“The Inheritance Games” book review

Zach Sabel

Student Writer

“Game of Thrones” is back with arguably the biggest show on streaming right now, next to the new “Lord of The Rings” show. This new show, titled “House of The Dragon,” is a prequel to the original series, taking place 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, whom we all know as having been played by Emilia Clark in the original heir Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith, and the King’s Daughter Rhaenyra, played by Emma D’Arcy. All of the actors play their part well, but there is one character, a prostitute to whom Daemon takes a liking, who is played with this weird pseudo-French accent even though the actress is British in real life. It’s off-putting and very hard to understand, but luckily she does not have more than a few scenes of speaking parts. I did have to rewind her scenes and turn on captions to really understand what she was saying.

What separates a fantasy series like “House of The Dragon” from something like “Lord of The Rings” is that it concerns

“No one in this show feels like a good person, yet they’re all still likable enough for one to remain interested and invested, which is usually a hard balance to strike in a show like this.”

series. The series is based on the novel “Fire & Blood” by George R.R. Martin, so fans need not worry about it taking as many liberties as the later season of GoT did. It covers the beginning of the downfall of house Targaryen and has a large and well-rounded cast of characters. The two principal characters are King Viserys I Targaryen, played by Paddy Considine, his brother and initial itself much less with adventures and much more with intrigue and political conflict. And these themes are present from the very opening scene of the show, with the heir of the previous king being chosen by votes from the lords. No one in this show feels like a good person, yet they’re all still likable enough for one to remain interested and invested, which is usually a hard balance to strike in a show like this. Even though there are dragons and mysterious monsters to the north (as we learned in the original series and that this series references early), it’s a very grounded fantasy setting, one that could be comparable to places like feudal England with the brutality of its kings supposedly anointed by God. They are not afraid to get what they want and are willing to spill blood for it.

The landscapes and scenery are not as nice as other shows right now, the costumes look great and the fight scenes are very fun and well choreographed. This show being the “House of the Dragon,” there are plenty of dragons who feature in the early episodes, and they look awesome. They feature as the grand imposing figures they should be, and when they show up in tense scenes, you can see everyone get even more tense or nervous, knowing the power that these dragons are capable of. The intrigue and looming threat of war by the end of episode 2 has me very excited for the rest of the season, which is something I can’t say for a lot of TV recently. I look forward to the rest of the season and hopefully as good as season 2 that has already been announced and is in the works.

courtesy wikimedia commons “House of the Dragon” takes place before the events of “Game of Thrones”

“The Inheritance Games:” A risky gamble that doesn’t entirely pay off

A personal review of the YA novel The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Anna Lackner Student Writer

With the release of the third and final book in the Inheritance Games Series, “The Final Gambit,” on August 30, I believe it is an appropriate time to reflect back on the book that began it all for the sake of new readers looking to dive into the now completed trilogy. I first learned of the “Inheritance Games” (book #1 in the “Inheritance Games” trilogy) via Tiktok. The author, and fellow readers, describe the book as a sort of YA “Da Vinci Code,” full of intrigue, double crossing and charming billionaires.

The book is centered around seventeen year-old Avery Kylie Grambs (take notice for all you anagram lovers) who lives out of her car, struggling to escape her circumstances. Her entire life is uprooted, however, when she is notified that she has inherited the entire (or technically nearly-entire) fortune of a Texas billionaire. The strangest part? She has no idea who the man was. Together, with the help of his four recently disinherited and devastating handsome grandsons, Avery works to uncover the truth.

Based on these descriptions, I was extremely excited to read this book. I am typically not the biggest fan of mystery novels; however, this one was presented more through the lens of a deadly competition. Based on the synopsis given on the back cover, I was expecting a modern day “Hunger Games”-esque fight for the fortune, with plenty of romance and plot twists along the way.

In reality, the story fell a little flat. In my opinion, this is first due to the fact that the “game” is less of a physical high stakes fight and more of a battle of wits. The danger and competition simply did not reach the level described on the cover. Secondly, the novel was lacking in characterization. Frankly, several of the characters were living stereotypes and had no dimension, color or quirks. Grayson’s whole personality was tied up in being the serious, morose, harsh brother with a secret soft spot for his family and eventually Avery. Jameson, on the other hand, was the stereotypical wild one, who hid his true emotions by chasing thrills and layering on sarcasm. Both of them were simply too reminiscent of Wattpad love interests for me to connect or relate to their characters in any way. The youngest brother, in contrast, was superbly written. Xander’s character alone makes the trilogy worth a read. He is one of the most lovable characters I have encountered in a long time and is the perfect mix between the kindness of Baymax and the mischief of Mushu. In terms of plot, the story moves fairly quickly and the mystery, while somewhat surprising, is still easy to follow.

All in all, I would rate the “Inheritance Games” three out of five stars. While this book is not earth shattering, it is a fun, light and entertaining read. If you are looking for a distraction from the back to school stress, I would recommend this novel. And, I assure you, the second book in the Inheritance Games Trilogy is better than the first one.

“The Inheritance Games” is the first book of a three-part series. courtesy wikimedia commons

In this weekly column, our managing editor Maddie Walters talks to musicians about their craft.

Maddie Walters Managing Editor

Roger Harvey Interview

Music and Mayhem with Maddie continues with Philadelphia’s Roger Harvey. Harvey’s first two albums, “Twelve Houses” and “Two Coyotes,” show his journey as an artist, working his way through the genres of punk, alt-rock and indie. In 2019, he found his niche in the sweet twang of folk and country music with the perfect marriage of the best aspects of each genre.

Since then, he has released 12 folk and country singles, tackling important political issues like immigration and non-violent drug offenses with concept songs such as “Two Coyotes” and “Last Prisoner.” What’s his inspiration for songs like this, you ask? Understanding. “Songs like these are important to me because I’m trying to make sense of life just like everybody else,” Harvey says, “Music to me is about togetherness; capturing a feeling, a moment in time &/or making our own sense out of life.”

One of his newest releases, “What a Weird Hill to Die On,” is from the perspective of a Capitol Insurrection participant’s progression from an idle supporter to partaking in the riot after the results of the 2020 election. The song ends with the participant sitting in his federal jail cell with a refrain of the chorus, “Have you considered maybe you’ve been fooled by the people you swore were telling the truth, even though they’ve never done nothing for you.”

In the past, country and punk music have received a lot of backlash for their exclusivity, meaning you had to fit into extremely constrictive molds largely excluding women, POC and LGBTQ+ individuals. While

the punk scene has made progress in regards to these issues, it seems like country music is still finding its way down this long road. Roger Harvey doesn’t deny the not-so-great aspects of the genre. “Country music as an industry has a racist & exclusive past that cannot be ignored or rewritten but there are so many of us, who have long been considered outsiders, that are participating & in turn building new communities that are more interesting, more inclusive & in my opinion better,” he says, “I’m honored to be connected to so many people who are sharing a different story to the one that the industry of country music has been selling & reselling for the past hundred years.”

One of Harvey’s first and biggest heroes is Woody Guthrie, who has inspired him time and time again. In fact, his newest record will consist of rewritten versions of traditional folk music with a large number of those songs being Woody Guthrie’s. During the recording of this album in Fort Worth, TX, Harvey made sure to visit the Woody Guthrie Center here in Tulsa. “I’ve always wanted to see the Archives & the Woody Guthrie Center. I was glad to see them carrying on the legacy of its namesake through community work in Tulsa to develop a space of inclusivity,” he says.

He even visited Guthrie’s hometown, Okemah, to pay respects to the late songwriter’s memorial in Highland Cemetery. “Okemah was a trip. The folks I met in town were happy to talk about Woody with me. I hope to have the opportunity to play the Woody Guthrie Festival someday there.” He also explored Pampa, where Guthrie lived and worked as a teenager before being displaced by the Dust Bowl. “ He credits this journey with connecting him even closer to Guthrie.

Upon returning to Texas, his friend Simon Flory talked about Harvey’s anomalous life, saying “You know Roger, most people don’t do this kinda thing with their lives.” Harvey takes this in his stride. “I’ve been out here for about 25 years chasing Woody Guthrie’s ghost.”

During those 25 years, Harvey has moreor-less stayed on the road touring the U.S. and even internationally. “Life on the road ain’t for everyone but for me it’s where I’ve always felt the most at home,” he says. Recently, he started a viral Twitter thread encouraging other musicians to share their wildest tour stories. When asked about this conversation and why so many unbelievable things happen to musicians, he says, “I always say that the more you look the more you’re bound to see. Something about the road either invites chaos or just makes it more visible.”

So what does music mean to Roger Harvey? It’s a chance to make a community. Though he grew up around the punk scene, he doesn’t limit himself to the title of “punk-rocker,” nor does he simply call himself a country singer because he’s from rural Pennsylvania and likes to sing about it. “I think the only thing I’ve ever truly related to is being an outsider but over the years I’ve met & built a network of so many beautiful outsiders I don’t know if I can even call myself an outsider anymore,” he says, “I guess, I’m an outsider but I’m not alone anymore.”

To him, music is love. He writes songs because he has a love for people. “[Music] has brought me together with so many people & I love that because being together with people gives me hope & there are so many more I’ve yet to meet,” he says candidly.

Since the pandemic started, DIY musicians like Harvey have taken a hit as they have been unable to go out on the road to perform and gain new listeners. Harvey voices the struggle, “For those of us that work in music, we’ve watched an already difficult industry turn into a nearly impossible one. As artists, we have had to adapt & diversify how we see & do the work.” As a way of funding his next full length album, Harvey started a Patreon called “Record Club” where supporters will receive 7” vinyls quarterly, digital downloads and a monthly review. Other ways of supporting musicians in this transition period is by buying advance tickets for concerts, purchasing merch online or at shows and simply sharing music on social media.

If you’re looking for a way to support musicians during this time, consider becoming a patreon to Roger Harvey’s “Record Club” on Patreon at the following link: https://www.patreon.com/rogerharvey

“Life on the road ain’t for everyone but for me it’s where I’ve always felt the most at home,” he says.