Not as good as the first 2, but I thought this book was beautifully written. The hopeful ending sticks with you, a blessing after the horrors you hear happened during the war. An exploration of trauma, how it sticks with you, & how you can (& will) heal from it. A good example that healing comes from helping, not from hurting, & that it is okay to be angry & it is okay to want revenge, but ultimately, these things will fade. Human nature is to love, & that comes in many different forms.  

Wow. I had forgotten how much I loved this series. Alongside the marvelous world building & multi-dimensional characters, there’s also such a profound exploration of trauma & pain & longing. We as readers only ever hear Katniss’s experiences, her thoughts & feelings. While it’s often painful (& I often find myself frustrated at much of her internal monologue), I think her voice is so interesting. Collins is amazing at creating a main character who experiences the world in such scary & dangerous ways that even the people who have proven themselves to be on her side, are still perceived as enemies. The audience (aka, me) may scoff at how untrusting Katniss is, but we also don’t blame her. At her core, she feels unsafe because she historically has been, & because she still is. Not to get ahead of myself here, but I am looking forward to rereading the third book of the series.