The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

Yesterday, I finished reading The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. The first book in a new series taking place in the same world as The Inheritance Games, this mystery is about Rohan, Lyra Kane, and Gigi Hawthorne, three characters connected to Avery Grambs and the Hawthorne brothers, who are among the seven participants in the second annual competition of the Grandest Game. Each of them has a different motivation: While Rohan needs the prize money to become the Proprietor of the Devil's Mercy, Lyra is seeking answers about her biological father's death and her parents are having money issues. On the other hand, Gigi is trying desperately to prove that she has what it takes to win and protect her twin sister, Savannah, by keeping the secret about what happened to their father. In a twist from the very start of the game, Grayson Hawthorne will be monitoring the game from the ground, making sure that all the competitors follow the rules. When it turns out the first night will be a team competition, Rohan, Lyra, and Gigi must make alliances with the other competitors, including Savannah, who has her own secrets and motivation, to move on to the next phase.

I was so intrigued to read this book when I first learned that the author decided to write another series with the characters from The Inheritance Games and The Brothers Hawthorne and it went beyond my expectations. I absolutely adored that the game took place in a mansion on an island (that was mentioned in the original series) that was basically an extreme version of an escape room. Even though I was rooting for one team above the other three, I had no idea who would get out of the mansion to the docks first. It was so suspenseful. I also enjoyed getting to know Lyra, Gigi, and Rohan better as the chapters alternated between their three perspectives. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but I loved the antagonistic-with-a-growing-attraction dynamic between Rohan and Savannah and how Lyra could finally face Grayson in person because I thought there could be a spark there from The Brothers Hawthorne. Additionally, I really liked trying to figure out the puzzles, although they definitely got harder as the story went on. I was so upset when the book ended because it left on a huge cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next book. The Grandest Game is thrilling and I recommend it to anyone who has read The Inheritance Games series or enjoys mysteries and puzzles in general.