Oriana's Book Blog

If you’ve ever dreamed of inheriting a billionaire’s fortune out of nowhere, Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games is your perfect fantasy—except it’s filled with puzzles, secrets, and plenty of family drama that might make you think twice about those billions. This YA mystery is Knives Out meets Gossip Girl, with a splash of Escape Room thrown in, and it’s as addictive as it sounds.

The story kicks off with Avery Grambs, a smart, scrappy teenager just trying to survive high school, when she learns that she’s been named the sole heir to the fortune of Tobias Hawthorne, an eccentric billionaire she’s never met. The catch? She has no idea why—and neither does his family, who are, unsurprisingly, not thrilled to lose their inheritance to some random girl. Cue the drama.

Avery finds herself thrown into the sprawling, secret-filled Hawthorne mansion, where every room is like a new level in a video game, packed with riddles, hidden passageways, and cryptic notes left by Tobias himself. But what makes the mystery even better is the cast of characters Barnes creates. The Hawthorne brothers—Grayson, Jameson, Xander, and Nash—are the kind of brooding, brilliant, and chaotic personalities that make you love and distrust them in equal measure. They each have their own motives, secrets, and grudges, which makes figuring out who to trust half the fun. (Spoiler: probably no one.)

The pacing of the book is spot-on, with just the right mix of high-stakes twists and quieter moments that let you connect with Avery. Barnes keeps you guessing with every chapter, layering in puzzles and clues like breadcrumbs, while also building the tension between Avery and the brothers. Is there a love triangle? Of course. Is it predictable? Not at all. Barnes keeps the romance element light, focusing more on the plot’s mystery and danger, which keeps things fresh.

What really makes The Inheritance Games stand out, though, is its cleverness. The riddles and puzzles Tobias leaves behind aren’t just gimmicks—they’re central to the story, pulling you deeper into the Hawthorne world. And let’s not forget the themes of privilege and class. Avery might have inherited a fortune, but she’s also inherited a spotlight that makes her a target. Her struggles with identity and trust ground the story, giving it an emotional depth beneath all the glittering wealth.

That said, the book isn’t without a few minor hiccups. Some of the side characters, especially the Hawthorne family’s more distant relatives, feel underdeveloped, serving mostly as obstacles or red herrings. And while the ending delivers some answers, it leaves a lot of threads dangling for the sequel, which might frustrate readers who want a more self-contained story.

But honestly? These are small nitpicks in an otherwise stellar read. The Inheritance Games is fast-paced, fun, and full of surprises. It’s the kind of book you devour in one sitting because you just have to know what happens next. And when you reach the final page, you’ll be scrambling to pick up the next book in the series.

Final Rating: 5/5

Why? The gripping mystery, layered characters, and twisty puzzles make it an absolute page-turner. It’s clever without being pretentious, dramatic without being over-the-top. Sure, it leaves you hanging a bit, but that’s part of the thrill—this game isn’t over yet. If you love riddles, high-stakes drama, and a cast of unpredictable characters, The Inheritance Games will have you hooked.