Evie Wada

When Jennifer Lynn Barnes first published “The Inheritance Games,” she had no idea how much of a hit the book would be. Four years, a bestselling trilogy and two spin-offs later, Barnes returns with yet another novel to add to this successful series. 

“Games Untold” is a collection of eight short stories and novellas that take place in the world of “The Inheritance Games.” They range from prior to the events of the first book to right before the most recent spin-off, “The Grandest Game.” At this point, it may seem like the author is just dragging out the series, but if that is the case, the anthology does not make it evident. Barnes creates another masterfully written novel full of riddles, romance and secrets, answering questions while also developing many more.

The short stories do not follow one specific point of view but instead explore multiple perspectives, providing insight on characters that are less appreciated throughout the series. “The Same Backward as Forward” is told from the point of view of Avery’s mother, Hannah, and takes place many years before the first novel. Though mentioned in the main trilogy, this is the first time we hear Hannah’s full story from her point of view. Her challenging family life and the struggle of losing her sister battles with the attraction she feels towards Toby, especially because she blames him for her sister’s death. However, Hannah feels obligated to protect and heal Toby after the fire on Hawthorne Island, and her caring nature coupled with his teasing and riddles grows into a sweet, romantic relationship.

Reading about Nash and Libby’s relationship in “The Cowboy and the Goth” was also sweet. The short story includes a variety of scenes from the series told from Libby’s point of view. Throughout the books, Libby tries to act strong and protect her sister in their crazy new life, but she also deals with struggles of her own. It was fun to see her relationship with Nash develop through her eyes with their meaningful inside jokes, Nash’s laid-back but protective nature and his insistence that he loves her just the way she is.

“Games Untold” especially highlights the uniquely intense and loving relationships between the four Hawthorne brothers. “What Happens in the Tree House” is a lighthearted, entertaining story about Nash’s bachelor party and the crazy activities his brothers plan in order to celebrate. As the brothers joke with and embarrass each other, it becomes clear just how close they are. 

It was also cool to see the brothers bring Avery and Libby into their Hawthorne traditions, such as Hawthorne Secret Santa. A month-long holiday game involving water guns, secret base and Christmas-themed weapons brings the family together as they search for the perfect gifts, creating an especially fun story to read.

“Games Untold” was a fun, lighthearted novel full of romance, puzzles and family. Though it is one of the longer books in the series, the novel was over all too quickly and left me longing for more. Told from many different perspectives, Barnes’s newest collection of short stories will appeal to any fan of “The Inheritance Games.”