A review by kt2e56
Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

I wanted to enjoy this but unfortunately it was a disappointment. It felt a lot like fan service to me and there’s quite a bit that just didn’t add up to what we already know about these characters and the history of this world. And like okay sure there’s the whole “oh! But this is about propaganda!” angle and…I guess? But like the characters that already exist would have still remembered these things and that they’ve met before? And were close?

Anyway, some other issues I had were the focus on Haymitch instead of another unknown winner. I also am kinda sick of the Covey? I feel like other characters feel like real human beings while the Covey always come off as folksy caricatures. The whole Lenore Dove and “The Raven” thing became so irritating by the end as well. 

Maisylee I think would have been a much more fascinating POV character. Or maybe a career realizing that they’ve been training their whole lives for this horror and having to deal with that. 

Like there were interesting ideas and themes here but they just don’t work with Haymitch as the focal point for me.