There is so much to be said about this book. I'll admit, at the beginning, I was quite underwhelmed. I think this book suffered from a tad bit too much exposition, but also somehow benefited? Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass. I think Suzanne Collins is a genius, and not just for the success of these dark, gruesome books. She's a masterful writer who seamlessly weaves metaphors and foreshadowing into her novels in a just-subtle-enough way that you don't notice initially, while still being clear. I was not expecting this to have as much of a kick as it did, but I can say with certainty that this book is a must-read if you plan on reading the original trilogy.