The Inheritance Games (November 2022) Group Reads Discusssion

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile]]

This is the group thread for The Inheritance Games

This thread is open for discussion beginning November 1st! Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed (mark as a spoiler) in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days of the month can be used to catch up if needed! Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads.

The Group Read Discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 11/1:
November 1: Chapter 1-6
November 2: Chapters 7-12
November 3: Chapters 13-18
November 4: Chapters 19-24
November 5: Chapters 25-30

Week of 11/6
November 6: Chapters 31-36
November 7: Chapters 37-42
November 8: Chapters 43-48
November 9: Chapters 49-54
November 10: Chapters 55-60
November 11: Chapters 61-66
November 12: Chapters 67-72

Week of 11/13
November 13: Chapters 73-79
November 14: Chapters 80-87
November 15: Chapters 87-Epilogue

You can read the group book at any time during the month and at your own pace. This is the pace the group will be using, but if you read ahead or will be giving spoilers, please mark them (click the "some html is ok button"). If you have any questions a mod or another member can help you.

[sarah reads ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Let the games begin 🍵

[Bopeep]

I've read the first six chapters and I'm liking it~ I like how it's written and Avery too. She remind me of El from A deadly education - both intelligent and asocial but with good intentions.

Just reading 6 chapters wouldn't be enough to make my crazy theories but I think I have one. (view spoiler)[After the attorney said if Avery was ruined by any Hawthrone, maybe one of them (the grandfather or any of his sons) put Averys mom in danger. What do you think? (hide spoiler)]

And I'm sooo excited to see a mansion full of secret passages! It's like the clue game or so haha

[Gaea]

Finished chapter six~ So far I'm liking the decently fast pace.

@Bopeep - I can definitely see some similarities between Avery and El, though I think Avery so far is less openly (angrily) hostile haha

It's still the beginning but there's still some possible theories popping up for me too. (view spoiler)[When Alisa asked about being ruined by a Hawthorne, I kind of thought that implied she herself had been ruined by one, or that she knows someone (or many someones) who had. Super rich family = definite chance of them having stepped on other people's toes, deliberately or not. Though it does seem like the only possible connection Avery would have with the Hawthornes is through her mother, though what that connection could be, I'm not sure yet. Maybe it's something to do with her love of games? Seeing as the house already seems like it's gonna be one giant puzzle box of secret passages... (hide spoiler)]

[Kylie]

I’ve read this before, but it was so long ago that I don’t remember all the details. I’ll probably join in and re-read it so I can move on in the series.

[Bopeep]

@Gaea
Well, yes, Avery doesn't have to fight monsteres every day XD

Theories: (view spoiler)[I think Alisa was the one who said that she fell in love with one of the Hawthrones?
The other theory I have is that her mother is a bastar daughter or something like that :/ But I think it will be more complicated than this...
(hide spoiler)]

I've read chapter 12 and oh, poor Avery. What will happen to her inside that house of power-hungry no-heirs...
But I'm so curious about the puzzle house with all it's passages and all. <3

@Kylie Yay!! We will be here making crazy theories and so haha

[sarah reads ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I really enjoy the book so far especially on how short the chapters are but they keep you wanting to read more. I have some theories but imma sit on them for now and see how the story unfolds.

[Bopeep]

@Sarah Please, do share them with us! That's why we do these buddy reads, to share theories and all~

Chapter 18 read~ (I feel that I'm annoying commenting here everyday haha ^^')

I really want Avery to search in the office and find the family's dirty secrets 👀

Sooo which of the Hawthrones do you like? Just curious! I know that I'm going to love Grayson, even if he's a bit of an asterisk xD

[Amanda]

I've just caught up to chapter 18! I'll admit, I came into this book prepared for disappointment. I'm always a bit skeptical about popular books/series, but I was very pleasantly surprised! The short chapters do feel a bit unnecessarily short, but they do help build up the tension and I can't say I mind too much (just an observation). However, the writing style, plot (so far), and characters are making for a great page-turner.

I warn you now, I am bigger on characters than plot, so most of my thoughts are focused on the players rather than the game so far...

The first few chapters did a great job of setting the scene and mood, and they set a firm foundation for what to expect from Avery and gave me a look at who she is as a person/character. I really like her so far, but everyone is SO VERY MYSTERIOUS! It's giving me a bit of BBC Sherlock vibes with how Avery is able to figure out seemingly impossible puzzles/riddles, but I'm here for it.

I am curious about where things with Libby will go. She's a so-so character for me (too trusting for me), but I think she contrasts well with the other characters. (view spoiler)[I will say that the non-consensual DNA test the Hawthornes ran on Libby was... not okay, but I do understand where they're coming from. I just hope it doesn't affect Libby and Avery's relationship if it turns up anything. (hide spoiler)]

Side note: Can I just say I really like Alisa and Oren? I don't know why, but I do, so I just wanted to tell someone...

My opinions on the Hawthorne brothers (from a very personal perspective):

Grayson is my favorite so far even though he is definitely an asterisk (lol). He is clearly not the good guy type of character, but he's smart, protective of those he cares about (even if he himself may be number one on his list), and accomplished which is totally my type of character.

Nash is a close second. He is the consummate older brother character. He could be living his ideal nomadic life (as he himself pointed out), but he stuck around to protect Avery (although I do think it was to keep his brothers out of trouble more than to protect Avery) and seems to be the most reasonable and levelheaded of any of the Hawthornes (the family in general, not just the four brothers) so far. I like his type, but he seems a bit too accepting of the situation and of Avery to me, so I can't bring myself to trust him. I do find him... interesting.

Jameson and Xander are on the same level for me, although I want to know more about Jameson than I do about Xander. Jameson is so enigmatic that I just feel the need to figure him out. The lack of information and understanding I have for him just makes me want to figure him out like one of his riddles. Xander comes off as the sweet, immature younger brother which is nice, but it's just not my thing... that and I just can't trust him to be who he has shown himself to be so far. We'll see with both of them, but that's where I'm at.

So that's where I'm at so far. I'm looking forward to what is to come. It's off to a good start.

Happy reading!

[sarah reads ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Bopeep wrote: "@Sarah Please, do share them with us! That's why we do these buddy reads, to share theories and all~

Chapter 18 read~ (I feel that I'm annoying commenting here everyday haha ^^')

I really want Av..."

Just finished chapter 18. I’m more curious about the house at this point than about the characters. But I think Xander and Grayson are my favorites right now and I keep forgetting that Avery and some of the other characters are teenagers. I wonder whom Avery will be developing a romantic interest in…I can totally see this book series made into a limited tv series tho.

(view spoiler)[
ok so I have some theories:
- maybe Avery is Tobias long lost granddaughter
- or maybe Avery’s family helped Tobias build his fortune from the start and this is a tribute
- oor maybe Tobias got his fortune by stealing from Avery’s family and he’s righting a wrong
- ooor maybe Avery is just a kind hearted girl who crossed path with Tobias before he made his fortune and he just wanted to leave his legacy in someone who’s pure hearted instead of vultures like his sons and daughters
- oooor Tobias is just petty and manipulative and he’s not actually dead
(hide spoiler)]

[Bopeep]

In every chapter there are more mysteries and secrets. I love it, I want mooore! But 6 chapters/day is good for me, sinc I have more books to read. But ahsosjadi

@Amanda
Yeah, Libby is a cinnamon roll and trusts so easily, so I hope it doesn't happen anything bad to her... But probably some Hawthrone brother will do something to her -sigh-.

Alisa and Oren are so nice to be near Avery, since she is so lost in this luxury world she landed in. I think they are so loyal!

@Sarah
Hmm... I like your 2nd and 3rd theories, because I think something similar. And Of course the last one, I still think that. As the proverb says: "Without a corpse there is no dead" (not sure if it's an own proverb but I say it with my girlfriend haha)

Chapter 30
(view spoiler)[
Soo what if that grandfather didn't die at all and he's just faking his death? I really thought that maybe he is Harry, the homeless man at the startd of the book. Or maybe that HArry is his "dead" son.
I don't know what to think, I keep doing theories and theories haha

Oh, how I've enjoyed Alisa's last words: "Libby, as you said, can wear whatever she wants, but you don't have that luxury". Hahaha, poor Avery x'D
(hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

So, I think I've read a bit too far ahead... but it was just so good! I started reading the scheduled chapters and the next thing I knew I had reached chapter 55! I'm really enjoying the read, and I can't wait to pick it back up! I'm not exactly sure what from my notes is from what chapter, so I'm just going to hide everything. Sorry.

(view spoiler)[First, a note on Avery. I still like her as a character, but I think she comes off as a bit dull (not unintelligent, but perhaps a bit less interesting than she was at the start). I don't think she's boring or poorly written, but she just isn't as interesting as the other players in the game. I think my opinion has more to do with how much I know about her (as the narrator) in comparison to how little I know about everyone else and how colorful the other characters are. I don't dislike her, but I look forward to what the other characters are doing more than I look forward to seeing what Avery is doing or what she's thinking. I don't know... just ignore me.

Jameson has definitely grown on me. If ever there was a character that embodied the saying "a riddle wrapped in an enigma"... I don't know if I like him or if his mysteriousness annoys me so much that I'm confused, but I really do look forward to any scene including him. He has climbed to the spot of my favorite Hawthorne brother.

I still like Grayson for the same reasons I said I liked him in my previous post, but there just isn't enough of him (or the other brothers) for me to really get a good read on him. What I do see of him in the book I like, but I just don't feel like I have enough "evidence" to keep him as a favorite. He's still pretty high up on my list of favorite characters in the book though.

I'm liking Nash less... He just seems too shady. I don't know how or what to feel about his interest in Libby; she's such a cinnamon roll (as @Bopeep pointed out) that I don't want him casting a shadow over her. I don't think he's another Drake, but I just can't trust him or get a good enough feel for him to like that situation. He's... complicated.

Xander is still a bit too sweet(?) if that's even the right word for him, but I kind of like that. He still isn't the type I'd typically like, but he has his merits. He just seems like the least likely of the Hawthornes to stab anyone in the back. Perhaps that view is a bit premature, but that's where I'm at right now.

Zara and her husband are super sus. Just saying... Also, who names their kid Constantine in this day and age?

Max is super awesome. I love her veiled curses and exuberance but I am worried about her declining energy and ultimately her dropping off the map. I hope nothing happened to her, but in this book, something definitely did.

The end of chapter 54 was rough. Avery and Jameson's kiss felt inevitable by the time it happened, but his focus on the game and belief that even Avery getting shot at was a part of it felt almost cruel and I didn't expect that. I don't think Avery did either, but we both should have known his character. It just felt a bit jarring tbh.

Theory: I totally agree with Jameson. I think Toby is still alive out there, and I think Tobias set up the game in order to force Avery and the grandchildren to find him. I think he designed the game to put the focus on Avery rather on the game (i.e., finding Toby) because Zara and Skye were involved in the accident that resulted in Toby's disappearance. (hide spoiler)]

I hope you all are enjoying the book as much as I am! Happy reading!

[sarah reads ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

@Bobeep
I was thinking the same with your chapter 30 theory.
And Drake is an
(view spoiler)[
a**hole since the first chapter.
I’m on chapter 42 and Drake is still an a**hole.
Hopefully some character developments are coming, for his own sake lol
(hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

I couldn't help myself and sped through the rest of the book without even updating you all! lol no worries, I will keep my comments general until everyone finishes

I think I have a different opinion than most of you regarding the characters. I found them all to all really only exist on a surface level. I don't think they do things because it makes sense for them as characters, I think they do things in order to move the plot forward, and that just makes me dislike all of them. I like the plot a lot, and I would say this is a more plot-driven book than character-driven, but I just don't think the writing around the characterization is very strong.

However. The PLOT! the MYSTERY. the DRAMA. very fun. can't wait to see what you all think as you keep going!

[Amanda]

I couldn't help myself! I just had to finish this book! While I went into this read with low expectations, I finish it having truly enjoyed myself and each twist and turn along the way. Honestly, that cliffhanger... I need to pick up the next book soon (I'm kind of mad that I probably won't get to it until next month)!

@Katie I see where you're coming from. This book was definitely plot-driven and the characters, when compared to other books, are pretty flat, but they are there to ensure that the plot moves along and that things happen when and how they are supposed to. The plot kept me reading; if this book had just been about the characters I likely would have found it a struggle to get through. However, I have and probably always will be more of a fan of the players than the game if you know what I mean.

I tend to focus my opinions more on the characters than on the story because the story should happen because of the characters. Characters, in my opinion, should write the story and not the other way around. This book goes against that with the plot requiring the players to make certain moves rather than characters making certain moves themselves in order to write the plot, but I think that the quality of the writing and the overall style just did it for me in this case. The characters may have been a bit one-note, but I made sure to understand them as tools to progress the plot and considered how I liked what part they were playing because I felt the need for some sort of connection with them. I wish more books had the plot AND the characters, but if they aren't going to do that, I'll make do with what I can get. This book did a good job of keeping me invested despite the somewhat 2-D characters.

(view spoiler)[I don't have much to really say about specific things, but on a broader scale, I have a few closing thoughts.

I didn't see Skye as the mastermind behind the murder plot coming. I don't know why... probably because Zara and Constantine were made to play decoys... I didn't like her free-spiritedness to be honest, so I'm not mad but I just didn't see it coming. I guess it makes sense. I kind of wished it had been Nash though so I could stop getting weird vibes for no discernable reason...

I don't know what to do with the renewed love triangle thing going on between Grayson, Avery, and Jameson. Honestly, at the beginning of the book I was rooting for Grayson just because he was more my type, but then Jameson started to make more sense because he was around more and he and Avery seemed to have more in common. Now, having more of Gray in recent chapters,
I kind of wish he hadn't drawn a line and given up for Jameson's sake. Do with this what you will; it's a relatively pointless rant on my part.

I kind of knew Xander was more than what he seemed, but can I just say I was a little shocked when it was revealed that he was playing puppet master for Tobias? It kind of made me like him more... but at the same time, I don't.

When Xander revealed the message about finding Toby, I can't say I was surprised. Toby seemed kind of central to the plot with all of the mentions and the clues pointing to the game involving him somehow. I did not expect him to be the guy Avery played chess with, but then again, the author rarely puts in random scenes so I should have known that the scene with "Harry" in the first chapter and repeated mentions of him early on in the book meant something. I'm honestly disappointed in myself. (hide spoiler)]

So, at the end of the day, this book ended up being a 4-star read for me. I hope you all are having as much fun with it as I did. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say as they get further along.

Happy reading!

[aikaterine]

Just finished Chapter 19 and I have to say I love this so far! The short chapters actually make it feel like movie scenes so they really keep me invested and intrigued.
The house sounds amazing and I would love to explore all its secrets! Maybe with a Hawthorne brother? Haha.

I’m terrified of reading anything about what happens afterwards by accident so I’ve only peeked into your comments. But, I wanted to also contribute a potential theory that I also have so far; (view spoiler)[what if Tobias was somehow involved or at fault for Avery’s mom’s death? And that’s why he’s sorry. Because with all this physical tension and teasings with the brothers, I don’t know how a family relation between them would not make it completely cringey 😬 (hide spoiler)]

[Gaea]

Finally got some reading time! I'm on chapter 25 now and I have to admit, the characters really do feel rather flat. So far I'm inclined towards @Katie's opinion - they seem to be more like tools used to showcase the plot than anything else. Feelings-wise, I'm fluctuating between overall apathy and slight irritation, though most of the latter is directed towards the Hawthorne boys. It's trying to make them sound amazingly talented and super mysterious, but it's just making me go "meh", hahaha.

[Bopeep]

I agree with you all about the characters, but there's a lot of them to know them better or not being that flat.
As Tobias Hawthrone, the author did the same: their characters are a means to an end. Muahahah (?)

I'm reading both the English book and the Spanish translation and I have to say I love the Spanish version a lot more. The puns with Max eufemisms are way better (by a lot), and I think the translator did a great job editing some uncongruous paragraphs.

Chapter 76

By now the plot has took another subplot, the Emily one. I think that's important for the Hamthrones but is a distraction for all of them.
And though Emily is dead, I don't like her at all, she was so manipulative, possesive and a lot of toxic traits surrounded by a great smile and probably a lot of toxic positivity too.
It is too bad to say I'm glad she's dead?

By the way, my theory about the Black Wood was right. 8)

At the moment, Xander's my favorite, because he's not implying himself a lot on the game, but keeps thinking about it.

(view spoiler)[I'm still not sure who's the one after the shooting, but my bets are on Nash's. (hide spoiler)]

[Bopeep]

I've finished!

And I just want to say that... I KNEW IT.

(Theories on the next book spoilers)
(view spoiler)[I KNEW THAT THAT HOMELESS MAN AVERY PLAYED WITH WAS T.H.II !!!
Ha!!! (I feel so powerful now, don't mind me)

Okay, ahem.
My theory now is that Tobias Hawthorne father was searching for his son and he followed the clues to where Avery lived. Then he find her... and him, too.
I don't know how Avery's mom and Tobias II met, but I'm sure that they met before Avery was born.
AAAAAaaaa
(hide spoiler)]

Now that I've vented, I can say that, as you said this is so plot driven and the characters are flat. Though Grayson is my type, I'm not really intrigued by him, and at the moment I like Xander a lot.
(Ending spoilers)
(view spoiler)[As @amanda said, I didn't expect Skye to be after the murder plot! I thought about Nash, but it seems he really doesn't care much about the game. But it will happen soemthing with Libby, I'm sure.

Same, I didn't expect Xander to be a puppet, but I like this kind of twisted characters. I want to know more about him, and about Thea and Rebecca too. (hide spoiler)]

Do you have any theories about the next book? :3

[Jen K]

Finally managed to get this one from the library. I just started this morning and already read through Chapter 40. It is a hard book to put down and keep down. I just want to understand the puzzle which is fun.

Nash might be my favorite so far? I'm a bit nervous of all of them. I'm not sure how this will end up. I would guess that there is some kind of link with Avery's mom and Toby? I'm going to be mad if some basic questions aren't answered at the end of the book. I will keep reading the series but I need some satisfaction.

[Jen K]

Okay, this was a page turner as I really wanted answers on the riddles and puzzle. I agree with the comments above that all the characters are a bit flat and too messy to actually like. It seems like everyone is hiding something and has menacing intentions. Honestly Jameson kind of creeps me out at this point. The whole Emily sidetrack was weird and her death definitely still seems unexplained.

I'm totally in for the next one!

[aikaterine]

Yay, I finally got some time to finish this last night, and I got to say I loved every minute of it!

The more I read into it, the more I disliked these Hawthorne boys, except for Nash (so far!). They all felt kinda flat, but maybe that's because they're all so duplicitous and one moment they do something only to take it back in the next page.

The good thing was that the last few chapters were literal page turners and we got *some* answers and a couple plot twists, but I'm all the more excited to dive into the sequel and see what happens next. Although I am a little terrified as I've heard that not so much is happening in the second book. But we'll see.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

There's nothing like starting the book on the last day of the month so that you could use it for points 😅

I read the first 6 chapters, and I like how fast it went, it's easy to read. When I started it it gave me Truly Devious vibes, and it could be because of the cover or maybe because we see Avery is intelligent and there was something in that first chapter that made me think of the MC in TD.... I hope those things won't affect my reading and thoughts of the book because I didn't like Truly Devious.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

* After chapter 9 I'm intrigued, why did she get everything?

* After meeting Libby in that first chapter as a people pleaser I'm annoyed by how she pushes Avery to go with all the inheritance things. You're getting an inheritance, of course we'll go to another country for the will reading. You got a lot of money and a bunch of other things, are you crazy to not accept them? Like it just doesn't go with the person I met first.

* Well that letter explained... nothing.

* Awwwww, Avery and Gray are having a cute nerd moment talking about strategy.

I'm halfway through the book, and I'm enjoying it. I'm not thinking much about anything, without theories, so I'm only enjoying the ride.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

After reading the convo between Avery and Max, after A was shot at... I really get Katie's they are there to play a role and that's it. Which makes it sad for Max to only listen to Avery's problems and Avery not knowing how things go in her life.


So I finished the book, and I quite enjoyed it. I'm glad that the mystery was solved, and that we have a good hint for the second book.