adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

I adore the way that Haymitch describes Lenore Dove with colors. Collins has done it again, and she keeps the narrative compelling even as we know the ending.

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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: Complicated

Absolutely harrowing.
Especially those last two chapters, what a portrayal of descent into despair.

The epilogue was beautiful - sad but beautiful - very glad it was included. Otherwise it might all have been a bit much.

In several ways felt more like a sequel to Ballad than a prequel to the originals. Not a bad thing though. Loved seeing more of
The Covey
.

The character of Lenore Dove was great.

Felt very topical, timely, with the themes of propaganda and media+government driving the narrative through editorialising.

A lovely little authorial dig against generative AI! Quite on-the-nose but no complaints there tbh

I liked the incorporation of The Raven. Made it apparent early on how things would end with
Lenore
, though of course that was already predictable.
Perhaps it wouldn't have hurt to quote a bit less of the poem in the book and leave it as a thing to explore afterwards. Though it did nicely underline
Haymitch's final deterioration.

Definitely a good addition to the overall saga. Although the broad strokes were already known, plenty of surprises along the way, and a very poignant portrait of Haymitch.

If I had to criticise something, it did feel a bit out of character to have
President Snow
chatting to Haymitch about
those troublesome Covey girls as if he were a jaded old uncle sharing romantic advice lol

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dark emotional reflective sad tense 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: Complicated

This was a great book. I loved the arena. It was fascinating (and heartbreaking) reading Haymitch’s backstory. I would recommend it to any fan of the Hunger Games series. 

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emotional hopeful 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

I kept seeing everyone talk about this one. I love Haymitch, and I needed an audiobook to listen to while I drove home, so it was like all the pieces aligned here for me, and it was so good. I will say Haymitch's story is so sad, and it's no wonder he is who we see in Katniss's story. It kind of makes me wonder where he went after her story ended because I'm struggling to remember. It's been over a decade since I read the original trilogy. It was again a nice step away from the romance world, and I can't wait to read another book in this world. I really loved learning about the other games, too, but I need Effie's book. I'm just curious about the capital, and it seems like she's capital, but also not fully into that world, and I think it would be interesting to see how she got to that point. Plus, just to see more of the capital life because everything has been through the district's eyes pretty much. Anyway, I can't wait to see the movie. 


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challenging reflective 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

Years ago I watched a YouTube video that outline Haymitch’s Hunger Games and it was pretty close to this. My guess is that there was some sort of short story before? Regardless, was a gripping and sad read knowing where he ended up.

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adventurous dark emotional reflective 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: No

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

Beautiful and tragic, just like the arena.

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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: Yes

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challenging dark emotional sad 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

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adventurous 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

oh my god. insane. brutal. tense. gripping. thrilling. evil. shocking. jesus christ. i was locked the hell in from page one and it did not let up. just enough references to remind you of the rest of the series, but is still incredible fresh and some of the connections were still surprising like
THE MOCKINGJAY PIN. it didnt clock in my mind until the end when they mention it again

incredibly written, amazing characters. just such a treat but also i am emotionally wrecked.
THE HOUSE. HIS FAMILY. THE FUCKING GUM DROPS. the epilogue…..

suzanne collins has done it again folks. i liked this SO much more than songbirds and snakes. 
THE ALLUSIONS …. RAAAHHH

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