Leigha
Katniss and the gang are back for the epic battle between the rebels and the capital in this infuriating capstone to The Hunger Games series.
This novel is by far the weakest of the entire series as it tackles too many issues at the same time. While much time is spent on Katniss’ suffering from trauma and PTSD (as it should be), the evolution of the war between the capital and district is rushed and chaotic. Her involvement in key war moments, particularly her self-mission to kill Snow and her retaliation against President Coin, were utter nonsense. I recognize the novel is setting up a chess game with the two warring nations using Katniss as a pawn, but it didn’t make it any more believable.
I detested the way Katniss treated Peeta in this novel. She spends the first part of the story bemoaning his absence, the middle considering killing him, and the last third finally (FINALLY!) appreciating him. Yes, she is a tortured and psychologically damaged young woman torn between two men – I can recognize her circumstances and still be annoyed with her attitude. Taking the romance out of the equation, Peeta is her friend who is physically and psychologically tortured for weeks (months?) on end. And yet knowing this detail, she essentially abandons him emotionally and physically once he returns from his abusers. I cheered when Haymitch told her off about her treatment of him. THANK YOU KINDLY, HAYMICH. I honestly didn’t think they should end up together at the end of it all.
Outside of the groan worthy Katniss-Peeta-Gale triangle, her relationship with the other characters were immensely satisfying. Finnick, Haymitch, Beetie, and Johanna all shine in their small roles as fellow victors and rebels fighting for justice against the capital. Her relationship with Prim and her mother is also wonderfully developed, if bittersweet.
tl;dr The frustrating romance and the rushed war infuriated me to no end, but I did like the sweet moments Katniss experienced with secondary characters and her family members.
