Get ready for a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold!), set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.
Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.
Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.
Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers a brand-new series in the world of The Inheritance Games, where fan-favorite and new characters collide in a game you’ll never forget.
Do you have what it takes to play?
BananaTricky –
Where to start? I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it.
When the Inheritance Games ended with the announcement that there would be an annual competition hosted by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four Hawthorne brothers to solve riddles/puzzles and potentially win life-changing amounts of money I was intrigued. However, as someone else commented, all the competitors this year seem to be rich kids – so where’s the incentive?
Very much in the style of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, participants can win an entry to the Grandest Game, but there are also invitees. Seven contestants make their way to a private island owned by Avery, including: twins whose father blamed his death on the Hawthornes, an elderly woman who was once on Tobias Hawthorne’s legal team, two former contestants from last year’s competition who also appear to have their own personal rivalry, a guy who wants to lead a criminal gang and needs the buy-in, and another girl who I can’t even remember – did her Dad commit suicide or was it the twins’ dad? And that my friends was the problem. Too many characters that didn’t really shine out, too many proto-romances/hatings, too many puzzles that didn’t really make sense, especially when the group were split into three and they all had different puzzles.
Overall, I want to read the next one but I’m not sure I’ll pay release day prices.
nightowl –
I hope there is a next book. If I had any idea how this one was going to end I would have waited to have both in hand before committing to the story.
Kevin Bull –
Ms. Barnes brings incredibly vivid characters to life and weaves a helluva interesting story! Looking forward to the next installment.
Amazon Customer –
I enjoyed this less than the Inheritance Games series. At times the writing was compelling, and I enjoyed some of the new characters introduced, but sometimes it got bogged down too much in the puzzles/riddles and then it ends abruptly on a cliffhanger without wrapping up anything while they’re still in the middle of the game. It really feels like only being able to read the first half of a book and having to wait a whole year to read the other half. If I had known, I would have waited until next year to read both halves together.
Jessica Shew –
Holy cow what has JLB done this time???
Such a fun story with constant intrigue and riddles. It felt knives out esque in the way that you want to know more about each character with each page… to truly understand, motivations.
Fair warning, it ends on a cliffhanger, and I am dying for the sequel!
Dorothy Winsor –
If you’ve read the earlier books about the Hawthornes, you know that Avery Grambs, the heiress to the Hawthorne fortune, established an annual game of puzzles and riddle in which the winner would win a whole lot of money. This book is about one of those games.
I finished this book late last night, and the first thing you need to know is that it ends in the middle of the game! Barnes calls this a new series, and obviously, it’s the kind of series in which books are tightly linked. The next book comes out next July. So forewarned.
I found I had to concentrate at the book’s start because there’s a lot to sort out. There are 8 players, mostly new characters Hawthornes there, mostly in background with Grayson having a bigger role.
There are also three points of view. So it took me quite a while to be sure I knew who was who and what their backstory was. I’m not actually sure I understand all of them even now, partly because Barnes withholds some information for the next book
Still, page by page, I enjoyed this book. I liked solving the puzzles and was pleased with myself when I did it faster than the characters did though that wasn’t as often as I’d like. The books takes place over 2 days, I think, but there’s some insta-attraction I guess, which is interesting.
The ending was unsatisfactory for me, and Barnes obviously intended it to be that way. I’ll undoubtedly pick up the second book next year, but I’ll have to reread this one to have any hope of following it.
Avid Reader –
A great new twist on the story. I could easily guess some of the plot twists.. but not all of them. Can’t wait for the next installment.
ALubyk –
Though fantasy is my usual genre, I absolutely love this entire series. It reminds me of a modern day Hercule Poirot – it keeps you guessing and as the layers unravel, it keeps you in awe. I look forward to the next book (which I already pre-ordered).
Kelechi Ememanka –
I couldn’t put it down. This is hands down my favourite book in the series. Can’t wait for next year’s book. Ahhhh🤭🩷
Shaina Longstreet –
So good! I love the continuation of this world in this series and all the inner workings of the new characters. I’m fully invested. On to the next!
Desiree Dudley –
Ahhh that ending!!!! I need answers now! This was absolutely amazing. If life didn’t get in the way I’d have read this book cover to cover in one sitting. I did not want to put it down. This was so fast paced and every chapter left me wanting more. Barnes writes the most intriguing, most inteligente, and most incredible mysteries. I love the riddles, the puzzles, the games!This was so much fun!
Tim K. –
This book is soooo good!!! It had more Grayson in it, which I loved! The whole thing is just so stinking magnificent!! The book came in perfect condition, and the jacket art is so beautiful! Can’t wait for the second part! (the cliffhanger is killing me already!)
Cam123 –
This book is amazing I couldn’t put it down. Jenifer Lynn Barnes is by far one of the greatest authors!! The twist and secrets you learn are amazing and I can’t wait for part two!