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Reviews tagging 'Torture'
Sunrise on the Reaping (a Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins
1150 reviews
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
Being a prequel, I find this hard to rate. I knew where everything was going, and this definitely was worth the journey. It does kind of beg questions about timelines, and if things like this were happening 25 years ago before the original novels, it’s disheartening to think it took that long for something to land (especially given our real world political climate in 2025). I also fully understand the jokes I saw about this book being revenge for people thirsting after Snow in A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
The book assumes a lot about the reader knowing the story from the original trilogy, which I appreciate. It’s strangely comforting to read about places and things you recognize, even when they’re dystopian (reading about the Hob and the Seam again, for instance).
The only thing I had trouble with was some of the narration. Little bits like “I love you like all-fire” are emotional, but have never really struck an emotional chord for me as a reader. Some other things were repeated a lot (the son of an oddsmaker, the meanest girl in town, heck, even Lenore Dove’s name at a certain point - mostly because I couldn’t help reading it as first name and surname instead of a double first name), which isn’t terrible, but it stuck out to me.
I think what’s most interesting about this is its examination of complicity in fascist regimes or corrupt governments. Haymitch freezes at certain points, and it doesn’t prevent him from being targeted by the Capitol. It also talks about how hard it is to make change in these systems when you’re on the run or have limited access to loyal supporters.
I was surprised by how much various plot points affected me. I did get attached to these characters, despite presuming 100% of their fates. I couldn’t help but hope more would go right in a way I didn’t know about. The character work is genuinely pretty fantastic, but I also feel like Haymitch’s descent into alcoholism and who we saw in the original books was more a fulfillment of an existing prophecy than something that was his most logical, in-character response.
I’m also thinking a lot about what this does (or maybe doesn’t) add to the series overall. Like I said, it does kind of read as a reminder to not sympathize with Snow, ever. It gives background on why certain characters took the actions they did in the original trilogy, including who trusted whom. It furthers the themes of victors writing the history books and anti-war and anti-fascist ideologies. It adds a lot about the need to collaborate and work together.
The book wasn’t perfect, but it was a really great read, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is interested.
The book assumes a lot about the reader knowing the story from the original trilogy, which I appreciate. It’s strangely comforting to read about places and things you recognize, even when they’re dystopian (reading about the Hob and the Seam again, for instance).
The only thing I had trouble with was some of the narration. Little bits like “I love you like all-fire” are emotional, but have never really struck an emotional chord for me as a reader. Some other things were repeated a lot (the son of an oddsmaker, the meanest girl in town, heck, even Lenore Dove’s name at a certain point - mostly because I couldn’t help reading it as first name and surname instead of a double first name), which isn’t terrible, but it stuck out to me.
I think what’s most interesting about this is its examination of complicity in fascist regimes or corrupt governments. Haymitch freezes at certain points, and it doesn’t prevent him from being targeted by the Capitol. It also talks about how hard it is to make change in these systems when you’re on the run or have limited access to loyal supporters.
I was surprised by how much various plot points affected me. I did get attached to these characters, despite presuming 100% of their fates. I couldn’t help but hope more would go right in a way I didn’t know about. The character work is genuinely pretty fantastic, but I also feel like Haymitch’s descent into alcoholism and who we saw in the original books was more a fulfillment of an existing prophecy than something that was his most logical, in-character response.
I’m also thinking a lot about what this does (or maybe doesn’t) add to the series overall. Like I said, it does kind of read as a reminder to not sympathize with Snow, ever. It gives background on why certain characters took the actions they did in the original trilogy, including who trusted whom. It furthers the themes of victors writing the history books and anti-war and anti-fascist ideologies. It adds a lot about the need to collaborate and work together.
The book wasn’t perfect, but it was a really great read, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is interested.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, Vomit, War
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Haymitch's story is every bit as intoxicating as reading the Hunger Games for the first time. Urgent, rebellious and fearless, he refuses to go down without a fight. The focus on the undercurrent uniting the districts offers a great reminder of who the real enemy is. I absolutely devoured this book.
Favourite quotes:
"Don't let them paint their posters with your blood."
"Fire is catching, she’d say, but if this one burns down the arena, I say good riddance."
"You were capable of imagining a different future. And maybe it won’t be realized today, maybe not in our lifetime. Maybe it will take generations. We’re all part of a continuum. Does that make it pointless?"
"With that, she condemns me to life."
Favourite quotes:
"Don't let them paint their posters with your blood."
"Fire is catching, she’d say, but if this one burns down the arena, I say good riddance."
"You were capable of imagining a different future. And maybe it won’t be realized today, maybe not in our lifetime. Maybe it will take generations. We’re all part of a continuum. Does that make it pointless?"
"With that, she condemns me to life."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Torture
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism
Minor: War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, War
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
😭 this has wrecked me and will haunt me even longer. I thought Mockingjay was bad but this wasn't war, it was uncontested dictatorial vengeance. I hate it but it was so well written and beautiful. Suzanne has words to say and she is not pulling punches.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you are reading The Hunger Games universe in timeline order - don't read the epilogue. It will spoil the ending of the trilogy that follows. I know there's someone out there who will just now be getting into it, whether they put it off for years or they're a young reader just being exposed for the first time. The epilogue should be saved for after you have read the full series. Even if it didn't spoil the trilogy, I would have still deducted 0.25 for its inclusion because it doesn't add much of anything to the story. I have not read many epilogues that actually improved the story, and this one certainly won't be making the list of exceptions for me.
The 0.5 deduction is because Collins quotesEdgar Allen Poe very heavily in the final 14 pages - like it is legitimately a 1:1 ratio of quoted words to her original ones. It was difficult and boring to read, rendering the emotional impact of Haymitch's consequences... almost pointless? I hate that I'm saying that because I love this universe and series so much, but I'm firm that it was a downer in the wrong way. Every page was another stab to my heart in so many ways, and then to just be glad to be done because of the quotation inclusions were so disruptive, what a disappointment.
That said, this is still a wonderful story. If you told me before I read Ballad and Sunrise that I would prefer Snow's origin story to Haymitch's games, I would have considered beginning a verbal altercation because nobody wanted Snow's villain origins. So many people for years wanted Haymitch's games - so, so many! Alas, I do think Sunrise is the weakest of the books in the series. It's not just the reasons above, but I do think the other issues are so negligible that If the previous issues didn't exist, then I would have still rated this a perfect five book.
---
Something I do in all of my reviews now is a trigger break down, since I know a lot of readers want context for certain triggers, so here's what I want to make sure that I give some limited-spoiler context for ahead of reading:
Police Brutality & Gun Violence:This is scene primarily at the beginning and early chapters through the Peacekeepers. Peacekeepers kill a child in a brutal manner using guns. There is also an incident where chaos ensues and Peacekeepers start detaining, brutalizing, and chasing tributes.
Kidnapping:There is a child character whose real identity is unknown who dies without the characters and readers never learning that child's identity.
Insects/Bugs:Many of the mutts in this games are bugs and insects that are described in varying levels of detail, but additional have strange abilities that are used to cause harm and sometimes kill the tributes.
Confinement:This is not in reference to putting the children into the arena. This is actually in reference to events that transpire after the games are completed. It will take place in two different locations over the equivalent of a two-week timeframe.
Body Shaming:Even though this is minor mention, capital teens and young adults talk about "maintenance" and other body modifications that are popular in the Capitol, one of which talks about how she has not started yet and that she thinks she should despite being very young (early twenties, estimated).
The 0.5 deduction is because Collins quotes
That said, this is still a wonderful story. If you told me before I read Ballad and Sunrise that I would prefer Snow's origin story to Haymitch's games, I would have considered beginning a verbal altercation because nobody wanted Snow's villain origins. So many people for years wanted Haymitch's games - so, so many! Alas, I do think Sunrise is the weakest of the books in the series. It's not just the reasons above, but I do think the other issues are so negligible that If the previous issues didn't exist, then I would have still rated this a perfect five book.
---
Something I do in all of my reviews now is a trigger break down, since I know a lot of readers want context for certain triggers, so here's what I want to make sure that I give some limited-spoiler context for ahead of reading:
Police Brutality & Gun Violence:
Kidnapping:
Insects/Bugs:
Confinement:
Body Shaming:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, War
Insects/Bug
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:
Complicated
I was skeptical about reading this but I’m glad I did. Loved hearing about Haymitch’s backstory and it gave so much insight into the character he was in The Hunger Games.
My only complaint is that it felt like there was a LOT of capital involvement in the actual games… I didn’t feel like there was as much of that in the later series? I know it existed, but in this one it felt a lot more common and ended up kind of minimizing Haymitch’s victory. Maybe that was the point, but it felt like a quick way to kill off some of the characters.
Otherwise, loved this book & it makes me want to jump into the other books again!
My only complaint is that it felt like there was a LOT of capital involvement in the actual games… I didn’t feel like there was as much of that in the later series? I know it existed, but in this one it felt a lot more common and ended up kind of minimizing Haymitch’s victory. Maybe that was the point, but it felt like a quick way to kill off some of the characters.
Otherwise, loved this book & it makes me want to jump into the other books again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, Death of parent