The second of the Hunger Games trilogy. What I expected from this book is a narration of the aftermath of Katniss's actions. I expected her to become reluctantly and accidentally involved in the rebellion. The second would tell her transition from citizen to revolutionary, and the third would cover that revolution.

I sort of got what I expected, but at a slower pace. It didn't tread the same path, but it got to the same destination. I guess I should be thankful for that -- it would be boring if everything was what I expected. It didn't build on the Gale/Peeta love triangle like I thought it would (which is good -- sometimes I wonder if it's put in there just to give the girls something to gush over). It seems Katniss worries too much about what these boys think of her, when she's got bigger problems. Most of which is that she is forced into a second Hunger Games.

This is what disappoints me, because I felt we were retreading old ground. I got the feeling that either the author was A) appeasing fans by inserting what made the first book so popular -- bloody deathmatch arena-style or B) using the opportunity to use some unused "Hunger Games" ideas. I get the feeling it was a bit of both.

But as the second part of a trilogy, not bad. Personally, I like trilogy part II's (Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings, Attack of the Clones, Spider-Man 2, Temple of Doom). This wasn't as good as I expected, nor as suspenseful as the first, but I get the feeling it blends into the third nicely.