Catching Fire is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. Though, some might not find it as intriguing as its predecessor, The Hunger Games, or successor, Mockingjay, it is still a good read. The suspense level is upped by increasing the "Big Brother is watching"-esque feel given off by the Capitol which is the ruling government of the Hunger Games society.
Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exist where the United States once stood, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two adolescent "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Petta Mellark, the tributes from the impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this sequel, Katniss , once again our narrator, returns home to find herself the center of attention. The sinister President Snow makes a surprise visit to her in District 12 and lets it be known that she and Peeta Mellark are being watched and if she steps out of line there will be retribution. This book is divided into three sections: Katniss and Peeta's mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games and a truncated version of the Games themselves. It has a slower pace than its predecessor and further explores the nation of Panem than the last book where we barely got a glimpse of it. We learn of its power structure, rumors of a secret district and a spreading rebellion ignited by Katniss and Peeta's subversive victory. We also get to see Katniss begin to deepen as a character. Though the story mostly takes place outside of the arena there is enough action to please fans that greatly enjoyed that aspect of the Hunger Games.
One of the things that I enjoyed the most about this story is when they introduce Victors of previous Hunger Games such as Johanna Mason, who was mentioned in the previous book, and Finnick Odair and give us a little incite to their Hunger Games and what winning the Games actually did to them. Since, it seems once you win the Hunger Games you become a pawn of President Snow and the Capitol and if you refuse to obey them they threaten someone you love to make you agree or in Johanna Mason's case it is implied they killed all her love ones for disobeying President Snow. Though, other Victors seem to embrace the people of the Capitol and begin to become like them, but it seems as if it is mostly the tributes that were known for being blood thirsty and from districts loyal to the Capitol. I remember one character, not sure which one, saying at one point those who in the arena were the true victors and that seems to be accurate because those who win never actually leave the arena, they are stuck in the horror of it.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book was the fact that we got to see more of Panem since what we mostly saw last time was the arena with a little bit of District 12 and the Capitol. We get to see a little bit how life is in the other districts such as District 11 where the Peace Keepers are not like the slackers in District 12 and actually enforce the law to the point that a man was shot for starting what they viewed as an act of rebellion. Though, I still feel we did not get to see enough and that section of the book seemed a little rushed to me.
Once again, it was an enjoyable read, though, I did not like it as much as the first book in the trilogy. Though, it helps explain the conflict with the Capitol and gives the perfect ending, in my opinion, to lead into the next book. I highly recommend the Hunger Games trilogy.
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