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dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
'It wasn't enough to be ambitious. A leader had to be smart. A leader had to be ruthless and manipulative, not just a thug. Great leaders had to know when to manipulate and when to confront. Most of all, a great leader had to know when to take great risks.'
This series is SO dark. I just wish everything could be sorted and turn out ok - which of course is the complete opposite of the point of the book and means any small moments of peace are HUGE and impactful... but this one just left me feeling rubbish.
After reading this book and comparing it to the first, this series so far is very slow paced. A LOT happens over a very short space of time. There isn't a single page where something traumatic doesn't happen, but it takes a very long time to actually get to the main point of the book. It's cool that every little thing links up, but wow - the whole book takes place over one week, but the amount of content I just consumed has probably filled me up for the month at least.
It was super interesting to read about the reality of famine, that's why this series is so depressing, because it's realistic to a point. Of course everyone is dying (from starvation, accidents, and maybe even murder...), look at the state of the world they're in. I'm definitely feeling extra glad for the ability to cook dinner tonight! There were definitely funny moments, and moments that seemed sweet - but I just felt so stressed and on edge the entire time that I didn't really appreciate any moments of peace because I knew things were only going to get worse. I don't know how Michael Grant has created a world with this much depth and despair.
As interesting as this series is, I am struggling with the motivation to continue because of how dark and depressing every chapter is. I will be reading straight on to the next book because I do want to continue finding out what happens, Michael Grant definitely knows how to write a page turner. But I am kind of counting down until the series is finished and I can feel happy and calm again haha...
I'll say the same thing I said after reading book #1 - this series is just so different from anything I've read in the last five years. I'm struggling with that difference, and the lack of all the things I find comfortable in my chosen reads. But it's different as a point and that's why I'll continue reading, because this series isn't really like anything else I've read or seen advertised. So I'm gonna suffer... but I'm trying to be happy about it? I am definitely scared this series will put me in a reading slump, but I'll let you know.
"Don't even tell me you love me. I'm about a millimetre from falling apart again."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Mental illness, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters: 6/10
Look, Sam Temple needs a therapist, not more responsibilities. And I get it—teen savior burnout is real—but he spends half the book brooding like a budget Batman without the cape. Astrid, supposedly brilliant, makes some epically dumb decisions that scream “forced plot tension” more than “genius under pressure.” Little Pete is less of a character and more of a plot device wrapped in mystery with a side of frustrating ambiguity. And Caine? Still evil, still power-hungry, still one-dimensional unless Diana’s around to throw some sass. The newer characters felt like NPCs from a survival game: useful, occasionally interesting, but mostly just filling out the background with angst and powers.
Look, Sam Temple needs a therapist, not more responsibilities. And I get it—teen savior burnout is real—but he spends half the book brooding like a budget Batman without the cape. Astrid, supposedly brilliant, makes some epically dumb decisions that scream “forced plot tension” more than “genius under pressure.” Little Pete is less of a character and more of a plot device wrapped in mystery with a side of frustrating ambiguity. And Caine? Still evil, still power-hungry, still one-dimensional unless Diana’s around to throw some sass. The newer characters felt like NPCs from a survival game: useful, occasionally interesting, but mostly just filling out the background with angst and powers.
Atmosphere/Setting: 7/10
Yes, the FAYZ is bleak and broken, but honestly, by the second book, I expected the setting to evolve a bit more. Still the same dusty streets, the same ruined stores, the same “let’s all slowly starve while our trauma metastasizes.” It’s immersive, sure, but it starts to feel stagnant. The big new threat? Giant flesh-eating worms. Which should be terrifying, but ended up feeling more like a B-movie creature feature—entertaining, but not exactly profound. The mood is tense, but it leans hard into repetitive despair without offering much fresh flavor.
Yes, the FAYZ is bleak and broken, but honestly, by the second book, I expected the setting to evolve a bit more. Still the same dusty streets, the same ruined stores, the same “let’s all slowly starve while our trauma metastasizes.” It’s immersive, sure, but it starts to feel stagnant. The big new threat? Giant flesh-eating worms. Which should be terrifying, but ended up feeling more like a B-movie creature feature—entertaining, but not exactly profound. The mood is tense, but it leans hard into repetitive despair without offering much fresh flavor.
Writing Style: 6/10
Michael Grant writes like he’s afraid you’ll get bored if he lets you breathe for two seconds. It’s fast, it’s loud, and sometimes it works—but sometimes it’s just exhausting. The prose gets clunky, especially during action scenes, where I kept losing track of who was doing what and why. He throws in way too many perspectives, some of which barely matter, and the internal monologues occasionally veer into melodrama territory. Also: can someone explain his obsession with using kids’ full names like we’re taking attendance every chapter?
Michael Grant writes like he’s afraid you’ll get bored if he lets you breathe for two seconds. It’s fast, it’s loud, and sometimes it works—but sometimes it’s just exhausting. The prose gets clunky, especially during action scenes, where I kept losing track of who was doing what and why. He throws in way too many perspectives, some of which barely matter, and the internal monologues occasionally veer into melodrama territory. Also: can someone explain his obsession with using kids’ full names like we’re taking attendance every chapter?
Plot: 6/10
The premise still slaps, but the execution this time around is a mixed bag. The pacing lurches—some parts rush like a caffeinated cheetah, while others drag with needless subplots. The “we’re starving” storyline was compelling at first, but it gets hammered into the ground until it’s less a theme and more a blunt instrument. And the big finale? Cool in theory, but felt oddly anti-climactic. There are twists, yes, but some of them feel like they exist just to shock, not to serve the story. Also: can we chill with the telekinetic godchild plot armor?
The premise still slaps, but the execution this time around is a mixed bag. The pacing lurches—some parts rush like a caffeinated cheetah, while others drag with needless subplots. The “we’re starving” storyline was compelling at first, but it gets hammered into the ground until it’s less a theme and more a blunt instrument. And the big finale? Cool in theory, but felt oddly anti-climactic. There are twists, yes, but some of them feel like they exist just to shock, not to serve the story. Also: can we chill with the telekinetic godchild plot armor?
Intrigue: 7/10
I was interested, sure, but I wasn’t sprinting back to the book like it was oxygen. There were entire chapters I skimmed because I just didn’t care about certain characters’ mini-missions or inner crises. The book tries to juggle too many plot threads at once, and not all of them land. Some side stories felt like filler while the main arc spun in place. I stayed curious, but I was also frequently annoyed—and not in a fun, can’t-wait-to-see-how-this-blows-up way.
I was interested, sure, but I wasn’t sprinting back to the book like it was oxygen. There were entire chapters I skimmed because I just didn’t care about certain characters’ mini-missions or inner crises. The book tries to juggle too many plot threads at once, and not all of them land. Some side stories felt like filler while the main arc spun in place. I stayed curious, but I was also frequently annoyed—and not in a fun, can’t-wait-to-see-how-this-blows-up way.
Logic/Relationships: 5/10
The emotional beats sometimes hit, but other times they feel like soap opera-level dramatics mashed together with inconsistent world rules. People fall in and out of alliances like they’re speed-dating. Drake escapes again because apparently no one in the FAYZ has learned how to build a decent cage. Powers come and go depending on what the plot needs, and Little Pete continues to be the magical wildcard who solves problems by... existing? As for relationships, they’re messy in a way that’s meant to be realistic, but often just feels underwritten or arbitrarily strained.
The emotional beats sometimes hit, but other times they feel like soap opera-level dramatics mashed together with inconsistent world rules. People fall in and out of alliances like they’re speed-dating. Drake escapes again because apparently no one in the FAYZ has learned how to build a decent cage. Powers come and go depending on what the plot needs, and Little Pete continues to be the magical wildcard who solves problems by... existing? As for relationships, they’re messy in a way that’s meant to be realistic, but often just feels underwritten or arbitrarily strained.
Enjoyment: 6/10
Was it entertaining? Sure. Did I enjoy it? Eh, parts of it. It’s a stressful, grim little ride, but the novelty of the FAYZ has started to wear off, and the cracks in the storytelling are harder to ignore this time around. There were moments I liked—Diana being a manipulative goddess, Brianna being a chaos gremlin—but I also found myself sighing and muttering “Really?” more than once. I’d recommend it, but only if you’re already committed to the series and willing to put up with some narrative nonsense to see where the chaos goes.
Was it entertaining? Sure. Did I enjoy it? Eh, parts of it. It’s a stressful, grim little ride, but the novelty of the FAYZ has started to wear off, and the cracks in the storytelling are harder to ignore this time around. There were moments I liked—Diana being a manipulative goddess, Brianna being a chaos gremlin—but I also found myself sighing and muttering “Really?” more than once. I’d recommend it, but only if you’re already committed to the series and willing to put up with some narrative nonsense to see where the chaos goes.
Final verdict: Hunger tries to go bigger and darker, but in doing so, loses some of the sharpness and tight storytelling that made the first book such a hit. It's still got bite, but it’s chewing with its mouth open—and not everything on the plate is cooked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
This book is dark and intense, focusing heavily on survival horror, moral dilemmas, and psychological trauma. The violence can be brutal, and the body horror elements are particularly disturbing. It also explores themes of leadership under pressure, starvation, and power struggles in a lawless society. While it doesn’t contain explicit sexual content, there are manipulative and toxic dynamics between characters that might be unsettling.
Would not recommend for readers who are sensitive to gore, body horror, or child death.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The characters in this series are not loveable or relatable to me in any level. Maybe it's because I'm older and able to see past the teenage romance. Every girl in the book is valued only for their looks and they're also written to act accordingly. I didn't find any moment when there would be interesting dialogue with the women in the book. Yet every time some male character meets a new girl she is described as "beautiful" or "pretty". Also the way Mary's eating disorder is handled in a book aimed at teenagers is very cringeworthy and possibly harmful. She is described as "model thin" and how "weight loss made her look good". I did not enjoy the book, just finished to get it done with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
challenging
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
An interesting follow up to the first in the Gone series. I found it to be a bit slower than Gone, but still an enjoyable read. It’s amazing how fleshed out the characters are considering how huge the cast is. I hope Lies continues to be as enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail