Really quite liked this. The "fight to the death" scenario isn't the most original but the character of Katniss elevated it, I think. I really liked her - pragmatic, self-reliant, unsentimental, willing to do what it takes and yet not a bitch.

It's just a shame she's stuck with a sap. Yeah, Peeta's a good guy but he is much less interesting to me than she is. I'm unspoiled for the rest of the books, but I've a feeling a love interest/love triangle storyline is coming and honestly, I don't see why this is such a omnipresent part of YA fiction. Well, no: I do see why, but I don't have to like it. How refreshing is it to have a girl with bigger concerns than romance? I'm hoping Katniss doesn't soften any, because I loved her in THG. Will definitely be reading the rest of the series to see what happens to her.