Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

This is book five of The Hunger Games series – is it a genius move or unnecessary?

Never be put off by someone telling you not to read something as it is meant for children; I would imagine as many adults have enjoyed Harry Potter as have passed it by.

The Hunger Games is a dystopian fiction that deals with several important themes and has a gripping, suspenseful, and fast-paced plot.

A strong female protagonist acts as the catalyst for many of the events in this series of books; the main characters are well-drawn out and the world-building is excellent.

The minute you start reading The Hunger Games, it becomes clear you are dealing with fantasy as you enter a post-apocalyptic nation with an autocratic President who has not only callously taken control but has also taken away every one’s freedom.

Everything the President does is aimed at expressing dominance, to remind the people in the Districts that the Capitol always wins.

Sunrise on the Reaping’s themes of propaganda, blind faith, art as a political tool, and feeling powerless in huge political struggles are all extremely relevant today.

All of this showcases a totalitarian regime, the second and third books a continuation of the first.

The writer added a fourth novel to be immortalised on film, but a fifth?

Is that a step too far?

Sunrise on the Reaping, set 24 years before the first novel, delves into the history of Haymitch, a strong character and mentor in the previous novels.

I wanted to complain that it was all a rouse but instead I was transported back to high school me, binging this book in a single day.

This felt like fan-service curated specifically for me.

The references to the earlier books, storylines and characters were so deftly done and I had the best time uncovering the lore and family tree of everyone I had come to know.

Sunrise on the Reaping is no cash grab, it is a poignant commentary on our current political state.

The commentary is not subtle, but I don’t think it needs to be.

In times like these things need to be screamed, not whispered.

This story is highly engaging, not to mention heartbreaking and I fell in love with every character.

Heavily inspired by The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, this book is perfection.

Julie Chessman