400 pgs. | $27.99 Hardcover Edition
Sunrise on the Reaping was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025—much like it was for so many of my peers who grew up reading and watching The Hunger Games. It’s the second prequel of the series after 2020’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and set in the second Quarter Quell: the same games Haymitch Abernathy wins. Fans of the series will know him as the reluctant mentor of Katniss and Peeta in the 74th Hunger Games, and the only living victor of District 12 known for his constant state of drunkenness.
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Hunger Games is set in the futuristic North America nation of Panem where the country is divided into one capital and twelve (originally thirteen) districts. To show the Capital’s power and to remind the districts of their failed rebellion, two kids (one boy, one girl) between 12-18 are “reaped” from a lottery to fight to the death in a publicly televised arena each year. The winner returns home celebrated and rewarded.
This second Quarter Quell has twice as many tributes, and Haymitch finds himself entangled in the games in a very classic “wrong place, wrong time.” It’s only downhill from here. Readers will know exactly why he is the way he is in the series and even though we know how it all ends, it’s still going to be an emotional punch as we see Haymitch lose everything he loves and spirals.
Sunrise on the Reaping continues to build on the beloved and bestselling world Collins has built, featuring some of the characters from Catching Fire (the second novel, set in the third Quarter Quell) while also diving into Haymitch’s backstory. It’s a continuation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes where President Snow was the protagonist. Here, he’s made his way to power as the twisted and cruel president we’ve come to know, and he’s sitting quite comfortably, never hesitating to use his power to fit his narrative.
And that’s really what Collins examines here: propaganda, the power of the media, and how narratives can be framed to fit the purpose of whoever is in control of it–sometimes to the point of rewriting history. If you’ve read all four books already (you don’t have to, but I strongly encourage it as there are some spoilers for them throughout the book), you’ll know exactly what I mean. It feels strikingly parallel to what’s going on today.
This prequel feels a lot like fan service to existing fans and the exact same as the original trilogy right down to Katniss’s personality and actions (but make it double the tributes). It doesn’t have the fascination of Snow’s story and character arc that I enjoyed nor does it add anything new to the series, but it was still a treat to pick up and read because of the Easter Eggs. Collins truly knows how to write an engaging story that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages, and Sunrise on the Reaping is no exception. | Hannah Sophia Lin
