Well that was a bloody rollercoaster wasn’t it?

This book definitely held up to my expectations considering how much I adored book 1. I feel as though the mystery didn’t calm in the slightest and we were being taken on so many more adventures and I still I couldn’t tell how they were going to turn out.

I have to admit I have no idea how this is going to turn into a trilogy? With the way book 2 ended I felt as though it was all nicely tied up for me and now I know my settled state of happy is about to be obliterated with a book 3.

The love triangle! I’m usually not a huge fan, but this triangle with Jameson and Grayson is lifeeeee! I’m fully team Grayson btw, always and forever.

It’s been over 24 hours since I finished reading this and I’m still in shock with how this book ended. I can tell you now, if you’d have told me this book was going to end like THAT when I started reading I wouldn’t have believe you in the slightest!

This book will definitely have you keeping the edge of your seat warm, that’s for sure! I definitely recommend reading it!

It was intriguing but I must admit some of the characters really frustrated me and it felt like it took a long time for things to get going.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so hyped for this book because I loved the mysteries of the first! And this definitely lived up to my expectations - mysteries, games and thrills at every turn.

I loved the ongoing building of relationships between Avery and the Hawthornes. The competitions turning into support was lovely. I also loved that we continue to see the downsides of Avery inheriting everything. And the constant tear between Grayson and Jameson is fun, if not really something I’m thrilled about. Plus we get the added fun and encouragement of Max, which I definitely adored.

As always, the logic of Tobias is multi thread and frankly bonkers, and I love it. How do you set so much up without knowing everything - and we finally have proof that he didn’t! His puzzles and games honestly would have made him an absolute nightmare to know. But from a readers perspective, I massively enjoy the way it all splinters apart just when you think it’s all coming together. Especially on how the older mysteries - Toby and Emily - factor into Avery when everything about her connects in some way that doesn’t quite make sense.

At the end I was a little disappointed because I thought that it was a duology and while there were a lot of answers, there were still a good few loose ends. BUT goodreads says there’s a third, yay!! I’m so excited :D I can’t even imagine what will come next, but I am definitely hyped for it. I do feel that I need to reread it already just to figure out what’s left for book three! Ha.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for and honest review.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series and I definitely enjoyed this one. I did find that I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first. I like that romance wasn’t an over all driving force in the first but in this book it felt like things would get exciting and then romance would be unnecessarily dragged into the scene. This is all just personal preference but I really detest love triangles. This book had that frustrating one where the MC just strings the both of them along while they figure their own issues out. I find it selfish and irritating and it didn’t further the plot. I do understand that the entire situation of being thrust into the richest family with two hot brothers and plunged into the spot light would cause anyone to be confused so I will give Avery that much.

The overall action and stakes definitely were higher and I found myself on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next. I did find this book to be slightly more predictable than the first but it didn’t take away from the over all enjoyment. The main conflict and resolution seemed to happen all at once within the last 10 chapters. There were a few things that did seem a little strangely convenient but I could easily over look them considering the family’s enormous wealth, I can’t say I’m super wealthy so who knows what you can get away with.

I would definitely recommend this book considering the overall story is a good one. From book one through the ending of this one it’s a fun exciting adventure. I am definitely interested to see what happens next.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
After the surprising twists in the first book, the story starts with Avery and the Hawthorne brothers trying to solve this new mystery. The writing was easy and engaging right from the beginning. I was entertained but didn't love it as much as the first book. The mystery element wasn't that great and dragged at times. The story kept circling back to the same thing and the twists felt underwhelming. I also hoped to see more character growth but they were one dimensional. Aside from that, I really loved reading and will be looking forward to read the final book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This could have been a 3 star or a 4 star read, depending on how I looked at it, so for now it’s a 3.5/5.

(the inheritance games still remains a 5 star read tho so if you haven’t read it GO read it)

Starting with what I liked! True to the Inheritance games, the Hawthorne Legacy was a very quick read. Something about the way the author writes keeps me engaged in the story, and it’s really easy to read. I’m going to keep this spoiler free, so I’ll just say that I didn’t see the ending of this book coming, which I appreciated. There were many plot twists, which on the one hand was nice because you had to stay really engaged in the book and really use your brain, but at a certain point it also felt a little cluttered with so many things to keep track of.

The Hawthorne Legacy was similar to the Inheritance games in that it was centred around solving a mystery. However, I found that the characters felt flat, and seemed to miss some of the complexity and depth that they had in The Inheritance Games, as the book was REALLY centred on the mystery, and not so much on character growth, dynamics, or emotion. You didn’t get to see many conversations between characters, or really see how they were feeling/ what drives them. I also really wish Grayson was in it more, and we saw more dowry and growth form him. I’m team Avery/ Grayson so I really want them to end up together.

All in all, it wasn’t as great as The Inheritance Games, but it also didn’t detract from my enjoyment of it. I also think it’s really hard to write a good middle book in a YA trilogy, and for all the ones I’ve read this definitely is in the top 50%. Looking forward to seeing how this series concludes in book 3!

4.5 stars is the more accurate rating - for this book was not flawless, but my god was it impressive.

Is it inappropriate to include the words “OH SHIT.” in a formal review? Perhaps.

But. OH SHIT.

‘The Hawthorne Legacy’ - sequel to the inheritance games - is a book centred around solving the mysteries that its predecessor created. I feared that it would be a dead end - for the first book was a masterclass in the unexpected. In lulling you into a false of security and twisting it at the very last moment. What else did Barnes have to offer?

Turns out - quite a lot. The plot was masterfully devised, every sentence, every word the characters spoke and every memory they dwelled upon in the previous novel turned out to be of significance. If I attempted to explain the entirety of the plot (and its many twists) - first of all, I would likely fail - but secondly, it would sound ridiculous and utterly unrealistic. But somehow, Barnes crafts a meticulous sequence of events and reveals that make perfect sense. I had chills down my spine at one of the final reveals.

My criticisms of this book mainly relate to characterisation, because the plot was impeccable (aside from the million and four characters being somewhat difficult to remember at times, but alas). I found the love triangle created with the two brothers somewhat of a forced addition - it felt at times as though there would be these scenes of complex plot and then just. “OH MY GOD I LOVE HIM.” I get it’s meant to remind readers that these characters are teenagers, but I think it could’ve been done in a more delicate way that felt less forced.

Overall; a superb read that didn’t let me down despite it being one of my most highly anticipated.

As always, a thank you to Penguin Random House Children’s UK and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. I would love to read anything Barnes releases in the futures

You have to read the first in this series there’s no denying that but this YA mystery is certainly binge worthy and is addictive!
Working your way through the plot and mind games keeps you intrigued and Avery’s love interest between Grayson and Jameson is pure teen angst and romance.
This is not heavy literature for sure but easy and fun to read.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the sequel to The Inheritance Games. It picks up where the previous book left off so I will not go into further detail so as not to spoil the first for anyone who has yet to read it.

There is something about this series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes that is so binge worthy and I love it! I could not put it down and got through it super quickly. Maybe it is time to look into the author's back catalogue as I want more!

I was really anticipating the first book and when I got an ARC of this I read them back to back. I gave The Inheritance Games 3 stars but I'm giving this 4 stars.

Avery felt a lot more in control of her actions and a lot less whiny in this book. She took control and finally started getting answers. She felt much more on par with the Hawthorne brother's , although I'm still not a fan of a romance plot between could be cousins, and the pacing was much better. It felt like we were actually getting answers in this book unlike the first one that felt like we were dancing around a big mystery and being served little, unnecessary mysteries to try to put us off and satisfy us.

Again, as per my review of the first book, when we did reach crisis points within the book, we could have spent more time unpacking those plot points, especially towards the end (no spoilers) to make us understand motive completely and give us a feeling of suspense. But overall this was a better read than the first book.

I absolutely loved this sequel to the Inheritance Games! This book picks up where its predecessor left off, and we are once again showered with elaborate and romantic mysteries. A fun tale all around!

I picked up The Inheritance Games in April, excited to read a intriguing standalone mystery book and finished it being so frustrated to find out that after speeding through the first book I had to wait months for it’s sequel! Then, after seeing The Hawethorne Legacy on Netgalley a short while ago, I immediately clicked ‘request’ and was desperate to get sent an arc of it - and I did!

The Hawethorne Legacy was just as gripping as the first book. It was great to get to know the characters more as well as reading about even more mysterious mysteries! I ended up reading the second half in one day which was a crazy (but brilliant) experience.

Overall I’d give the book 4 stars. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend if you’ve read the inheritance games!

Big big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Spectacularly suspenseful and undeniably intriguing, The Hawthorne Legacy takes all the twisted lies and family secrets of it’s predecessor—and ups the stakes (and the danger) in this gloriously thrilling continuation of The Inheritance Games series.

After the bombshell ending of The Inheritance Games, Avery is left trying to pick up the pieces and find the man still holding the answers to all her unanswered questions, including why a billionaire like Tobias Hawthorne would leave his entire fortune to her, a complete stranger, rather than his own daughters or grandsons.

As the mystery grows and with threats lurking around every corner, Avery is finding herself pulled in two directions by the magnetically enigmatic Hawthorne grandsons, Grayson and Jameson. But, with adversaries who’ll stop at nothing to get Avery out of the picture,she’ll have to keep a clear head—and heart, for her survival almost certainly depends on it.

This was an absolutely thrilling, rollercoaster of a read! The pacing was perfect and setting luxuriously detailed. I really enjoyed getting to see Avery experience more of the jetset lifestyle she’s inherited—her reactions are always entertainingly relatable.

The characters are well written and as the narrative progresses I loved getting to dig a little deeper into the personalities and back stories of all four Hawthorne boys (as well as a little more detail into Avery’s mum, Rebecca, Skye and Zara Hawthorne.)

I can’t mention the Hawthorne’s without mentioning Avery’s swoon worthy interactions with both Jameson and Grayson—honestly it’s too difficult for me to choose which I like more (not dissimilar to Avery’s own dilemma on the subject.)

Avery’s best friend , Max also makes an appearance here and I just have to say I absolutely LOVE her, she’s hilarious! Also, I can’t help but find myself totally shipping her with Xander—they’re perfect for one another (as is Libby and Nash!)

I also really adored the mystery of The Inheritance Games so I didn’t think the stakes or secrets could get any better (or more plot twisty),but I’m soo glad that I was wrong,because I loved the mystery of this one—or maybe I just loved the adventurous jet setting Avery and Co. got to do. Either way I really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed the ending, which did tie up some of long-standing loose ends but, I was expecting more of a cliff hanger ending. Right now, I can honestly say that aside from possibly finding out the identities of the Hawthorne boys fathers, I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this series going forward, which is both frustrating and intriguing. I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book!

I’d definitely recommend to all fans of YA mystery/thrillers, honestly it’s amazing!

Also, thanks to Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After discovering that the lost Hawthorne son, Tobias, is alive, and Avery knows him, her whole inheritance, and place in the family is called into question. Just when she thought life could get back to some semblance of normality - albeit one of wealth and privilege unlike that she was brought up in - away from the people who are out to kill her, it seems that solving one mystery just throws up another one. If people know that Toby is alive, they could be out to get Avery, and she has to work with the Hawthorne boys to find him, and get rid of the threats, once a for all. But the closer they get to the truth, the greater the risks, and Avery is facing losing everything, including her heart, and her life.

Just as I've loved all of Jenn's previous books, I adored The Hawthorne Legacy. From the very first page, I was hooked, and I spent the entire day on my phone reading the book, hardly stopping to snack or hydrate, because I just needed to know if Toby would be found, if Avery was okay, and what was happening? Avery has grown so much from where we saw her in the beginning of The Inheritance Games, and I am there for that. She is a fantastic character, so smart and clever, but also caring and compassionate, and her relationships with the other characters, not limited to the four Hawthorne grandsons, was lovely to read. She also sees her best friend, Max, again, and that little piece of home really helped to ground Avery. The romance may turn off some readers, there is a bit of a love triangle, but I've always thought that one of the pairings was never really going to work out, and that the other has such a snarky and enigmatic quality to it, they're bound to be end game.

The plot is full of twists and turns, just like in book one, and when you think you've found the answer to one question, two more pop up, and you're left reeling by the bombshells that are dropped. I was utterly gripped by it all, and I am in awe with how Jenn created this world, these books, and these characters - it's all utter perfection. I thought this series was a duology, so am overjoyed to discover it's in fact a trilogy, and The Final Gambit is planned for 2022. I have so many questions, and can't wait to see how the story of Avery and the Hawthorne's end!

Initial thoughts:

The Hawthorne Legacy was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021, so I was beyond thrilled when I was approved to receive a digital ARC on netgalley. After finishing the first book, I was itching for more in the best way possible. The sequel really delivered on many fronts. However, in a lot of places all I could see was how it was setting up for the third book. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as a lot of questions from The Inheritance Games were answered, but there was a lot of groundwork put into place for things I knew would only be revealed in the final instalment.

I loved the character development in this book. The characters really drew me in during the first book, and we got to learn a lot more about all of them. I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, but I did enjoy the tension between Avery, Grayson and Jameson.

The entire novel was a puzzle from start to finish, and the element of mystery and surprise from the first book was definitely continued all the way through the second.

Full Review:

Overall: 5/5
Overall, The Hawthorne Legacy was a thrilling sequel to The Inheritance Games. I was worried that the mystery of the first book would flop in the second, but the stakes remained high and the puzzles remained intriguing.

Plot: 4/5
The plot was entertaining and engaging. I finished this novel incredibly quickly, as I was always excited to see what would happen next. My only critique is, as mentioned before, the amount of setting up that happened for the final book. This is to be expected in a trilogy of this nature, but I found it a bit distracting at times.

Characters: 5/5
The characters in this book are just incredible. I loved getting to learn more about all of the characters - the Hawthorne brothers, along with their mother and aunt in particular. The backstory we learn about explains a lot of their actions in the first book, while leaving an element of mystery shrouding the complicated family.

Writing: 5/5
I loved the writing style. If I had to pick one word to describe this book, it would be clever. The puzzles were unpredictable and exciting, and the story was engaging and borderline addictive! I’m excited to see how the Hawthorne story continues, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the release of the final book!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I was somewhat anxious to see if the sequel could pull off the same level of puzzle and intrigue, but Barnes certainly delivered! It really did feel like a puzzle, more than a thriller - a brain teaser in the form of a high-stakes YA novel. I’m so excited to see where to story goes next and how it concludes.

The relationships between Avery and Grayson and Jameson were a real plus in this book for me - not quite a love triangle, but she’s pulled between the two brothers for different reasons. I was really rooting for the romance by the end and I hope we see this develop further in book three! There were some real moments of rawness and emotion amongst the backdrop of the book’s crazy events.

There are so many insane threads to this plot, and I’ve never read anything quite like it. In order to remain on top of all the twists and turns, but brain was constant whirring and trying to wrap itself around the mystery and goings on. I was shocked, and surprised and left wanting more! Can’t wait to see where Barnes takes this series next.

The Inheritance Games was a hugely fun read, and this sequel* was equally compelling. I gulped it down in one sitting, frantically turning the pages to try and figure out just what games the billionaire Tobias Hawthorne had been playing when he left his fortune to a teenage girl, Avery, with whom he supposedly had no connections. I said it last time and I’ll say it again, the love triangle element isn’t hugely successful for me, but it’s a small complaint about an otherwise great series. Here’s hoping for a third book!

*It’s worth noting that it wouldn’t work as a standalone, this is definitely a series you need to read in order.

I read the Inheritance Games and loved it, so I went for the follow up without a doubt. This book didn't disappoint as well. Full of intrigue, an interesting turn of events, great characters to read about. Really loved it.
Thanks a lot for this copy!

I picked up The Inheritance Games last year as an ARC on Netgalley because of the 'Knives Out' vibes it was giving and I ended up really, really enjoying it - and ended the book with a desperate need for the sequel.

And now the sequel is here (thanks again to Netgalley for giving it to me early!) and while I did enjoy the book, I don't think it was good as the first and I would say it suffered 'second book syndrome'.

To start with what I enjoyed: the drama! I love the ridiculousness of it all. Everytime I put down the book, I found myself thinking about it and when I get next open up my Netgalley shelf to continue reading it. Oh, they just found another clue? Dang, I need to read on to get those answers! So, like the first, this did manage to keep my gripped throughout it all.

However, despite loving the drama and such, I found myself tired at all the threats on Avery's life. Because they happened so frequently, instead of ramping up the tension and elevating the stakes, it just felt . . . eh. Because nothing ever came of it. Yes (mild spoiler) Avery did get injured (I obviously do not want her to die) but the book just zoomed on past. (We did have some moments of Avery showing how she was being impacted emotionally by these events, flinching at loud noises etc). But again, because nothing came of it, it just felt like it was interrupting the natural flow of the story to put in a big bang (sometimes literally). While in the first book it felt more natural, and some of the threats in this one did, yeah . . . just got a bit ridiculous.

This brings me to the mystery itself! I wanted answers, and this book did give me some! Not to say what because of spoilers, but I was happy that some of the open ends from the first book were followed through on. However, most of these led to other storylines/plot points to unravel and sigh. It just got very convoluted, and felt unfulfilling. Now, I do get we weren't going to get answers to everything, this is a trilogy after all and there's another book to go, but I do think this one could have provided more 'closure' especially considering page count. Additionally, I do believe if there weren't so many flashy threats etc (as discussed above) this would have helped with the pacing and might have made this book feel more put together than all over the place.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and sequel, despite it lacking in pace at times. While the first book was able to be all over the place with the drama and mystery in a (ironically) cohesive and well rounded manner, this one weighs heavily more on the side of chaotic and unfulfilling. Still, I am excited to read the third and final book in this trilogy, to get all of the answers and see if my theories are correct!!!!

(Also, I love Greyson, I am team Greyson + Avery, so . . .)

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I was approved for this book on Netgalley I dropped all the other books on my tbr and picked it up. The Inheritance Games was one of my favourite books of 2020 and the sequel did not disappoint at all!

After the shock discovery at the end of the first book, Avery is thrown into part two of the game and this part turns out to be more deadly than ever. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, there is still the matter of the two Hawthorne brothers; Grayson and Jameson and Avery can't seem to get either of them off her mind.

This book was full of just as much mystery and suspense as the first one and I still had no clue where it was going to end up. As soon as I read the final page, I was straight onto Goodreads to see if a third book had been announced and now The Final Gambit has already become one of my most anticipated reads of 2022!