I’ve been a fan of the Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins for years. I’ve now read all 5 of the books, and I would say the series rates in my Top 10 book series. I did find a lot of parallels to the original trilogy and “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” in this book. While I won’t be giving spoilers for “Sunrise on the Reaping,” I will be discussing events from the last 4 books. If you haven’t read those, you may get spoilers for those books.

In the original trilogy, I loved the idea of Kaniss as a hero. She is spunky and independent; she’s not the stereotype of a passive, quiet, obedient woman like so many female characters seem to be. She speaks her mind and loves deeply. She has to learn to trust because life in 12 is hard, but she ends up forming deep bonds with allies in “Catching Fire” despite her insistence that she and Peeta didn’t need allies.

I loved “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” because the story of Snow and Lucy Gray gives a reason for Snow disliking Katniss: she’s another bold woman from District 12. Collins gives Snow a real history of struggle: the need to fill his father’s legacy, the pride to maintain the family’s dignity in times of struggle, the narcissism that puts himself over everyone else, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” felt like a villain origin story.

Like Katniss, Haymitch and his family are scraping by after the death of his father in the mines. He’s incredibly protective of his little brother. He also has an enterprise just outside of the 12 perimeter, although Haymitch is helping a bootlegger instead of hunting. The parallels to Katniss’s story in “Hunger Games” goes deeper than family. Their reapings are not typical; they shy away from their original alliance to work alone before coming back to an ally; President Snow seems to have a grudge against both. I felt these similarities were a way for Collins to show the reader that history repeats itself.

In District 12, we get to put names to characters and places we have encountered in “Hunger Games.” Haymitch is a peer to Katniss’s and Peeta’s parents, and you get to see what they were like as teens. You also get some history about Katniss’s Mockingjay pin. The tributes from District 12 give an overview of the differences in people who live there. I loved that they overcame their differences to form camaraderie, even through they didn’t all like each other back home. I appreciated the consistency to what the reader already knew about the history of District 12, and the additions and “Easter eggs” that enriched the story.

In the Capitol and the arena, some key players in “Catching Fire” are brought into play. I loved seeing Plutarch making his early marks on the Capitol. Several victors are featured in mentor roles. Because we know what happens in “Catching Fire,” I knew how these individuals would work together in the future. I could feel the bonds of the future rebels forming in the training center before Haymitch enters the arena. The style team brings in more familiar faces. The conflict with Snow added another layer to how similar Haymitch’s experience is to Katniss’s. Haymitch sees the villain behind the President’s facade, and he knows how he needs to act in order to save his family and love in District 12. Haymitch learns to put on a show when he needs to, and when it is better to make a statement or “poster.”

The relationship of Haymitch and Lenore Dove is reminiscent of the relationship between President Snow and Lucy Gray Baird. Both men learn about the Covey from the women they love. The women are both loudly outspoken bold musicians. They sing about social injustice and love. Both Lucy Gray and Lenore Dove are loved fiercely by the men in their lives. It’s easy to see why Snow singles out Haymitch after an act of rebellion- he knows what it is like to do something against the rules for someone you love. It also shows why Haymitch is so hard on Katniss- he sees a lot of himself in her.

Overall, I thought this was a great addition to the Hunger Games series. Susan Collins continues to deliver a poignant story with rich characters and moving emotions. She also delivers a strong social commentary on corrupt people in power, the divisions in society, and the courage to stand up for what is right. Collins enriched Panem and its inhabitants. These characters are still easy to become attached to, even when you know their endings will not be happy. This was another 5 star read for me, and I’m left wanting more stories from Panem!