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Emily May's Reviews > Sunrise on the Reaping
Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)
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I was looking forward to this latest Hunger Games book (even though I didn't care for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), mostly because I like Haymitch as a character, but I am now fully convinced that this series has no juice left in it. This is a fan book for fans. And, if you're a fan, it has entertaining moments, but nothing about Sunrise on the Reaping is new or necessary.
Look, I didn't hate it. The formula and themes of The Hunger Games books are all here-- dramatic reaping, infuriating parading of these kids in front of wealthy sponsors, the bloody action and danger of the games themselves --and it's a formula that has worked before. Obviously, there's less tension this time because you know how it ends. You know Haymitch's attempts to bring down the games cannot have been successful. And even the details we don't know are easy to guess.
If you want to read something very similar to The Hunger Games, this is your book. It goes reaping > dress-up > training > rating > games. The characters are different, but the plot is virtually the same.
And while I do enjoy Haymitch as a character (definitely partly thanks to Woody Harrelson), I thought there were very few new characters who were memorable. In fact, Maysilee was the only standout of the other candidates. I also could have done with a bit less of Haymitch's mooning over Lenore. She was off page for more than 90% of the book, we didn't know her very well, so it was boring hearing about her. And sorry, but I'm not enough of an Edgar Allan Poe fan for this book.
There were details about this arena that were different and cool, which I won't spoil. But overall this delivered more of the same thing we had *checks notes and dies of old age* seventeen years ago.
Look, I didn't hate it. The formula and themes of The Hunger Games books are all here-- dramatic reaping, infuriating parading of these kids in front of wealthy sponsors, the bloody action and danger of the games themselves --and it's a formula that has worked before. Obviously, there's less tension this time because you know how it ends. You know Haymitch's attempts to bring down the games cannot have been successful. And even the details we don't know are easy to guess.
If you want to read something very similar to The Hunger Games, this is your book. It goes reaping > dress-up > training > rating > games. The characters are different, but the plot is virtually the same.
And while I do enjoy Haymitch as a character (definitely partly thanks to Woody Harrelson), I thought there were very few new characters who were memorable. In fact, Maysilee was the only standout of the other candidates. I also could have done with a bit less of Haymitch's mooning over Lenore. She was off page for more than 90% of the book, we didn't know her very well, so it was boring hearing about her. And sorry, but I'm not enough of an Edgar Allan Poe fan for this book.
There were details about this arena that were different and cool, which I won't spoil. But overall this delivered more of the same thing we had *checks notes and dies of old age* seventeen years ago.
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Reading Progress
June 7, 2024
– Shelved
March 18, 2025
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Started Reading
March 21, 2025
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Finished Reading
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Sikai
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rated it 5 stars
Mar 21, 2025 06:28AM
Sorry to hear you didn't love this, Emily. I am currently halfway through and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It just feels very nostalgic and I love encountering some of the characters from the original trilogy. However, I definitely see where you are coming from as the formula does stay the same.
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agreed! my reading experience greatly improved once i started skipping the poems and songs....
If I a book has to rely on nostalgia to pull me in it’s not a very good book
I completely agree and feel the same!
The last recitation of The Raven had me screaming "stop with this poem, please for the love of god!" at my audiobook. I was so tired of it.
Has it indeed been 17 years? Well, damn. We grew up too much for this kind of books, I suppose.I liked that the previous prequel did not follow this formula exactly, and therefore I was thinking that with this one Collins would continue breaking out of that pattern, but no � even the first-person present-tense was back.
This makes me sad, but not surprised. I didn’t enjoy Ballad either, so will be pushing this down on my list.
YESSS! Thank you. I had pretty much the same reaction as you to this one. I did enjoy Ballad, but this one makes clear that we've heard as many stories about this world as we need.
I find it sad when a successful author can’t move on from a book series and create something new. Suzanne Clark, Stephanie Meyer and so many others seem to have just been depleted by one series, even though they obviously have so much talent.
I did not care for Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but I loved this book. It was everything I hoped it would be. I know it's the same storyline as the rest. They could tell it 71 more times (I hope they don't
I almost picked up the book at the store, but something made me to put it back on the shelf.. Now I know what it was - a subconscious question of how much more can be squeezed out of the original Hunger Games and not feel like “been there, done that�.. ? Not going to bother with this one..
Tell me you didn't understand a book without telling me you didn't understand a book. Maybe try applying what happens in this book to the world around you and you'll realize why it was so necessary
Carmen wrote: "Tell me you didn't understand a book without telling me you didn't understand a book. Maybe try applying what happens in this book to the world around you and you'll realize why it was so necessary"I understood the point 17 years ago. I don't need to be hammered over the head with it. Same with "tell me ___ without telling me"-- it's getting pretty trite at this point.
Daniil wrote: "I almost picked up the book at the store, but something made me to put it back on the shelf.. Now I know what it was - a subconscious question of how much more can be squeezed out of the original H..."Yes, exactly. Of course this book isn't awful because it's just like THG and I love THG! But, still, do I really need to read the same story again?
I this is a shallow and dishonest review. Every new book in the series focuses on a different element and offers new context to the original story and the world of Panem. You make it out to seem it’s only about the formula and the same old story and nothing else has been added. Did you pay attention while reading or just skimmed through it?
Lucia wrote: "I this is a shallow and dishonest review. Every new book in the series focuses on a different element and offers new context to the original story and the world of Panem. You make it out to seem it..."Lucia, you need to accept that people have different opinions from you, and not because they didn't pay attention or didn't get it. You have a review space of your own where you can share all the great things you thought this book did.
Great review!! I need to read the ballads of songbirds and snakes before this one but i have been putting it off due to the same fear that i might not like it as much as the original hunger games . I have the same fear with this book.
HOW can you not like this book??? I was in tears when I finished it
B wrote: "Great review!! I need to read the ballads of songbirds and snakes before this one but i have been putting it off due to the same fear that i might not like it as much as the original hunger games ...."Thank you! I didn't like Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes, but for different reasons from this one. I hope you have a better experience if you do try it :)
Marietha wrote: "HOW can you not like this book??? I was in tears when I finished it"I think the emotional impact was greatly dampened for me because of two reasons: 1) it was so obvious how it was going to end, and 2) Haymitch's family and girlfriend are all off-page throughout the book so I didn't feel an emotional connection to them.
Agree with the Lenore Dove thing, so annoying
I feel pretty similar! While I enjoy the occasional Covey song and their significance, the extensive use of the Raven really weakened its impact on me. As a fan of the hunger games, I was excited to reenter the familiar world and was pleased in that regard, but ultimately it had none of the surprise or tension that I found in the original story. You can guess what is going to happen throughout the story, partly because Collins frequently has Haymitch think of the opposing outcome right before the event is about to transpire. It felt much more “copy-paste� from the Hunger Games than Catching Fire was to me.
Lucia wrote: "I this is a shallow and dishonest review. Every new book in the series focuses on a different element and offers new context to the original story and the world of Panem. You make it out to seem it..."Super harsh, Lucia, geez. No need to attack her for her personal opinion.
Emily May wrote: "B wrote: "Great review!! I need to read the ballads of songbirds and snakes before this one but i have been putting it off due to the same fear that i might not like it as much as the original hung..."Thank you i hope so too!
I feel the same. That said, I'm a little confused about the ages. I thought Beedee, Plutarch and Wiress were the same age as Haymitch. Also, I know Snow was old during the original Hunger Games but he would be 83 years or so during the time of Katniss? It was great getting a glimpse of some of these characters lives though.
100% agree (sadly�)
I could not agree more with every assessment you made about this book. Completely underwhelmed.
110% agree!!!! Also like some of the things she used to tie together details from other books felt so forced!!!
Yes it is the same but different and that is Exactly the point. That they tried to start the rebellion before Katniss, that she was just the right time without actually wanting to start it herself.
I kind of died when you mentioned it’s been SEVENTEEN YEARS
Fully agree with you. The Lenore Dove mentions drove me batty 'cause I just could not bring myself to care about her.
I also got sick of hearing about Lenore (more like LeSnore 🥁🥁 tssss)
Maggie wrote: "The last recitation of The Raven had me screaming "stop with this poem, please for the love of god!" at my audiobook. I was so tired of it."Lol same, especially since the narrator spoke it in such a sing-song voice. I counted and it was recited NINE times in one chapter! Completely overkill.
Thank you omg I’m so glad it’s not just me!
It’s actually not more of the same of what we had 17 years ago, those original three books are absolutely incredible, this left me feeling a bit empty and disappointed :( entirely predictable (no I’m not talking about Haymitch winning the games which of course we knew about) I mean everything else, it just fell so flat and I thought it was going to be an incredible read
Lizzy wrote: "It’s actually not more of the same of what we had 17 years ago, those original three books are absolutely incredible, this left me feeling a bit empty and disappointed :( entirely predictable (no I..."Yes, but I felt the reason was that it so closely followed the formula of THG. Absolutely nothing came as a surprise... the themes, even the deaths of characters, felt recycled.
I did not dislike this book but I’m so relieved to hear these similar opinions and am glad it’s not just me 😅
Completely agree, chat GPT could have come up with a more creative rewrite of the original books. ☺️
it's interesting that i loved this book but also fully agree with most of the criticisms here (except the one about skipping The Raven excerpts, that final chapter was my favourite in the entire book). Lenore Dove felt like a walking talking symbol, not a person. I felt kind of hammered over the head by the repetitive 'haymitch meets someone in the arena - haymitch fails to protect them - they die - haymitch goes to find someone else to protect' I felt that the Games itself was the weakest part of the book, but that the section after it ended redeemed it. In terms of fanservice, the only character I felt wasn't necessary was Effie. It made the world of Panem feel claustrophobically small.
Let me guess, you voted for Trump?
Chelsea Durkee, if you're going to comment on something, at least make it coherent and make sense.
Yes, I completely agree. Totally formulaic & fun as an old fan, but disappointing as a reader. And the intense “my girl”s throughout were exhausting�
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Chelsea wrote: "Let me guess, you voted for Trump?"🤣🤣 Well, that's a first. I've been accused of being too woke, called homophobic slurs and a man-hating feminist, but this is new. Also, babe, I'm not even just a liberal; I'm a British liberal.
Loved the book but completely get what your saying weird how I can agree yet still like it
