The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes *REVIEW*

The Inheritance Games

By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Thank you to the publisher, Little Brown, for sending me an eARC to read and review.

Before I get into the review, I just want to mention that I am no stranger to Barnes' work. I've been a fan of her since I first read The Naturals back in 2016 and she has quickly become one of my favourite authors.

The first thing that caught my attention about this book was obviously the author, but the second thing that drew me in was that it was described as a YA Knives Out. I think thats a pretty good baseline but think knives out with more secrets, riddles, puzzles, and a girl who didn't know this particular family existed. 

This book was a whirl wind of emotions, which is something that I've come to love within Barnes' work. Her characters are all individuals that stand out from each other and you can't help but feel for what they are going through. Not just the main characters but the side characters as well. She puts so much feeling and personality in her characters that its easy to forget that they are just that, characters, and not people you might actually know. I loved the family aspect with the boys and how they didn't always get along but when secrets came to light they came together. I loved being inside Avery's head through the experience because we get to view everything that happens through the eyes of an outsider and someone who didn't group up the same way as the rest of the Hawthornes.

Now for the few things I didn't like. The riddle portion of the book was really well laid out, however at times, I felt a little confused how the characters would jump to certain conclusions but that just might be me and the fact that I didn't grow up with those kind of circumstances. Towards the end of the book a revelation is revealed and how its handled by two of the characters seems so out of character for them based on how they acted throughout the rest of the book and it just made me feel like it happen to further the plot in the next book. Also there was a bit of a love triangle that I wasn't the biggest fan of, especially when the two I wanted to get together didn't happen.

Overall, The Inheritance Games is an amazing start to new series and I cannot wait to see how things play out in book two.

The Inheritance Games is full of high stakes, family drama, and secrets; one of Barnes' best works to date. You don't sleep on this release!

.5