Description
The Gambit Trilogy has been a series of books I have been looking forward to reading. The first part of Final Gambit, Invincible, was one of my top reads this year with the gritty and personal story told in an original style. Unfortunately the second book was not as good as I had hoped it would be and so when I went into this final book in the series,
I wasn’t expecting too much going into it but that is what happens sometimes with books you were looking forward to for awhile. They let you down…and then they surprise you!
We follow Darrow on his quest for revolution and more importantly revenge against those who killed his family.
From the Publisher
![Over 1 million copies sold [3d book cover images of The Inheritance Game and The Hawthorne Legacy]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/3efe9fac-f3fd-4399-beb8-2a767b123f78.__CR0,0,1080,1080_PT0_SX300_V1___.jpg)
![There's nothing more Hawthorne than winning. | THE FINAL GAMBIT [image of chess piece, tiara, key]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/cd92d14f-b4be-4795-818a-dd55f9b4f73d.__CR0,0,1080,1080_PT0_SX300_V1___.jpg)
The Naturals Killer Instinct Bad Blood Little White Lies Deadly Little Scandals The Lovely and the Lost Get hooked by the thrilling mysteries of Jennifer Lynn Barnes! The Mentalist meets Pretty Little Liars in a gripping psychological thriller with killer appeal and a to-die-for romance. With brilliant plotting and astounding twists, this thrilling sequel to The Naturals keeps readers on the edge of their seats. As the bodies begin piling up, this time the Naturals aren’t just hunting serial killers. They’re being hunted. Set in the world of debutante balls, Little White Lies combines a classic fish-out-of-water story with a thrillingly layered mystery. No one is quite who they seem to be in this twisty, gasp-inducing sequel to Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ unputdownable Little White Lies. After years living in the wild, a teenage girl must uncover long-buried secrets from her past to find a missing child.
Caroline L. –
Just like the other books, she has mysteries and puzzles to unravel and solve. At the end, the mirror scene to the opening of the book was so much fun. If you’ve paid attention to the philanthropic work that Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott have engaged in after their divorces, you won’t be shocked by the ending.
Olivia F. –
THE FINAL GAMBIT is a thrilling conclusion to the THE INHERITANCE GAMES series. Avery is nearly to the end of the year she needs to spend at the Hawthorne House before she will inherit billions, and she is still reeling from all the things she has learned during this time. Before the time is up, the old man and one of his former adversaries has another twist coming for her, and the clock is ticking for both her inheritance and the lives of those she cares about.What I loved: In many ways, this book solidifies the things that were happening at the end of the previous. Avery has really decided who she is and who she wants to be, and she is not compromising along the way. Her character growth has been enormous since the first book, and I loved how she was assertive in standing up for herself, believing in her own mind and abilities, and making things happen. Likewise, the romance for her becomes absolutely undeniable and clear in this book, and I loved that for her.The brothers have also grown and changed throughout the series, in no small part due to their interactions with Avery. Their childhood was challenging in some particularly unique ways with the ways affection was given/withheld and the ways their value was tied up in these competitive games. While some of these elements are impossible to separate, each of them does seem to be reaching a point where more healing is happening and they are really coming into their own. Grayson’s arc in particular was really developing as he begins to really confront his past and emotions, though Jameson and Xander also continued to grow.The riddles and mysteries were just as fun in this book as in the previous, with the time pressure of the lives at stake, and the addition of new characters/scenarios with Eve and the villain. Avery, the brothers, Rebecca/Thea, and Avery’s sister/friends were all included in the solving at various times, and it was great to see everyone again – so many characters to really fall in love with. The riddles themselves are just as clever as before, and they were coming from two sides, which really added something special.The plot also brings in some more thorough answers over why Avery was chosen and some of why Tobias was the way he was. Other themes around monetary power, the treatment of women in power/by men in power, playing the long game, romantic relationships, guilt and its weight, emotional scars, coping strategies, and being true to yourself. Much of the story revolves around the power that comes with wealth and the ways this is distorted by the individual in possession of it. In a way, the Hawthornes and others like them have the ability to misuse/abuse this power so easily and have the world accept them along with their misdeeds. This is reflected in the world around us, but the series really challenges the morality of such power – a theme worth exploring.Final verdict: A thrilling and compelling conclusion, THE FINAL GAMBIT is a consuming and mysterious journey that ultimately leaves readers equally satisfied and reeling. Highly recommend reading this whole delightful series!Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Laur –
I have been waiting for this book to come out for a year and it did not disappoint! Bought and read in one sitting today. The story is fun, the puzzles continue, and she wraps up the details so well. Loved it.
Michelle –
What a fantastic conclusion. These books are so clever and crafty in the way that the clues, games and characters are written while being so intertwined. All of the Hawthorne brothers are such lovable guys with their own quirks and distinct personalities. As for Avery, she rose up to the challenge each and every time. She never ceased to amaze me with how much bolder she got with time and being in the Hawthorne House. Despite having never met Tobias Hawthorne personally, his personality still lived on with a strong presence because of his legacy. The stakes in this book are the highest yet so Avery’s double or nothing approach was both shocking and thrilling, but she is not to be underestimated. I thought a certain Hawthorne brother was her perfect match, yet she wound up with the other one, so while this didn’t fit my expectations, she still wins in the end as far as being on team happiness. For anyone who enjoys mysteries, puzzle solving and a very unique and unforgettable cast, look no further than this series.
Kara D. –
An ending can make or break a book and this author delivers on an ending that ties up all the lose ends. It also makes you reflect about the things that are valuable in life. Great book overall!
Bella –
I’m very excited to read this book. The first two were amazing.
C. Winward –
A great conclusion to a fabulous series with room to grow if desired. I feel content, but can’t wait to read Jennifer Lynn Barnes next book!
Julia Corder –
It was an amazing book that lived up to, and maybe surpassed the standards set by the previous two books. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a little over 4 hours.
Shreyash –
Amazing as always. Thank you amazon
kmahr87 –
An incredibly satisfying finale to one of the most enjoyable trilogies I’ve read in recent memory. I’ve loved my time with Avery and her boys, and I’m already sad to be done hanging out with them. It’s my own fault for absolutely DEVOURING this book instead of savoring it, but I just had to know what happened next.I don’t know how Jennifer Lynn Barnes crafts her mysteries so intricately, but I just kept pausing to marvel over all of the twists and turns. Genius. And with that cast of characters working together to solve them? Straight-up delightful.