Jennifer Lynn Barnes returns with Glorious Rivals, the second installment in The Grandest Game series, delivering a masterclass in escalating tension that transforms an already high-stakes competition into something far more sinister. Where the first book established the rules and players, this sequel systematically dismantles every safety net, leaving readers breathless as the game morphs from thrilling entertainment into genuine peril.
The brilliance of Barnes’ storytelling lies in her ability to weave multiple narrative threads without losing momentum. As seven players race toward the ultimate prize of millions, the author pulls back the curtain to reveal shadow players manipulating events from behind the scenes. The mysterious Eve and her enigmatic partner Slate operate with surgical precision, their motives remaining tantalizingly obscure until the final act. Meanwhile, the specter of Alice Hawthorne—supposedly dead for fifteen years—looms over every puzzle and alliance.
Character Dynamics That Cut Like Glass
Lyra Kane: The Reluctant Warrior
Lyra emerges as the series’ most compelling protagonist, carrying the weight of recovered trauma while navigating the deadly game designed to save her family home, Mile’s End. Barnes crafts her internal struggle with remarkable nuance, showing how suppressed memories of her father’s suicide seep into her present like poison in well water. Her relationship with Grayson becomes both her greatest strength and most dangerous vulnerability, creating the kind of romantic tension that feels inevitable yet terrifying.
The author’s psychological background shines through in Lyra’s characterization. Her coping mechanisms—the compulsive running, the walls she builds around her heart—feel authentic rather than manufactured for dramatic effect. When she faces the marble calla lily in the music box, triggering flashbacks to that traumatic fourth birthday, Barnes doesn’t exploit the moment for cheap emotion. Instead, she uses it to deepen our understanding of how past and present collide in the most unexpected ways.
Grayson Hawthorne: Chivalry as Armor
Grayson’s evolution continues beautifully in this installment. His protective instincts toward Lyra feel earned rather than possessive, rooted in genuine care rather than male ego. The scene where they argue over his jacket—a seemingly simple moment—becomes a metaphor for their entire relationship dynamic. His line about chivalry being a coping mechanism reveals layers of vulnerability beneath his polished exterior.
Barnes captures the Hawthorne mystique perfectly through Grayson’s actions. His methodical approach to puzzles, the way he processes information like a human computer, and his unwavering loyalty to family create a character who feels both larger than life and utterly human. The moment when Jameson tells him to “go to hell” carries devastating weight precisely because we understand how much family means to Grayson.
The Supporting Cast Shines
Gigi Grayson brings necessary levity without diminishing the stakes. Her kidnapping subplot could have felt like padding, but Barnes uses it to explore themes of resilience and hope. Her ability to find humor even while bound and blindfolded—turning interrogation into a series of absurd games—demonstrates strength that goes beyond physical courage.
Rohan stands out as the series’ most morally ambiguous character. His alliance with Savannah crackles with tension and genuine emotion, even as his past with the Devil’s Mercy organization hints at darker capabilities. The purple ink flashback provides haunting insight into how children can be weaponized by adult ambitions.
Savannah Grayson carries the fury of someone who believes she’s been wronged, making her both sympathetic and dangerous. Her partnership with Rohan creates one of the book’s most compelling dynamics—two damaged people finding temporary solace in shared purpose.
Plot Architecture: A Masterclass in Escalation
Barnes constructs the narrative like a complex puzzle box, with each revelation opening new compartments of mystery. The three phases of the Grandest Game provide excellent structure, but the real story unfolds in the spaces between official challenges. The blackouts, the calla lilies, the missing Avery—each element contributes to a growing sense that the players are pawns in someone else’s game.
The pacing deserves particular praise. Barnes knows exactly when to pause for character development and when to accelerate toward revelation. The masquerade ball sequence exemplifies this balance, combining gorgeous atmosphere with crucial plot advancement. The image of players in formal wear and masks, dancing while deadly games unfold around them, perfectly captures the series’ blend of elegance and danger.
The Romance Elements: Playing with Fire
The romantic subplots enhance rather than distract from the central mystery. Lyra and Grayson’s relationship develops with the inevitability of a mathematical proof—each interaction building toward conclusions that feel both surprising and necessary. Their first kiss, described as “stepping out of time,” captures the intoxicating danger of falling for someone who represents everything you should avoid.
Rohan and Savannah’s dynamic operates on a different frequency entirely. Their connection feels more combustible, built on mutual recognition of shared damage. When Rohan sacrifices his dice to help Savannah win, the gesture carries weight because we understand how much victory means to him.
Writing Style: Precision Meets Poetry
Barnes’ prose maintains the series’ signature blend of accessible language and sophisticated plotting. Her background in psychology infuses the narrative with authentic insights into trauma, memory, and human motivation. The multi-POV structure allows each character’s distinct voice to shine through—Lyra’s determined pragmatism, Grayson’s analytical precision, Rohan’s calculating charm.
The puzzle elements demonstrate Barnes’ considerable skill at creating challenges that feel both solvable and surprising. The golden darts, the compass that points away from north, the significance of the number three—each element connects to the larger mystery while providing satisfying mini-revelations along the way.
Themes That Resonate
Beyond the surface thrills, Glorious Rivals explores deeper questions about legacy, manipulation, and the prices we pay for family loyalty. The Hawthorne family motto—”we protect our own”—becomes both blessing and curse as past sins threaten present happiness. The book asks whether it’s possible to escape the patterns established by previous generations, particularly when those patterns involve games, manipulation, and carefully orchestrated cruelty.
The theme of identity runs throughout the narrative. Lyra struggles with recovered memories that redefine her understanding of herself. Grayson grapples with family loyalty versus personal desire. Even the antagonists seem driven by questions of who they really are beneath the roles they’ve been forced to play.
Minor Criticisms: Room for Polish
While Glorious Rivals succeeds on most levels, certain elements feel slightly underdeveloped. Brady Daniels remains more plot device than fully realized character, despite his crucial role in the climax. The Devil’s Mercy organization, while intriguing, needs more concrete definition to feel truly threatening.
Some puzzle solutions arrive a bit too conveniently, particularly in the forest sequence where Grayson’s compass reveals its secret function at precisely the right moment. These minor issues don’t derail the narrative but prevent it from achieving absolute perfection.
The book’s ending, while providing satisfying resolution to some threads, opens so many new questions that it occasionally feels more like setup than conclusion. The revelation about Avery’s fate and the introduction of the maze room create excitement for future installments while leaving current storylines somewhat incomplete.
Similar Reads for Genre Fans
Readers who enjoy Glorious Rivals should consider:
- The Inheritance Games trilogy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – Essential reading for understanding character backstories and family dynamics
- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – Another wealthy family saga with dark secrets and unreliable narrators
- The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – Showcases the author’s skill with psychological profiling and mystery
- Genuinely Yours, Truly by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – More recent work demonstrating her evolution as a writer
- One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus – Similar blend of mystery, romance, and teenage drama
- The Cousins by Karen M. McManus – Family secrets and manipulative older generations
- House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland – Dark family mysteries with supernatural elements
- The Ivies by Alexa Donne – Elite social circles and deadly competition
Final Verdict: A Worthy Successor
Glorious Rivals succeeds as both standalone thriller and series continuation. Barnes raises the stakes while deepening character development, creating a reading experience that satisfies on multiple levels. The book delivers the puzzle-solving excitement fans expect while exploring themes of trauma, family, and the dangerous games people play with each other’s hearts.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to treat any element—romance, mystery, or character development—as secondary. Each component receives careful attention, creating a balanced narrative that appeals to readers seeking both intellectual challenges and emotional satisfaction.
While not without minor flaws, Glorious Rivals demonstrates why Jennifer Lynn Barnes has become a powerhouse in young adult fiction. The book promises that the final installment, The Gilded Blade, will provide fireworks worthy of this elaborate setup. For fans of the Inheritance Games universe, this sequel proves that some games are worth playing, even when the stakes are life, death, and everything in between.
The ending’s promise—that Avery wakes in a white room that is itself a maze—suggests that the most dangerous game has only just begun. Barnes has created a literary labyrinth where every answer reveals new questions, and readers will eagerly follow wherever the path leads next.