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Reviews tagging 'Violence'
Sunrise on the Reaping (a Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins
2450 reviews
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book is well built. Many readers already know the ending, so Collins had to be creative in how she brought Haymitch from point A to point B in a way that engaged the readers and revealed more truth to a world readers have already become familiar with. Collins crafted Haymitch’s story with targeted irony and careful symbolism, and it helped the book resonate in a important and new ways. She also wrote endearing characters who brought a fresh sense of meaning and tragedy to the Hunger Games world.
The biggest drawback is how quickly the narrator moves through action and describes emotion. In such a tragic book, action and combat and sense perceptions surpass in just a few lines, and readers don’t feel what Haymitch feels, but simply read his emotions. Though Haymitch is certainly in a perpetual state of shock, there is a little lost to the book without that emotion resonating with the readers (though the tragedy of the plot is not lost on us).
The biggest drawback is how quickly the narrator moves through action and describes emotion. In such a tragic book, action and combat and sense perceptions surpass in just a few lines, and readers don’t feel what Haymitch feels, but simply read his emotions. Though Haymitch is certainly in a perpetual state of shock, there is a little lost to the book without that emotion resonating with the readers (though the tragedy of the plot is not lost on us).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Blood
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Rape, War
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
challenging
emotional
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 death, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Whoever hurt Suzanne Collins, can you please apologize for all our sakes!? Beautifully devastating story, and I loved the surprises we get from the epilogue. Only complaints were having to hear Lenore Dove’s full name EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. it was mentioned, and I wish there’d been a little less tike pre-games and more time in the games, but it makes sense at the end. You definitely understand Haymitch much more after then and want to hug him and protect him and never let him go after.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Another Hunger Games prequel— Haymitch’s backstory. OMG SO good! Plenty of connections to the original series and Songbirds and Snakes. Heartbreaking, thrilling, and thought-provoking
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence