Nov. 11,  2024

(YA - would recommend high school readers) 

Games upon games, secrets upon secrets. Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ first installment in The Grandest Games series is full of mysteries and keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they follow seven characters competing in the 26 million dollar-prize game hosted by the unlikely billionaire, Avery Kylie Grambs and the Hawthorne brothers. The book is told from the perspectives of Lyra Kane, Gigi Grayson, and Rohan as they each work to solve elaborate puzzles all while on a mysterious island surrounded by strangers who will do anything to win. As the game progresses, so do the stakes, and as new information comes to light, it soon becomes clear that there is more to the game and the players than what first meets the eye. 

This book is full of so many twists and turns and truly had me working to solve the puzzles as the characters faced them. It made me anxious to find the answers as I was reading and kept me fully engaged. It is the perfect continuation of the world of The Inheritance Games and Barnes’ writing style, especially her use of short, fast-paced chapters makes the story easy to follow and a quick and fun read. I loved getting to see the deeper storylines and motives of the main characters that the book follows and it was refreshing to have new characters mixed in with the ones from The Inheritance Games since I was obsessed with that series. 

Throughout the book, readers get to see different dynamics play out and through the character interactions, important lessons are taught. Teamwork is a major component of the games and the book helps readers see why working together is vital to life. By following the perspective of more naive characters, like Gigi, readers learn discretion and wisdom. They can see that it is important to be wise with who you trust. Although it is good to be open to others, not everyone always has your best interest in mind. On the flip side, by following Lyra’s perspective, readers can learn that even when a relationship has been hurt, there are still ways to mend things. It is important to learn to trust others again, even after hard situations. It helps readers learn that it is important to give people second chances and not judge them right off the bat but instead put in the effort to understand them. 

NOTE: The Grandest Game is technically the beginning of a spin-off series from The Inheritance Games series. Although most sources have said it is written as an entry to the world and can be read before the Inheritance Games, I recommend the opposite. If you read this book first, a major plot point in The Inheritance Games will be spoiled and the main characters of The Grandest Game (Lyra, Gigi, and Rohan) are all first introduced in The Brothers Hawthorne. By reading that book beforehand, the storyline will be set up much better for you. So if you want to get into the world of Jennifer Lynn Barnes, I recommend reading The Inheritance Games trilogy, The Brother’s Hawthorne, and then The Grandest Game.

DISCLAIMER: some profanity, mature-er plot points (mentions of suicide), romance but nothing explicit