Book Title: Glorious Rivals
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Penguin
Number of Pages: 432
ISBN: 978-0241683668
Date Published: Jul. 29, 2025
Price: INR 559
Book Review
Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ “Glorious Rivals,” the second book in ‘The Grandest Game’ series, takes the high-stakes competition on Hawthorne Island to new and darker levels. What begins as a puzzle-filled contest for wealth quickly evolves into a web of manipulation, loyalty, and danger. Barnes blends intrigue with psychological depth, turning what could be a straightforward thriller into a story about the weight of family legacies, the scars of trauma, and the pull of identity. The suspense is heightened by the gothic shadow of Alice Hawthorne—long thought dead—whose presence lingers over every decision the players make.
The heart of the novel lies in its characters. Lyra Kane emerges as a complex and layered protagonist, her determination to protect her family colliding with memories of her father’s death. Her bond with Grayson Hawthorne is tender yet fraught, marked by both vulnerability and unspoken tension. Surrounding them, characters like Gigi, Rohan, and Savannah bring emotional charge and moral ambiguity, each adding to the tangled dynamics of the game. These relationships provide balance to the larger mystery, ensuring that the story’s emotional core never gets lost amid its elaborate puzzles.
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Structurally, the author delivers a fast-paced and tightly woven narrative. The competition’s three phases create a natural rhythm, punctuated by dramatic set pieces like masquerade balls and blackout puzzles. At times, the pace risks sacrificing depth, and a few characters remain underdeveloped, but the novel more than compensates with atmosphere, thematic richness, and sharp prose. Ultimately, “Glorious Rivals” succeeds as both an intelligent thriller and an emotional character study. It solidifies the series as a standout in YA suspense fiction, leaving readers impatient for the next move in this dangerous, engrossing game.
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