Review: Mockingjay

 

Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date:  August 24th 2010

Format: Hardback (Bought)

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 plains - 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.

I loved The Hunger Games and I even loved Catching Fire. But I don't love this book. For one, I don't feel the ending was right. I think Katniss deserved to have more of a peaceful end after the Capitol and President Snow was overturned. I wanted to see some more elaboration about her little pieces of happiness.

But...when you start Mockingjay, there is no turning back. I couldn't put it down, even though I wanted to. It was incredibly slow at the beginning, and I was so frustrated with Katniss. She wouldn't rise and do anything for such a long time! Then should would and more problems would arise. I just generally don't like the story. Especially with what happens to Peeta and then how Gale turns out. I was unhappy.

The deaths are countless and some really good characters die. I won't say who, though. I also think that the plot could have been something better. I think Collins could have taken the plot in another direction, something that resulted in a more peaceful -- not necessarily happy -- end for Katniss. I gave the four stars because Collins still can weave a great story and creates such brilliant imagery. Her characters are gripping and I couldn't shut it because I wanted to know what happened to them. (I almost cried at Prim's part.)


Also, to state it again, I HATE love triangles. Especially this one. I became so conflicted, that I just wanted one of them to die so she'd be forced to be happy with the other. No lie.

And I don't know if I'm making sense on the ending part, but I'm not quite sure how to describe. Yes, I know all endings aren't happy. There was just something about it that didn't settle right with me...I just can't put my finger on it.


However, if you've started this series, you have to read this. There's no other way around it. Just be prepared to be totally broken to pieces.

I gave it FOUR out of FIVE Sporks!

 

Review: Catching Fire

 

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

Author: Suzanne Collines

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date:   September 1st, 2009

Format: Hardback (Bought)

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster children for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol...

It's taken me a long time to get my hands on a copy of the second book, but I am really glad I did. I loved this book, even if some of the thrill of the first one didn't fully transfer to this one.

Catching Fire takes us through a new adventure but with the Katniss we love and the Peeta we adore. Those two are thrown into all new perils as the Capitol wei'ghs down on them. It's the year of the Quarter Quells and that only spells trouble for them. When they're subjected to their new fate, I could only groan.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was another brilliant masterpiece and it's definitely among my favourite. The ending was great and I knew that it meant Mockingjay was going to be another thrill ride.



There's just one thing I don't like....the love triangle. Katniss infuriates me. Just choose one! I also dislike love triangles in general. They're ridiculous.

So, if you haven't caught onto the wagon yet for this series, I'd highly advise that you do. 

I gave it FIVE out of FIVE sporks!