Published: 2024
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genres: YA Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Audience: Grades 8–10
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Games Untold
Content Warnings: Family trauma, high-stakes competition, and emotional manipulation.
Publisher’s Summary
Romance, luxury, and secrets abound in this thrilling new collection that take readers deeper into the world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series There is nothing frivolous about the way a Hawthorne man loves. An amnesiac playboy and the woman with every reason to hate him. A daredevil, his favorite heiress, and three nights in Prague. An unlikely pairing between a cowboy and a goth. Four brothers with an inescapable bond, strengthened by the family they chose, in a house of wonders that promises to always deliver one more secret. Discover their stories of love and loss, power, puzzles, and life-and-death secrets in this mind-blowingly romantic collection that proves that when you love the way Hawthornes love, there is no going back. This collection includes: That Night in Prague (novella), The Same Backward as Forward (novella), The Cowboy and the Goth, Five Times Xander Tackled Someone (and One Time He Didn’t), One Hawthorne Night*, What Happens in the Treehouse*, $3CR3T $@NT@, Pain at the Right Gun
Full Review
I jumped right into Games Untold without reading the earlier books in The Inheritance Games series, which definitely affected how I experienced it. Pretty quickly, I realized this book is meant more as a bonus for fans than a starting point. Instead of one main storyline, it’s a collection of shorter stories that focus on different characters in the Hawthorne family and the games they play with one another.
Even so, I didn’t feel totally lost, and there were parts I really enjoyed. The book spends a lot of time on family drama, secrets, and the pressure to live up to expectations. Reading it as a middle school counselor, I kept thinking about how familiar those feelings are for kids—especially the idea of trying to earn approval or prove your worth. The mind games and power struggles are exaggerated, but the underlying emotions feel very real.
I would recommend this book with one condition: it shouldn’t be a student’s first introduction to the series. It works best for those who have already read the other books and want more time in that world. Strong readers in grades 7–10 who like mystery and drama will likely find this to be a fun and engaging read.
🎒 Classroom & Counseling Connections
- Counseling (Self-Worth & Competition): Discuss the “Hawthorne Way” of loving and living. Is it healthy to constantly have to “prove” yourself to family? Use this to talk about the difference between healthy achievement and perfectionism.
- Creative Writing (Puzzle Design): As the reviewer suggested, have students invent their own “Hawthorne Puzzle.” They must design a riddle or a physical lockbox that requires specific knowledge to open.
- Logic & Problem Solving: Use the short stories as “Case Studies.” Present the setup of one of the games and have students brainstorm the most logical solution before reading how the characters handled it.
- Literature (Anthology Structure): Discuss the pros and cons of an “Untold” collection. Why do authors choose to write short stories instead of a full sequel? How does it change the pacing and character development?
🏷️ Tags
8-10, YA, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Puzzles, Family Drama, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 4-Stars, 4-Star
📝 Blog Excerpt (Less than 75 words)
Step back into the labyrinth of Hawthorne House. Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s 4-star collection, Games Untold, offers fans a deeper look into the romance, secrets, and high-stakes puzzles of the Hawthorne brothers. While best read as a companion to the original trilogy, these stories provide a fascinating psychological look at family expectations and the drive for approval. It’s a must-read “bonus round” for anyone captivated by the Inheritance Games saga.
