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Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt
Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, War
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror
Minor: Rape
Thanks to Catching Fire, we already knew some important stuff about the 50th games, but Suzanne Collins has masterfully crafted a story that still holds a lot of surprises, while staying true to what we knew from Catching Fire, showing very clearly the danger and power of propaganda, and how easy it is to change/control the narrative for those in power.
I might be biased because I just finished reading it, but I feel like SOTR might be the most emotionally devastating book in the series. Don't read this if you're not prepared to cry
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Rape
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Okay, Ms. Collins, I have been sat.
Writing quality 4.75/5
Honestly, Suzanne can do no wrong for me. However, I’m deducting .25 (and I couldn’t decide if it should be in this category or characters) solely because I had a hard time reading Haymitch’s voice. I caught myself a few times re-reading phrases and sentences as I wasn’t sure if there was a spelling or grammar mistake or if it was his idiolect.
Characters and characterizations 5/5:
Haymitch deserved to have his story told and Suzanne did not disappoint. You may think you know Haymitch but this was a deep dive I needed to fully understand him. I also loved seeing the younger versions of multiple characters we see in the original trilogy and their stories.
Overall story 5/5:
A Heart wrenching and devastating love story, a piece on propaganda, making a stand against the man no matter the outcome. Did that sentence make a lot of sense? Probably not. So just read it so you can understand.
The last few chapters and epilogue had me on the verge of a mental b. I felt the trauma and grief.
Plot 5/5:
Suzanne did it again. Though we know the ultimate outcome of Haymitch and all the characters in the arena (and those we see outside) this plot is still riveting until the end.
Post reading rating 4.75/5
I’m wrecked. I’m emotionally damaged. 0.25 off because I’m sad and wish Haymitch could have had a better life.
Overall rating: 4.9
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, War
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Gore, Violence
Minor: Rape
This book does a fantastic job bridging the gap between aBoSaS prequel and the Hunger Games series, showing how we got from point A to point B without over explaining. Miss Collins delivers information so beautifully without spoonfeeding the reader.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Miscarriage, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture
Minor: Rape
And, if you have read the previously published works, then the rest of my review is not a spoiler.
We know the big pieces of Haymitch’s story: he wins his Games and he descends into a life of alcohol. But how did he get there? Now we know. While I did spend the entire time reading waiting for the shoe to drop and the reason for Haymitch’s sourness to emerge, I relished every detail we learned about his games, his relationship with Lenore Dove, and the glimpses of and insight into Effie Trinket, Mags, Beetee, Wiress, Pultarch and so many others.
By the way, when that shoe drops? Your heart will be wrenched from your chest, stomped on, and put back in place…so you can count the minutes until the movie adaptation set to release in 2026.
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Rape