''The Inheritance Games'' is a

young adult novel Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...

series by author

Jennifer Lynn Barnes Jennifer Lynn Barnes (born October 19, 1984) is an American writer of young adult novels. Personal life Jennifer "Jen" Lynn Barnes was born on October 19, 1984, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She graduated from high school in 2002, then attended Yale Un ...

, published by

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Little, Brown and Company is an American publishing company founded in 1837 by Charles Coffin Little and James Brown in Boston. For close to two centuries, it has published fiction and nonfiction by American authors. Early lists featured Emily ...

. The series focuses on a teenaged girl, Avery Kylie Grambs, and the Hawthorne family. It has garnered widespread acclaim for its intricate plot and engaging characters, making it a favorite among young adult readers. It currently consists of three main books: ''The Inheritance Games'' (2020), ''The Hawthorne Legacy'' (2021), ''The Final Gambit'' (2022). Also connected to the series are a standalone book that follows the events of the main series, ''The Brothers Hawthorne'' (2023), and a

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

and

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most novelettes and short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) ...

collection, ''Games Untold: An Inheritance Games Collection'' (2024). A spinoff series, ''The Grandest Game'', currently features two books: ''The Grandest Game'' (2024) and ''Glorious Rivals'' (2025). In ''The Inheritance Games'', it is revealed that Avery has been chosen to inherit the fortune of deceased billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, whom she has never met or heard of. The series follows her efforts, along with those of the Hawthorne family, to uncover the truth of her inheritance.

''The Inheritance Games''

''The Inheritance Games'' was published on September 1, 2020. It was a ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' and IndieBound best seller. The book received starred reviews from ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' and

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

, as well as positive reviews from ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

'' and ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...

'' and a mixed review from the ''

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ''The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books'' is an academic journal established in 1945 by Frances E. Henne ( University of Chicago Graduate Library School).Wedgeworth, Robert. ''World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services''. C ...

''. In 2021, the book won the Teen Buckeye Book Award and was nominated for the

Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, popularly called the Edgars, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America which is based in New York City. Named after American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), a pioneer in the genre, the awards hon ...

for Young Adult, the

Goodreads Choice Award The Goodreads Choice Awards is a yearly award program, first launched on Goodreads in 2009. Winners are determined by users voting on books that Goodreads has nominated or books of their choosing, released in the given year. Most books that Good ...

for Young Adult, and

YALSA The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. YALSA is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand the capacity of l ...

's Teen's Top Ten. It was also selected for

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Quick, as an adjective, refers to something moving with high speed. Quick may also refer to: In business * Quick (restaurant), a Belgian fast-food restaurant chain * Quick (sportswear), a Dutch manufacturer of sportswear * Quick (automobile), ...

and

Best Fiction for Young Adults The American Library Association's (ALA) Best Fiction for Young Adults, previously known as Best Books for Young Adults (1966–2010), is a recommended list of books presented yearly by the Young Adult Library Services Association The Young Ad ...

and

' Best Books of 2020.

''The Hawthorne Legacy''

''The Hawthorne Legacy'' was published on September 7, 2021. The book received positive reviews from ''

'' and ''

''. In 2021, it was a finalist for a

for Young Adult Fiction.

''The Final Gambit''

''The Final Gambit'' was published on August 30, 2022.

''The Brothers Hawthorne''

''The Brothers Hawthorne'' was published on August 29, 2023.

''Games Untold: An Inheritance Games Collection''

''Games Untold: An Inheritance Games Collection'' was published on November 12, 2024.

Accolades

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Inheritance Games Little, Brown and Company books Novels set in Texas Book series introduced in 2020 2020s children's books