Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Obviously I continued to read The Hunger Games series. There's no way you can only just read the first one and not move on to Catching Fire. You would be left with way too many unanswered questions. And really, this is when it starts to get good.

(Source: Kelsey Darling)

Katniss and Peeta have returned home from the Hunger Games, physically better than ever, but mentally much worse for wear. They're supposed to be safe now, but the Capitol and the Districts saw the stunt with the berries as a rebellion, not two teenagers madly in love. President Snow tells Katniss that during the Victory Tour, she better be able to calm the rebellions taking place across the district. However, that is far from what happens. As punishment, Katniss and Peeta find themselves as tributes again during the 75th Quarter Quell alongside 22 other surviving tributes. Haymitch's lasts words to Katniss before she enters the arena: "Remember who the enemy is." Katniss isn't sure what he means; all she knows is that this time, she must protect Peeta at all costs.

So every 25 years, they have a Quarter Quell, because murdering innocent children isn't bad enough. Haymitch won at the 50th Quarter Quell where they had double the amount of tributes from each district. I don't believe they say what happened at the 25th Quarter Quell. If they do, I have totally blanked on it. Supposedly, the rules for the Quells were written and sealed in envelopes when the first Hunger Games started, which means they intended for the Hunger Games to go on for a long time, which is just disgusting. I say supposedly because there is no way that 75 years ago, it was agreed that they would pull from the current stock of surviving tributes. They had no way of knowing they would have a male and female survivor from 12 districts to choose from. And it just so happens to be right when the only female from one of the districts has stepped out of line and you need to put her back in her place? Yeah right. There is no such thing as coincidences.

(Source: Giphy)

The first part of the book is a bit slow. It follows Katniss and Peeta on their Victory Tour and Katniss frets over Snow's threat to make him believe that she and Peeta are really in love and stop the uprising. It has its moments, and it is stressful, especially once the new Peacekeepers have come to 12 and taken over, but it is far from the action that you saw in the first book. Once Katniss and Peeta are back in the arena though, it is really fast paced and you have to pay attention to the details, because we all know Katniss isn't. It's obvious to the reader, if you pay attention, that something is afoot. There are too many things going on to the contrary. But Katniss is too wrapped up in keeping Peeta alive this time to see anything. Not that it's a bad thing. Her devotion to make sure Peeta makes it home is one of the things that I love about her character. When Katniss loves someone, she'll do anything she can for them.

Again, this book is full of wonderful character. I love Finnick. Not in the same way I love Haymitch, he is one of my favorite characters across all books I've read. No, Finnick is charming and handsome, but is a lot smarter than anyone gives him credit for. Johanna is a few years away from being Haymitch. Neither of them have anyone left to lose because of the Capitol, and they both lash out because of it. But she is very honest and blunt and I would definitely trust her with my life. All of the tributes are amazing really. They definitely drew the short stick in life, having to go back into the arena. But all of that is because Collins is a brilliant author who can make you feel all the feelings. She can also bring you right  into the center of the action. When you read about the fights, you feel like you are Katniss defending yourself. When you read about how they are all struggling with the battles of dehydration, you find yourself needing water badly. When Katniss feels the first stirrings of real true love for Peeta, you feel yourself falling in love for the first time again. Collins is incredibly talented.

(Source: Giphy)

I really am glad that I decided to re-read this series. I haven't read them since the last movie came out, and there are so many things that I had forgotten happened, and while the movies are wonderful, they don't hold a candle to the book.

Rating: 8/10
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games (Book 2 of 3)
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction
Dates Read: April 9-12, 2020