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Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, War
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, Death of parent, War
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, War, Classism
I'm pretty sure everybody knows the basis of this story by now as it is the 50th hunger games in which Haymitch won and the whole book is done from his POV. It starts with him waking up on the day of the reaping, which is also his birthday which I have to say is a depressing but awesome added detail for Haymitch's character. He is also dating girl by the name Lenore Dove who is a covey (foreshadowing). Adding anything else would be considered a spoiler so I will just go on to the good, bad, and even a rant sections of the review.
The Good:
- I mean what else can I say, many fans have been waiting for a Haymitch prequel and we got it.
- I mentioned it briefly but adding the detail that the 50th hunger games is on Haymitch's birthday, is a disturbing yet insanely cool detail to be added in.
- The newcomers, most of them are loveable characters and when they combine forces you really want to root for them to beat the hell out of the careers.
- Some of the careers are also great characters. However, known of them get any real big developments.
- The two new tributes we know from district 12 which are Wyatt Callow and Louella Mccoy are great additions to the lore and Louella's both versions (if you know, you know) really add to who Haymitch is and what he becomes in the future.
- I do not think a lot of people mention Wyatt but I will give him some attention. He comes off as cold and calculating, he was a booker boy which are kids that who organized and took bets on the tributes for the games. He is great at telling the odds of certain outcomes and is serious most of the times and does not joke around. However, huge spoiler
When the games start, Haymitch (who was known to be the one protecting Lou Lou) left the rest of the group to do his mission (more on that in the bad section) and Wyatt ends up dying protecting Lou Lou. This goes to show you that Wyatt was a truly caring individual that on the outside looks like a selfish ass who would do anything to save himself but he truly does care for others more than himself. - Louella/Lou Lou story(s) are absolutely heartbreaking.
- Haymitch's similarities to both Snow and Katniss are done extremely well.
- Maysilee and Haymitch's relationship is done the best it could have. At least in my opionion.
- The fate of Haymitch family, not including the fate of Lenore Dove cause that was just dumb.
The Bad:
- The first two pages of the book felt, weird and did not feel up to par with Collins usual writing. Does get better after that though.
- Lenore Dove, outside of her being covey and having similarities to Katniss and Lucy. She just comes off as forgettable. After the reaping she is basically a memory and then
dies in a really dumb way, by eating poisoned candy..... - The start of the games is just bad, outside of the interaction with Lou Lou a lot of the things that were built up never get realized. The story was built up as the newcomers vs. the careers with Haymitch being set to do a small plot that leads absolutely nowhere but to the death of one of the most interesting characters in the book. I will get to the side plot in the rant section of the review.
- outside of the main characters (Haymitch and Maysilee) most tributes are not even given any lines, the only others are Panache, Silka, and Mariette the only ones getting any dialogue. all the other interactions are see through a highlight reel or Haymtich just arriving to see the aftermath of whatever cool scene was happening.
The Rant:
This is the moment you were all waiting, just to quickly note, this will be an enormous spoiler so do not look if you do not mind being spoiled.
By the length of my rant, it may seem like I don't like this book, but I truly did love this book. It also adds to other characters I have not mentioned like Wiress, Mags, Beetee, and others. It was just that one big plot that happened in the middle of the book that just pissed me off with all the missed potential that can never be gained now for obvious reasons. Still a fantastic book and I look forward to rereading it in the future.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Torture
I liked that I got to see the bigger picture of Haymitch’s story from just that one scene in the previous book. Everything makes so much sense now.
It was a little too long for it to be a prequel.
I’m not the biggest fan of all the music but it’s not like it originated in this one and bc the covey is a big part of this, it makes sense.
Graphic: Death, Violence
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Police brutality, Medical content, Alcohol, War
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Torture, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, War
Minor: Homophobia, Rape
This book leans more into the psychological than straight-up action, and honestly that works in its favor. It’s tense and unsettling, full of moments that force you to sit with the discomfort. The way Collins uses propaganda in this book is terrifyingly smart. You can see how calculated it all is, how truth and fiction blur into something weaponized. It feels like watching a modern media machine unravel in real time.
And just when I thought I was emotionally prepared, this book had the nerve to make me cry. The heartbreak is not cheap. It’s raw, it’s earned, and it lingers. Collins does not hold back on emotional gut punches, and the weight of those moments sticks with you long after you're done.
The new protagonist is complicated. You’re not always going to agree with them or even like them, but that’s the point. This book isn’t here to make you feel good. It’s here to challenge you and make you squirm a bit, and it does that well.
If I had to nitpick anything, it would be a few slower sections in the middle, but even those serve a purpose in building tension and setting up that final emotional payoff.
All in all, Sunrise on the Reaping is bold, unsettling, and devastating in the best way. Suzanne Collins still knows exactly what she’s doing. This isn’t just dystopia for the sake of drama, it’s a mirror held up to our own reality, and it dares you to look.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail