What Is The Correct Inheritance Games Series Reading Order?
2026-07-24 05:27:09
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7 Answers
DaisyFord
Book Scout
Teacher
Check Goodreads series listings. They're usually meticulous about this. The Inheritance Games series page will list the core books in order, and 'The Brothers Hawthorne' will be listed as a separate, related series (probably "The Inheritance Games Prequel Series") or as book #0.5 or something similar.
These community-managed listings are a fantastic resource for untangling reading orders. They often include notes like "Prequel, read after main trilogy" right there. It's how I navigate every new series I pick up.
2026-07-25 19:50:19
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IvyTaylor
Longtime Reader
UX Designer
If you're listening to the audiobooks, this is a no-brainer. The trilogy has one narrator (the fantastic Christie Moreau), and the prequel has a different narrator (a male narrator, I believe). The shift in vocal performance is a clear auditory signal that you're entering a different part of the saga.
Stick with Christie Moreau's performance for the core Avery experience. Then, when you switch to the prequel, the new narrator's voice will help you mentally transition to a different time period and perspective. The production itself guides the order.
2026-07-26 08:23:50
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Ember
Expert
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I'm only on the second book, so maybe I shouldn't even be in this thread. Too late now! I'm avoiding spoilers, but from what I gather, there's more after the third book? Good to know. I'm just taking them one at a time as my library hold list delivers them. Seems to be working fine so far.
2026-07-26 18:13:35
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EmmaClark
Insight Sharer
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My book club read them in this order: 1, 2, Prequel, 3. We took a break after 'The Hawthorne Legacy' to read 'The Brothers Hawthorne' because someone accidentally bought it thinking it was book three. It was... an interesting experiment.
It definitely colored our reading of 'The Final Gambit', giving us more insight into the family's foundational traumas. It made the ending feel more inevitable, in a way. Not necessarily the recommended path, but it was a unique and surprisingly coherent way to experience the story.
2026-07-28 16:28:43
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TaylorAsh
Book Clue Finder
Data Analyst
Don't overthink it. The intended experience is 'The Inheritance Games' -> 'The Hawthorne Legacy' -> 'The Final Gambit'. Full stop.
The prequel, 'The Brothers Hawthorne', is exactly that—a look backward. It's designed to be consumed after you've grown attached to the present-day characters and their unresolved questions about the past. Reading it first would be like watching a Star Wars prequel before the original trilogy; some things hit better with the context of what comes later. Save the backstory for your Hawthorne family withdrawal phase.
2026-07-29 03:30:06
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Publication order is key, but also consider the format. The trilogy is a complete puzzle. The newer books are like opening a new puzzle box with some of the same pieces but a different picture on the lid. 'The Brothers Hawthorne' requires knowledge of the family dynamics established in the first three books to really hit home.
Jumping around would dilute the impact of the character arcs, especially Grayson's. Read them as they were released.
From a fan's perspective, reading order is sacred. The shipping dynamics alone! The will-they-won't-they tensions that develop across the trilogy would be completely undercut if you read the later books first. You'd know who ends up with whom, or what familial secrets come out, which ruins the slow-burn romance and the shocking family revelations. For the full emotional rollercoaster, you have to experience the story as it was released.
The perfect way to think about it is as two connected series. Series A: The Inheritance Games Trilogy. Series B: The Hawthorne Brothers Duology. You must complete Series A before starting Series B. There's no overlap or alternative starting points.
I can confidently say the order matters to fully appreciate the twists and layered mysteries. Start with 'The Inheritance Games', the first book where Avery Grambs gets thrown into a billionaire's deadly game. The sequel, 'The Hawthorne Legacy', dives deeper into the family secrets and ramps up the stakes.
Then comes 'The Final Gambit', which wraps up the trilogy with explosive revelations and emotional payoffs. Reading out of order would spoil key plot points, like the true nature of the Hawthorne family's obsession with puzzles. The series is a rollercoaster of riddles, romance, and betrayal, so savor each book chronologically to experience the clues unfolding naturally.
The plot is like a domino chain. Book one tips the first domino, and they keep falling through book three. 'The Brothers Hawthorne' picks up a few dominoes that were set up but didn't fall in the initial chain. You need to see the initial cascade to appreciate the new ones.
I think a lot of people get tripped up because 'The Brothers Hawthorne' has a different protagonist. But it's still a direct sequel in terms of timeline. Read the Avery trilogy first to understand the Hawthorne family, the mansion, and all the games. Then the brother-focused books will hit much harder because you'll already care about them.