The Final Gambit (The Inheritance Games)
CHAPTER 23
by Barnes, Jennifer LynnAvery awakens from a vivid nightmare in which she plays chess with Toby, whose bruised face hints at violence. The dream shifts abruptly as Tobias Hawthorne replaces Toby, ominously declaring his strategic prowess before strangling her. The terror lingers as she jolts awake, disoriented and struggling to breathe. Unable to find Jameson, who often wanders during sleepless nights, Avery seeks solace in Hawthorne’s study, where the wall of trophies underscores the grandsons’ extraordinary achievements—and their grandfather’s manipulative legacy. The dream leaves her unsettled, sensing an unseen adversary plotting moves ahead.
Haunted by the dream’s warning, Avery steps onto the balcony and spots Grayson swimming in the moonlit pool. Memories of a past conversation about his heroism resurface, but her focus shifts when Eve appears in one of Avery’s nightgowns. The intimate scene between Grayson and Eve stirs unease, though Avery masks her discomfort by citing concern for Grayson’s well-being. Jameson’s sudden arrival interrupts her thoughts, and his probing question—how long she would have watched them—hints at underlying tension between them.
Jameson’s jealousy surfaces as he pins Avery against the wall, kissing her fiercely to reaffirm their connection. Though Avery reassures him of her commitment, the unspoken question lingers: why does she care about Grayson’s attention to Eve? Jameson cryptically references Emily, Grayson’s former love, suggesting history might repeat itself. Avery vehemently denies the comparison, insisting Emily’s manipulative nature has no parallel in their relationship. Yet, the exchange leaves a palpable strain, underscoring unresolved emotions and rivalries.
The chapter closes with Avery grappling with the Hawthorne family’s complexities—their strategic minds, tangled loyalties, and the shadows of past betrayals. The dream, the encounter with Eve and Grayson, and Jameson’s possessiveness all converge to heighten her awareness of the psychological games at play. As she clings to Jameson, the narrative hints at deeper conflicts ahead, with Avery caught between love, suspicion, and the ever-present legacy of Tobias Hawthorne’s machinations.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Avery’s dream about Tobias Hawthorne at the beginning of the chapter, and how does it connect to the broader themes of the story?
Answer:
Avery’s nightmare about Tobias Hawthorne strangling her while discussing strategic thinking (“thinking seven moves ahead”) serves as both a psychological manifestation of her anxieties and a thematic warning. The dream reflects Avery’s growing realization that someone (possibly the mysterious storyteller mentioned later) is manipulating events with long-term planning, much like Hawthorne did. This connects to the book’s recurring themes of power, manipulation, and gamesmanship. The imagery of the chess game turning to fog mirrors Avery’s current confusion about the threats surrounding her, while Hawthorne’s line about “killing twelve birds with one stone” underscores the calculated, multi-layered nature of the challenges she faces.2. Analyze the complex dynamics between Avery, Jameson, and Grayson as revealed in this chapter. What do their interactions suggest about unresolved tensions?
Answer:
The chapter reveals lingering emotional complexities in the Avery-Jameson-Grayson triangle. Jameson’s intense kiss seems motivated by both possessiveness and insecurity, particularly after observing Avery watching Grayson with Eve. Avery’s insistence that she wants Jameson (“I’m with you”) contrasts with her clear concern for Grayson’s wellbeing. Jameson’s comment “It was always going to be Grayson” references past romantic patterns (with Emily) while subtly questioning whether history might repeat itself. The simultaneous scenes—Grayson with Eve, Jameson with Avery—create visual parallelism that highlights how these relationships remain interconnected, with past betrayals (Emily playing them against each other) still influencing present dynamics.3. How does the author use contrasting imagery and settings to enhance the chapter’s tense atmosphere?
Answer:
The chapter employs stark contrasts to build tension. Avery begins in the surreal dreamscape of a foggy chess game that turns violent, then wakes to the oppressive darkness of her room. This transitions to the moonlit pool area where Grayson swims—an image of both tranquility and isolation. The motion sensor light’s sudden activation creates a jolt of suspense before revealing Eve’s unexpected appearance. The balcony scene where Jameson pins Avery against the wall mirrors Hawthorne’s dream-strangulation, transforming intimacy into another form of intensity. These juxtapositions—dark/light, violence/tenderness, dreams/reality—create a pervasive sense of unease, reflecting Avery’s psychological state and the story’s escalating stakes.4. What clues does this chapter provide about the identity or methods of the mysterious “storyteller” mentioned by Avery?
Answer:
Avery’s realization that “someone else was out there, strategizing, thinking seven steps ahead” suggests the antagonist shares Hawthorne’s meticulous planning abilities. The storyteller motif implies this person crafts narratives others unknowingly participate in—much like Avery’s dream where Hawthorne controls the chess game. The reference to “I always win in the end” (possibly the storyteller’s tagline) indicates a confidence reminiscent of Hawthorne’s games. Notably, this threat emerges alongside Eve’s suspicious behavior (wearing Avery’s stolen nightgown) and Grayson’s vulnerability, hinting these elements may be interconnected moves in the storyteller’s larger scheme. The chapter positions this unseen strategist as a dark reflection of Hawthorne’s legacy.
Quotes
1. “The thing about strategy… is that you always have to be thinking seven moves ahead.”
This quote from Tobias Hawthorne in Avery’s dream encapsulates the central theme of strategic thinking that dominates the Hawthorne family dynamics. It represents both the legacy Tobias left and the psychological burden his grandsons carry, foreshadowing the high-stakes mental games at play in the story.
2. “Some people kill two birds with one stone. I kill twelve.”
This chilling statement from dream-Tobias reveals the ruthless efficiency and multi-layered planning characteristic of the Hawthorne patriarch. The violent imagery in the dream sequence reflects Avery’s growing anxiety about the family’s manipulative tendencies and her own entanglement in their schemes.
3. “He’d made them in his own image.”
This concise observation about the Hawthorne grandsons highlights the central conflict of inheritance - both of fortune and of personality traits. It underscores how Tobias Hawthorne’s influence continues to shape events even after his death, through the grandchildren he molded to think like him.
4. “I’m with you, Jameson. I want to be with you.” / “Then why do you care how Grayson looks at her?”
This tense exchange captures the romantic triangle tension while revealing Avery’s conflicted feelings. The unspoken question hanging between them represents the chapter’s emotional climax, showing how past relationships and current attractions complicate present connections.
5. “It was always going to be Grayson… She and I—we were too much alike.”
Jameson’s revelation about his past with Emily provides crucial backstory about the brothers’ rivalry. This insight into their competitive dynamic adds depth to the current tension between Jameson, Grayson, and Avery, while suggesting history may be repeating itself.