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books_bakesandbelle 's review for:
Sunrise on the Reaping
by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I feel this is a 4 star read for me, as although I enjoyed it, I do feel like I would have liked a bit more on what happened next, e.g. between Haymitch returning home and becoming Katniss’s mentor 24 years later. I also expected to be more upset by it, but unless I’ve turned stone-hearted, I only physically cried after the Games had ended (trying to stay spoiler free here)! I’m not sure if this is due to it being a prequel so roughly knowing what would happen to the other tributes, or if there just wasn’t enough time getting fully invested in them due to there being so many tributes this time round 🤔
The story gave us more backstory on Haymitch and his life before his introduction in the original Hunger Games book and gave us the tragic context as to his character. I thought the book started a little slow, but it soon ramped up once they got to the Capitol, where it was soon revealed Snow was up to his usual cruel tricks.
Throughout the story, I thought the whole thing was so unfair to Haymitch. I mean, I know The Reaping is unfair on anyone, but the way it went down for Haymitch, and everything that followed, just felt so unfair and that it shouldn’t be happening to him. Haymitch seemed to agree, and this really seemed to support his more jaded outlook in the later books.
I did eally like the relationships he built with his fellow District 12 tributes and mentors, as well as the inclusion of some familiar faces, though again, there was some heartbreaking stories there too. I thought this made the submission narrative interesting, as a question was asked a few times throughout the story as to why people let those in charge get away with what they do - in this series we see it’s because of the repercussions faced when the Capitol is challenged.
A sad but enjoyable voyage into The Hunger Games world, one I’d recommend to fans of the series/genre. It has definitely made me want to reread the whole series now I’ve read the two prequels too.
The story gave us more backstory on Haymitch and his life before his introduction in the original Hunger Games book and gave us the tragic context as to his character. I thought the book started a little slow, but it soon ramped up once they got to the Capitol, where it was soon revealed Snow was up to his usual cruel tricks.
Throughout the story, I thought the whole thing was so unfair to Haymitch. I mean, I know The Reaping is unfair on anyone, but the way it went down for Haymitch, and everything that followed, just felt so unfair and that it shouldn’t be happening to him. Haymitch seemed to agree, and this really seemed to support his more jaded outlook in the later books.
I did eally like the relationships he built with his fellow District 12 tributes and mentors, as well as the inclusion of some familiar faces, though again, there was some heartbreaking stories there too. I thought this made the submission narrative interesting, as a question was asked a few times throughout the story as to why people let those in charge get away with what they do - in this series we see it’s because of the repercussions faced when the Capitol is challenged.
A sad but enjoyable voyage into The Hunger Games world, one I’d recommend to fans of the series/genre. It has definitely made me want to reread the whole series now I’ve read the two prequels too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury