hannahcstocks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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rhiannonhoward's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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lovosii's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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emilywemily6's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a reread for me because of the movie that just came out. I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed reading the entire thing. It is so fascinating to see Panem before the Hunger Games trilogy and see glimpses at both the world before and the trajectory set in motion because of Snow’s involvement in the games. The last 50 or so pages took quite the turn, and while I like the ambiguous ending, I feel like Snow and Lucy Gray’s feelings took a really quick nosedive that wasn’t quite as developed. I wish Lucy Gray had a little bit more depth, and I think that depth would have helped me understand her choices at the very end a little better since it seemed like Corio’s perception of her was distorted in the woods. Overall, this books makes me want so much more in this world!!

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captaindaz's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

It took about 200 pages for the actual Hunger Games to start. Then the the rest of the book kind of raced to the finish line to end the story. Still a very well written story.

Coriolanus Snow can choke on himself and all my homies hate him.

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mconroy9137's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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kelseyr713's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Suzanne Collins knows how to write a compelling story! These 500+ pages flew by and I couldn't put the book down. Brought me back to devouring the original trilogy, which I think I'm about to again.

It is not fun to be inside Snow's head for this long, but it is enlightening. The plot also manages to be compelling despite knowing the foregone conclusion. Seeing an early version of the Hunger Games without all the technology that the later ones will have is interesting too.

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katelynnelawson's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Put off reading this because I thought it wouldn’t live up to the original trilogy… but just like all the books in the original trilogy, I read it in under 48 hours. Depressing but knew that going in and can’t wait to see the movie. I love that I both hated the villain and saw the good in him and wanted him to grow and change. The reader knows he won’t (and can’t as this is a prequel) but the author still makes you long for it and believe it could happen if he’d just made better choices and listened to that tiny little conscience inside. But everyone is a victim in war, even perpetrators, and grifters are always gonna grift.

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sedwards1992's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25


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olliepopop's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I found this novel to be an amazing addition to Hunger Games lore. First, I enjoyed learning about the behind-the-scenes of the games so much since it helped me imagine Haymitch and the other mentors and what power or influence they could've tried to wield to help their tributes in the games, and the limitations of their influence too.

I also really appreciated getting to see Snow's perspective and the mindset of the Capitol elite (and eventually people) that would've contributed to the longevity of the Hunger Games.
I heard some people felt that reading Snow's perspective and the romance made him too sympathetic, but honestly, I felt it truly showed his character and how he could be capable of rising to such complete and vicous power. I started marking every time he talked about "his girl" who of course loved him, was devoted to him, and would only ever think about him while trying to fight for her life in the arena. Sure. 

I was shocked when it was revealed Lucy Gray did actually love him at all and wasn't just playing him, but that just further showed the sinister nature of his lying, that she could think he did things for her when it was really just to save his own reputation, future, or life every time. The last chapter felt the perfect culmination and reveal of Snow's true nature even while he was still making himself sick lying to himself.


Overall, I really enjoyed the book and think it showed what it wanted to incredibly well!

Part 1: 4 ⭐️
Part 2: 4.25 ⭐️
Part 3: 5 ⭐️

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