Their Vicious Games Summary, Characters and Themes
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington is a gripping YA thriller that tears into the glossy surface of elite society to reveal the brutal undercurrents of race, privilege, and power.
Set in a world where a single mistake can ruin your future—and where redemption comes at a high price—this novel follows Adina Walker, a Black girl wronged and cast out by the world that once promised her everything. When she’s invited to compete in a high-stakes, secretive competition for a second chance at success, she discovers the game is not just about winning, but surviving. And nothing about it is fair.
Summary
Adina Walker was supposed to be going to Yale. As valedictorian of the elite Edgewater Academy, her future was set—until a public altercation with Esme Aldridge, a white classmate from a powerful family, caused Yale to rescind her acceptance.
The scandal shattered her reputation and severed her place among the rich, white elite. Ostracized and humiliated, Adina is left with no options and no second chances—until a mysterious invitation arrives.
The invitation is to “The Finish,” an ultra-exclusive competition hosted by the Remingtons, one of the most influential families in the country. The prize? Access to unimaginable resources, full support to attend any college, and an entry into the upper echelons of power.
With nothing left to lose, Adina accepts, even though her parents are deeply suspicious of the secrecy surrounding the event.
Upon arriving at the Remington estate, Adina meets eleven other girls—smart, beautiful, privileged, and ruthless.
The event is introduced as a set of three challenges: Initiative, Strategy, and Mettle. From the start, the Remingtons make it clear: this is not a game for the faint of heart. Only one girl will win, and losing could mean much more than just going home.
During the first challenge, the girls are thrown into a physically and mentally taxing scenario, meant to test their instinct and quick thinking. Adina manages to hold her own, despite the increasing pressure.
But when a girl is eliminated without warning or explanation, the others begin to understand just how serious—and dangerous—The Finish really is.
In the next round, Strategy, the girls are pitted against one another in psychological games. Lies, manipulation, and sabotage are not only permitted—they’re expected. As friendships falter and betrayals emerge, Adina begins forming a cautious alliance with Nyla, a cool-headed girl from a different social circle. Together, they start to question the true purpose of The Finish.
Nyla uncovers disturbing evidence: the competition has a dark history, with signs of ritualistic control and manipulation disguised as “empowerment.”
Throughout the competition, Adina receives cryptic messages from Pierce Remington, the heir to the dynasty, warning her that the game is more sinister than it seems.
She also begins to realize that the Remingtons are using the competition as a way to select and shape future pawns in their vast network of power—a legacy machine cloaked as meritocracy.
The final challenge, Mettle, throws the remaining contestants into the wilderness for an endurance trial that blurs the line between test and torture. Girls are injured, one goes missing, and Adina begins to see the true cost of victory. She’s forced to confront Esme once more, and this time, refuses to fight dirty. Her integrity, resilience, and unwillingness to dehumanize others win the attention of the Remington matriarch, Alice.
Adina is declared the winner—but the “reward” comes with a cost. She is offered Yale, prestige, and power—but only if she becomes their puppet. Rather than be a symbol molded by others, Adina walks away. She chooses her truth over their influence.
In the epilogue, Adina is at a new school, healing and speaking out. She didn’t need the Remingtons to find her worth. She survived their vicious games—and now, she’s rewriting the rules.
Characters
Adina Walker
Adina Walker is the protagonist of Their Vicious Games, a complex character whose journey revolves around resilience, self-discovery, and navigating a world defined by privilege and competition. Once a promising student destined for Yale, Adina’s life takes a sharp turn after a violent altercation at her prestigious prep school.
This event leads to her being ostracized and subsequently stripped of her future at Edgewater Academy. Despite the blow to her social standing, Adina’s journey into The Finish reveals her inner strength and tenacity.
Over time, Adina becomes increasingly strategic and focused, using her intellect and emotional intelligence to survive the cutthroat competition. Her development from a disillusioned teenager to a self-respecting young woman rejecting the manipulative forces around her is a central theme.
She confronts both internal and external challenges, ultimately choosing authenticity over the glamorous but controlling opportunities offered by the Remington family. Her character represents the conflict between personal integrity and the lure of power, and her journey is one of reclaiming control over her own narrative.
Toni
Toni plays a pivotal role in Adina’s life, offering unwavering support throughout the chaos and turbulence of their high school years. Toni is more than just a best friend; she serves as a stabilizing force for Adina in a world where Adina’s identity is constantly questioned.
As a fellow Black student in an elite institution, Toni’s experiences provide a parallel lens through which the story explores themes of race and class. While Toni remains socially connected, embodying grace and diplomacy, she chooses loyalty to Adina, even when it becomes socially costly.
This loyalty contrasts with the cutthroat nature of the competition Adina faces, and Toni’s consistent presence highlights the importance of solidarity in a world that often encourages betrayal for personal gain. Despite Toni’s more careful approach to social dynamics, her relationship with Adina showcases the depth of friendship and the importance of having someone who believes in you, even when the world seems to turn against you.
Nyla
Nyla is introduced as a mysterious and aloof character, one of Adina’s competitors in The Finish. Initially, she is portrayed as a stylish and seemingly distant girl, but as the story unfolds, Nyla becomes one of Adina’s few allies.
Their bond is forged in mutual recognition of their outsider status, as both girls find themselves on the fringes of the elite world they are thrust into. Nyla’s character arc is largely defined by her role as a source of insider knowledge.
She uncovers the darker origins of The Finish, revealing that the competition is not just a simple contest but a deeply ingrained system of power manipulation. Nyla serves as a key figure in the story who encourages Adina to question the true nature of the game, and her warnings about the dangers of the Remington family propel Adina into making the ultimate decision about whether to continue playing by their rules.
Nyla’s presence underscores the theme of survival through knowledge and the importance of questioning the systems that define one’s fate.
Pierce Remington IV
Pierce Remington IV is a significant yet enigmatic figure in The Finish. As the son of the powerful Remington family, Pierce represents the high-society world that Adina is both drawn to and repelled by.
His interactions with Adina are charged with tension, as their brief encounter at a graduation party sparks a series of events that lead to her invitation to the competition. While Pierce’s initial role may seem minor, his actions throughout the story reveal him as a complex character torn between family loyalty and his growing empathy for Adina.
He attempts to warn her about the dangers of the game, subtly suggesting that past winners have paid a heavy price for their success. This provides Adina with crucial information, and his character arc adds a layer of moral ambiguity to the story.
Despite his warning, Pierce remains tied to the Remington legacy, complicating his relationship with Adina. His final role in the narrative leaves a sense of unresolved tension, as Adina ultimately rejects the very system that he represents.
Ms. Alice Remington
Ms. Alice Remington, one of the matriarchs of the powerful Remington family, is an imposing figure in The Finish. She serves as the mastermind behind the competition, orchestrating each challenge with an iron grip.
Her cold demeanor and ruthless approach to the game illustrate the elitist values that underpin the event. Alice embodies the concept of power as something that must be controlled and maintained at all costs, and her interactions with the competitors are calculated and manipulative.
She offers Adina a deal in the final stages of the competition, promising her everything she could ever want, but only if she submits to the Remingtons’ control. This pivotal moment in the story highlights the manipulative nature of Alice’s character—she understands the power of choice but seeks to strip away that very power from those who challenge the status quo.
Ultimately, Adina’s rejection of Alice’s offer represents a victory for individuality and resistance against the controlling forces of the elite.
Esme Alderidge
Esme Alderidge is a key antagonist in Their Vicious Games. She represents the type of competitor who thrives in a system that rewards manipulation, deceit, and ruthless ambition.
As a classmate of Adina’s at Edgewater Academy, Esme is initially introduced as one of the girls responsible for Adina’s fall from grace, setting the stage for their ongoing rivalry. Throughout the competition, Esme’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, revealing the psychological toll the game takes on her.
Her final confrontation with Adina exemplifies her descent into desperation and madness. Esme’s character illustrates the dangers of a competitive environment that prizes victory above all else, including personal integrity and moral values.
By the end of the story, Esme’s unraveling serves as a warning about the cost of pursuing success in a system that dehumanizes its participants.
Themes
The Corruption of Elite Power and the Destructive Pursuit of Control
Their Vicious Games revolves around the dangerous allure of elite power and how those who hold it will go to any lengths to maintain it. The Remingtons’ competition, The Finish, initially presented as an opportunity for advancement, gradually reveals itself as a ruthless, manipulative system designed to control and mold individuals to serve the needs of an already corrupt power structure.
Through their manipulation of the contestants, particularly Adina, the Remington family embodies the idea of control masquerading as opportunity. The competition becomes less about fair play and more about survival, revealing the inherent cruelty within systems designed to preserve wealth, influence, and status.
This theme underscores the stark reality that those at the top are not interested in equality or fairness but in maintaining their dominance through any means, even if it means exploiting and discarding those who participate.
The Struggle for Identity and Autonomy in the Face of Societal Expectations
Another significant theme in the novel is the internal and external struggle for identity and autonomy, particularly for young women in an oppressive, elitist society. Adina’s journey is marked by her constant battle to reconcile who she is with the pressures placed upon her by both her family and the expectations of her school, Edgewater Academy.
Her fall from grace begins as a result of her clash with societal norms, and throughout the novel, she grapples with the idea of conforming to an idealized version of success that is dictated by her environment. This tension becomes even more pronounced when she is invited to The Finish, where she is forced to navigate a competition that not only tests her skills and intellect but also her very sense of self.
By the end of the story, Adina’s rejection of the Remingtons’ offer—despite the opportunity to attend Yale and secure a prosperous future—signals her refusal to be molded into a symbol for the elite’s benefit. It’s a powerful declaration of independence and an affirmation of self-authenticity over external validation.
The Psychological and Moral Toll of Competitive Systems on Young Women
Their Vicious Games explores the profound psychological and moral toll that hyper-competitive systems, particularly those that exploit gender and class dynamics, have on young women. The girls participating in The Finish are subjected to extreme emotional, physical, and psychological pressures, all in the name of competition.
The manipulative strategies employed by the Remingtons, and the cutthroat nature of the tests, create a toxic environment that forces the girls to either conform to ruthless tactics or be eliminated. As Adina observes, alliances shift, trust is betrayed, and the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred.
This theme highlights the dehumanizing effects of competitive systems that prioritize success and victory over empathy, morality, and individual well-being. For Adina and the others, the true cost of the game is not just the possibility of losing but the emotional scars they carry as a result of their participation.
The Intersection of Race, Class, and Opportunity in Shaping Identity and Fate
A recurring theme throughout the novel is the intersection of race, class, and opportunity, particularly as Adina navigates an elite institution like Edgewater Academy and, later, the exclusive Finish competition. As a Black student at a predominantly white prep school, Adina’s experiences are shaped by the way race and class inform the expectations placed upon her.
Her journey reflects the systemic barriers that marginalized individuals face, particularly in environments designed to perpetuate privilege and exclusion. Toni, Adina’s closest ally, also grapples with the pressure of being both an outsider and an insider in a space that is not built for their success.
The novel delves into how race and class inform the opportunities available to Adina, and the difficult choices she must make when these factors collide with her desire to chart her own path. The tension between Adina’s background and the worlds she navigates reflects the larger societal divide between those born into privilege and those who must fight for a seat at the table, often at the cost of their own identity.
The Illusion of Choice in Systems of Oppression
Throughout the narrative, a critical theme emerges around the illusion of choice within oppressive systems. While the Remington family presents The Finish as an opportunity, it quickly becomes apparent that the girls are not truly free to choose their own path.
The challenges they face are not designed to foster growth but to enforce conformity and force them into predefined roles, where their success is determined not by their true potential but by how well they can navigate the rules of a rigged game. Adina’s journey reflects this theme as she initially enters The Finish with hopes of gaining autonomy and control over her future, but she soon realizes that the real game is about maintaining power within a controlled system.
Even her eventual victory, and the offer of a future shaped by the Remingtons, is an offer that comes with strings attached. The conclusion, where Adina rejects the power offered to her, serves as a powerful commentary on the ways in which choice is often a facade in environments that are structured to maintain control over individuals.