Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

BEWARE! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES, THE HUNGER GAMES, WHICH EVERYONE SHOULD GO READ RIGHT NOW. OR ELSE. THAT IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH I WILL THREATEN YOU. BUT SERIOUSLY. READ IT.

Katniss Everdeen is back, and in more danger than ever. On the surface, everything is as it should be--better, even. By winning the Hunger Games, she and her co-victor, Peeta Mellark, have guaranteed themselves the comfortable lives of celebrities, as well as security for their families. But Kat’s move with the poisonous berries undermined the rules of the Games and struck a blow to the very foundations of Panem. This shift, despite the Capitol’s efforts to cover it up, has incited a stirring throughout the districts. Something that could shape up to be rebellion.

Suddenly, the story has become much larger than personal survival: Katniss and her Mockingjay pin are national symbols. To some, she is face of coming revolution. To the rich and clueless who live in the Capitol, she is a romantic heroine, her Mockingjay a fashion statement. To President Snow, she is wild card he never counted on, a threat that must be tamed. Kat must convince all of Panem that her last act in the Arena was motivated purely by deep love for Peeta, or everyone she cares about will suffer.

But after all the horrors she has witnessed--in the Arena, in the Capitol, and in the mines back home--how can she possibly be a puppet for the President? As she and Peeta take the traditional Victory Tour and wisps of rebellion begin to rise, Kat must choose between protecting those she loves and taking part in the fight for freedom.

Once again, Suzanne Collins has crafted a thrilling work that I was helpless to put down. Having not read The Hunger Games in a while, I was shocked anew by the sheer brutality of the Capitol, the Games, and the underlying system. All the adventure, action, romance, and excitement of the first book have carried over here, with plenty surprising turns along the way. I wouldn’t say that Catching Fire is quite as amazing as its predecessor but, for the most part, it measures up. It isn’t as if the quality of story and writing aren’t as good. On the contrary, Collins continues to be well-grounded in the world of Panem and quite well-acquainted with her characters. It’s just that everything that transpires feels a bit like a bridge between the first and the third books, the setup to lead us to the grand finale. I felt the same about Pullman’s The Subtle Knife: the book is worthwhile in its own right, but is more of a tool for the author to lead us where we’re to be taken than anything else. But then, you can’t have a magic trick without the setup.

All in all, Catching Fire is a well-crafted and thoroughly enjoyable continuation of Kat’s story and I definitely can’t wait to read what comes next.

Catching Fire comes out on the First of September. That's only one week, guys.

Put it at the top of your pile.

Catching fire and, as always, yours...

PS: Ta very much to CTU's finest for allowing me to borrow the ARC.