3.5/5 stars

Okay. Whoa I have a lot to say.

Let me start off by saying I LOVE the ending. The Epilogue was the best part, and that's hard to do when usually epilogues are either cheesy or predictable.

As a personality analysis, the book did great. I didn't think it could be done in a way that wouldn't make Snow appear to be a hero or a saviour, or a typical vilian's backstory, But Collin's proved me wrong.

I also, appreciated the nod to Katniss, the white roses, The Seams and the songs that Katniss later sings in the books. Small remarks like that made me geek out a little.

Now the worse part was that most of the book was actually boring. It took too long for anything to happen, and frankly I felt like I was reading a saga- even though it's only a few months, but the different parts felt like separate worlds.
I wanted more action, from the games. I wanted more interesting characters esp the mentor students and the tributes.
I was just not entertained for most of the bulk of the book. The plot twists as good as they were, were scarce and far in-between.

The moral of the story was also "too on your face" like yeah we get it.. The Three Cs. It kept coming up again and again.

I don't think this book added much to the existing Hunger Games books. I wouldn't insist that it's necessary to read to be all in on The Hunger Games. But, I also don't think it ruined anything that was already established, or broke the Canon.

Overall, wouldn't recommend, but also wouldn't necessarily steer you away from it.