Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

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I had such a good time with this. I like so many of the characters in this. Peeta > Gale every time, ya got a few more books to sell me on him but high key she cannot do better than Peeta and this simping for Gale thing I will never understand. All of the previous contestants were in equal measure fun to read and really tragic. I would pay so much money to have had Mags survive that bit longer, she was great. I feel like me going on about how much I enjoy Effie is beating a dead horse at this point but I really do love her.
Also who the hell is the game maker that bought out the murder monkeys, nerve gas and the Operation Wandering Soul style traps??? What kind of unhinged nonsense was that??? In a good way obviously, but they were not playing around this time. The clock concept was so cool! Plus the idea of how the arena is this shifting environment is interesting. Generally the tone was very consistent, I really enjoy that Suzanne Collins takes her worldbuilding really seriously. The characters are often funny and likeable but the events that they are forced into are definitely treated with care. We have public whippings and more of that horrific muting enslavement going on, people. I dunno if Cinna even survived after that TV stunt.

I really enjoy that Katniss is a very organic character; while I keep going on that Peeta is great, you can follow how this love triangle developed and why it's so difficult for her. Her problem solving skills are very grounded, her reactions and response to things are relatable. She's frustrating at times but you understand why she does the things she does. This is a realized character who is not bulletproof. She spent most of this book resigned to the fact that she was going to give her life to save Peeta. The be all end all is that while there's the love triangle aspect it's never treated as something at the forefront of importance - it's there but Katniss knows that it's more about being able to protect them both, more than picking one.

This is a YA book so obviously there's a lot of telegraphed plot points and developments but WHATEVER MAN, I'm having a blast. The reveal about the game master working for the resistance was very obvious but again, whatever, it was done well. Same for that scene with Johanna 'attacking' Katniss on the beach. The writing isn't mind blowing but it works wonderfully from Katniss' POV, really selling the story.

The way that this plot is spiralling and developing around PanAM in general is really appealing, hearing about all the uprisings following the public growing attached to Katniss and Peeta's love story (and imaginary baby lmao). The concept of this potentially crumbling Big Brother trying to punish and quell any attempts of speaking out but eventually being overran is very satisfying. But then again, I enjoy how cartoonishly evil the Capitol is - the Quarter Quell reveal elicited a little giggle because yes, President Snow is that petty.

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