Catching Fire

Of course you don't. But after receiving this book in the mail today, I got so excited, I immediately plopped down on to the couch (after five minutes of difficulty in opening the package), planning to read the entire book through without any interruptions. Of course, that didn't work out, what with dinner, and phone calls, and such, but I couldn't care less, because this sequel makes me want to explode. In a good way. I have been waiting for this book for such a long time, and so I read the entire book today, the day I got it. And I honestly have on idea where to begin. I don't want to mention any spoilers in this review, but it's not hard not to, so I AM going to mention spoilers from the first book, The Hunger Games, so I wouldn't advise reading this review if you haven't read the first book in the trilogy. So... let's start with the beginning, which isn't really much of a spoiler. Katniss sits in the woods, on the day of the Victory Tour, reflecting on everything that's happened to her since the Games, and all the new developments. She's got so much to juggle on her plate, and, thanks to her new home and new riches, which are all prizes and rewards for winning the last Hunger Games, she's got plenty of time to think about it. Before the Games, she spent all her hours combing the woods, hunting illegally for food, lest she and her family starve to death. Now, with all the newly gained riches, she doesn't need to hunt. With all that time left over, all she can think about is how complicated her life has gotten since the Games. And that same day, just before the Victory Tour, she gets a surprise visitor, and, suddenly, things get even more complicated, but now, they get dangerous, and not just for her, but her family and friends, who could be killed if she makes one wrong move during the Tour. Okay, enough with the summarizing, let's get to the review. Since the last book left off where it did, I was immediately hooked upon this book, clinging to every detail, reading so fast, I had to go back a couple of times so that I could understand a sentence. And starting from the end of Chapter 1, things started to get interesting (remember the surprise visitor?). This entire book is nothing but twists and turns that readers can hardly anticipate. I'm continually impressed by Ms. Collins and her ability to lead the readers one way, but suddenly throw them off completely by introducing yet another startling... er... revelation? At any rate, this book moves along so quickly (especially in the second half) and for some reason, the humor just gets cranked up and I can't help laughing, especially at the interviews, though they weren't really that funny (don't dwell too much on that last part of the sentence, because there's a tiny spoiler there). Okay, so I'm probably making it sound like I think this book is perfect. It IS extremely well written, the emotions are strongly conveyed, and the reader can easily get lost in to this book. The one confusing thing in the book is how much new characters are introduced. Some are easier to remember, like Plutarch Heavensbee (though I'm not sure if I spelled that right) or Finnick, but others, like Brutus (I'm not even sure if that's the right name), are harder to remember. But if you're not too lazy, it's less confusing when you reread the book (though I haven't done that yet). Okay, and now for the big finish, in both this review, and in Catching Fire. I DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING. Okay, maybe, I did, just a little. But still, even if I could've predicted that, it still leaves you in absolute shock, making you stare at the book, mouth gaping, for at least a full thirty seconds (that is, of course, unless you have a heads-up, like I did). The Hunger Games left off at the train station, with Katniss confused about her feelings towards Peeta. CF, on the other hand, well, this leaves off with a total cliffhanger. Not that the Hunger Games didn't, but CF is different than THG. What I mean, is that the last sentence in the book reveals something so shocking and astonishing, it's like being doused in water while sleeping - just so abrupt. It is a bit of an odd place to stop the book, but just the fact that... Wow, it's really hard not to say a thing about it, but let's just say that, that it's unexpected. Though it is pretty clever. A sure fire way to get people to read the next book, unless people hate this one. But with a cliffhanger like that, even if I hated this book, I would feel compelled to read the next book, because I would never be able to keep myself hanging like that. It's like I NEED to read the next book because, if I don't, I'll forever wonder what in the world just happened. Five stars for being witty, well-written, unexpected, and overall, just wonderful.

The second book or movie in a trilogy is usually the weakest of the three. This is true for almost every trilogy except for the original Star Wars, where Empire Strikes Back is the best of all the movies. After a perfectly average opening to The Hunger Games I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of the rest of the series. The only reason I kept reading was because I bought a kindle. This book was only seven bucks and near the top of the list in the kindle store so I figured "why not." Now I can think of two trilogies where the second book is the best of the series, Star Wars and The Hunger Games. Catching Fire kind of cheats though because it has two climaxes. For some reason that escapes me, the book one climax is in the beginning of book two. The book one climax occurs when Snow is talking to Katniss in her new house. It's a solid scene and made me excited to read the rest of the book. It's the scene that needed to end off the first book so that I would have been more eager to read the rest of these kid killing stories. The plot of the second book starts out with Katniss and Peeta (still the worst character names of all time, especially Pita Pit Peeta as I call him) going around to all the districts on a victory tour after winning the Hunger Games. I loved where it was going with this. They started at district 11 and what happened there was the most solid story telling in the trilogy. The only other comparable scene was at the beginning of this book with Katniss and Snow. If this is what happened at the first district then I couldn't wait to see what happened in the other districts. Too bad they don't really talk about it too much. Everything gets skimmed over. This is the beginning of a trend that plagues the rest of the books. Skimming. Instead of saying what goes on she just sums things up so that you know all the important parts and she can spend some unnecessary time trying to make me care if Katniss ends up with Peeta or the other guy. I'm sure he has a name but his role in the books is "the other guy." The skimming isn't as bad in Catching Fire but in the third book it is beyond an acceptable level. Despite this there are still lots of things to love about this book. Of course Katniss and Peeta end up back in the games fighting for their lives. I knew this would happen before I read the book. It's on the back cover isn't it? So I wasn't excited because I wasn't sure how the stakes could be raised any higher than they were the first time. The author was able to do that by, surprise surprise, being creative with the arena the game was being played in. The arena was amazingly entertaining compared to the first book where the location barely had a factor in how the game was played. She also raised the stakes by complicating the relationships between the people playing the game. Using the old victors as the tributes raised the stakes because they all knew each other and some were even good friends, but the added factor was that some of them weren't playing the game the way the Capital thought they were playing. It's all a little complicated. I don't expect you to understand what's going on. The protagonist doesn't even understand what's going on half the time. I love the very last line of the book. It sets up a massive cliff hanger which was absolutely perfect and ended the book on just the right level of hopelessness that the second part of any three part story needs. The Hunger Games in Catching Fire are the best of the series. The climax at the end of the book is the best of the series. The characters are the least annoying in this book. The settings are the most interesting, and finally, and most importantly the story is the most entertaining.

[...] You're not going to find many books that push the content of teenage literature quite like The Hunger Games. The first book by Suzanne Collins spared little when it came to visceral detail, and even less when taking the themes and commentary into account. It's for these reasons that more and more readers head into Catching Fire wondering just how much higher the ante will be raised. Taking place a few months after the first book, Catching Fire is quick to make the impact of its predecessor clear. To the common Capitol folk, Katniss and Peeta are pretty high on the heels of royalty, especially given their coal-mining District. To many of the people who truly matter, however, it's only the next step up a grizzly ladder. Giving away even a few of the opening details simply feels wrong, as one thing Suzanne Collins has an uncanny ability to do is keep you guessing. Very passionately, I might add. Many of the endings to the chapters will boil the willpower of readers aplenty, letting up only when they turn the page once again. Where The Hunger Games often brought most of its tension with Katniss' own life, Catching Fire sees those closest to her become the subjects of concern. And even with a relatively short list, there's still plenty to go around. Combining this with the first-person point of view makes for a continually gripping and sometimes emotional read. While we're dealing with a full-fledged sequel, a lot of familiar territory is covered here. A good chunk of the first half is in the same setting, while the area of choice for the final act isn't exactly fresh. Most of the completely new material we get comes from the newly introduced characters. Of them, previous Hunger Games Victor Finnick Odair is the only one who really stands out, and he only comes into play later on. The rest of the new faces hardly even seem to have that going for them. Not much time is set aside for many of who we're just now getting to know, and even the ones who play a larger part oftentimes get lost in a field full of odd, already-confusing names. Once again, Suzanne Collins shows a writing style of brevity, which both fits and hinders this particular installment. Many (young) readers will only stomach so much detail, so keeping this quick and to-the-point is only understandable. Not to mention the fact any time the stakes are raised, the rate of reading should remain elevated. That said, a lot of points just feel too skimmed over; I kept hoping to see even a paragraph or two more to truly emphasize the impact of certain points. This is all the more reason many of the supporting characters don't even come across as grounded. They play as much a part as extras and props do in a film--their appearance is more important than their presence. When it comes to the key players, however, Catching Fire seldom slips up. The territory is familiar, but the ongoings become increasingly hard-hitting. Oftentimes the most impactful moments are the ones we don't see, or are merely left to speculate on. As such, the end of the book will leave you with that exact feeling of head-clamping disbelief, hungry for even more.

Warning: There could quite well be some spoilers in this review. This of course is the second book in what now has become a pretty well known trilogy. The book pretty much begins where the first book, The...

All too often, I find that sequels just don't provide a worthy follow up to the original or that sometimes the original story is just so incomplete that I hardly have any desire to move forward for fear of never receiving a satisfying conclusion. For this reason, I often stay away from sequels and even series in general, at least in terms of books. I think this is part of the reason it took me so long to pick up Suzanne Collins' CATCHING FIRE (The Hunger Games Book 2) despite having read the original and seen both of the respective movies a long while ago. The CATCHING FIRE movie adaptation was one of the few movie sequels that I ever thought to be drastically better than the previous film in every way possible. That's not to say that it made me like the first any less, just that I felt it had improved in all aspects. And so I went into this book with timid excitement, hoping I would feel the same way. The book version of this story impressed me exactly as I hoped it would. It is an improvement on Collin's already fantastic narrative that feels fresh and more mature while also allowing readers to spend more time with her fantastic characters, world, and story. CHARACTERS Katniss and Peeta are back for another adventure. They've done the impossible together and now they have returned home, but things will never be the same. They are locked into a false romance where Peeta now realizes that his affections towards Katniss are only reciprocated when the pair are in front of a camera. He is made to feel even more alone than he did at the start of the games while Katniss deals with her own set of issues. Gale is now referred to as her cousin despite that being far from the truth. On one hand, this makes it easier for Katniss to be seen with him, but it also means they will never be together since it is ultimately her destiny to marry Peeta, whether her feelings for him are true or not. She and Gale come to the realization that there is something between them and Katniss realizes that Gale is another boy in her life that she has been hurting. Then there's the fractured relationship between the Capitol and the Districts which she is also forced to acknowledge when President snow appears in her home and threatens her loved ones if she doesn't play along with what he wants. Despite her surviving the Hunger Games tournament, the "games" aren't really over at all. She's still fighting for her and Peeta's lives, but now she has the lives of her mother, Prim, Gale, Gale's family, Haymich, and probably Peeta's family to worry about. She may also very well be fighting for the lives of every District in Panem. President Snow's role is quite big here which is a nice change of pace since he remained largely unseen in the first book. Then there's Plutarch Heavensbee, the new head gamemaker who is a bit more removed, but what parts he is in are quite good. Katniss also meets up with a variety of previous victors like the flamboyantly handsome Finnick, the aggressive Joanna, the clever Beetee, and deranged Wirress. Those who have already seen the movie know what circumstances Katniss meets these other victors under, but I won't spoil that part of the story since it is far more of a surprise in the book. The only other thing that can really be said is that each of these new faces is a wonderful addition to the cast and that they all have a lot to add to the story as a whole. WORLD/SETTING The world that Katniss returns to is not the same one that she left. She's a victor now which means she gets a fancy new home in a special section of District 12 and she must be part of the victory tour where the victor of the games visits each district and honors the fallen tributes before attending a lavish dinner party. It also means she will have to become a mentor to the future tributes of District 12. At least those are all of the things that would happen to a typical victor. This year is different, this year there are two victors because of Katniss's defiance to the Capitol. Her refusal to play by their rules means that she has Peeta to go through all of this with, but it has also sets into motion events beyond what she would ever be able to predict. Uprisings have sprung up in several districts in the spirit of following Katniss's example. District 12 sees a stronger security presence which imposes brutal restrictions upon the citizen's way of life. Nothing Katniss does seems to be right and nothing she says can quell the anger that builds up against the Capitol. She finds herself in an impossible situation where the world of the games and the real world are now largely one in the same. Katniss never escaped the arena, only set it loose upon the world and now she is the symbol of a rebellion that threatens to bring end to Panem. Although everything is different now, this book brings readers to a variety of places within Panem and introduces us to locations that were previously only mentioned. Collins paints each with simple, yet vibrant descriptions which will probably make you both happy and remorseful that they are on the brink of destruction. The destitution of 12 no longer seems as bad when other districts are portrayed as mammoth prisons where inmates are born into servitude of an unforgiving Capitol. PLOT/TONE The overall content and tone of this narrative is a few shades darker than the previous installment which probably says a lot considering the first one explored a gladiatorial tournament in which children fought to the death. Minor details aside, things are a lot more serious now since the stakes are so much higher. Before, readers worried about the lives of twenty four young tributes, but now they are presented with an entire world whose continued existence seems highly in question. Katniss, our once empowered heroine somehow seems so small now that the conflict involves forces far beyond her control. To be fair, they are beyond anyone's control, but Katniss finds herself especially vulnerable since she is the catalyst for all the terrifying changes going on around her. Katniss also can't just fake it till she makes it anymore. Peeta and her have to face the consequences of their lovers routine in the arena and try to come to an understanding, if not a salvaged friendship. Gale's involvement adds further complication for Katniss's already overwhelmed set of teenage emotions. All the other characters are also a bit worse off this time around which adds an additional layer of edginess to it all. Some characters are more in the dark than others about the events happening around them which leads readers into an ever-spinning web of secrets, lies, and manipulation. Even having already seen the film, I felt delightfully in suspense the entire way through this book, partially in thanks to being able to experience the events through Katniss's point of view which offers a fresh take on things. Again, there are a number of really wonderful surprises in store and if you haven't already seen this movie, then I won't spoil them for you here. If you're already familiar with this story, then I can promise that this ride won't be any less enjoyable a second time around. As a kind of aside to all this, it is worth noting that this book felt far less like a true YA novel than the first one did. There is significantly more nudity, stronger language and sexual references, and the depictions of violence are far more graphic this time around. Even the overall language and writing style that Collins employs feels quite a bit more grown up than her last book. Not that this series has ever really been known as kid-friendly, but parents might want to know that this one definitely pushes the limits of what can/should go into a YA novel. CONCLUSION I really do think this is a series that no reader should pass up on. If the first book didn't quite sell you, then I'd strongly urge you give this one a shot. If you loved the first, then it really only gets better here and I can honestly say that I am extremely excited to dive into the third and final book of this trilogy, though I may try and savor it a bit more whereas I kind of tore through CATCHING FIRE as though there was no tomorrow. The plot is more serious, the writing style and content are more adult, the new characters are a win all around, and this is just a book that I will probably love forever.

This is the first sequel in a very long time that I immediately picked up after finishing the previous installment. Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games completely took me by surprise with its brilliantly fast paced narrative, heart-wrenching plot and incredible protagonist that didn't follow the typical teen novel cliches. Catching Fire is a great sequel that doesn't fall into the usual second entry pitfall that many authors stumble into. With her desperate final attempt for salvation at the end of the Hunger Games, Katniss has become much more than the simple tribute from District 12. Her courageous showing of defiance has made her the seed of hope for the oppressed populace of Panem. One that if left unchecked could unravel the Capitol's curtain of fear from the frightened masses and replace it with rebellion. She's become the spark that could ignite a revolution, an appropriate metaphor that correlates with her title: the girl on fire. With the threat to their social order, the Capitol has made Katniss into a political target. Not believing her actions were derived from a desperate act of love but rather a instigation for rebellion, they issue her an ultimatum: convince the Capitol her relationship with Peeta is legitimate and not a folly, or else. If the Hunger Games characterized the nightmare of absolute totalitarian control, than Catching Fire represents Katniss's will to defy such a regime. Defiance by loving whomever she desires through her own will, the right to not live as an image the Capitol deems appropriate, and ultimately keeping her loved ones safe from their wrath. The will to stand defiant is the dilemma that has consumed her thoughts and dominates the book's tone. Should she lead an uprising against a government regime that deserves to be overthrown, but at the dire cost of making everyone she loves targets? But is life truly worth living if it means an existence of absolute docility to evil? It's a very thought-provoking question that Collins illustrates very well. Catching Fire's narrative doesn't share the same break-neck pace that The Hunger Games possessed. It's by no means a slow book, but this allows the narrative to catch its breath and elaborate more on the dystopian future of Panem, such as delving even further into Panem's ignorant upper class which helps reinforce the theme of poverty vs wealth from the last entry. But more importantly, it gives the characters that had merely a brief introduction in the last installment some much needed attention. Collins really surprised me in the last book with the relationship between Katniss and Peeta. It completely forwent the traditional contrived romances that I find teen novels are infamous for. Yet when Gale entered the story as a more predominant figure, I expected the worst. Fortunately Collins still managed to keep the relationships between these characters from feeling like a cliché Hollywood soap opera. Simply put, does she go with Gale, the boy who understands her views and feelings on life better than anyone? Or does she choose Peeta? One who has already publicly confessed his feelings towards her, and who has been to hell and back with her during the Hunger Games. Yet choosing Peeta would also mean becoming the very image the Capitol requires her to be, a harmless and controllable one that would inspire no further thoughts of rebellion. Without spoiling the plot, let's just say that Katniss once again finds herself in a dangerous predicament later in the story. While it was entertaining, I didn't feel the same sense of absolute desperation and paranoia that made the first book's second half so engaging. The reasoning for this is that unlike last time Katniss isn't alone in her struggle. It follows the "keep your enemies close and your friends closer" mentality of deception. This changes the feel just enough to not feel like a complete retread of the last book, but it didn't have nearly the same amount of tension that had me glued to the pages like before. While it may not have the same amount of emotional investment that The Hunger Games had for me, Catching Fire still manages to create a very grim dystopian future that the reader wants to see overthrown due to their emotional connection they share with the protagonist. It's a very entertaining, thought-provoking, science fiction novel with a lot of heart that feels like the natural evolution from its predecessor.

I read The Hunger Games series before I had a book review blog, so I never wrote a formal review for any of the books while they were fresh in my mind. But this series, especially this book, affected me so much that I'm glad I had the opportunity to re-read it upon the release of the movie and share my review with you today (I literally finished this book an hour before we left to the midnight showing of the film, which is why this review is posting late today! P.S. I'm sleepy.). The second book in Suzanne Collins' dystopian young adult series, Catching Fire takes place a few months after The Hunger Games ends, finding Katniss Everdeen back in District 12, this time living comfortably in The Victor's Village. Her relationship with fellow victor, Peeta Mellark, is strained at best and she's fighting feelings for her best friend Gale after he's kissed her, exposing something that's been building between them long before The Games. But choosing which boy with whom to invest her time is the least of this seventeen year-old girl's problems. When President Snow visits her and threatens the lives of everyone she loves if Katniss doesn't play along with the Capitol's agenda to sweep her act of defiance under the table, Katniss realizes that she'll be playing The Games her whole life and must decide if she's brave enough to stand up for the things she believes in. When I began reading this book, I had no idea what to expect, but Collins delivered everything I could have anticipated and more. For one, I started this book completely Team Gale, but Collins did an excellent job of taking Katniss and Peeta and allowing them to organically grow together as friends and companions that I didn't know which guy to love more by the end of the book. Katniss, while obviously selfless in her decision to initially volunteer for her sister, has acquired a strong sense of survival which she tends to misconstrue (in my opinion) as selfishness. In comparison, Peeta is completely selfless, thinking only of Katniss, even when it means helping Gale. I love to see how Katniss grows by learning from Peeta. I think the only reason Katniss is ever identified as "selfish" (even if selfish means only thinking of her loved ones versus the whole country) is because this story is told from her point of view making her transparent; but I think she is better able to decipher her values because of her relationship with Peeta and his value system. This adds a new dynamic to their relationship and uncovers a lot of who Peeta is (and why we love him! ;)). But as I mentioned in my synopsis, Katniss' boy dilemma is the least of her problems. Her struggle with her value system is what brings this supernatural story down to a human level. The inconceivable is processed by a teenage girl like a teenage girl. I hate complaints that Katniss is too whiny, too insensitive to everyone's feelings, too pre-occupied with herself; if I were in her shoes I would have eaten the berries on day one of the 74th Hunger Games! I think she's allowed to struggle and her struggle uncovers her heart and her drive. To keep my book review blog spoiler-free (as is always my goal), I have to refrain from discussing some of my favorite parts of this book, especially regarding Katniss and Peeta's public relationship and the premise of the Quarter Quell. In short, I loved the way this book had so many powerful little punches that kept me on my toes and at the edge of my seat. The pacing is incredible, especially coupled with how much emotion is compacted into each forward-moving segment. There are so many details I had forgotten about in the 2 years since I first read Catching Fire, and I'm so glad I was able to refresh my brain before seeing the movie. Speaking of the movie, like the book it was everything I expected and more! I think the Catching Fire movie is so much better than The Hunger Games, especially because it didn't try to be artsy (i.e. shaky cameras and super close ups!! Who else HATED that?!). It put out the story (cutting most of what I expected) but it didn't change much. My only complaint is that, similar to the first movie, Katniss and Peeta's relationship didn't translate to the screen as well as I had hoped for. I guess what can I expect in such a short time frame, but that was my only disappointment nonetheless. I mean, I didn't even believe they were romantic, why would the Panem public? They did make Peeta so much more of an alpha-male than he is in the book, which I loved!! Sometimes I question Josh Hutcherson as Peeta when I see him in the media, but then when I'm watching the movie I just love him. Also, bonus fact about the movie: I noticed in the credits that a guy my mom used to date before she was married was in the stunts! HOW COOL, RIGHT?! I am trying to convince my mom to get back in touch with him muahaha! ;) Bottom Line: This series changed my reading life and if you haven't read it, my biggest recommendation on this blog is that you read it NOW. And then go see the movie! If you need a refresh before the movie, I highly suggest taking the time to re-read it because I think you'll appreciate the movie even more! 10 out of 5 stars lol.

*Note: There are spoilers in this review Catching Fire is the second in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series. I reviewed the first book, The Hunger Games, a few weeks ago. Needless to say, I was not disappointed by this book. The writing is as fast-paced and exciting as the first novel, and my heroine is the same in all her imperfect, defiant, and gutsy glory. I couldn't put Catching Fire down (and stayed up until 2:30am to finish it in a 3 hour stretch). In summary, once more we meet up with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, only this time they are victors of the Hunger Games and back in District 12. They live in new houses, have plenty of money, and don't want for much of anything. But with the Hunger Games over and her very public relationship with Peeta in limbo, Katniss finds herself falling for Gale, her best friend, in secret. A best friend who is also in love with her. Unfortunately, it is a secret that is known by her enemies, particularly President Snow. To make matters worse, President Snow hasn't forgotten their stunt with the berries (forcing the Capitol to proclaim two victors in the last Hunger Games), and now he has warned Katniss that she must quell any inkling that the berries were any kind of symbolic act of rebellion against the Capitol, and instead only a simple wish of someone desperately in love. But the spark has been made, and Katniss can no longer contain the fire that results. She is unable to convince anyone otherwise, including the president. To regain control and squash any rebellion, President Snow forces Katniss and Peeta back into the Games, where they learn that they are part of something greater - a far-reaching plan to unseat the Capitol, and one that has its fingers not only in the defunct District 13, but also in the Capitol itself. Fighting for survival, Katniss manages to escape the Games with the help of other District allies but in the end, is separated from Peeta who is captured by the enemy. Book 2 ends with Katniss unwillingly becoming the symbol of the rebellion (headquartered in District 13), and its figurehead...she is the mockingjay. Catching Fire was thrilling from beginning to end. It was great to reconnect with the familiar characters from The Hunger Games and get to meet some new ones that were just as interesting as the old or even more so. While everything feels familiar, like the same style of narration, the novel is never boring or predictable. It does take a little adjustment and effort to work in the personalities and the ages of the new Hunger Games competitors but that in no means detracts from the pacing or the story itself. I did find that I wasn't as interested in the mechanics of the arena this time but wasn't sure that was due to the complicated nature of its clock structure or whether I was more interested in what was happening with the characters themselves (which is a big compliment to the author). This book also seemed to be a lot more violent than the first. Death is an accepted casualty, as is walking on skulls or seeing piles of dead decomposing bodies. It didn't offend me at all, it was just something I noticed. That said, I enjoyed the authenticity that it gave to the book - it felt real, like it was a darker and uglier world. Or maybe it was reflective that Katniss was growing up, and she herself was harder and viewing the world differently. I still retained the connection with Katniss in this book - she stayed true to herself (as well as to her personality the previous novel) and while she does seem older and wiser, at the core, she doesn't change. She is still headstrong and compassionate and just as awesome. Catching Fire was a great second installment of the series! Well worth the read, I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I already have Mockingjay in hand so stay tuned for my final review. Hopefully it will measure up to its predecessors. Check out my profile info for my website and more reviews.