#3 Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

by Suzanne Collins

[rakesandrogues]

I think the biggest and only problem I encountered with this book was that I didn’t have the chance to reread Catching Fire entirely. I had only gotten up to the first two chapters before I had gotten the book. Naturally, I should have kept going and finished the book, but I was so busy, I didn’t know when I would end up reading Mockingjay. I pretty much knew the story line, but I found that I forgot a lot of the other tributes’ names and a lot of details that were really relevant. It was confusing at first because Mockingjay doesn’t give me much to work with. I only end up with a vague recollection of what happened. I tried not to dwell on details that were fuzzy and instead I focused on the story line.

I think what makes the third book so different from the rest is the fact that there is no arena in a literal sense. It’s the Hunger Games in a whole new way. It is a lot more political and war-centered than the first two books. At first I wasn’t sure I was going to live up to my expectations. But there were just so many twists and turns in the plot that got me hooked. There were so many times that I told myself, okay, last chapter before bed, but then a chapter ends with a massive cliffhanger and I couldn’t put the book down. Katniss’ voice is just so strong and she has a way of telling her story that makes me want more. However, since I don’t see Katniss as a romantic at all, so all the romance scenes to me were just up to par.

True, the plot was great. But really the element, or I should say character, that left me hanging on every page was Peeta. He makes the books for me. I think he is the highlight of every book.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the book and it’s ending. To me, a series has to end just right or all that time and investment goes to waste. I like to end a series with a warm, fuzzy feeling, not with a bad taste in my mouth. Endings leave the lasting impressions.