The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, 2) Paperback – August 2, 2022

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is an absolutely thrilling sequel that takes the mystery, suspense, and family drama to the next level. Picking up where The Inheritance Games left off, the story dives deeper into the complex and mysterious world of the Hawthorne family, with even more puzzles, secrets, and dangerous stakes.Avery, the main character, continues to be a strong and relatable protagonist, and I loved watching her navigate the complex relationships within the Hawthorne family. The dynamics between the brothers—especially with Jameson and Grayson—are even more intense in this book, and the tension between them adds so much to the story. The romance is subtle but filled with emotion, adding an extra layer to Avery’s journey.What really sets this book apart is the intricate puzzles and mind-bending twists. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the author would throw in a curveball that kept me on the edge of my seat. The pacing is spot-on, with enough action and revelation to keep things moving without ever feeling rushed.The character development is also fantastic, as you learn more about the motivations and pasts of each member of the Hawthorne family. The stakes get higher, and the mystery deepens, making this a book that’s hard to put down.If you loved the first book, The Hawthorne Legacy is a must-read. It’s a perfect blend of mystery, family drama, and unexpected twists, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues in the next installment. Highly recommend!

This book was full of one mystery after another. Kept he hooked to know what happens next. Not the ending I wanted but still satisfied. Overall a good read

This book is amazing,all the twist and turns you encounter, and everything else. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!!!

This book was even better than the first. This author is absolutely amazing at keeping you guessing. Books about riddles and if you think its figured out, hold on its not. I couldn't put it down!!! Now onto book 3........

Twists and turns on every page! Out of the trilogy, this is my least favorite, though you should still read it! Ive really enjoyed the series and am eager to read more of her books. The trilogy really kept you guessing!

Highly recommend! Intrigued and returned to book even when I should have been doing so many other things, I just didn’t want to stop reading!

I mean, I read the entire book. And I didn't hate it.But it took all the aspects of the first book that weren't so great and made them worse. It also felt very much like a repeat of the first book in some aspects. I kept a mental checklist: here's where Avery kisses _______, now here's where Avery kisses ________, here's where someone tries to kill her and fails, here's the kindness moment from Mrs. Laughlin. (I could go on and on.) Maybe it was my imagination, but these all seemed to happen in the same story moments (25%, 62%, etc.) of the story.The puzzles were even less puzzling than the first book. I figured most of them out way before Avery and the Hawthorne's and many were so dead obvious that Avery and the Hawthorne's started to feel a bit dense. I figured out the family dynamics/connections hundred of pages before they were revealed. And there were a number of dead-obvious clues that no one else noticed. I kept wondering when someone was going to follow up on ____________________, but then they never did.The theme of 'I can't because I feel too guilty' felt tired in this book. Too much of a repeat of the previous book. Made the conclusion unsatisfying.I also found several aspects of the plot unbelievably cruel. The first was Avery's Mom endlessly telling her 'I've got a secret about the day of your birth.' It's hard to discuss this without giving away spoilers, so I'll make my own metaphor as an example of what happened (this is not what happened). Let's say A Person grows up poor with a Family Member saying that one day the person would inherit a billion dollars. Over and over again the Family Member says this. But then when the inheritance comes in, it isn't The Person who inherits, it's the Family Member. The Person gets zero because they have zero connection to the money, only the Family Member does. Even worse, The Person is expected to be just as happy about the Family Member having their dreams come true as if it actually had been The Person themselves. (I hope that makes sense.) In this situation, it was CRUEL of the Family Member to endlessly tell The Person that they would inherit billions because it had nothing to do with The Person. This is pretty much what Avery's mother does to Avery. And of course Avery is thrilled with getting nothing and her mother's cruelty. That her mother did a hugely unkind thing isn't even mentioned. (Truth, it occurs to me as I write this that Avery is becoming a Mary Sue.)And then in the same vein, Avery spends the book continuing to develop romantic relationships with both Jameson and Grayson. Not once does she pause to consider that's she creating a repeat of the Emily fiasco, which nearly destroyed both boys. Avery just switches back and forth between them, without even considering whether this is a good idea or not. She is supposed to be so brilliant, such a good reader of people, and yet in this aspect she also came off as cruel. The only person who showed any common sense in this three-some was Grayson.The thing is, I have a feeling all of this is unintentional on the author's part. One of those situations where the author just didn't think things thru well enough.I'll probably read the third book. I'm curious how the author redeems Avery's situation. My guess is that Avery is going to become even more of a Mary Sue. But we'll see.

Starts a little slower than the first, but picks up quickly. Full of twists and turns. Definitely worth reading! I finished it quickly.