Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 06, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it really liked it

With the second movie in the trilogy out, I decided I better read the book before watching the film as I am the type of girl who would prefer to read the book first, then watch the movie . I had a fair idea what the second book was about , but it wasn't till I started reading it that I discovered I was in for a ride as Book #2 is when we witness the aftermath of what has happened since Peeta and Katniss both won the 74th Hunger Games. In Book #2 we read as due to the winning of not one but two ...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Garima rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, dystopia

I read 'Catching Fire' right after I finished 'The Hunger Games'. No breather, no time to sleep. I was that into the series. I am just glad that the next book was already out. I was initially disappointed with the beginning. Thinking the author has skipped over Gale and Katniss's first meeting. Figured maybe he is not really a contender and that Peeta is the sole hero to the story. However, the book picks up. I like the direction the story is moving in. I like the layers being added to the vario ...more

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Apr 16, 2011 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. How do you top The Hunger Games? Send Katniss and Peeta back into the Arena of course!!!

At the end of the first book there was a terrible feeling of foreboding. That Katniss had defied the Capitol and was waiting for President Snow to get his revenge.

Things are changing, the Districts are trying fight back and Katniss is trying to hold onto her sanity. As the victors of the Hunger Games Katniss and Peeta have to go on a victory tour of all the districts and Katniss is told very clearly that she ...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Nairabell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star, teen-ya-dystopian, read-in-2012

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have survived the Hunger Games. Unfortunately for them, their survival comes at a cost as their actions in the Games have triggered a rebellion against the Capitol. Now Peeta and Katniss must play an even more deadly game as the nation watches on. With higher stakes than ever a single wrong move could lead to unimaginable consequences.

This is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy (after The Hunger Games) and one I approached with a littl Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have survived the Hunger Games. Unfortunately for them, their survival comes at a cost as their actions in the Games have triggered a rebellion against the Capitol. Now Peeta and Katniss must play an even more deadly game as the nation watches on. With higher stakes than ever a single wrong move could lead to unimaginable consequences.

This is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy (after The Hunger Games) and one I approached with a little trepidation. While I liked the Hunger Games I did feel it had been overhyped so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this, but I actually enjoyed this a little more than the first. The rebellion and pressure from the Capitol create a sense of tension from the first page and I found myself drawn in to what would happen next.

The storyline is cleverly plotted, managing to show how a government can manipulate individuals by making broader changes that affect the people around her. President Snow is incredibly creepy (his breath smells like blood!) and yet he never acts against Katniss directly as it is easier to control the people around her. Some of the twists and turns were surprising, but one major twist was easy to predict from the political machinations at the start.

Katniss and Peeta are recovering from the Hunger Games, part of which entails moving into the luxury winners village on the edge of District 12. But their return shows them things didn't remain the same while they were away, and they are forced to continue their "relationship". Katniss's best friend Gale has become more than that to her and he has looked after her mother and Prim while she was away. I was impressed that Katniss's mother is finally acting like a parent upon her return.

This is the book where the love triangle of Katniss, Peeta and Gale really gets started and for me it is one of my least favourite parts of the book. While Katniss kicks butt and looks after her family, she struggles with any romantic connection and spends most of the book floundering around while Peeta and Gale try to support her. Love triangles are predominant in YA fiction these days and unfortunately this is one of the ones that detracts from the storyline.

The supporting characters have always shined brighter for me in this series than the leads, so I was glad to see the majority of them return. We get to see how Prim is doing, and the winners tour means that Cinna, Effie and Haymitch all have key roles to play. I was thrilled to see Cinna get more development and a storyline of his own as he has always been a stand out character to me.

All in all this was a good read and I'm looking forward to Mockingjay.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 44/50 ...more

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