Reviews tagging 'Death'

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

483 reviews

robotnik's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I was right when I assumed that Catching Fire was going to be my favorite part of The Hunger Games trilogy. It wasn't that Mockingjay wasn't good, because it was. The problem was that it just didn't live up to the expectations of the two books before it. Maybe if it wasn't following in THG and CF's footsteps I wouldn't have seen it as somewhat of a let down. Maybe I'd think it was amazing because it was still a good book. But, there was a lot of high hopes in seeing how this was going to end, and it just didn't quite each them.

While I enjoyed Katniss' continued journey and the whole characters who were introduced at District 13, there were parts of the plot that felt draggy to me, as if they were only taking so long so they could prolong the conclusion for that much longer. 

Like a lot of people, I found the ending kind of bland. After all the build up of the previous two books and how well done everything was, I expected something more. This book has this slow build up to the climax, only for it to feel suddenly over and everything is done, and Katniss needs to adjust to not being some sort of rebellion war hero. It almost gives you whiplash with how fast it seems to go down. 

Also, hi, Enobaria. Nice to see you're still around. The book killed Finnick and I am not down with that. Gale and Katniss' departure was also kind of bland and invoked no emotion out of me. It was kind of like "oh, ok" and that was it, no more Gale. I mean, that was cool with me. I didn't really like Gale, like ever.

There was an epilogue tacked onto the end, which was about a page and a half long, and that was fine, but probably unnecessary. It was just one of those "oh hey look protag's still alive!" epilogues. 

Overall, Mockingjay was alright, but it didn't seem like a fitting end of THG. I had wanted more from it, but what can you do? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and War

Minor: Torture

dillpicklewrites's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, and War

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Alcoholism

meeileen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Cried multiple times :')

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

Moderate: Alcoholism and Kidnapping

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

anxious_owl's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I wanted to love this book. The 1st and 2nd book were actually good, but i couldn’t find it in my heart to like this one. For starters, Katniss spent more time in the hospital having nightmares than fighting with the rebels. I was hoping she would fight with them for most of the book, but that didn’t happen. Secondly: Her reunion with Peter

(both times: hospital and District 12)

felt flat. I was looking forward to it, and was left disappointed when it happened. 
The death of two of the characters was heart wrenching. They were completely unnecessary, but it is what it is, i guess.
The book was too long and had little to offer but tragedies and horrors. I get it was a war, but i don’t know, it felt like she was trying to keep Katniss unable to fight so as she didn’t have to describe what was happening with the rebels and the war. The writing felt lazy.
I didn’t love it. It had potential, but she wasted her time describing nightmares. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

This book isn’t for children.

turidt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

Moderate: Drug use and Medical content

Minor: Vomit

aely's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

jonghyun4life's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Just too heavy. Will probably never read again. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Sexual assault

lakea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent

kaptainpastel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A beautiful end to a stunning and thought provoking trilogy!! I genuinely think reading these books has changed my perspective on life

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, and War

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Sexual harassment

daryase's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

 Наприкінці попередньої частини ми дізналися, що повстанці евакуювали Кетніс з арени, а режим у відповідь знищив округ, з якого вона походить, так що врятувалася лише незначна частка мешканців. Проте повстанці з 13-ого округу пішли на складку операцію з порятунку головної героїні, яка коштувала життя багатьом учасникам, геть не просто так, а тому, що вона їм потрібна для створення пропагандистських духопідйомних роликів, які мають надихнути повстанців на місцях в усіх округах на продовження боротьби. Отже, від Кетніс знову очікують, що вона гратиме написану для неї роль, та вона не певна, що ця роль збігається з її власними інтересами.

Мені сподобалося, що тут немає ілюзії, на відміну від деяких більш вторинних YA-дистопій, що нібито підлітка реально очолює спротив і він виграє. Радше, дуже добре показано, що вона є тим, ким вона є з огляду на її вік та бекґраунд, а саме травмованою підліткою, яка стає обличчям спротиву просто тому, що її спонтанні дії на іграх стали спалахом для повстання, яке готувалось давно і не цілком з гуманістичними намірами. І її відкриття своєї агентності, яке є в YA-дистопіях завжди центральною темою, полягає не тільки в підваження наративів Капітолію, але й у звільненні від наративів повстанців з 13-ого.

Цю частину читати набагато складніше, ніж попередні, оскільки тут ідеться уже про велику війну з настільки великими втратами, що герої всерйоз обговорюють, що десь треба зупинитися, а то люди знищать одне одного як вид. (Інколи всерйоз, інколи з пропагандистськими цілями.) Якщо в попередніх частинах ішлося про те, що поміж найжахливішими речами - те, що Капітолій змушує щороку 24 дітей одне одного вбивати, а насправді кожне життя цінне, то тут, мені здається, сама форма оповіді дещо працює проти цього месиджу. На словах теж сказано дуже багато про те, що кожне життя цінне, але на рівні жанрових конвенцій просто неможливо розказати історію про збройне повстання такого масштабу, щоб не виходило, що купа людських втрат з усіх сторін не згадувалась як якісь фігурки у грі чи фішки на карті. Але не те щоб у мене були пропозиції, як цю історію переконливо розказати по-іншому.

Іще, чисто з текстової точки зору, мені здалося, що авторці краще вдається передача природного сеттінгу, ніж міського. Принаймні, під час кульмінаційного маршу через вулиці Капітолію, мені було набагато складніше уявити простір, в якому відбуваються події, ніж це було під час екшн-сцін у попередніх частинах, де вони відбувалися на аренах на природі. Коли є якісь деталі про те, хто куди зробив крок і тому втрапив у халепу, але немає уявлення про весь простір, в якому відбуваються події, в цілому, окрім того, що відстань тут вимірюється перехрестями.

Підсумок: так, цілком варто було познайомитися з цією сучасною класикою. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and War