“Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow.”
It’s safe to say that Sunrise on the Reaping is an emotional rollercoaster, and I was utterly unprepared. Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games ignited an adoration for reading that still burns widely today; so naturally, when I heard a prequel about Haymitch was in the works, I instantly began counting down the days to its release. When the calendar finally read March 18th, I wasted no time diving into the novel. From the moment I turned the first page, I found myself immediately enthralled by the world of Panem and transported back to when I was 14, reading about the Girl on Fire for the first time.
Sunrise on the Reaping is the fifth novel and second prequel in The Hunger Games series. The book takes place 40 years after Coriolanus Snow rose to tyranny in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and 24 years before Katniss Everdeen leads the rebellion in the original trilogy. Sunrise on the Reaping follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, depicting his time as a tribute in the 50th Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell year.
Instead of a regular game, where a random drawing known as the Reaping picks 24 tributes, each Quarter Quell features new and unpredictable twists to further The Capitol’s control over the districts. For example, as revealed in the original trilogy, the 25th Games required the districts to vote for the tributes instead of holding a Reaping. In contrast, the 75th Games, depicted in Catching Fire, mandated the tributes to be Reaped from the existing pool of victors. For the 50th Games, however, the Quell demands double the number of children, two boys and two girls from each district.
Although there was discourse before the release, with many fans concerned that knowing the outcome via the original trilogy would make the novel bland, that isn’t the case. Knowing the outcome makes the story hit ten times harder, as the readers witness the slow destruction of Haymitch’s character.
Sunrise of the Reaping is the missing puzzle piece I never knew I needed. The prequel deepens readers’ understanding of Haymitch and expands the world Collins created in unexpected and provocative ways. Each unexpected twist entertained me, and each new revelation left me in awe. Collins’s ability to connect this book to the other novels, such as alluding to Lucy Baird’s living relatives, and explaining the origins of the Mockingjay pin, is truly ingenious.
Nevertheless, as I dove into the novel, I was not quite prepared for the emotional distress I would eventually experience. Reading about the hope and love Haymitch acquired as a teenager, while knowing his world would eventually shatter most brutally, was a special kind of torment. From the very first page, the book carries a heavy tension, pulling readers in with an almost suffocating force. Collins does not allow the reader to escape the story’s raw emotion.
The pacing is exceptional. Although most of the novel unfolds before the characters enter the arena, there is never a dull moment. The gradual buildup enables readers to connect with the main characters on a deeper level, understanding the intricacies of their characters while exploring the relationships they share. I adored how the story never felt rushed and appreciated how the book focuses on the cynical man who would eventually become Katniss and Peeta’s mentor. The character of Haymitch is complex, and Collins brilliantly took the time to reveal all of his layers.
Sunrise of the Reaping disputes what the readers knew about Haymitch from the original books. The story reveals how the depiction of the 50th games was fake, and nothing less than propaganda fueled by The Capitol. Unlike the story the Capital fed, President Snow did not obliterate Haymitch’s loved ones because he used the forcefield to his advantage. The plot runs so much deeper, and as the story progresses, readers witness how the spark of the revolution began long before the Girl of Fire.
The ending, while tragic, felt right in a strange, twisted way. The novel illustrates how Haymitch’s careless attitude in the first book is not a true reflection of his character, but rather a coping mechanism developed as a result of the 50th Hunger Games. The harsh punishments enforced by President Snow forced Haymitch to turn to alcohol and isolate himself from others.
The aftermath of Haymitch’s Games allows the reader to think about every other side character across all five books. How many other tributes tried to rebel? Who else refused to submit? Were any other games censored? Every single character fell victim to the torture imposed by Coriolanus Snow. And despite some formidable qualities depicted in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, this novel shows how manically evil Snow is.
Overall, Sunrise on the Reaping surpassed all of my expectations. This novel is everything, and I recommend it to anyone who needs a good dystopian novel. Suzanne Collins outdid herself.
“I love you like all-fire.”
