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4.56 AVERAGE
4.56 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
funny
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
HE DESERVED BETTER. NO ONE SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT HAYMITCH EVER AGAIN. I need a box of tissues now.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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:
N/A
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What makes the Hunger Games series so strong (and where many imitators fall flat) is that this is not a series about violence, or government, or trauma, or an inexplicably overpowered protagonist who is chosen for greatness. All those things are present in the series, but at its core the series has always been about media, and propaganda, and marketing, and the way those are the tools of both the oppressor and the resistance. This book carries that legacy, and keeps with what is now a traditional Hunger Games pacing — the first half is slow, political, and suspenseful, with lots of talking and jockeying and rivalries and image-cultivation. The second half is when shit hits the fan and heads begin to roll. There’s more nuance and commentary in the first half, but the second half was what made me stay up reading till 4am, and different people will enjoy each to differing degrees.
It’s hard for me to judge this book neutrally because of my love of the original series, but I also think it would be a mistake to judge this book out of context. This is a book designed to add to and comment on the original series (and even elements of Songbirds & Snakes, so read that or watch the movie beforehand). Collins does bring in some familiar characters, but all in ways that actually serve the story and the world and don’t feel like cheap cameos or fan-service.
I would also argue that this book is very timely. This is not a spoiler, but spoiler warning anyway: Haymitch does not completely topple the totalitarian regime (otherwise, we wouldn’t need Katniss or her trilogy). But this book specifically explores small rebellions and their impacts, even when it feels futile. In a time when people feel powerless in the face of fascism, sometimes small rebellions are all we have. For a generation raised on stories of Chosen Ones and Exceptionally Gifted Teenager Heroes, it’s helpful to see that progress is frustratingly incremental, and the fruits of our labor often take time to blossom.
Not a perfect book, and definitely not a particularly happy one, but one that feels refreshingly relevant and gives young readers the respect and depth they deserve.
It’s hard for me to judge this book neutrally because of my love of the original series, but I also think it would be a mistake to judge this book out of context. This is a book designed to add to and comment on the original series (and even elements of Songbirds & Snakes, so read that or watch the movie beforehand). Collins does bring in some familiar characters, but all in ways that actually serve the story and the world and don’t feel like cheap cameos or fan-service.
I would also argue that this book is very timely. This is not a spoiler, but spoiler warning anyway: Haymitch does not completely topple the totalitarian regime (otherwise, we wouldn’t need Katniss or her trilogy). But this book specifically explores small rebellions and their impacts, even when it feels futile. In a time when people feel powerless in the face of fascism, sometimes small rebellions are all we have. For a generation raised on stories of Chosen Ones and Exceptionally Gifted Teenager Heroes, it’s helpful to see that progress is frustratingly incremental, and the fruits of our labor often take time to blossom.
Not a perfect book, and definitely not a particularly happy one, but one that feels refreshingly relevant and gives young readers the respect and depth they deserve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Torture, Vomit, Alcohol
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I cried and screamed and laughed (probably in misery). A lot!
Albeit the possibility of it being fanservice, seeing the connections the beloved main characters of The Hunger Games trilogy was a thrill. The story was heartbreaking, dark, but it, liked Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes, showed how long the rebellion against the Capitol had been brewing. Katniss was like Haymitch, only luckier, after all.
Albeit the possibility of it being fanservice, seeing the connections the beloved main characters of The Hunger Games trilogy was a thrill. The story was heartbreaking, dark, but it, liked Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes, showed how long the rebellion against the Capitol had been brewing. Katniss was like Haymitch, only luckier, after all.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
how i found: prequel to last series i read
took me 2 days to read: 05/05 - 05/07
okay.. ik i finished this book like 2 weeks ago, but i was genuinely so distraught over this book that i was not able to sit down and write a review until rn.
haymitch is probably my favorite character in the entire series, so i was really excited to read this book. the thing is.. because this novel is a prequel, you already basically know what's going to happen in the book based on details from the original trilogy. however, the way events unfolded in the book was something i could've never expected. it was so much more gruesome than i imagined.
this book got me so emotionally invested and helped me learn more about my favorite character. i really loved getting to know about his past. it was so cool to learn about another quarter quell in a different generation. the cameos from younger versions of characters we already know were so fun, and i loved getting to know their younger selves too. the end of the book literally broke me.. iykyk. i just blankly stared into space for like an hour before starting to cry on my roommate's carpet LMFAO
did i love this book? absolutely. it's brilliant. do i recommend this book? absolutely not. prepare to have your heart shattered.
moral of the story.. remember to do your chores!!
took me 2 days to read: 05/05 - 05/07
okay.. ik i finished this book like 2 weeks ago, but i was genuinely so distraught over this book that i was not able to sit down and write a review until rn.
haymitch is probably my favorite character in the entire series, so i was really excited to read this book. the thing is.. because this novel is a prequel, you already basically know what's going to happen in the book based on details from the original trilogy. however, the way events unfolded in the book was something i could've never expected. it was so much more gruesome than i imagined.
this book got me so emotionally invested and helped me learn more about my favorite character. i really loved getting to know about his past. it was so cool to learn about another quarter quell in a different generation. the cameos from younger versions of characters we already know were so fun, and i loved getting to know their younger selves too. the end of the book literally broke me.. iykyk. i just blankly stared into space for like an hour before starting to cry on my roommate's carpet LMFAO
did i love this book? absolutely. it's brilliant. do i recommend this book? absolutely not. prepare to have your heart shattered.
moral of the story.. remember to do your chores!!