The Gilded Blad

The Grandest Game #3

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

ALL GAMES MUST COME TO AN END.In the stunning finale to the global phenomenon of the Inheritance Games Saga (over 6 million copies sold!), discover danger, riches, romance--and the staggering answers to long-brewing mysteries.

All games must come to an end. In this series-shattering conclusion, everyone is a player, long-held secrets are unveiled, precious threads are unraveled, and impossible mysteries are solved. In the grandest of games, there is so much to win--money, love, power, revenge--but there is also everything to lose.

The truth will be revealed in #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes' most masterful puzzle yet.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Romance, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Fantasy, Fiction

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2026

About the author

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.

Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Reviews

[୨ৎ dory ୨ৎ]

pre release-
the fact that after this book, we are no longer be getting any more inheritance games books is going to make me cry.

people complaining about her milking? you PISS me off because no one is forcing you to read them and these characters feel like home 😭 she said this would be a trilogy. grow TF up and realize this is her JOB. she can write whatever the hell she wants. if she likes this world, she can write about it. she's the author. be grateful she's releasing legit TWO books a year.

long live tig 🫡

[Maddy ✨ ~The Verse Vixen {AFK}]

📣BREAKING (TBR-SHAKING) NEWS 🗞️

Local Reader Discovers The Grandest Game… Is Actually a Trilogy now!!?!
Proceeds to spiral.

Me: Already halfway through Glorious Rivals, emotionally preparing for the closure. can’t wait to see how it ends!

📢 Jennifer Lynn Barnes:Haha babe… it doesn’t. Surprise. Bitch. Book 3 The Gilded Blade enters the chat... Apparently You’re not done suffering.

Me:nervous laughter intensifies💀📖 “Ma’am I haven’t even checked the last page yet because I was AVOIDING SPOILERS??”

-At this point I am collecting her books like pokemon cards! ✋🏻😩
Gotta cry through em all. 💀📚



Now she’s adding blades to the mix?? Cool cool cool—just stab me emotionally, it’s fine.
I didn’t sign up for a trilogy.
But here we are!!!

Invested. Betrayed. Obsessed.🎭

[niyya نية]

God have mercy on my soul, she's releasing ANOTHER ONE.

[littlefox]

jennifer lynn barnes, you can write as many books in this series as you want, i will read them all 🙂‍↕️🙏🙏

[Iris]

I will read an entire book about a literal gilded blade if Lyra Kane is in it

[maddison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all can keep getting mad and complaining (again) that she’s continuing the series, but let’s be real, most of you will still end up reading it. If writing books is how she makes a living, I don’t blame her one bit for putting out more. If I were in her position, I’d be publishing every few months, because a girl needs all the money she can get. However, at the end of the day, she is the author and this is her story! You are entitled to your opinion about when it should end, but that doesn’t mean she is obligated to follow it. If you’re over it, just stop reading. It’s very simple. Let the people who still enjoy it do so without constant criticism. That said, I am excited to see what Jennifer comes up with next :)

[Mayflower (jacks wifey) ೀ⋆｡˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words for how utterly destroyed and devastated I am

Jennifer your gonna be ask to be paying for A LOT of therapy bills… 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
5 stars <3

MAJOR SPOILER READ AT UR OWN RISK BE AUSE IT WILL MAKE U CRY:
I can’t believe she killed off Toby….. I really sobbed at that part but at least he and Hannah are together again

WHATTTTT THERES A 3RD BOOK!!!!!! AHHHH IM SO EXCITED EVEN THOUGH THE SECOND ONE JUST CAME OUT TODAYYYYY

2026!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE:
LOOK AT THIS STUNNING COVERRRR 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

[books (samaira's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

~♧◇♡~

did I expect this is to be totally and utterly devastating? yep.
am I still left in a state of shock and despair after finishing the allegedly last book in the entire Inheritance Games saga? you definitely got that one right.

all of these characters have grown on me SO much. I still remember the time when I hated some of them and could not stand a word against others (uhm, grayson, uhm).

I still live and read for Grayson Hawthorne, BUT I've come to love those I used to dislike, to put it mildly. Jameson Hawthorne, in particular. Still not my favorite character🤚 but he has his moments. He handled everything surprisingly well throughout the book. We also got the long-awaited Gray and Jamie reunion scene, and it was NOT long or detailed enough for me. spoiler: they CRIED 😭 my heart 💔

I loved the mystery and the build-up, and I was fully waiting for shit to go down. Imo, the climax was a bit hurried, especially the imprisonment and Emily wth???

In regard to characters, I think the development was great with all of them. The introduction to Lyra's family and SO MUCH BACKGROUND on characters made everything more important to me. Gigi's realizations about her self-worth felt so rewarding too.

The romance was great, but not mind-blowingly so, as I'd expect from the final book, you know? But everyone got closure, so I'm happy enough with that. What annoys me to no end is the complete pointlessness of Emily's existence in this book. Or even her kiss with Grayson. Why did we never get an explanation for that? 😓 (Edit here: After further thinking, I've come to the conclusion that it proved that Gray felt nothing for Emily anymore, and that he would be willing to do anything for his family, and Jameson's survival. If only Lyra could have been told about it later on in the book.)

Ik people are hating on the cult, but it's a CULT, yall! I think it was pretty successful in making me hate those who needed to be hated. The succession rules and webs were interesting enough to keep me engaged, so I liked that whole plot!

special mentions to:
✨grayson hawthorne in flannel and jeans
✨savannah and rohan's kitten
✨mattias slater
✨rohan and the letters ~M~I~N~E~
✨knox landry.
✨jameson's yearning arc
✨avery's epilogue

I ~needed~ a Gray and Lyra epilogue too but I'll be satisfied with Avery's quote about them in her epilogue:

... there was nothing undecided about Grayson and Lyra. When a person loved like Hawthornes loved, there was no going back.

~♧◇♡~

rtc: i'm still processing that it's over holy shit

~♧◇♡~

pre-read

because what was the ending of glorious rivals?

need this. now.

[ray ৎ ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

“she said it will be a trilogy” y’all do know it was supposed to be over after “the final gambit” right?? 💀✋

if she writes another book in the tig universe after this i will be done with jlb books. AND BEFORE Y’ALL SAY ANYTHING: i’m a fan, i js feel like her newer releases are more boring than her older stuff and it’s time to move on.

im happy if you enjoy this trilogy, and dont come at me for saying these books are unneeded—like pls i literally rated glorious rivals 4 stars. some people need to realize you can say a series is milked and still enjoy it—like i feel if it was any other series y’all would say it’s too long. “the final gambit” wasn’t even supposed to be released, jlb said originally the sequel was gonna be the end

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➸ 5 stars

“Always trouble. Always . . . this. Always . . . us. All of us.”

i’ve said this so many times and i will continue to say it: this series is my home, this world is my home, and these characters are my home. these books are my entire heart and soul and i hold so much love for them.

i’ve spent so many years with this series and it’s finally come to an end and im so emotional over it. i do not even know for how many hours i spent crying in the middle of the night after finishing this book knowing i had to be up early in the morning but i did it anyway and i have no regrets. i loved everything about this book. jennifer’s mind is actually so insane to me and reading about every secret unraveling and realizing all the hints that were just THERE all the way back to the very beginning of the series is so crazy to me and my mind was just blown and jaw on the floor the entire time! i loved theorizing and i loved being absolutely flabbergasted at the same time while reading this!

the ending of this book broke my heart in so many ways but i could not see it going any other way than it did and in a way it’s just perfect. i cried SO much and i feel like just saying that is an understatement! i cried for these characters, both the good and sad emotions. the epilogue truly means the world to me and everything that happened made my heart to whole. even just writing this review is hard for me without bursting out in tears!

i truly don’t know who i would be without these books and i’m so so thankful to have been able to read and experience them. and to this series, i love you. infinity times infinity.

[Amelia (or3) &#x1065a;⋆⊹₊⟡{new bio!}]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ♟‧₊˚.
I´m soo excitedddd!! I loveee this entire book series smmm so I´m veryyy sad that this is the last bookk😭 There better be an epic Javery reunion, Gigi and Slater, Savannah and Rohan and some plottwistssss ❥

[Julie Boolie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only book that has ever made me cry

[sunshine.jamesonsversion⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

read

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

"Some situations require a guiding hand... and others a gilded blade."

➳❥│INFINITE STAR READ∞

Jennifer Lynn barnes has taken a gilded blade and a golden arrow and plunged it right into my heart whilst also ripping my soul into infinite pieces. 😭just a warning.

first, before I go on a very, very, very long rant, I would like to take a moment to just say WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS SERIES IS OVER. The end of an era. And no matter what other series I read in my future, this series will forever and always be one of my favorites, if not my favourite series of all time

I think this may be my new fav book of the series, but idkk because I love brothers hawthorne... IG THEY'RE TIED AS MY FAV!!!

NOT A SPOILER FREE WARNING!!!!⚠

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

➳❥│THOUGHTS

"You're reckless."
"I'm a ticking time bomb."
"Been there, done that. The trick is to imagine her glaring at you and putting out the fuse"

The perspectives were BOOTIFUL. I am biased but loved Jameson's the most. AND GIGI WAS AMAZING I LOVEE. Lyra was great toooo and Rohan was Rohan and also good. and I KNEW THE EPILOGUE WAS GONNA BE AVERY AND IT WAS AMAZING

This book very much killed me.

I laughed, many times, actually, because there were so many funny scenes in this book. one of my particular favourite funny scenes is when MAX COMES BAAACK!! THE QUEEN CAME BACK AND SHE ABSOLUTELY ATE. I missed so many of the characters that came back! Libby, Max, Thea, Rebecca, Nan, Oren, even Zara. Nan was so funny in this book haha.🥲

I giggled very very very much, especially with GRAY AND LYRA and OMG SLATE AND GIGI!!! IM SO GLAD WE GOT SO MUCH OF THEM BECAUSE I LOVE GIGI WITH ALL MY FREAKING HEART.

I also cried. I had watery eyes throughout the whole book, and I was almost telling myself I wasn't gonna cry until BOOM! I read closer to the end.

I loved that we got so many scenes where all of them (or most characters) were together! my favourites were the WHITEBOARD scene (I also cried during that part where Jameson lets go) and the epilogue. THEY ARE FAMILYYYYYY!!! my dream came trueeee😀

what do you faxing mean THAT TOBY HAWTHORNE DIES.😭 I didn't honestly think he was gonna die. I thought he was gonna be at avery's wedding, and I can't even be mad at JLB for making him die because he was protecting his daughter. NOW THAT BEING SAID I WILL EXPLAIN MORE. IYKYK.


I also almost (but basically cried) when the scene in Jamesons perspective where he's holding all his emotions in and he finally lets go(as I said before, the WHITEBOARD scene is what that scene is) 😭with basically everyone there. Jamie and Gray and Xander and Nash are amazing and the way they helped him let go and JAMIE AND GRAY CRIED. I took felt like crying and ultimately did.

I could go on about the scenes I almost/did cry at but there's too many. it was sad though, that's for sure.

Now the actual story. THE PLOT TWISTS. WERE CRAZY.
what do you fcking mean Jennifer that EMILY FCKING LAUGHLIN CAME BACK TO LIFE. 😡I thought we were okay. I THOUGHT SHE WAS DEAD. but hey, at least she DIES after, as she deserves. I'm so proud of Jamie and Gray.
also JLB is a genius for making us think Hannah was alive, but honestly, I think deep down I knew she wasn't, because I believed whatever toby said about Hannah. she wasn't gonna pull a naturals, because her being her she has to do something different. IF ONLY TOBY DIDNT HAVE TO PROTECT FREAKING EMILY PRETENDING AS EVE he would have been alive. But they are reunited. also the amount of crazy people in this book is wild.
also I thought all along calla was Harvard girl that gray kissed, but IG NOT ?? Nora is complicated...
I also was in shock that of lyra's whole family plot twist. like wdym her mother ain't her mother and her bio father was actually someone else and its just messed uppppp😧


the plot of this story was BY FAR the most confusing, most twisted, most confusing, most JLB thing ever written. yet it was still a masterpiece. how is she so smart🥲

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

➳❥│CHARACTERS

GIGI:

“Let’s play a game,” he said. “It’s called You Don’t Need to Prove a Damn Thing. To anyone. It’s called You’re Already Strong.”

she. deserves. the. world. I'm so glad she and slate are endgame because a sunshine needs her grumpy. I also had watery eyes when Gigi was talking to Knox about being the shadow behind savannah. as much as savannah is actually a good person, she is a bitch sometimes... I'm sorry, not hating, I think she just needs to treat Gigi like she's strong, like SLATEEE! I also love how she dragged slate and Knox aroundddd everywhere! I grew to love Knox more too and the three of them together was amazing.

JAMESON:

"Heads or tails, Heiress. Heads you want me to come after you, tails you don't, but either way, I'm coming.
I won't let anyone hurt you. I can't.
Either way, I will fight for you.
Either way, all that I have and all that I am is yours.

the best and my favourite Hawthorne brother. I love them all, but I just love Jamie the most. for those who are hating on him, I don't understand you.
he's a force to be reckoned with. he finally let go, and that scene was so painful yet wholesome at the same time, because Avery is his whole world and he has to let himself unravel and he does. the way he proposes at the end is amazing. at the lighthouse toooo

LYRA:

"Love is agony.
"Right now-yes."
"But you'd do it all again."
"Yes."

her character development was amazing, her romance with Grayson, amazing, her family backstory? MESSED UP. though she was a great character and perfect for gray. Thomas Thomas is messed up. or thomas aquila Reyes, whatever. also the scene at MILES END AHHHHH was BEAUTIFUL. gray and cooper with the water balloons was sooooo cute

ROHAN:

"There was a price to be paid for power, always. Rohan had paid it. Long live the king."

he's British, at times annoying, but Rohan. HE GAVE UP THE MERCY FOR SAVANNAH. WHATTT? HE TRULY LOVES HERRRRRR

AVERY:

shes smart. she's Avery, and she had a plan. I like the idea of the newly reformed gilded blade with eve and Nora and stuff at the end. the epilogue was beautiful and amazing and it was amazing to get her POV back, even for one chapter. WHERE SHES GETTING MARRIEDDDDD

TOBY:

toby was amazing in this book. he's an amazing father to both Avery and eve and no matter how sad I am that he died, no matter that I cried when I read he died, he's reunited with Hannah the Same Backward as Forward. and that makes me happy. rip both of them.

ALICE:
she pains me. shes so smart, and SHES the mastermind here. she was the "guiding hand" of Tobias, and the whole love story game was very interesting. though I do believe she is a good person and really does care for her family, shes messed up.

OTHER CHARACTERS:
all the old characters that were back, Max, Libby, Thea, Rebecca, etc, were amazing. IM HAPPY EMILYS FINALLY DEAD NOW. Nora is interesting, I have mixed feelings with her.
and as much as I hated eve before, JLB FRICK YOU for writing a good revenge/redemption arc and I believe shes a good character now. I never would have thought I would be happy eve DIDN'T die. how the tables have turned.

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

➳❥│MY PRE-READ THEORIES-WERE THEY RIGHT??

My biggest theory was constellations. I knew constellations had something to do with everything.
lyra's name was a constellation, and so were all the possible last names of her father
this one was really reaching but IG: true north -> Polaris -> Ursa minor -> orion's belt -> monoceros -> Zara or Skye got smth to do with it?
and then middle of orion's belt was where they all connect. orion's belt is a triangle -> alnilam (string of pearls) -> zara

I had many more. were they right? read below (SPOILERS)
the constellation theory was half right half wrong. I KNEW they had something to do with everything. when I read the name Vega, I immediately searched it up and YES it was part of the constellation Lyra. I also connected that clue that gray and Lyra found with the lyre or harp or whatever matched the harp in the constellation! I guess the Skye thing and true north was wrong, but I knew constellations were important! aaand rereading final gambit with the escape room with white agate and obsidian matched brothers Hawthorne devils mercy and such so I knew they were going back into that escape room. also THANK YOU REDDIT for helping me with my theories. I have more half baked theories that were half right but I think this is good for now.

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

➳❥│THE END

"A chaos of Hawthornes, indeed."

this is the end of my review, and also the end of an era. I would do anything to read this series for the first time again. JLB I BEG YOU, PLEASE WRITE ANOTHER ONE. LIKE A GAMES UNTOLD PART TWO, WITH ALL THE WEDDINGS OF ALL THE BROTHERS AND MOREEE PLEASE!! PLEASE PULL A NATURALS AND WRITE ANOTHER BOOK/NOVELLA IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS!!🙏

life feels empty without this series. this series is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I will forever be rereading these books. and I will never forget it. ever.💗

pre-release

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

one. last. time.
I can't believe this is the last book in the series.
i'm so excited but scared at the same time.
jlb I trust you will give us a worthy ending where all the couples are happy and the mystery is solved.🥲
i'll go cry now 😭

I CANNOT LIVE LAUGH LOVE THE REST OF MY LIFE WITHOUT THIS SERIES

REREADING ALL THE BOOKS FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME TO PLOT AND THEORIZE

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

[Maria Lavinia]

this book is one of my most anticipated book releases in 2026 and I can't wait to read it !
jenn is one of my favorite authors too and will read what ever she writes !

[zeinab ৎ [vacation - ia]]

˖⊹ pre-read:
finally at the end!! i have to say, after spending almost two years of my life with these characters i don’t think i’ll ever really be ready to say goodbye, but i am excited to see the conclusion to their story at last. (grayson better get his happy ending or else i’ll start a cult 🥰)

[ezraaaa ୨ৎ]

I love you girl but I KINDA WANT SMTH NEW … EXCITED BUT CMON

[hads :] {NEW BIO!} · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

this ending was so happy, but i started to cry cuz it's the end, she did wrap it up very good and i was left completely satisfied

[Hadley Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad this will be the last 😔 but can’t wait to read!

[Mirabel]

hm

we have another one

please, please write a new series soon

[Belle₊˚⊹♡ (for keeps ∞♡) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Spoiler~free)

Uh okay so sobbing.
Absolutely loved this series, my mind can’t fathom that this is over?😭😭🙏

But nonetheless LOVED every single twist we’ve gotten big or small, and PLEASE LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK!!! So so good ❤️‍🔥🫢

Definitely shed some tears after finishing and the ending was perfect 😭
Can’t believe this is a bye to my babies 🥹🤍🤍🤍

⭐️Rating: 5/5
🔥Spice: 0/5
📚Age Rating: 15+

[Mazie (Dorian's Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooo good I called the Watcher and Lyra Grayson time was chefs kiss yearning Jameson ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 ROHAN YOU BASTARD Gigi my baby Slate will take care of you 😘 the ending GUHHHHHH MY COUPLESSSSSSSS IT WAS PERFECT gonna start it over to look for clues

[Julie Scott Boykin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book for MONTHS, and after Glorious Rivals ended on THAT cliffhanger, I needed answers immediately. Jennifer Lynn Barnes really expected me to sit with that ending for months?? Cruel. 😭

Needless to say, the second this arrived, every other responsibility disappeared because I absolutely blazed through it in one day. Sleep? Never heard of her. 📖

Jennifer Lynn Barnes has mastered the art of making me think, "I'll read one chapter," and then suddenly it's 2 a.m.

The Gilded Blade completely pulled me back into the Inheritance Games universe. The riddles, the secrets, the games within games, the constant feeling that someone is always ten steps ahead—it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this series. 🗝️

One thing Jennifer Lynn Barnes will NEVER fail to do is write a Jameson Hawthorne who is absolutely, hopelessly, ridiculously in love.

The yearning??? The longing??? The way Avery is constantly in the back of his mind even though they barely see each other for most of the book??? I WAS UNWELL. 🤍

Jameson notices everything. Every decision he makes somehow circles back to Avery, and Jennifer Lynn Barnes somehow managed to make Avery feel present throughout the entire book even when she and Jameson weren't together. Every little mention of her had me smiling.

Then they finally reunite...

THAT'S WHAT I'D BEEN WAITING FOR. 🥹

I also loved getting to see familiar faces from the original trilogy again. Every appearance made me ridiculously happy, and it reminded me how attached I've become to this entire cast over the years. It felt like getting a surprise visit from old friends. ❤️

The Hawthorne brothers continue to have some of the funniest dialogue ever. Their competitiveness, sarcasm, and absolute inability to have a normal conversation had me laughing out loud multiple times. Honestly, I could read 400 pages of them just arguing with each other and I'd eat it up. 😂

The mystery itself was exactly what I wanted. Every time I thought I'd figured something out, another clue made me throw my theory out the window. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is SO good at giving readers just enough information to make us feel smart... only to humble us five pages later. 😭

And can we PLEASE talk about THAT plot twist???

I genuinely think it's one of the CRAZIEST twists Jennifer Lynn Barnes has ever written. The fact that it had been quietly building since BOOK ONE absolutely blew my mind. Looking back, all the pieces were there, but I never saw it coming. Those are my favorite kinds of twists—the ones that make you immediately want to restart the series just to see everything with fresh eyes because HOW DID I MISS THAT?? 🤯👏

My only real complaint is the pacing of the ending.

The entire book builds and BUILDS toward this huge payoff. Every chapter raises the stakes, every reveal feels like it's leading to something massive, and I was completely invested. Then suddenly... it wrapped up much faster than I expected.

Don't get me wrong—I actually LOVED the ending. It was emotional, satisfying, and I was genuinely on the verge of crying during one of the final scenes. 🥲 I just wish we'd had another few chapters to sit with everything after so much buildup. More than anything, I wanted more Avery and Jameson. After spending almost the entire book waiting for them to finally be together again, I wanted a few more moments with them before saying goodbye. I wasn't ready to leave them yet. Jennifer Lynn Barnes said, "Here's your reunion... okay bye!" and I took that personally. 😭

More than anything, finishing this felt so bittersweet. It's rare for a series to make you feel like you're saying goodbye to old friends, but that's exactly how this felt. Jennifer Lynn Barnes gave this universe an ending that felt worthy of everything that came before—it just left me wishing I had a few more pages. ♟️

Overall, this was such an addictive, clever, emotional read. I laughed, I almost cried, I stayed up way too late, and I finished it in a single day because there was absolutely NO way I was putting it down.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes... thank you for one last game. ♟️🤍

[Nicole Walls · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For some people, love is a tsunami that knocks them off their feet or the undertow pulling them out to sea. Love sinks its razor-sharp teeth into some people and never lets go. But for others of us, love is a choice and that choice, it's terrifying, and it is never simple, and it can feel like offering up your throat." 🌊🤍🗝️

what an ending! this book universe means the absolute world to me. i cannot even begin to describe how much these characters and this story mean to me. ms. barnes really went out with a bang, just as i hoped she would!

the plot!! 🌊
now that avery is missing, the whole crew has to work together to find and save the beloved heiress. as the book goes on, the characters begin to realize just how much danger avery could be in. will she be able to make it out alive? will all of our favorite characters be able to make it out alive? it’s hard to say…. you’ll have to read to find out!

this plot was crazy! i was so nervous, especially towards the end of the book. even though i wanted to binge-read this book, i tried my best to spread it out a bit, only because i wanted the series to go on forever! i wasn’t ready for it to end. to be honest, it’s over and i still am not ready for it to end.

the characters!! 🤍
these characters are my home. they all mean so much to me. i’ve loved them for years now! this book was so exciting because we got to see all of them working together. that was so fun to see! i loved seeing them all meeting each other and getting to know each other more and more. it was all so exciting!

the ending!! 🗝️
the ending was both perfect, and devastating, in so many different ways. parting with these characters was honestly so upsetting, but i’m glad to see that they were finally able to settle down and get the happy endings they deserve. i’m still looking forward to that tv show though! that’s still happening, right? may the hawthorne family live on!

would i recommend this series? ✨
ABSOLUTELY!! COMPLETELY!! 100%!! in fact, i have recommended this series to multiple people i know, but sadly, none of them have listened to me. they’re missing out on a true literary masterpiece!

would i read it again? ✨
i seriously want to! i know that i’ll be rereading this series many, many times in the future. this is one that no one could ever get bored of.

[undead swan (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

AFTER READING GLORIOUS RIVALS:

IM ENJOYING THIS AND NO ONE CAN CHANGE MY MIND HELLO??

Anyone else just have it as a head cannon that the moment Lyra finally allows herself to dance, it’ll be with Grayson.

JLB atp hand me the typewriter I know you so well and I’m not even complaining rn. Making Avery and Jameson endgame was perfect because they are for each other. Grayson and Lyra are the same in so many ways.

[☆♪AnDrEa♪☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW PLAYING
run boy run ~ Woodkid
2:25 ——————— 3:33
< ♦︎ >

[ Run Boy Run! ]


⚠️SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE WHOLE REVIEW! ⚠️

Romance: Some pretty passionate kisses, someone described taking shirt off; nothing further than that. 2–3 times they kiss someones neck. Hugs and kisses on foreheads.

Profanity: *sshole, b*tch, sh*t, d*ck i think theres might have been more but im not sure of it.

Violence: A bunch in this book. Mysterious poison, poison in a little gun thingy. Someone getting neck snapped, someone getting strangled, suicide from poison, suicide from gun, nose breaking, punching, kicking, almost drowning, kidnapping,abusing and torturing, fighting to the death.

Lgbtga+: None i needed to look out for.

[ The sun will be guiding you, ]


~ QUOTES ~


“Young love didn’t always scar.”. But when it did, it scarred deeply.”

“Love is real.” “ its knowing who you are and who the other person is and go letting yourself fall, knowing damn well that there’s someone there to catch you.”

“ hes too young.” “ we both know theres no such thing.”

“ For some people love is a tsunami that knocks them off their feet or the undertow pulling them out of sea love sinks. It’s a razor, sharp teeth into some people never let go, but other of us love is a choice that choice is terrifying and it is never simple and it can feel like offering up your throat.”

“There would be rules- and the two of them would break them. Again. And again. And again.”

[ Run boy run! ]


~ CHARACTERS AND THOUGHTS ~

Gigi- Girl anachronism- The Dresden Dolls
~Im not the carefullest girl,you can tell from the glass on the floor.~

“Touch me again,manipulate me again and see what happens.”

Bro Gigi was SUCH a diva in this book. And still she didnt even sound rude! She is like the ultimate ray of sunshine and her jokes are rlly funny.

Knox- Taking whats not yours-Tv Girl
~ i still have everything you bought but you never took~

soooo i kinda shipped him and gigi before i rememberd slate AND looked at his age. HES 25? dayum. I actually really liked him, he was like grayson; a big brother for Gigi.

Brady- Burning pile- Momma Momma
~ all my troubles in a burning pile,all lit up and i start to smile~

I havent really gotten a opinion on him yet. Hes just kinda….. there,yk?

Savannah- Maneater- Nelly Furtado
~ when she walks she walks with passion, when she talks she talk like she can handle it~

“ patience is for people who stand to gain something by waiting.”

I actually loved savannah in this book, she was protective of gigi and never left her! (JK JK ). And i loveddddd her a Rohan, such a great couple :)

Rohan -Just keep watching- Tate Mcrae
~its alright, if you cant keep up, give me all your love all night, all night~

“Her name is princess Fluffum.”

“Has anyone ever offered, to give you the world?”

“if you feel compelled to shove me against a wall…Be gentle.”

OH MY GAWD BRO ROHAN WAS SO HOT IN THIS BOOK. I literally had to shut the book multiple times ( WHILE ACTIVELY BLUSHING BC GAWD DAYUM.) idk bro he was just such a green flag. HE SOLD EVERYTHING FOR SAVANNAH.

Lyra- Headlock- Imogen Heap

Lyra was an icon in this book! She was always sooo confident and always focused on what mattered

Xander- Close to you- Gracie Abrams
~ Break my heart and start a fire~

So xander was barely in the book lowkey, and i didnt really know what song to pick but eh. Im sooo glad him and Max could made a appearance in here tho!

“ we should seal this agreement, as civilized men do, with baked goods.”

Eve/Emily- run rabbit- Mollie Elizabeth

Soooooooo eve/ emily, they were both pretty cool, and eve, actually was kinda good in this book! Emily wasnt either tho. I DIDNT KNOW EMILY NEVER DIED BRO! (I told you there was spoilers!)

Calla thorp - Who is she?- I monster
~who is she? A misty memory…~
She scared me. A lot. Im not kidding.

Nora- Bang Bang Bang Bang -Sohodolls
“Theres nothing more dangerous than true believers.”

“There are no true heros.”

I LOVEDDDDDDD NORA! I actually had more quotes for her but just didnt put them in….. she was such a diva with comebacks everywhere. And dont get me started on her knife skills, like okay girl slayyyyy.

Greyson- The Exit- Conan Gray
“Shes my avery too.”

Greyson was actually such a good person in this book. She was also so rizzy ( im sooo glad sorry for usung that word🥹 ) anywho, i liked him in this book!

Nan-Diva- Beyonce
“They say poison is a womans weapon, but i always found an open window to suffice myself”

ABSOLUTE BADDIE BRO. SHE WAS ROASTING PEOPLE HERE TO THERE, SIDE TO SIDE. All for a piece of caramel :)

Mattias/Slate- RUNRUNRUN-dutch melrose
~run baby run, run for your life. Ima tear out your heart it will always be mine~

“Im always at my most dangerous,when my intentions are good.”

“I have known everything I needed to know about you since you knew I existed.”

ALSO SO HOT IN THIS BOOK OMG I LIVED HIMMMMMMM HIS RIZZ WAS INSANE. He was always taking care of everyone including Gigi!


Jameson- The winner takes it all-ABBA
~ a big thing or a small, the winner takes it all~

Poor Jameson bro. He was just trying to get to his Avery, and risked everything for that brooo. He deserved better.

Toby- Die first - ness barret ( IM SOREY IT JUST FITS)
~i hope i die first, cause i dont wanna ever learn how to fall asleep without you tell me whats worse~

MY BABYYYYYYTY WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE I LOVED HIM BRO HE WAS SO NICE AND AMAZING.

[ They are dying to stop you ]

Plot: I really liked the plot! It was sooooo great and always kept me on my feet and screaming for more when those dayum clifhangers hit. The characters and the development of the book did not fail.

[Run boy run! ]

OVERAL: LITTERAL 6 STARS!!!!!! SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK AND I CANT WAIT TO RED MORE OF JENNIFERS OTHER BOOKS! Also the ending actually kept me fully satisfied! And it didnt leave me like “ what happened to ________? “ or anything. The ending was not rushed and i loved how avery and jameson got married :)

[The race is a prophecy, To break from society ]
TYSM FOR READING REVIEW! MWAH HWRES A COOKIE 🍪

[⋆.˚✮ anya danielle۫ ✮˚.⋆ (very inactive)]

I WILL READ JENNIFER LYNN BARNES' GROCERY LIST ATP.

just put grayson's name in this book and i'll read it >3

ALSO I NEED TO READ GLORIOUS RIVALS ASAP

[Infinity ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

U guysss 😭😭
What a journey this was omgg. I really can't believe this is the last book 😭
I have loved this series since the first time I read it and always waiting for the next one to be released i really can't believe there won't be a next one ahaaaa 😭💞💞

[⋆. &#x1065a; ˚&#x1d4f5;&#x1d4f2;&#x1d4f7;&#x1d4f7;&#x1d4ee;&#x1d4ea;˚ &#x1065a; .⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not okay. Like seriously not okay. I started this series May of 2024, and after over two years of being with these characters and this story, you’re telling me I will never get new stuff from them?? It’s a good thing I locked myself in my room cuz that ending had me in tears 😭

6 stars 🌟 (I will never get over this)

[☆✶★ Marina ★✶☆∘∗⁂․ (Matching pfp with Delulu ten) {hiatus}]

When did she release the cover. I love it

I can't believe that this is the last book in the Inheritance Games universe. To everyone telling her to stop writing inheritance game books. If u don't want it don't buy it. If she writes another 20 books of inheritance games, I'll read all of them

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

god bless my soul she's writing another one🤯🤩id die without these masterpieces !!!