Reading Sunrise on the Reaping So You Don’t Have To

One of my biggest gripes is with Haymitch. In the original series, Haymitch was a complex, deeply flawed character—a former victor broken by the Games who used his sharp wit and sarcasm to mask his trauma. But in Sunrise on the Reaping, I could barely recognize him. His personality felt forced, and he lacked the intelligence and sharpness that we see in the original books. It felt like a completely different person, and it didn’t help that his relationships with other characters—especially Lenore Dove—felt shallow and unconvincing. The excessive mentions of Lenore made me care less about her rather than more. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make us emotionally invested in a relationship that was never given the space to develop meaningfully.

What happened to the insane, jaw-dropping plot twists that made the original trilogy unforgettable? The Hunger Games gave us the unforgettable moment with “They’re BOTH going to eat the berries!” Catching Fire stunned us with the reveal of the clock arena, and Mockingjay took us to a whole new level of heartbreak with the Capitol brainwashing Peeta to kill Katniss. We had the shocking and unexpected. What do we get in Sunrise on the Reaping? Absolutely NOTHING. There’s no twist to shake you to your core, no moment that leaves you gasping in disbelief. The whole plot feels predictable and safe, without any of the edge that defined the original series. It’s like Suzanne Collins forgot how to surprise us, and frankly, that’s a huge letdown.

Another major issue was the overuse of familiar characters, like Mags and Wiress, who served as Haymitch’s mentors. The inclusion of these characters felt like blatant fan service, and it didn’t make sense within the context of the story. It was lazy writing—there’s no logical reason why these characters would play such pivotal roles in Haymitch’s life without any mention in the original trilogy. It almost felt like Collins was trying to milk nostalgia without adding any depth or new perspectives to the world of Panem. If anything, it cheapened the narrative.

The plot of Sunrise on the Reaping feels like a rehash of everything we already know, but with none of the surprises or tension that made the original series so gripping. The focus on Haymitch’s Games is a missed opportunity—rather than delving into his life as a victor and his role in shaping the future of Panem, we’re stuck with a boring retelling of his Games that offers very little new information. I would have loved to see a deeper exploration of the post-Games Haymitch—the broken man who mentors Katniss, the alcohol-soaked victor who becomes a key player in the rebellion. But instead, we’re given a predictable story with plot conveniences that feel over the top and unnecessary.