The Girl on Fire

First and foremost, this is a review to the 2nd book of the Hunger Games trilogy. If you haven’t read the first book yet, this will contain certain spoilers about the first one. Now that we have that out of the way…

I’ve been meaning to read this book since I got it a week after finishing Hunger Games, which now feels like ages ago. I haven’t gotten any major reading at all since then (aside for a few graphic novels) since I really wasn’t in the mood to read. I wanted the full time and focus when reading a book, and the past few months wasn’t considerate. Graphic novels were friendlier in that aspect.

It has only been recently that I got around reading Catching Fire after buying Mockingjay. ((The irony does not elude me.)) It doesn’t help that a few of my friends who recently got into it, finished all the three books ahead of me. So yes, I felt the challenge and had to finally get down to it. It didn’t feel like a task though since I enjoyed every minute of reading it.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

The first book was in itself a good and substantial read, and the sequel adds more to it, especially explaining more about the rest of the districts and the other cititizens of Panem, and the intensifying horror of the Capitol. I am still trying to find an explanation of why the government is doing this, but as I read on, you can only see what the Capitol has become— whatever it was in the past, this was the future that they had become.

You also meet and learn more about the other characters, especially how Haymitch won the Hunger Games, and the past of Katniss’ mother.

There was also the aspect of which side you are on, Peeta or Gale, among my friends. And since I have yet to read Mockingjay, I am still reserving my judgement. But right now, for the record, I have a soft side for childhood friends that have lost their way and found their way back to each other’s arms. 😛

This was a definitely a fun and fast-paced read, you could feel your adrenaline pumping as you share the events with Katniss and you just can’t wait what will happen next. A thrill-ride with an awesome cliffhanger, I need to find time and read Mockingjay as soon as I can. But first, work.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars [?]