Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: September 1, 2009

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol--a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss had fueled an unrest she’s afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she’s not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol’s cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can’t prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.

Since I was slightly hazy on some of the details of Catching Fire I decided that while I was waiting for Mockingjay to come out, I should reread the book, and while I was at it I figured I might as well write a review. I just love the Hunger Games books and by rereading Catching Fire I just fell in love with them all over again. Suzanne Collins writes such a captivating and engaging story, it makes putting down the book very difficult. I could seriously just go on forever about how much I love this book, but I’ll spare you and just get to the point.

Katniss Everdeen never thought she could win the Hunger Games, much less win the year that for the first time in history there are two victors. Little did she know that pulling that trick with the berries to save Peeta would be seen as an act of rebellion by President Snow and the Capitol. Now with the Victory Tour coming up, Katniss and Peeta need to prove to the world that they couldn’t be more in love because if they don’t their loved ones will be in grave danger. And then because that isn’t enough, there are more surprises out there for Katniss, some she definitely never saw coming and others she may have played a part in without even realizing it.

I love Katniss, she is just such a great character. Despite some lapses in judgement sometimes, she knows what she wants and just what she needs to do to get that. Even though she’s always had to take care of her family but sometimes she can be a little naïve, especially in the love department and where Peeta and Gale are concerned. But beyond that Katniss is a pretty kick-ass heroine. She just seriously needs to make her mind as to who she wants to be with: Gale or Peeta. If that can finally be decided in Mockingjay I will be a happy reader.

Peeta...I think this is the part where I admit that I am Team Peeta. There is just something about him that you cant’t help but love. He is just so great with Katniss, no matter how many times she turns him down or is just plain rude and mean to him. What I like most about him is that despite his soft and devoted side, he also has a pretty cool tough guy side too, especially when it comes to protecting Katniss. And he’s also not always what he appears to be, just look at how well he can play his part when he’s in front of an audience. So yeah, I love Peeta and I am totally Team Peeta.

I won’t get too much into detail about the story so that I don’t ruin it for people who haven’t read the Hunger Games or Catching Fire but the story is just completely captivating. When I started rereading, I told myself that I wouldn’t read it too fast that way I would actually remember the details this time. But as much as I tried to pace myself, within 24 hours I was finished reading (but I do remember the details this time around). Suzanne Collins just has a way of writing that makes it so you just can’t help but read on even if you don’t want to.

Now that I’m done rereading Catching Fire it makes me that much more anxious to readMockingjay. You can be sure that I will be at the bookstore before it even opens just so I can get my copy and start reading right away!