Book 55/30.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I first read The Hunger Games trilogy a decade ago and rated the books 4, 5 and 5 stars respectively. Enter the film adaptation The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes that made me hunger for the OG trilogy and decide it was time for a reread. I was excited to see if my ratings (and sentiments) would change now that I am a more seasoned reader, as Catching Fire is (was 🤷♀️) easily my favourite of the trio but Mockingjay was exceedingly unputdownable with the most exhilarating end to a most enthralling tale.
Mockingjay picks up after the cliffhanger that was Catching Fire’s ending. Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss’s family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss. The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss’s willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels’ Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.
Book three in the trilogy was slightly more page-turning, absorbing, fast-paced and adventurous the second time around. Catching Fire remains my favourite of the trilogy (the Quarter Quell and Arena are hard to beat), but Mockingjay really had me in my feelings this time around because of the fucked up the state of the world today.
View all my reviews
** A guide to ratings **
1 star – did not like it
2 stars – it was okay
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing
Lwile the Leo 