The Sunrise on the Reaping 🐍
- The_Secret_Bookreview
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
By Suzanne Collins.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The snow may fall, but the sun also rises.”
Screaming, Crying, Throwing Up.
As someone who holds The Hunger Games series among my all-time favourite books and films, Sunrise on the Reaping felt like coming home, albeit a home soaked in grief, blood and rebellion.
It is the series I always return to when I feel anxious or need comfort, not just because of the story itself, but because of the power it gives to survival, defiance and hope. Suzanne Collins has once again reached into the darkest corners of Panem and delivered a book that is utterly unforgettable.
Set during the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, this book follows a young Haymitch Abernathy, a boy with no dreams left to lose and nothing but instinct to guide him. The Capitol steals twice as many tributes this year, setting the stage for a Games that is meant to be cruel beyond reason. But what they do not anticipate is that Haymitch, armed with nothing but his wit and pain, is about to become a symbol they will never forget.
This book is far more than a prequel. It is a powerful and unforgettable addition to the series. Collins does not merely fill in the gaps of Haymitch's past, she unearths them, polishes them and lays them bare.
We begin to understand the depth of his trauma, the roots of his alcoholism and most importantly, why President Snow loathes him with such calculated venom. Every moment feels deliberate. Every detail is connected to the larger tapestry of the Hunger Games universe. It is the most intricate butterfly effect I have ever read. Small moments in this book echo loudly through the original trilogy, enhancing the meaning of everything that follows.
Reading Sunrise on the Reaping is like watching a slow motion explosion. The impact builds and builds, but when it lands, it leaves you hollowed out. There are scenes so full of anguish that they left me breathless. And yet, within the horror, there is humanity.
Deep, aching humanity. Haymitch is no longer just the bitter, sarcastic mentor. He is a boy who never wanted to be a hero, a reluctant survivor whose greatest weapon was always his mind. Collins explores the brutal cost of survival, the kind that does not leave scars on your skin but on your soul. Haymitch may have won the Games, but the reader is left wondering what, if anything, he truly gets to keep.
What also makes this book shine is the reintroduction of familiar names, woven seamlessly into the story. We see echoes of the rebellion to come, we feel the weight of the Capitol’s cruelty, and we begin to understand that every mentor, every victor, carries their own war within.
Some books entertain. Some haunt. This one devours. It is devastating, sharp and utterly immersive. Sunrise on the Reaping is not just a brilliant addition to the series, it is a vital one. Collins has done it again, and I am still reeling from the experience.
This book is a masterpiece. A brutal, unflinching exploration of trauma, survival and sacrifice. If you have ever loved The Hunger Games, this book will ruin you in the most beautiful way.
