The Inheritance Games is a dark and twisted novel that is loosely based on the story of Cinderella. It is a contemporary YA thriller that is well aimed at fans of One of Us is Lying as it is full of intrigue and suspense with a multitude of mysteries and puzzles that must be solved before reaching the conclusion.
The book follows protagonist, Avery Kylie Grambs, a 17-year-old high school student from the wrong side of the tracks. Since her mother’s death two years ago, Avery has lived with her guardian and half sister, Libby. Life is tough for Avery and it always has been as they struggle to make ends meet and her friends are limited to her school friend Max and Harry, the homeless guy from the park who she plays chess with. So when Libby’s on-again off-again boyfriend moves back in, it is the final straw for Avery and she takes to living out of her car. Then, without warning, something completely bizarre happens and her world is turned upside down.
A reclusive billionaire with a penchant for riddles and puzzles has mentioned Avery in his will and she is whisked off to the reading at his home in Texas: Hawthorne House. When she arrives, she is confronted by a host of suspicious members of the Hawthorne family, namely his two daughters, Skye and Zara and four grandsons, Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander. The biggest surprise occurs when the will is read and it reveals this enigma of a man, who she has never met, has disinherited his entire family and left almost his entire estate to her. There is one stipulation on her inheritance though. She must live at Hawthorne House for one year, alongside the family who are none too happy at their sudden loss of fortune.
“The only string attached to my inheriting billions of dollars is that I must move into a mansion. A mansion where a large number of the people who were expecting to inherit this money still live. And I can’t kick them out.”
The characterisation in this book is exceptional and really stands out. Each and every one of the characters are well depicted and introduced in such a skilful, effortless way that their personalities and mannerisms feel second nature to the reader. There are three robust and tenacious main characters that are supported by numerous dynamic secondary characters that move fluidly throughout the story. Every character seems to have a secret and while some are red herrings others are pivotal to the many mysteries that need to be solved.
“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Jennifer Lynn Barnes utilises a few tropes in this book with my favourite being the “chosen one” trope. Normally, in this trope the hero of the story is special in some way. Either they have a special ability or there is a secret about their birth that will turn the story on its head. What I loved about Barnes’ use of this trope is that she completely flipped it! It is hinted throughout the book by secondary characters that there is some secret around Avery’s birth: her mother had an affair and she is secretly related to the Hawthorne’s being the most popular theory presented by the disgruntled family members. Instead, throughout the book Avery is refreshingly normal and watching her contend with this throughout the book is genuinely heart warming.
“To some people, you’ll be Cinderella. To others, Marie Antoinette”
As the story moves forward, the reader learns about who Tobias Hawthorne was. Gleaning information from his grandsons, we learn how he loved puzzles and riddles and soon discover that this will is his last hurrah: the final riddle of Tobias Hawthorne and he is using Avery as a pawn in the inheritance games. Teaming up with Jameson, Avery sets out to solve this puzzle to learn why she was chosen. Grayson is also searching for these answers and his animosity towards Avery and his brother is palpable. But all is not as it seems and these brothers have a secret in their closet that no one wants to bring out into the light of day.
“The old man was playing the long game.”
The development of the relationships between Avery, Jameson, and Grayson is another key trope featured in this book, the classic love triangle. It was something I was really looking forward to reading as angsty, tumultuous teenage drama (also known as trash) is a favourite of mine. Unfortunately, the romance failed to ignite for me in this first instalment. There was great potential for truly great sparks and tension, but it just felt forced and a little underwhelming. Perhaps in the next instalment there will be more time to allow the chemistry and tension to build or perhaps the addition of the mean girl ex-girlfriend, Emily, was the wet blanket no one wanted in this story.
“She wanted everything more than I wanted anything. And the one time I wanted something….”
To wrap it all up this book has so many shout outs to readers and book lovers which made me smile whenever I came upon them. From this description of Avery’s best friend, Max:
“Max watched a lot of television and had what could probably have been classified as a book addiction”
To the attention to detail when describing the numerous and stunning libraries of Hawthorne House it was a true celebration of a book lover.
“This isn’t the only library in Hawthorne House.”
The Inheritance Games lived up to its description. It was mysterious, suspenseful, and downright wicked at times, but is a book with characters you cannot help but fall in love with. It wraps up almost all the loose ends presented, but ends on a devilish cliffhanger that has left me needing the sequel yesterday! I highly recommend this to lovers of YA thrillers and cannot wait to see what Barnes has in store for Avery and the Hawthorne boys next.
The Inheritance Games is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 1st 2020.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out.
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why–or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch–and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes.
Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he’s determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.
