Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

                                           Book: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
                                           Pages: 391
                                           Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
                                           Source: Library

Short Synopsis: After winning the hunger games, Katniss and Peeta return home with a victory lap through out the districts. But things aren't all that great as there are threats of a rebellion and Katniss must keep up the image of her relationship with Peeta for the sake of their families.

My Thoughts: Slightly better than the first however, I was furious when Katniss had to go back into the games.

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 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 has 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.
-- From Goodreads

I wasn't really a fan of the first novel, as it just wasn't my type of read. However, after watching the movie, I knew I had to read the second. In this installment, Katniss and Peeta are thrilled that they have survived the Hunger Games. But not everyone believes they are madly in love. Katniss now must convince President Snow of their real love for each other, or their family members hang in the balance. And if things couldn't get any worse, there have been reports that Districts are starting to rebel against the Capitol. And on top of it all, Katniss discovers that there is a Quarter Quell, with slightly different modifications, and Peeta and Katniss now must train for the upcoming competition. With the Quarter Quells, all bets are off, and Peeta and Katniss must try to survive yet once again. 

I actually enjoyed the first half of this novel. It was different from the first, and entertaining. I enjoyed reading Peeta and Katniss's relationship and what they had to do to keep everyone happy. Both had gone through a lot since the hunger games, and there was a closeness they shared that wasn't the same with Gale. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale, and was frustrated with Gale. I felt that Gale had spent so much time with Katniss and he obviously cared for her, but he didn't really express his feelings for her. I think that if Gale had at least told Katniss he was in love with her, Katniss might have actually run away with him. 

Truth be told, I also wasn't really reading the second half of the novel, as I hated that Katniss and Peeta was once again thrown in the similar situation as the hunger games. I was surprised that there wasn't a rebellion from the players themselves against the Capitol, since they had to compete once again. The ending was very 'Oh My God' but I'd just wish things had turned out differently for Peeta and Katniss.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5