Catching Fire marks the point of no return within the Hunger Games timeline, with the uprisings in Districts 3, 4, 8 and 11 changing the course of the narrative, not only as pivotal moments in the world of Panem but pivotal moments in Katniss’s life, where she is now stepping into the adult world within the Hunger Games system. Suzanne Collins continues to impress and stun with the detail and depths of cruelty she depicts in these districts, and paired with the splendour and trends within the Capitol, it creates this startling contrast between make-believe and reality.

Catching Fire gives us a few more settings to consider – the textile factories of Eight, the fields and orchards of Eleven going as far as the eye can see, the gilded Presidential Palace – as well as a new look into familiar territory, with the Everdeens occupying a place in the Victor’s Village and the arrival of “proper” Peacekeepers in Twelve. In terms of Twelve, Victor’s Village is alien and isolating, separating Katniss from Gale even further. The new Peacekeepers make Twelve akin to how Eleven was described by Rue in The Hunger Games. The districts mentioned earlier, with the exemption of Four, suffer treatment one could hardly fathom, but boy, does Suzanne Collins do a fantastic job of making it believable.

My sentiment about characters omitted from the movies still rings true, with the significant impact Madge, Darius, Twill and Bonnie have on Katniss completely washed over in the Catching Fire film. It’s a real shame because these characters tie together subplot threads and make the consequences of rebellion and deceit palpable for the reader. Not only that, but Katniss only understands the outreach and power of the Capitol through interactions with these characters. Madge’s mother has never been the same since her twin sister’s reaping in the Second Quarter Quell, which is the same reaping Haymitch was in. Darius stepping in to end Gale’s punishment and what it cost him will haunt Katniss forever, and not just because she feels like she should’ve been there to stop the whipping sooner. Twill and Bonnie’s desperate hope that Thirteen still exists sows the seeds of doubt within Katniss, one that should impact how she views the teaming up of Districts.

There is a limit to Katniss’s perception that restricts her ability to absorb the horrors of the Capitol. Katniss is still naive and blind to other Districts and the significance of their rebelling. What industries are being affected as a result of the uprisings? How does this impact the Capitol? Who has the most sway in the lives of Capitol citizens? Do they know something is amiss because they can’t get seafood, fabrics or new tech? Do they realise what it means that there is a shortage? Are they curious? We don’t see Katniss consider these things, and that’s not necessarily a point against her because there is a lot she’s facing personally. It simply shows, in my mind, how little she understands about the grander repercussions of her actions.

Her strong personality shines through in this book to her detriment. It’s always a great thing to see a character’s strength become a weakness, but it also makes me annoyed (for a short time, of course, because I know it’s worth it). Katniss is so standoffish when it comes to allies, even though, in this situation, allies are what she needs. How better to show Snow that you don’t care to dissuade the Districts from uprising by teaming up with the victors from those districts? This only happens though because Haymitch orchestrates it, not because Katniss actively makes allies. I am aware she chose Mags, Beetee and Wiress, but from the looks of things District Three was already on the rebel side so Beetee would have been an ally Finnick or Johanna would flight to protect. While it isn’t clear if Seven were part of the rebel cause before the reaping, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume based on how Johanna has reacted to being controlled by Snow previously – “they can’t hurt me, there’s no one left that I love” certainly sounds like she’s ready to get some payback.

The games were very short in this one, and while there were many interesting features of the arena, the deaths were as impacting for me. Not that they were bad, but there was almost too much of a Katniss lens to it – I don’t care about these people, I only care about Peeta – which makes the deaths less significant. Does Finnick killing the male victor from Five mean District Five is less involved in the rebellion? Both of District Eight’s victors died on the first day, is that because the others knew that Eight failed to maintain control of their uprising and lost a big portion of their rebels? I’m likely thinking to much into it.

Another thing that was seemingly brushed over was Katniss’s conversation with Finnick at the chariot before the parade. Did it not register to her that Finnick openly admitted to being paid in information and secrets for the services he was forced to provide? Would that not imply that he knows a lot about how the Capitol functions, how Snow functions, and how beneficial he would be on her side? All she says about him is how much of a fine specimen he is and his beauty is constantly brought up in the arena. I’m a big Finnick fan, as some of you will know from my Favourite Characters Part Two post. I was laughing at how he was described, but at the same time, I was furious that Finnick’s lethality was seemingly forgotten. His resourcefulness is only sparingly noted with the mats, bowls and weavings he makes while Katniss is hunting or sleeping. Losing Mags made it seem like he was no longer useful or nearly as strong as he is and needed to be in the arena. He was stabbed in the thigh protecting Peeta and didn’t complain at all.

I know my Mockingjay reread will be over and done within a few hours of picking up the book, something I’m not sure I’m ready for. I remember the absolute heartache that Mockingjay contains. I know I will cry. The hope is that I can at least enjoy the book in so many ways before I’m blinded by tears.