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A review by fandomsandfiction
The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
what to expect:
- multiple povs
- sizzling tension β€οΈβπ₯
- lots of riddles, puzzles and mysteries to solve (all of which I was far too dumb to crack)
The basic premise of this book: a group of severely traumatized teens and young adults (+ one elderly woman who is far too sprightly for her age) compete in a thrilling game of angst and perplexity while fighting their traumas and/or reluctantly growing attraction for each other.
I probably would've enjoyed this book far more if I had read the previous TIG books, but because this was my first delve into the franchise I did not have the prior connection to the characters nor the basis of this world's mysteries to entice me from the beginning. I honestly found the characters a bit too perfect at first and it took me a HOT MINUTE to actually get into the book. What had me pushing through to the end was not the twisting plot or the thrill of the game, but the CHARACTER DYNAMICS.
Grayson and Lyra.
Rohan and Savannah. (π₯)
Gigi and Brady.
The sexual/romantic tension between these rivals/competitors/people who deeply hate and mistrust each other had me in a chokehold π³ !!!!!!!!
And do you know what's even better than rivals/enemies-to-lovers? ENEMIES-TO-FRIENDS!!! The more reluctant the better!!!!! And oh this book did it soooo good with one of the teams ππ₯Ίπ
Every single character had me intrigued by their elaborate (and greatly concerning) life stories, but my favourites were definitely Gigi and Knox. Gigi is a ball of the most radiant of sunshines and she's a definite fan favourite βοΈ But Knox? Everyone initially HATED the guy (cf. bookclub discord chat), but I KNEW from the VERY BEGINNING that he was just another tortured soul in need of affection and healing just as much others πβ€οΈβπ©Ή
And I was right!!! I usually have a knack for these things, you know? π
(or maybe I just have an apologist mindset for every mean blonde-haired side character)
Anyway, that ending had me hanging on the cliffest of cliffs (lowkey annoyed with it tbh) so I'm defs looking forward to reading the next book. I plan on reading the other TIG books before that though and maybe after reading more of the franchise I'll notch my rating up by a star.
- multiple povs
- sizzling tension β€οΈβπ₯
- lots of riddles, puzzles and mysteries to solve (all of which I was far too dumb to crack)
The basic premise of this book: a group of severely traumatized teens and young adults (+ one elderly woman who is far too sprightly for her age) compete in a thrilling game of angst and perplexity while fighting their traumas and/or reluctantly growing attraction for each other.
I probably would've enjoyed this book far more if I had read the previous TIG books, but because this was my first delve into the franchise I did not have the prior connection to the characters nor the basis of this world's mysteries to entice me from the beginning. I honestly found the characters a bit too perfect at first and it took me a HOT MINUTE to actually get into the book. What had me pushing through to the end was not the twisting plot or the thrill of the game, but the CHARACTER DYNAMICS.
Grayson and Lyra.
Rohan and Savannah. (π₯)
Gigi and Brady.
The sexual/romantic tension between these rivals/competitors/people who deeply hate and mistrust each other had me in a chokehold π³ !!!!!!!!
And do you know what's even better than rivals/enemies-to-lovers? ENEMIES-TO-FRIENDS!!! The more reluctant the better!!!!! And oh this book did it soooo good with one of the teams ππ₯Ίπ
Every single character had me intrigued by their elaborate (and greatly concerning) life stories, but my favourites were definitely Gigi and Knox. Gigi is a ball of the most radiant of sunshines and she's a definite fan favourite βοΈ But Knox? Everyone initially HATED the guy (cf. bookclub discord chat), but I KNEW from the VERY BEGINNING that he was just another tortured soul in need of affection and healing just as much others πβ€οΈβπ©Ή
And I was right!!! I usually have a knack for these things, you know? π
(or maybe I just have an apologist mindset for every mean blonde-haired side character)
Anyway, that ending had me hanging on the cliffest of cliffs (lowkey annoyed with it tbh) so I'm defs looking forward to reading the next book. I plan on reading the other TIG books before that though and maybe after reading more of the franchise I'll notch my rating up by a star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Blood