Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Mockingjay

I remember not liking this book at all when I was younger, but after this reread I have a new appreciation for it. My only gripe with it is the fact that we are told a lot of what happens rather than being in the action since we are only viewing Katniss's perspective. But overall, this was a... not nice conclusion but an appropriate one for this series. Some things that stuck out to me:

- Collins gives us an unflinching view of the effects of war throughout this book. War is devastating, the loss of life unimaginable, the trauma that it causes is deep. No one comes out on the other side unscathed.

- Like the previous two books, I think this one (and the entire series as a whole) is just so well thought out. I used to dislike the fact that Katniss loses a lot of her agency in Mockingjay, but I realize now that this was most likely intentional. It's still not pleasant to read, but you realize that this shows just how she kind of becomes a piece of the games again, used as a pawn by this new president. And it has us questioning throughout the book, "once this war ends and if this new government takes over, will things really change? Or is this a never-ending cycle?".

- Can't say that this ended on the brightest note, but I do appreciate the hope that it gives us. Even though Katniss suffered through tragedy after tragedy, she learns to find small moments of happiness in her daily life.

These books were truly an influential part of my adolescence, so glad I reread them and found new things to appreciate.

Content Warnings

catsbreadbikes's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

TIP: do not read this book if you have recently lost a family member. Even if you've read the book before amd so know what's coming.

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paloverdepages's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This time around, I finished the book in a matter of hours. I can appreciate the story so much more now.

Prim's death

was the first time a book made me cry. That memory is so strong in my head that I had forgotten how horrific some other parts are. 10/10 for catharsis, exactly what I needed.

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divinehealer14's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced

3.0

This is one of the hardest, most depressing books I have ever read in my whole life.
I literally had to take breaks from reading because it was too dark, too violent, too heartbreaking for me.
Apart from that, I must say it was my least favourite in the trilogy; there are really a few redeeming moments that provide hope, the pacing is off, the ending I found to be extremely rushed, considering the emotional, physical and psychological damage that survivors will carry forever, and I had a few issues with how the characters were handled.
Firstly,

Finnick and Prim’s deaths

How is it possible that literally nothing is even said about that???
Secondly, I think that it makes a lot of sense to have made Katniss so unbearable in this book, given everything she has been through, and I wouldn’t change that. It makes her imperfect, and realistic. But some of her choices and actions just didn’t feel like her. I was really disappointed when at the end she voted yes to having new Hunger Games with Capitol kids (which are never mentioned again). Katniss wouldn’t have done that, after all her pain. And I get that she has been hurt so badly she basically lost her humanity, but that made her seem so heartless to me.

In conclusion, I thought this book was extremely hard to finish and had some flaws that I found distracting in the story

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kells__bells's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

When I first read this book years ago, I wasn’t a huge fan of how it ended. However, reading this now I discovered how human Katniss is. She never wanted to be a hero. She only wanted happiness and freedom to be herself with those she loved.

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dizzyizzyy's review

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challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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cecinamo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

4.75

Amazing end to the trilogy! It had me hooked beginning to end, I finished it in less than a day. Katniss is such an interesting character, I love how she is portrayed as human, not as this perfect protagonist. Also just they way Suzanne Collins wrote all the characters was amazing. They all had such depth. All the deaths were heartbreaking.

maybe not Alma Coins ;)

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turtleycool's review

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dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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