Catching Fire

I felt like I was reading a The Hunger Games again with just slightly different characters and slightly different circumstances but the same premise.. until the very last chapter anyway. I was not extremely amused. I was also able to guess everything that happened except for the main twist at the end. Again, not super amused. Sure, the Games were designed differently in this story, very cleverly actually, but it wasn't enough to make it feel like a different story.

My other issue, which may have been present in the first book, but didn't get annoying until this one: Katniss as the narrator asks questions often that the reader is already or should be already asking themselves... it's a little too leading and gets under my skin.

Katniss's character is also very much less badass in this book. She becomes whiny, more self absorbed, and overly wishy washy. I just didn't like her nearly as much as in the first book where she is headstrong and angry.

However, there is a lot of character development for Peeta in this book. He steps up and shows his leadership through power with words (or it's hinted at), but he's still overall the sad boy who loves a girl that will never love him the way he wants her too. The only character I really did like in this book was Haymitch; he proved to be a sneaky, clever victor who's been more involved than we thought the whole time (and leads to the twist at the end).

The twist at the end almost saved my opinion of the book and made me give it a higher rating... but again ALMOST. It was good. I didn't see it coming. And I think it will lead to the third book being more interesting. But I mean.. we all know what's going to happen. Also, with the twist Katniss and Peeta somehow become side characters and you realize that they have been the entire story.

Overall, this book disappointed me. I thought it was good, but I guess I just didn't get all the hype. I will read the third to finish out the series (and find out about DISTRICT 13!!!), and hopefully it will leave a better taste in my mouth.