Inheritance Games Books in Order
What would you do if a billionaire you’d never met left you his entire fortune? That’s the question behind The Inheritance Games, Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s hit young adult series. Avery Grambs, a broke teen from Connecticut, inherits billions overnight and moves into a mansion full of secret passages, riddles, and four brothers who resent her.
The series became a TikTok sensation and grew into a spinoff trilogy. With the 2026 release of The Gilded Blade, the saga has reached its conclusion. Here are the Inheritance Games books in order, plus tips on how to read them.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Author | Jennifer Lynn Barnes |
| Genre | Young adult mystery and thriller |
| First book | The Inheritance Games (2020) |
| Main series | The Inheritance Games (4 books) |
| Spinoff | The Grandest Game (3 books) |
| Final book | The Gilded Blade (July 14, 2026) |
Who Is Jennifer Lynn Barnes?
Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a bestselling author and a former professor of psychology. She’s written more than 20 novels for young adults, including The Naturals series. She has a PhD in psychology from Yale and uses her background to build smart, layered characters.
Inheritance Games Books in Order
Here’s the full reading order for the Inheritance Games books.
| # | Title | Year | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Inheritance Games | 2020 | The Inheritance Games |
| 2 | The Hawthorne Legacy | 2021 | The Inheritance Games |
| 3 | The Final Gambit | 2022 | The Inheritance Games |
| 4 | The Brothers Hawthorne | 2023 | The Inheritance Games |
| 5 | The Grandest Game | 2024 | The Grandest Game |
| 6 | Glorious Rivals | 2025 | The Grandest Game |
| 7 | The Gilded Blade | 2026 | The Grandest Game |
The Inheritance Games Series
The original series follows Avery Grambs and the Hawthorne family.
1. The Inheritance Games (2020)
Avery is living in her car and struggling to get by when she learns that Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire she’s never met, has left her almost his entire fortune. There’s a catch: she must live in Hawthorne House for a year. The house is full of puzzles, and the Hawthorne grandsons, Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander, aren’t happy about the newcomer. Avery must figure out why the old man chose her.
2. The Hawthorne Legacy (2021)
The mystery deepens as Avery looks into Tobias Hawthorne’s past and the truth about her own family. Danger grows, and her feelings for Jameson and Grayson get more complicated.
3. The Final Gambit (2022)
Avery is close to the end of her year in Hawthorne House. A stranger shows up claiming a link to the family, and old secrets threaten everything. This book wraps up Avery’s main story.
4. The Brothers Hawthorne (2023)
This book shifts the focus to Jameson and Grayson. Each brother faces his own mystery, one in London and one closer to home. It’s a bridge between the original trilogy and the spinoff.
The Grandest Game Series
The Grandest Game spinoff introduces a new cast of players who compete in a high-stakes puzzle game created by Avery and the Hawthornes.
5. The Grandest Game (2024)
A group of players is invited to Hawthorne Island to compete for a huge prize. Each has secrets and reasons to win. The Hawthornes run the game, but the players soon realize the stakes are deadly.
6. Glorious Rivals (2025)
The game continues, and the rivalries turn dangerous. Old secrets from the Hawthorne family return, and new alliances form.
7. The Gilded Blade (2026)
The Gilded Blade came out on July 14, 2026. It’s the third Grandest Game book and the conclusion of the Inheritance Games saga. The Hawthornes, the players, and new and returning allies follow centuries-old secrets and puzzles from Texas to Prague to London. The book promises danger, romance, and long-awaited answers.
Can You Start With The Grandest Game?
You can, but it’s not the best choice. The Grandest Game introduces new characters and explains the basics. Still, it builds on secrets and relationships from the first four books. Reading the Inheritance Games books in order gives you the full payoff.
Bonus Content and Novellas
Barnes has released bonus material for fans, including holiday-themed stories set in Hawthorne House and special editions with extra chapters. These are optional extras that add fun moments with the cast. Check special editions and the author’s website for the latest bonus content.
Main Characters in The Inheritance Games
- Avery Grambs: The teen heiress at the center of the story.
- Jameson Hawthorne: The reckless, thrill-seeking brother.
- Grayson Hawthorne: The serious, controlled brother.
- Nash Hawthorne: The oldest brother, a laid-back cowboy type.
- Xander Hawthorne: The youngest and most playful brother.
- Libby Grambs: Avery’s older sister.
- Max Liu: Avery’s best friend.
- Tobias Hawthorne: The late billionaire whose puzzles drive the story.
Why the Series Became So Popular
The Inheritance Games mixes mystery, romance, and puzzles in a way that keeps readers guessing. Fans love solving clues alongside the characters. The love triangle between Avery, Jameson, and Grayson also sparked huge debates on BookTok.
The series has spent many weeks on bestseller lists and has been translated into dozens of languages.
Is There a TV Show?
Fans have long hoped for a screen version, and Hollywood interest in the books has been strong. Any adaptation news is worth watching for, but readers should check official announcements for the latest updates.
Who Should Read The Inheritance Games Series?
The Inheritance Games series is written for teens but enjoyed by readers of all ages. It’s a great fit if you like:
- Puzzle mysteries and riddles
- Secret passages and big old houses
- Slow-burn romance and love triangles
- Fast-paced plots with lots of twists
If you enjoy books like One of Us Is Lying or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, you’ll likely love these.
Tips for Reading the Series
- Read the Inheritance Games books in order. Clues from early books matter later.
- Pay attention to small details. Barnes hides hints in names, dates, and objects.
- Take notes if you like puzzles. Some fans track clues as they read.
- Don’t skip The Brothers Hawthorne. It sets up important threads for the spinoff.
What’s Next for Jennifer Lynn Barnes?
With The Gilded Blade closing the saga, fans are curious about what Barnes will write next. She has said she loves building new puzzle-filled worlds, so readers can expect more mysteries in the future.
How Long Are the Books?
Each book runs about 350 to 450 pages, and the chapters are short and fast. Most readers finish one in a few days. That makes it easy to read all the Inheritance Games books in order in a few weeks.
Reading Order for Rereads
If you’re rereading, try going through the Inheritance Games books in order with a notebook. Many fans say they catch clues the second time they missed the first. Barnes plants hints early that pay off books later, which makes a reread feel brand new.
A Quick Guide for Parents
The series is aimed at readers 12 and up. It includes mild romance, some danger, and family drama, but no graphic content. Many parents read the Inheritance Games books in order with their teens and enjoy solving the puzzles together.
Gift Ideas for Fans
Box sets, special editions with sprayed edges, and puzzle-themed merchandise make great gifts for fans of the series. Some editions also include bonus chapters.
Final Thoughts
The Inheritance Games books in order take you from Avery’s surprise inheritance to the final puzzles of The Gilded Blade. Across seven books, Jennifer Lynn Barnes built a world of riddles, secrets, and family drama that hooked millions of readers.
Whether you’re new to inheritance games or rereading the saga, starting at the beginning is the best way to enjoy every twist.
Key Takeaways
- There are seven Inheritance Games books in order, from The Inheritance Games (2020) to The Gilded Blade (2026).
- The original series has four books: The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, The Final Gambit, and The Brothers Hawthorne.
- The Grandest Game spinoff includes The Grandest Game, Glorious Rivals, and The Gilded Blade.
- The Gilded Blade, released July 14, 2026, concludes the saga.
- Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a former psychology professor with a PhD from Yale.
- The series follows Avery Grambs, who inherits a billionaire’s fortune and his family’s secrets.
- Reading the books in order is the best way to catch every clue.
