Reread: February 2025 in preparation for the sunrise on the reaping. My feelings for this book are pretty much still the chaotic mess they were upon my first read. :’) Listening to the audiobook this time around was a great experience! 

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First read: May 2020. I still have to work through a lot to know how I feel about this but the one thing I do know for certain is that Suzanne Collins can't leave us bookless for another 10+ years. The woman has too much talent for that. 

Anyway, since I don't have any coherent thoughts on my feelings about this book (will I ever? who knows?) here's a few messy list the of thoughts and I do currently have: 

- Suzanne Collins is clearly ridiculously intelligent and that shows in her writing.
- The societal and political commentary was, as always, A+.
- My mind was blown on many an occasion.
- Loved all the references to THG and how it connected so many dots.
- Lucy Gray Baird has the X Factor. 10/10 would turn my chair for her. Future Panems Got Talent winner. 
-Loved that this wasn't a Snow redemption arc but rather a deep dive into the complexities of his psyche.
- The references added so much context and a much appreciated extra layer of understanding to the original trilogy and I loved it for that.
- The pacing was off and dragged in places.
- Definitely could have been condensed.
- When Lucy sang THAT song? I felt that and I felt it hard. Shock was had. Two and two came together. Dots were joined.
- The last ending felt super rushed, which was a shame.
- Suzanne Collins is the QUEEN of chapter endings and getting me to read ‘just one more’. 
- Suzanne Collins is such a brilliant writer and it’s cruel to hide that away from the world. Whether set in THG universe or not, the world needs more of her work please and thank you.