Inheritance Games: Book Review

Back Cover Blurb for Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes:

A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists.

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.

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

― Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Inheritance Games

Oh, young adult “mystery” and “wisdom,” you are comforting like junk food, which is to say, kind of, but not really. Still, bubble gum is fun sometimes. The idea of an inheritance puzzle is a great premise. If I have one real complaint about this book, it is that it promises puzzles and riddles, but only halfheartedly delivers. Clever set up leave me wanting more.

Being the center of a love triangle completed with two hot, billionaire brothers sounds like a teenager’s wet dream. Having her turn out to be the heiress has a light cuckold theme. I am sort of curious to see if they do anything with that theme in the second two books. I’m not pulling it next in the queue, but I probably will try the second book.