The Inheritance Games was a fun twist and turning puzzle of a read. While not overly difficult to follow, and some of the mysteries easy to see coming, there were still a handful of other riddles that took me by surprise.

Barnes lays out a fun game that follows Avery, who mysteriously inherits a fortune from a man she has never met. Avery must try and navigate a very angry family to trust and help the four grandsons who believe their grandfather set out a game for them to play.

I must say, I love Xander! He added a much needed comic relief to the story that would have been missing. Also, his unknown part in the story that was revealed at the end... wonderful. I am not sure how I feel about the triangle, especially coupled in with Emily... I didn't really connect to it much and felt a bit forced. I understood the Emily connection more than Avery's. Now Nash, I hope he plays a larger part in the next few books. I want to know what he is doing with Libby, and more about his relationship with the attorney. For the most part, he just seemed kind of there for some added dialog. I want more from him later on.

As far as the puzzles go, I liked them overall. It was a fun read that kept me turning the pages. Barnes does leave a lot of questions that make me excited to pick up the next book in the series. So much that I want to follow up on that I hope is eventually addressed.

Overall, it was a fun story. Not difficult to read/follow, but also doesn't go too far into character building; I would have enjoyed a little more as far as that goes. Also, I would love for her to include a map of the Hawthorn House. I understand it is supposed to be this maze of a mansion, but a visual would really help the reader navigate when they explore. ( )

High school junior Avery Grambs gets the shock of her life when she finds out that multi-billionaire Tobias Hawthorne has died and left her nearly all his fortune. The weird thing is, she’s never even met the man. According to the will, in order for her to receive the inheritance, she must live in the mysterious Hawthorne mansion for at least a year, along with the four Hawthorne grandsons, all of whom expected to receive the inheritance, and harbor a serious distrust of Avery. As things progress, she learns the deceased billionaire had a love for puzzles and riddles, and somehow, she had now become a part of his last, and most dangerous, game.

What I liked: pretty much everything! The storyline was gripping. The characters were unique and likable. The mystery continued to become more complex and interesting as the story progressed.

What I didn’t like: nothing, really. The book had a satisfying ending, but did leave with a major teaser for book 2 which I am now dying to read.

A great read.

5 out of 5 stars ( )

I love myself some mysterious inheritance! It was a very easy read, YA type of mystery. It had some nice puzzles and I wish the focus was there for a longer time.

I liked the protagonist but I have the feeling that she started with more personality and the slowly became a bit more generic. The four boys have somewhat distinct personalities and Xander is the big MVP.

I think this has some plot twists that I wasn't expecting but I saw one of them coming (the big one). I'm going to continue reading the trilogy and let's see if the puzzles get better and better! ( )

Excellent! Can't wait for the sequel. Fast paced, good mystery. ( )

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Inheritance Games

Avery Grambs is looking forward to the day she graduates high school and can leave behind her complicated home life. But the chance to leave arrives much sooner than she could ever have imagined. When billionaire Tobias Hawthorne passes away, he wills most of his fortune to Avery. There’s just one condition, Avery has to stay in the Hawthorne house for an entire year with the family members he left behind. Ones who are none too pleased Avery has gained Hawthorne’s fortune.

The Inheritance Games sets up multiple layers of mystery to entice readers. The overall question of why Avery was chosen as Hawthorne’s heir is just the start. Along the way, Hawthorn sets riddles and puzzles for readers to solve alongside Avery. There is also a mounting tension as Avery is left wondering who to trust. And her own naivety may just land her in a large amount of trouble. It’s a whole new world Avery must navigate, both inside Hawthorne House and outside it with the notoriety of being Hawthorne’s heir.

This is a quick easy young adult read. There are multiple love triangles mentioned, but while the story touches on romantic attraction, the romance by no means dominates the plot. It is more so background information to lead the reader into wondering about certain characters’ motives. And while playing with character emotions provided misdirection for the reader, there did need to be more. Most of the situations Avery finds herself in are easy to see through. With a little more added detail and smoke screening, it would have upped the mystery and doubt for readers.

The Inheritance Games is a fun read despite the mysteries being on the easier side to solve. There is also a slow reveal of the darker side of the Hawthorne family as Avery solves each new challenge. Readers who enjoy young adult mysteries should give this one a try. And I have hopes the second book will divulge more family secrets. ( )