You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional sad slow-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional 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

At this point, I love everything this author writes.  Another great Hunger Games story.  

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

A very important read, specially these days. Beautifully written, with so many references and parallels to the rest of the series, very sad but also cathartic... just a masterpiece.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional funny 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

 
A prequel basket of Easter eggs and pure Panem magic—Suzanne Collins has done it again. Sunrise on the Reaping pulls us right back into the chilling world of the Hunger Games, this time through the eyes of a young Haymitch Abernathy. 

As a longtime fan of the series and a lover of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I dove into this book the moment I could—and it did not disappoint. 

The story opens with teenage Haymitch, living with his mother and younger brother Sid in District 12. He’s in love with Lenore Dove, a rebellious Covey girl with a poetic soul (yes, she’s a nod to "The Raven"). Haymitch is reaped under unjust circumstances after an act of protection gone wrong—and what follows is a heart-pounding descent into the 50th Hunger Games. 

This book is a masterclass in tension, grief, and rebellion. Haymitch is caught between the conformity he’s been raised with and the whisper of resistance, inspired by both Lenore and his late father. As fans already know his fate, the emotional weight of each choice hits even harder. And the ending? Devastating, yet beautifully crafted. 

I adored the entire cast—from sweet Louella and Lou Lou to the sharp-edged Maysilee. And Collins fills the pages with subtle nods to the original series—connections to Katniss, tributes, Capitol corruption—that had me gasping and grinning in equal measure. 

This prequel is action-packed, emotional, and deeply satisfying. Whether you're a Hunger Games superfan or just love smart, gripping YA fiction with themes of justice, sacrifice, and survival—Sunrise on the Reaping belongs on your TBR pile. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings