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adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm completely wrecked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol
dark
emotional
sad
tense
All I can say is, i still don't understand how this is the same author that wrote The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I was nervous, about both prequels technically, but had enough people recommend them that I read the first one... to much disappointment. I had gone back to dreading this one.
But omg, this is everything i loved about the original books. (And it does tie together a bit from BoSaS.)
Very dark, very heavy, as shown in content warnings. But Haymitch is such a better lead character than Snow.
But omg, this is everything i loved about the original books. (And it does tie together a bit from BoSaS.)
Very dark, very heavy, as shown in content warnings. But Haymitch is such a better lead character than Snow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Torture, Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Police brutality, Murder
emotional
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:
No
I wated more than 10 years for Haymitch's story and i was not disappointed. I knew it would be tragic but it still managed to have me in shock almost every chapter, and it paints some aspects of the original trilogy of the Hunger Games in a different light from his point of view. There are so many conections and references to both Katniss and Snow in their owns stories AND THE PARALLELISMS. Also, that epilogue got me so emotional. The ending was just perfect... I am curious about Plutarch's point of view though, would have loved to know more of his story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Grief
Minor: Alcoholism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, War
Moderate: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
I was very excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. Haymitch’s story is a devastating tangle of hope, fear, courage, and tragic timing. This installment offers a much more intimate look into the inner workings of Panem, for better or for worse. Without divulging too much information, I’ll just leave it at this: this was by far the better prequel to the main trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Torture, Murder
dark
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Rape, War
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
Being a prequel, I find this hard to rate. I knew where everything was going, and this definitely was worth the journey. It does kind of beg questions about timelines, and if things like this were happening 25 years ago before the original novels, it’s disheartening to think it took that long for something to land (especially given our real world political climate in 2025). I also fully understand the jokes I saw about this book being revenge for people thirsting after Snow in A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
The book assumes a lot about the reader knowing the story from the original trilogy, which I appreciate. It’s strangely comforting to read about places and things you recognize, even when they’re dystopian (reading about the Hob and the Seam again, for instance).
The only thing I had trouble with was some of the narration. Little bits like “I love you like all-fire” are emotional, but have never really struck an emotional chord for me as a reader. Some other things were repeated a lot (the son of an oddsmaker, the meanest girl in town, heck, even Lenore Dove’s name at a certain point - mostly because I couldn’t help reading it as first name and surname instead of a double first name), which isn’t terrible, but it stuck out to me.
I think what’s most interesting about this is its examination of complicity in fascist regimes or corrupt governments. Haymitch freezes at certain points, and it doesn’t prevent him from being targeted by the Capitol. It also talks about how hard it is to make change in these systems when you’re on the run or have limited access to loyal supporters.
I was surprised by how much various plot points affected me. I did get attached to these characters, despite presuming 100% of their fates. I couldn’t help but hope more would go right in a way I didn’t know about. The character work is genuinely pretty fantastic, but I also feel like Haymitch’s descent into alcoholism and who we saw in the original books was more a fulfillment of an existing prophecy than something that was his most logical, in-character response.
I’m also thinking a lot about what this does (or maybe doesn’t) add to the series overall. Like I said, it does kind of read as a reminder to not sympathize with Snow, ever. It gives background on why certain characters took the actions they did in the original trilogy, including who trusted whom. It furthers the themes of victors writing the history books and anti-war and anti-fascist ideologies. It adds a lot about the need to collaborate and work together.
The book wasn’t perfect, but it was a really great read, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is interested.
The book assumes a lot about the reader knowing the story from the original trilogy, which I appreciate. It’s strangely comforting to read about places and things you recognize, even when they’re dystopian (reading about the Hob and the Seam again, for instance).
The only thing I had trouble with was some of the narration. Little bits like “I love you like all-fire” are emotional, but have never really struck an emotional chord for me as a reader. Some other things were repeated a lot (the son of an oddsmaker, the meanest girl in town, heck, even Lenore Dove’s name at a certain point - mostly because I couldn’t help reading it as first name and surname instead of a double first name), which isn’t terrible, but it stuck out to me.
I think what’s most interesting about this is its examination of complicity in fascist regimes or corrupt governments. Haymitch freezes at certain points, and it doesn’t prevent him from being targeted by the Capitol. It also talks about how hard it is to make change in these systems when you’re on the run or have limited access to loyal supporters.
I was surprised by how much various plot points affected me. I did get attached to these characters, despite presuming 100% of their fates. I couldn’t help but hope more would go right in a way I didn’t know about. The character work is genuinely pretty fantastic, but I also feel like Haymitch’s descent into alcoholism and who we saw in the original books was more a fulfillment of an existing prophecy than something that was his most logical, in-character response.
I’m also thinking a lot about what this does (or maybe doesn’t) add to the series overall. Like I said, it does kind of read as a reminder to not sympathize with Snow, ever. It gives background on why certain characters took the actions they did in the original trilogy, including who trusted whom. It furthers the themes of victors writing the history books and anti-war and anti-fascist ideologies. It adds a lot about the need to collaborate and work together.
The book wasn’t perfect, but it was a really great read, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is interested.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, Vomit, War
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault