Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Sunrise on the Reaping (a Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins

1360 reviews

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What makes the Hunger Games series so strong (and where many imitators fall flat) is that this is not a series about violence, or government, or trauma, or an inexplicably overpowered protagonist who is chosen for greatness. All those things are present in the series, but at its core the series has always been about media, and propaganda, and marketing, and the way those are the tools of both the oppressor and the resistance. This book carries that legacy, and keeps with what is now a traditional Hunger Games pacing — the first half is slow, political, and suspenseful, with lots of talking and jockeying and rivalries and image-cultivation. The second half is when shit hits the fan and heads begin to roll. There’s more nuance and commentary in the first half, but the second half was what made me stay up reading till 4am, and different people will enjoy each to differing degrees.

It’s hard for me to judge this book neutrally because of my love of the original series, but I also think it would be a mistake to judge this book out of context. This is a book designed to add to and comment on the original series (and even elements of Songbirds & Snakes, so read that or watch the movie beforehand). Collins does bring in some familiar characters, but all in ways that actually serve the story and the world and don’t feel like cheap cameos or fan-service. 

I would also argue that this book is very timely. This is not a spoiler, but spoiler warning anyway: Haymitch does not completely topple the totalitarian regime (otherwise, we wouldn’t need Katniss or her trilogy). But this book specifically explores small rebellions and their impacts, even when it feels futile. In a time when people feel powerless in the face of fascism, sometimes small rebellions are all we have. For a generation raised on stories of Chosen Ones and Exceptionally Gifted Teenager Heroes, it’s helpful to see that progress is frustratingly incremental, and the fruits of our labor often take time to blossom.

Not a perfect book, and definitely not a particularly happy one, but one that feels refreshingly relevant and gives young readers the respect and depth they deserve.

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It connected the original trilogy and the first prequel really well. 

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dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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dark reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes



“‘Forty-nine kids died for it, but you gave it the old Heavensbee spin and, in that propo, you’re some kind of hero.’

Plutarch takes a moment to answer.  ‘I’m nobody’s idea of a hero, Haymitch.  But at least I’m still in the game.’”

i think what i loved best about sotr is showing us that plutarch isn’t the good guy.  in the original trilogy you would think he’s good, but he was just waiting for his time to pounce.  no one in the capitol except for cinna and portia give us an idea that they truly disagree with the games.  plutarch always saw it as a means of getting what he wants: he wants power, to control behind the scenes.  he wants to be the wizard of oz, paying no attention to the man behind the curtain as long as you believe what he wants.

he didn’t care about stopping that sun from rising, he wanted the power of helping it stop.  he didn’t care how many kids died.

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes

omg 😭 This book was so good! I legit stayed up until 5:30am to finish it. I just couldn’t put it down despite repeatedly telling myself “just one more chapter.”

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adventurous dark sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

God, fine, okay, Suzanne Collins did it again. I do think unfortunately the setting and concept is so good for a YA novel that she could write every single Hunger Games from #1 to Katniss' and they would all be fun. It pulls you through exactly the same way the first Hunger Games novel did. Unfortunately the ending is pre-determined and so fucking sad, so you get to the end feeling like you expect a semi-triumphant ending somewhat like the Hunger Games and it's actually just sad. So that's probably the biggest downer. However it is kind of unavoidable in the premise of the book so. You win some, you lose some, at least Suzanne Collins isn't funding a transphobic empire with her ill-gotten gains.

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Devastation is all I can say about this book, it was so immensely sad and dark but had the slimmest moments of hope throughout. Haymitch is now and forever my favorite Hunger Games character, what he went thru is so terrible and makes me wonder how many other Victor's stories are just like his or worse. The way I loathe Snow is insane, he is probably my most hated villain of all time now if he wasn't already. I forgot how good/gut wrenching reading a Hunger Games novel is, the author just makes you care so much about these characters and even if you know how it will end you have hope that it will be different this time. This was a great book, definitely go into it knowing your heart will be ripped out and stomped on though.

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This book will rip your heart to smithereens. Part 3 does require (demand) tissues. IMHO you have to read the other books in the series (including The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) before you touch this one for the full experience. Suzanne killed me but it was worth it. The movie in production is going to break me but dang it take my money.

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