I received a free copy of, A Risky Game (The Liars Society #2), by Alyson Gerber, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Cousins Jack and Weatherby have been selected to join the last heirs, a very powerful secret society. You don't know who to trust in this book, this was a really good read.

I loved this sequel to The Liar's Society and I believe my middle schoolers will too! The mystery and suspense was just the right amount to hook the reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.

A great sequel! Familiar characters continue in their quest to become part of Last Heir, yet this book doesn't feel like it is a repeat of the first book. I enjoyed having Jack and Weatherby cooperate now that they know they are family. Many upper elementary students will be clamoring for this book when it hits our library shelves

A Risky Game is a worthy sequel to The Liars Society. 4 1/2*

As in the first novel, the reader again experiences the events through the alternating perspectives of Jack and Weatherby. The book does not pick up exactly where we left our characters in the first book, but instead we join them after some changes have taken place in the living situation for Weatherby and her mother. In the novel, Weatherby, Jack, and crew finally get to spend time on the island where they find out their lifelong-assigned hall (sadly without any Sorting Hat kind of situation) and play the The King's Game.

Like the first book in the series, the author deftly describes the landscapes, buildings, and bunkers in such a way that they are easy to visualize while making us want to perhaps pay a visit to Hart Isle if only we were deemed to be worthy. The anagrams, challenges, and surprises continue throughout the book. I appreciate the development of not only the two main characters but also that of their friends and family members. I have also developed a bit of knowledge about sailing from the series since I previously knew next to nothing about it.

The novel ends without everything being resolved and on a bit of a cliffhanger. We can guess where a third book would likely begin, and I am looking forward to the next installment of the series.

Sometimes readers can jump into a series at any point, but for this one I definitely suggest beginning with The Liars Society before starting A Risky Game to understand the characters, their backstories, and the premise of the gambits in general. I would suggest this to teachers as a class read aloud as early as third or fourth grade but even through fifth or sixth if you are lucky enough to be able to read to students at that age. Independent readers in upper elementary and middle school would likely enjoy the book (although it obviously can appeal to adults as well!).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great follow up to The Liars Society 1. The game continues for Weatherby and Jack and the risks continue to get greater. Who is after Weatherby? Who can they trust. They bravely push onward solving each puzzle even as each brings a new danger.
A fun read for any age. I like how the puzzles are solved, without belaboring each step of their thought process. I like the relationships between the students – how hard they are trying to be good friends who tell the truth and not lie like all the adults around them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for this DRC.
#ARiskyGameTheLiarsSociety2 #NetGalley

I found "The Liars Society" by Alyson Gerber at our school's book fair. I was intrigued, so I grabbed a copy from the library. It was amazing! "The Liars Society" is the story of a girl named Weatherby who, through a series of interesting events, finds herself entering the world of an elite private school. The book also tells the story of Jack, the youngest son of the Hunt family, a prestigious family who puts loyalty to family above all else. There are many secrets at the Boston School and, soon, Weatherby and Jack find their paths crossing as they are both tapped for a secret society.

"A Risky Game" picks up after the events of "The Liars Society." It appears that not all f the secrets were revealed and someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to make sure those skeletons stay buried.

Weatherby and Jack, along with several of their friends, are chosen to compete for spots in an elite secret society know as Last Heir. They must complete several challenging tasks, each one more difficult than the previous ones. And, along with the challenges, is the threat of an unknown enemy that doesn't want Weatherby to succeed...because of a dark secret from the past.

I'm a big Star Wars fan and love "The Empire Strikes Back." It is the perfect sequel and sets up the next story in an incredible fasion. "A Risky Game" does exactly the same thing. The tension is incredible, but never overpowering. Mrs. Gerber makes you truly care for the characters. There's even a moment or two where you feel sympathy for the villain...but only for a moment.

As an elementary school teacher, I would happily recommend "A Risky Game" to fourth and fifth grade students. It might be a bit advanced for third grade, but students ready for a challenge will certainly enjoy it.

Thank you, Alyson Gerber, for this amazing book!

Jack and Weatherby's adventures continue as they compete all year to become members in an elite secret society. Things take a very dangerous turn, and many secrets are unveiled. They and their friends adopt the motto "truth before everything" which sets them apart from other members of the society. They are determined to keep their integrities intact as they continue working to uncover the years of secrets left behind by their family.

If you enjoyed the first Liars Society, you will appreciate this one as well. It has excitement, intrigue, and once again left with a bit of a cliffhanger to keep you coming back for more.

Thank you Scholastic Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

For fans of The Inheritance Games, The Liars Society series is perfect for middle-grade readers! When I received an ARC of Book Two in the Liar's Society series, I realized I'd already stocked Book One in my secondary library but hadn’t read it yet. Winning the ARC gave me the push I needed to dive in, and I’m glad I did—I actually enjoyed the sequel even more than the first book. While Book One focused heavily on background buildup, Book Two took off with a tighter plot and much more suspense. The story flowed well, and I think our middle schoolers will love it!

I’m definitely ready for Book Three (there will be a third book, right?). I’m fully invested now!

Summary: Weatherby and Jack are tapped to join Last Heir, the world’s most powerful secret society. But on the night of the first gambit, the game takes a terrifying turn, and they’re soon caught in a race against time to uncover the truth—about the game and themselves. But who do you trust when everyone around you is a liar?

After I read the first book The Liar's Society, I knew I couldn't wait to read the second book. When Alyson shared that it was available on NetGalley, I couldn't request it fast enough and it did not disappoint! This series reminds me of The Inheritance Games series but for middle grades. There are twists and turns, puzzles to decipher, deep family secrets, and even the threat of murder in an upper elementary friendly story. I cannot wait to buy this book for my school library and share with my students!

Gerber knocks it out of the park with this second installment....and spoiler alert: it ends on a cliffhanger! I love books with smart characters that are trying to be different than generations past. Thx to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a must-get sequel in The Liar’s Society series. The way that the mystery and characters have developed from book 1 into book 2 was highly engaging. I loved it, and I know my students will too! I will absolutely be buying this for my library once it releases in 2025. Now to anxiously await what happens in book 3!

This was a beautifully done sequel in the Liars Society series, it had that element that I wanted from the first book and was enjoying the characters in this world. It continued the story perfectly and was enjoying the overall writing style. Alyson Gerber was able to capture that magic from the first book and improve on it with this one.