I'm a fan

4.5

This is my first experience with anything Hunger Games related and BOY did I love it. I'm well above the age demographic for this book and sure, there are some flaws, but I enjoyed it so much, I don't even want to talk about the things that could be better.

It reads very smoothly, the plot never stops moving and it's an easy read despite its gruesome topics. I'm seriously amazed at how Suzanne Collins managed to write a children's book that's so dark yet not traumatizing. At times, I felt genuinely nervous for the characters, which is rare for me.

I love how badass yet flawed the main characters are, which makes them feel very human (which is uncommon in the fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian spaces these days). I love how you are reminded from time to time that these are children and I love how enemies' deaths are seen as a tragedy, despite their hostility.

I get why this franchise is such a success. I'm very excited to read the following books!