Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 387

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series!
When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.



My Review

If you have seen or read The Hunger Games you know how Haymitch is, if you don't, don't worry you can start here because this is his story. We know Haymitch as being the drunk mentor to Katniss and Peeta, he seems a good guy but troubled and addicted booze. We know he won his hunger games hence mentor but we don't know anything else. Now we do. Its his birthday the same day as the tributes are picked for the games. He does what he can to keep him and his wee family afloat, his mum, brother and he has a girlfriend who is part of the Covey. Now Haymitch's worst fears are coming true and it takes everything he has to survive, the odds are against him at every turn, he is on Snow's radar and everyone is counting on him.

Ooft guys, twice the amount of tributes as the normal hunger games cos it's the fiftieth anniversary, it is bloody, it is murder, it is brutal, honestly the Capital and Snow are horrific. He isn't hugely seen in this one but he is the wizard behind the curtain, everything is through him, the cruelty, the brutality, ugh he is just a horror.

I felt so so much for Haymitch and I now want to go back and watch The Hunger Games but with my focus being on Haymitch now I know his back story. Love, family, loss, cruelty and you know the Hunger Games are very Gladiator like but with kids instead and the rich community betting on them surviving and Snow's game keepers manipulating things as and when they see fit.

Emotive, I didn't cry but I did feel heart sorry for Haymitch and knowing how Snow's story ends I think he got off lightly. An evil evil man causing terror, horror and cruelty, ugh! Some new characters to meet, like, hate and scream over, 4/5 for me.

View all my reviews

Review - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Time Taken To Read - 1 day

Blurb From Goodreads

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

My Review

Katniss has survived even if her home, District 12 hasn't. We follow the story of her trying to come to terms with what has happened and the information that follows of the uprising and the part she and everyone else has played/to play.

As much as I enjoyed this book I feel it didn't have quite the same impact as the others. Sure you get your answers to most of your questions and there is still enough blood and murder to keep the gore fans happy but instead of flying through it like I had with the previous two I found myself having to work at it. I wasn't happy about what happens with and to some of the characters although it is still written well enough to keep you reading.

I think part of the problem for me as well is the first two are so packed and crammed and a lot of it is new whereas by the time your at the third one you expect a lot of what is going to happen and are very familiar with the story. Also Katniss changes(as does a few of the characters personalities), from being an unbeatable character who nothing seems to penetrate to being fairly vulnerable in this book (I think this went down well with a lot of fans but irked me!). Still enjoyable and a great wee trilogy series, 3/5 for me this time.

View all my reviews

Review - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Time taken to read - 1 day

Blurb from Goodreads

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

My Review

This kind of reminded me of the old movie Running man with Arnold Swarchenegger but this time with younger people and a different edge to it. Whilst the hunger games serves as a tribute and price to be paid due to the uprising of the people years ago it also provides entertainment for the public almost like back in the Colosseum days.

This is the story of sixteen year old Katniss having to step up and face the horror, murder, brutality and trials of the hunger games, the prize - keeping her life. The story gives us a background on how the games came to be and an insight into Katniss's character very early on and her interactions with others before and during the game, giving us an insight into who she is.

It is a story that evokes and stirs up many emotions and is written so well you can picture and put yourself right into the story along with the characters. The survival side with what they have to eat made me a bit queezy and the ending was a bit sharp for me although it does ensure I will be getting the next book as I have to find out what happens so it is a 4/5 for me.

View all my reviews