literary gluttony

I just finished Sunrise on the Reaping, and wow—I have so many feelings about this book. Suzanne Collins has once again delivered a prequel that is just as brutal, thought-provoking, and emotionally devastating as the rest of the Hunger Games series.

A Return to the Arena

This time, we follow Haymitch Abernathy as a teenager during the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell—where the Capitol, in all its cruelty, doubles the number of tributes. If you’ve read the original books, you already know how this ends, but that doesn’t make the journey any less harrowing.

Collins takes us deep into Haymitch’s past, and seeing this younger version of the sarcastic, whiskey-loving mentor we know from The Hunger Games is heart-wrenching. He’s smart, resourceful, and maybe a little too bold for his own good—but the way he navigates the arena is brilliant. His relationships with his fellow District 12 tributes add even more emotional weight to the story. I wasn’t expecting to get so attached, but here we are.

More Than Just Survival

What really stuck with me is how Collins explores media manipulation and propaganda. She’s always been amazing at showing how the Capitol warps reality, but this book takes it even further. We see firsthand how the Games are more than just a fight to the death—they’re a tool for control, a spectacle designed to shape the way Panem views its districts. The way this mirrors modern issues of media bias and political spin? Absolutely chilling.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a Hunger Games fan, this book is a must-read. It adds so much depth to Haymitch’s character and makes his cynicism in the original series hit even harder. And if you thought you knew everything about the 50th Hunger Games? Think again.

Have you read Sunrise on the Reaping yet? What are your thoughts? Let’s discuss in the comments—I need to talk about this one!