The Inheritance Games Finally Concludes
Published Sept. 30 of this year, Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ beloved series “The Inheritance Games”, came to an end with the final installment of the third book of the series. The final text “The Final Gambit” left fans bittersweet after finally being able to hold the book in their hands after waiting a full year for the novel to come out.
The series’ beloved storyline encompasses the life of 16-year-old Avery Kylie Grambs, following the news that she is set to inherit Texas billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne’s, entire inheritance despite not knowing the man personally following his death. While being present at Hawthorne’s will reading, it is made apparent that Avery will inherit all responsibilities that come with inheriting Hawthorne’s billions with the one condition that Avery has to spend at least one year at the Hawthorne Mansion with the accompaniment of Hawthorne’s grandsons, all half-brothers; Jameson, Grayson, Nash, and Xander.
While living at the Hawthorne Mansion in Texas, Avery is not only tested through a series of her own mental processes following the change in scenery, but also through social hierarchies of the household’s members. Through her residence, Avery quickly realizes that her role in the Hawthorne’s Inheritance may indeed have a purpose that was eloquently concocted by the late billionaire himself preceding his death.
Through the series’ first two books, readers follow Avery’s journey in finding her purpose. Avery slowly uncovered the mystery behind her origin and the role she unintentionally played before stepping foot in the mansion. Avery not only searches for her purpose in the series, but the main character also finds herself constantly questioning her self worth while navigating subjects such as love, teenage angst, and, of course, managing billions.
Attempting not to spoil aspects regarding the outcome of topics such as romance, Avery finds herself in an unexpected, but deeply intriguing, love triangle between the second oldest Hawthorne grandson, Grayson, and second youngest Hawthorne grandson, Jameson. Though romance novel enthusiasts such as myself were deeply fascinated by the rollercoaster of events that seemed to unfold in response to pure teenage love, I even more deeply enjoyed the role in which the idea of self-worth played in Avery despite being interested in the two.
Although I enjoyed the ratio between family, love, and mystery in the second novel to a tremendous extent; tissues were prominently used, I felt as though the idea of allowing the reader to figuratively “breathe” was missing in the third installment. As Avery attempts to solve a wide-scale puzzle at the Hawthorne residence, she describes, “It felt like watching fireworks. Like magic. But I hadn’t come down here for magic. One touch turned off the fountain” (Barnes 163) which sums up my feelings towards the third novel. Though the mystery-solving aspects of Barnes’ finale were extremely well done, I longed for more moments in which Avery had room to breathe and settle with her thoughts. This could have allowed the character to become more humanized in the story which could have lead to a more immersive story for readers to follow and relate to.
Though the ending of “The Final Gambit” filled readers, as well as myself, with a deep sense of closure and happiness, I wish that the third novel’s contents did not feel so rushed and puzzle-heavy; though maybe that is only because I live for the little moments of connection and love between the characters that could bring a tear to your eye. Nonetheless, Barnes’ characters will invariably hold a special place in my heart, and fans all over the world are bittersweet with the end of the beloved tri-novel series “The Inheritance Games”.
