameson and Avery. The story is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing throughout which I loved, and I also found myself playing along with the characters in trying to solve some of the puzzles and I was thrilled when I guessed the answers to some riddles before the characters had mentioned them! The ending is brilliant and finishes in a perfect way, with an epilogue that sets up the next book in the story. There is nothing offensive in the story, no swearing and in fact it made me laugh when one character tries to avoid swearing by saying things like “Holy ship”!

I’ve been so engrossed in this story that I’m still thinking about it days later and I really can’t wait to read the next book in the series. The idea of inheriting a billionnaire’s wealth is something I think some of us may have dreamed about at some point in our lives (I know have! 😀 ) and this book just felt like an amazing adventure and filled with such interesting and intriguing puzzles. I really can’t recommend this enough to anyone interested in reading it. It’s a brilliant story and one that’ll keep you glued to its pages!

This is a great example of a YA novel and has all of the key draws: a character with hardship, secrets, mystery and plenty of romance/crushes.

Avery is a hardworking, smart young woman and, out of nowhere, she is contacted and told that she has been left a massive inheritance by a mystery billionaire. The only catch? She has to live with his disinherited family for a year before she can inherit the money. This includes four handsome grandsons of the benefactor.

The plot can often feel outrageous, and you need to suspend disbelief, but that's a key feature of YA so I was perfectly prepared to believe in so many things. The house she has to live in is completely insane, with hidden rooms and all sorts of features that are so far out there.

I loved the puzzle solving aspect of the plot, with Avery partnering with each of the brothers at different times to solve the puzzles. You are constantly unsure which of the brothers to trust, and which one will be Avery's love interest. Avery is a strong willed character but there are many people around her that she needs to be wary of, so she ends up a bit overwhelmed at times. There is also someone clearly messing with her, and trying to put obstacles in her way or harm her. I loved when we found out who this was as I did not expect it.

I think this would be a great addition to any young person's reading list. So much so that I have bought copies for my own school library.

Wow I don’t know what to say about this book apart from why end of a cliffhanger and why do I have to wait until 2021 for book 2! This book was just incredible, I don’t normally read a lot of YA books but this one had me gripped from the start. I loved that Avery was an extremely likeable character and every brother was hiding something. I would be interested to see where book 2 takes Xander and if Avery and Jameson become an item. Also what about Libby and Nash where will that romance lead them? So many questions I have that I would love to get answered.

The Inheritance Games is a terrific young adult mystery that will appeal to all ages. I love the witty dialogue and impossible riddles. This novel is like none I have read before, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Barnes delivers a novel for the ages. From the blurb, I had pictured a completely different book, but I am pleased with the story the author gave me. The expected family turmoil was there, but not in a way I ever expected.

When Avery learns that she is the beneficiary of the will, she didn't know what was happening. You can imagine my surprise when I learned it was something unexpected. The grandsons of Tobias Hawthorne are incredulous at Avery inheriting the money. Though, after the initial shock, the boys realize that Avery is a puzzle for them to solve.

The many twists and turns while the boys and Avery try to solve the puzzle are interesting and dangerous. It seems that for every clue they solve, it brings twice as many unanswered questions.

I was sure I would enjoy this book when I thought it would be something else. But, I can say that I enjoyed the novel better when I learned of its actual trajectory. The writing is good. I don't like cliffhangers, but I love this one, and I am excited about the sequel.

I am happy to award The Inheritance Games a full 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good mystery. The author targets a young adult audience, but I know that adults will love this book too.

The Characters:
I made notes when I started reading this book and noted my first impressions of everyone, which has been really helpful when writing this review! I loved reading about these characters. From the beginning I liked reading about Avery, the main character. I thought she was quite strong and I was excited to see what she got up to and how she was involved in the story. I was really intrigued by the Hawthorne brothers (Grayson, Nash, Jameson, and Xander). They were very mysterious, even more suspicious though was Tobias Hawthorne. I was intrigued by his letter to Avery and how they could possibly know each other, especially when Avery had no idea who he was. The other members of the Hawthorne family were very interesting; everyone had a secret or something to hide it felt like, and I was excited to learn more. I really felt like someone in the law firm knew more than they were letting on about Avery’s inheritance and why she was left it, and I really enjoyed reading about the lawyers and their relationships to the family.

The Story:
I really enjoyed this book, I couldn’t put it down and read it in about 3 days, which at the moment is quite good for me! The story was really interesting and I loved the mystery that surrounded it. I found the puzzles that Avery encountered throughout the book to be really fun, and I had fun trying to guess the answers to some of them. I loved the secret passages throughout the house! I’ve been reading through the notes I made on this book and most of them are questions about who did something, or what was going to happen, and I really liked that this book kept me guessing right until the very end. This was a great book and I would 100% recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries.

Final Thoughts:
This book was great and I ended up rating it 4.5/5 stars. I enjoyed the setting of this book and was eager to find more clues in the house and its land. I didn’t think there were too many characters in this book, just enough for it to work really well. All of the character relationships were quite interesting, and yeah, I just really enjoyed this book!

When Avery is summoned to the reading of a billionaires will she obviously excited but also seriously puzzled. She never met Tobias Hawthorne. Why would he leave anything to her? Puzzled soon becomes mind blowingly stupified when she finds out not only is she in his will but is the main beneficiary. But Hawthorne had a family, one who want to know exactly who Avery is and why she has everything they thought was theirs...

It took me a bit of time to get into this. I was a bit put off by Avery morning over Hawthornes grandsons and for a horrible moment or two I was convinced I'd somehow fallen into reading a cleaner version of one of those billionaire love/lust stories that are so inexplicably popular these days. But then the mysteries of Hawthorne House began to reveal themselves and I realised this was a little gem of a book. It's left on a decent cliffhanger as well so obviously I'll HAVE to read the next book now!

Complex and enjoyable mystery with some intriguing characters.Brothers who have played games with their grandfather all their lives need to solve one last puzzle.

“Everything’s a game, Avery Grambs. The only thing we get to decide in this life is if we play to win.”

The Inheritance Games is a YA mystery which rivals the opulence and drama of Dynasty. When underdog Avery Grambs finds herself thrust into the limelight of a Forbes rich list family, she has to learn to find her feet in the world of wealth (while also learning to navigate the tumultuous relationships already boiling over in the Hawthorne family).

With four brothers of similar ages in this story there was a risk that they could end up being easy to muddle up, but Jennifer Lynn Barnes does a remarkable job of giving each of the boys their own motivations and personalities. From Grayson the golden boy, to Nash, a motorcycle riding cowboy with no interest in the inheritance or his grandfather’s games, there’s a boy in the Hawthorne family for everyone. You’ll be discovering a new fictional crush whether you want one or not.

Avery is also a brilliant protagonist. The boys make it pretty obvious that they think she’s a pawn in their grandfather’s game, but Avery isn’t interested in being a passive participant: she quickly decides to be a player, making the most of the wacky situation she’s found herself in to try to improve her chances in life. Going from sleeping in your car to having a house with so many bedrooms that you can’t even count them is just a bit of a transformation, but she doesn’t let it go to her head. Her priority is still her sister Libby, and she plans to use the money to do as much good in the world as she is able to. That’s what we call grounded.

If you’re someone who loved Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series and you’ve been craving something similar, The Inheritance Games is the perfect book for you. Hawthorne House with its secret passageways, multiple libraries and sprawling, endlessly extended wings is one of the most interesting aspects of the story, and it’s very reminiscent of Ellingham Academy.

The mysteries throughout the book are of an extremely high calibre, keeping you guessing and desperately trying to work things out before the characters, so the only thing that’s missing is the murder aspect (so far… There’s a sequel to this book coming next year, so who knows if everyone will survive to the end of the story!).

I read this book with my partner Sean, who managed to guess one of the pretty big twists within the first 10%! I remained skeptical throughout so was still thoroughly impressed by the payoff, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Jennifer Lynn Barnes takes the story next. The Hawthornes and Avery are a very interesting bunch, and I’m excited to continue their adventure in the future.

This book certainly packed a punch for me. It has all the elements that I love in a book that I read. It had suspense, secrets, lies and a characters that you can’t help but like and want to see more from. Jennifer Lynn Barnes definitely smashed it out of the park with this book for me.

The book follows Avery Grambs. She is down on her luck after losing her mother to illness two years before. She is currently staying with her sister who has a partner that she can’t stand and she has just been accused of cheating at school. Things take a turn for the better when she is called into the Heads office along with her sister. She is informed by the one of the Grandsons of the late Tobias Hawthorne that she is wanted at Hawthorne Manor.

All expense paid trip with her sister to Hawthorne Manor, YES PLEASE, being told that she has inherited the vast fortune of Tobias Hawthorne. She has also inherited many enemies in the form of his family. His four grandsons – who are too cute for their own good as well as harsh and not what they seem.

Let me just say that I adore the Hawthorne brothers already. There is something about them that is broken that I want to fix. They might be a bit sarcastic, snooty and too good for their own good but you know we all love a bad boy. Avery, what can I say about her? I like her, she has guts and is as confused about what is happening but she knows that it is something to do with her mum. Her mum used to say “I have a secret” the thing is she is no longer around to ask what that secret was.

There is definitely tense moments within this book. The attempted murder on Avery from unknown persons trying to get her to leave the Hawthorne Manor. Thing is its stipulated that she has to stay for a year so that she can inherit the vast fortune left to her. She is determined to find out why and if she has to work with the Hawthrone brothers then so be it.

I loved the secrets and lies within this book. It has so many layers to it, you don’t know what is happening. Everyone is working to their own agenda and are also suspicious of one another sometimes to the detriment of what they are trying to achieve. Tobias Hawthorne definitely had a plan when he made Avery his heir and that the journey they go on is far from over.

The style of writing was definitely engaging and I was able to read the book within one sitting. The tension and suspense had me invested along with the characters, I definitely need one of the Hawthorne Brothers in my life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it if you want to chase a mystery and watch how it unravels.

For the first time in my life I was devastated by the feeling of being left out. It happened when the usual suspects from Dave's The Write Reads Blogtours opted to read and review The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I did not.
Then when the reviews began to pour in and I read them, I wrote back to Dave asking to be let in. And to his credit he sent me the ARC link. As luck would have it, the link didn't work and thinking that maybe me and this book weren't meant to be, I yet again told Dave that I won't be able to participate in the blog tour. And then again one fine day, the link to an ARC landed in my mail box.

Going through a pretty nasty phase I wasn't sure if I could finish it off or would now even like to read the book but as soon as I started The Inheritance Games, I fell for it, hook, line and sinker. Ms Barnes please take a bow for writing the most readable book I have come across so far in 2020.

The book is about a girl Avery Kimberley Greaves who comes to inherit a fortune with some very stringent terms and conditions in place. Rightly described as 'A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists', The Inheritance Games, is a joyride full of interesting characters- stepmother, step-sisters and princes in place.

The writing is clever and the pace is well-maintained all through the novel. Avery's story from rags to extreme riches comes with lots of thrills and threats. Who is speaking the truth? Which of the characters is trustworthy? Who has what at stake and what length are they willing to go to, in order to achieve what they have eyes on and does that involve endangering the life of Ms Grambs?

These and many more questions will be answered once you pick up a copy of this delicious treat of a book. Though aimed at the Young Adults, I am sure anyone looking for a book with all such elements as manipulation, romance, danger and tragedy and more, will be pleased to run with it.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a mystery novel in the line of Knives Out (2019). There’s a major inheritance and the one who gets the most is unrelated to the passed away billionaire. Avery is still in high school and the inheritance could change her life. But before she gets access to all of the money and assets, she has to live in the Hawthorne house for a year. With the angry family.

The eccentric billionaire Tobias Hawthorne was always fond of games. He played them with his grandsons whenever he could. And thus, after his death, one last game must be played. It isn’t announced, but implied. The players pick up on it but the others don’t. Avery and the four grandsons play the game — more or less — and she’s getting the know the strange and almost dangerous world they grew up in.

I love solving puzzles and a scavenger hunt like this certainly drew my interest. It didn’t take long for me to finish the book because of it. I was invested from the start. I had to know the answer and why Avery was named heir. It’s a fast paced book with writing to match. It’s clean without too much exposition. Everything is revealed as it’s necessary. This all adds up to a well crafted story with action and intrigue.

The only (tiny) flaw I see is the relationship between Avery, Grayson, and Jameson. There’s a sexual tension between Avery and the two grandsons but it’s not clear who she really wants. She longs for Grayson but her actions say Jameson? I don’t know. I feel like history repeats itself. I hope I’ll find more about it in the follow up.

I give The Inheritance Games five stars. Thoroughly entertaining and perfect to spend an dreary afternoon with. Cuddle up with a blanket, hot beverage of choice, and go on an adventure.

4.5 Stars

I adored the writing style a lot, it was well place and maintained the suspense to the very end and then some.

Jumping into the plot

I am not sure what I was expecting with this book since it has been a while since I have wanted to read a thriller and since I have read a thriller in general but this book blew me away and I am so happy to have read it.

This book starts with us meeting the main character and her situation and then soon after we are thrown into the world of the Hawthrone’s who are an intriguing bunch of characters.

This book keeps you guessing till the very end, there are games being played and along with Avery you have to figure the stuff out

Along with all of that there are a lot of other mysteries embed into the story and I think the author did a good job with all of them and I loved seeing everything come together at the very end.

I also loved how well everything was planned and thought out and you could see that the author did a lot of work and put in a lot of research into the story.

After 50% or so the story got even more interesting and I was not able to put it down and I devoured it in a day, almost in one sitting.

There are a few instance of romance in this book but they definitely do not overshadow the main plot and I admired that a lot.

The ending was definitely very different that what I was expecting given everything that happened and it has me excited for the next book in this series

The Characters

Avery, she is an intelligent and a strong girl, with a gentle heart. I loved following her around and the way she figures out everything gave me a sort of rush which you get when you are totally immersed into a character.

Nash, the oldest of the 4 Hawthrone brothers, we do not see much of him but his every appearance and his entire vibe is of an older brother and I loved that plus I adored how much he cared about everyone and how level headed he was

Grayson, he is a very businessman kind of a kid and very protective about his family, he had a billionaire vibe to him and he is intelligent and a fun character to follow, I do like him a lot

Jameson, he was the brother out the 4 who got the most spotlight, he is a very curious and competitive person and I liked him as well. I liked all of his interactions with Avery and following the two of them around trying to solve the case of definitely fun.

Xander, the youngest and the most lively and adorable of all the 4 brothers, he also does not have enough page time in my opinion but I really loved him and he has some clear mystery surrounding him and I am excited to see what role he plays in the coming book in the series.

Overall this was an amazing book with a lot of intrigue and mystery. It kept me at the edge of my seat and left me wanting more, I am waiting to see what the next book in the series holds.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good and different kind of thriller and something quick to read, this book is definitely the one for you.

This book is available for purchase now.

Riddle me this: what book is full of mystery, puzzles to solve, possible murder attempts, and a plot that keeps you guessing? The answer is obvious! It’s The Inheritance Games, of course!

This book was so much fun! It follows Avery, a wildly intelligent girl who has been struggling to make ends meet. She learns that she has been left a large fortune by Tobias Hawthorne, an obscenely rich tycoon. She would be overjoyed, but she can’t overlook one fact: she’s never even met the deceased man. Question number one? Who is she to him, and why did he leave her his fortune, excluding his relatives?

This book features a cast of unique and not necessarily trustworthy characters. There’s Avery’s older sister who has a connection to a skeezy guy; Skye and Zara, Hawthorne’s daughters; Zara’s husband; and Tobias Hawthorne’s grandsons, who were very close to Tobias and were pretty much a lock-in for the massive inheritance. The grandsons are: Nash, a self-made cowboy who has a thing for saving people; Xander, the youngest who seems less-than-interested in everyone else’s machinations; Jameson, who is incredibly helpful (but who knows why?); and Grayson, who feels that Avery has somehow taken advantage of Tobias Hawthorne. There’s one catch: in order to claim the inheritance, Avery has to live in the late Tobias’ estate with these people of questionable ethics. Everyone in the book has their own motivation, and secrets abound.

There were so many great things about this book! First of all, I loved that the riddles weren’t obvious, and neither was the solution. I was guessing and figuring things out right along with Avery, which was a blast. There was one “reveal” which I figured out early on, but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book. Instead, I had a major fist pump moment (“Yes! I knew it!”) and every other solved answer was completely out of the blue for me. Another thing that I enjoyed was that, even though it would have been easy to slip into the tried and true mystery tropes, the author neatly avoided falling into that trap.

There was the whole complicated love triangle doomahickey but, seeing as it was part of the game and possibly just a clever redirection, it didn’t really bother me. It was also kept in the background of the story instead of taking priority, which I appreciated. Avery had a good head on her shoulders and was not as easily hoodwinked as I think certain characters were expecting. No spoilers from me, I promise.

I fairly flew through this book of mysterious happenings, and I loved every minute! I’m incredibly happy to know there will be a sequel, since I’m not ready to leave Hawthorne Manor and its inhabitants behind. Do yourself a favor and read this book as soon as humanly possible.

We are in our first week of spooky season and you know what that means? It’s time for all the mystery and thriller books! That being said, when I heard about a blog tour for a new YA mystery that was likened to One of Us is Lying, I couldn’t resist signing up. And then I found out that it was filled with riddles and puzzles and you know I was pumped!

This story follows Avery Grambs, a young high school girl who has a plan. A plan that involves securing scholarships to college so that she can follow her dreams and no longer live in her car. Then, she is summoned to the estate of Tobias Hawthorne, a mysterious billionaire who has apparently left Avery something in his will. When she arrives, she meets the rest of the Hawthorne family including the four eclectic and brilliant Hawthorne boys, grandsons to the dearly departed. Avery hopes against hope that perhaps Tobias has left her enough to not worry about college… and finds out that he has left her almost his entire estate. The catch? She has to live in Hawthorne House for one year with the family who’s inheritance she just “stole”.

You know why I enjoy YA mysteries? Because they’re just freakin’ fun! This book was an absolute blast to read, even when it got dark and twisty. I loved so much about this story that I practically flew through it! The chapters are fairly short, so even though this book is pushing 400 pages, you find yourself getting through it rather swiftly. And, honestly, even if this book were 1000+ pages, it would have felt like nothing because I was so invested!

My favorite aspect of this book has to be the various puzzles and riddles scattered throughout. I’m that weirdo that gets a thrill when I can figure out the answers before the characters, lol. Though the puzzles in The Inheritance Games weren’t overly challenging, I had a lot of fun with them all the same! In fact, I was so caught up in the puzzles that the bigger twists of the book kind of snuck up on me! Nice bait and switch, Jennifer Lynn Barnes 😉

I also really enjoyed the characters in this story. Avery is incredible. She’s smart, tough, and loyal to the people she loves. She takes no crap and will do what it takes to achieve her dreams. She is such a multifaceted and vivid character that shines throughout this story. And the rest of the cast is as unique and layered as she is! The four Hawthorne boys, Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Alexander (of Xander), have such force of personality that they practically leap of the page. They are all a little messed up and the entire family needs a lot of therapy, but they add an element to the story that made it that much more enjoyable.

Fair warning, though… this book does end on a cliffhanger that will have you craving more! I can’t wait until the next book in this series is out!

Final thoughts: The Inheritance Games is a fun, dark mystery that will have you tearing through the pages to find out how it ends. The riddles are a treat, the characters are engaging, and the ending will leave you begging for more! If you like puzzles, ensemble casts, and dark secrets, I think you would love this book.

What is The Inheritance Games? When it comes to games, some are just that - games. But for some, like the inheritance game, riddles can lead to important information, and maybe an entire fortune! Avery is a normal girl, living in very not normal conditions. She excels in school but is living in her car - after her half-sister allows her abusive boyfriend to move back into their apartment.

When she is informed that she has been named in a will, she is shocked. She does not know the person who has left her a substantial fortune, but her life has changed - and she is not sure if its a good thing or not. While the money is nice, she is thrust into a world that she does not know or understand. It is not every day that a 17-year-old girl inherits 42 billion dollars. The biggest challenge of all is going to be whether she can survive the family or not...

Come along for a great adventure and discover what happens when you inherit several billion dollars, anger an entire family, and discover secrets and riddles every step of the way! 




My Thoughts On The Inheritance Games:

Oh my goodness! What a book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one, and actually read it in on sitting - I could not put it down! I was hooked from the start. I loved all the different riddles and the many different layers of the book. From the rough start, and the "I am not sure where this is going," to a complete turnaround, this book is one that has several twists. Those Hawthorne boys though - danger in suits! Could you trust the brothers? No? Who could be causing so many of the issues, and how do you navigate something you have no idea as to what is going on?

I have a feeling this is going to be an instant hit with anyone who reads it! I can't wait to share it with everyone I know! 




Put this one on your must-read list - its the perfect weekend novel!

Oh my goodness! I could not put this book down it was that great.

I love good mystery books, but this one really had me hooked with the complicated characters and the secrets they held. I was so absorbed in each and everyone of the characters, feeling their raw emotions and going on a journey with them. This book would not be its best if all the characters didn't have their own back story, however Barnes beautifully brought them all together.

The main character Avery was amazingly smart, however was not my favourite

A Dangerous Game....
When a wealthy eccentric dies and leaves Avery his fortune no one, not even Avery, can fathom the reason why. Moving into the inherited mansion Avery begins a dangerous game with those who feel that she has their rightful gain. Well written, baffling rollercoaster read with credible characters and a clever plot. Engaging YA suspense to keep you guessing.

This is a YA mystery that instantly reminded me of Cinderella. I loved every second of it.

I loved Avery. She is such a fun character to read and she is super intelligent. She is so kind to everybody despite what they throw at her, and very protective of her sister.

When Avery learns she has been left a fortune, she doesn’t understand why. She now has a series of puzzles and riddles to solve to help her figure it out. For that, she needs the help of the Hawthorne grandsons. Cue hilarious chats and encounters.

I can’t wait for book two. There were lots of unanswered questions and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

If you’re on book Twitter, you’ve probably seen The Inheritance Games a lot recently, especially with the Ultimate Blog Tour happening. Well, I can honestly say that this book well and truly lives up to the hype that you’ve seen. As someone who reads a lot of mysteries and thrillers, I didn’t think a YA mystery would be as captivating, but Jennifer Lynn Barnes has completely proved me wrong.

The story starts with the introduction of Avery Grambs, and from the very beginning her character and her life with her sister is a very interesting set up, which instantly gets your attention. Avery’s clever and calculating reactions to life problems at the beginning of the story really sets the tone for her character, and what is to come, and you will be routing for her from the get go.

Avery could never have expected her life to change quite so dramatically, and the Hawthorne’s certainly weren’t expecting it either. Imagine if someone you didn’t even know, and have absolutely no connection with, leaving you a multi-billion fortune, and disinheriting their own family! CRAZY! Imagine your family member disinheriting you and your other family members, and giving most of their multi-billion fortune to a complete stranger! EQUALLY AS CRAZY!

The Hawthorne’s are definitely an interesting bunch, and you instantly want to know more about the family, and their history. The boys are all so different, and to begin with, I wan’t completely sure if I even liked any of them. But, as the story continues, and you learn more about them, I did begin to have my favourites. Despite the fact that he isn’t alive, Tobias Hawthorne is one of the most fascinating characters, and I would love to know more of his story.

Hawthorne House itself sounds absolutely incredible, and I would love to explore it, with all of it’s hidden tunnels, and exciting rooms! Of course, as a book worm, the multiple libraries are by far the most appealing rooms in the house for me, and I would spend hours searching through them all.

I loved the game aspect of the book. Trying to figure out the riddles for myself was a lot of fun. In all of the mysteries I’ve read, I’ve never come across a riddle based game to get you to the answers, it is quite a unique approach, and I wish it was used more! The game keeps you invested in the story, and when one question is answered, it seems to create 10 new ones. The story is full of twists and unexpected turns, it keeps you guessing to the very end, with a cliffhanger ending that leaves you desperate for more.

This was my first time reading anything by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, but it certainly won’t be my last. The Inheritance Games is action packed, impossible to put down, full of surprises, and a lot of fun to read. It exceeded everything I could have imagined. I am desperate for the sequel, because I have so many questions, and I NEED ANSWERS!

Once again, a massive thank you to The Write Reads and Penguin for allowing me to be a part of the tour, and for providing me with a copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review.

I give The Inheritance Games a 5 star rating!

*TRIGGER WARNINGS – violence, references to domestic abuse (physical and emotional), death of a parent, absent parent, and death of a close friend*

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

This book is one hell of a page turner!

It follows Avery Grambs, an extremely studious girl who one day gets pulled out of her everyday life by a stranger because it turns out she's been named in the will of Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire who she's never heard of before. Avery is brought to the family manor that she has inherited and meets the rest of the Hawthornes, including 4 grandsons who have all been left with much less than her. Or so it seems…
Tobias Hawthorne had a love of puzzles - a trait he passed down to his grandsons - so when his final letters to them all contain a riddle, the game to uncover the mystery behind the whole situation begins.

Full of family secrets, scheming and characters who love nothing more than winning, this was such an addictive read! Along with the fast pacing and layers of mystery, each individual character had a unique voice and story which made it hard to put the book down. I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the clues myself too!

Though I feel like this one works quite well as a standalone I’m interested in picking up the sequel whenever it comes along.
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars