Kirkus
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Romantic and familial bonds are strained as the next phase of the Grandest Game commences with Grayson, Lyra, Savannah, Rohan, and Brady competing for the win. Picking up directly from the events of the last book, this sequel toThe Grandest Game (2024) hits the ground running. As the competitors race to the finish line, newfound allies and dueling loyalties are tested, especially as the final five weigh the possibilities of their budding connections against their own complex motivations, which include power, money, settling scores, uncovering the truth about the past, and protecting loved ones. Complicating the competition are unknown outside forces—people with ulterior motives who continue to try to influence the outcome. Under the watchful eyes of their hosts, the Hawthorne brothers, and the heiress Avery Grambs, the contestants navigate an increasingly dangerous and high-stakes game that’s powered by machinations beyond their understanding or control. Despite a dark throughline of family secrets, grief, and revenge, the story is brought to life through alternating points of view and lightened by Barnes’ signature humor and witticisms. Readers will love working out the next puzzle alongside the characters as each action-packed chapter provides new clues, red herrings, and a tangled web of mysteries and motivations. The first book coded most main characters as white, and cued Rohan as South Asian and Brady as Black. An absorbing sequel that revives the thrills of its predecessor while hooking readers for the next entry.(Thriller. 14-18) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.