Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) (edition 2010)

Page after page of gratuitous violence with no room for reflection. Poorly written and an unimaginative ending. Like most trilogies, the first book was the best and each subsequent installment got worse. ( )

I’m completely disappointed with this one. After reading the other two I was so excited for it but I was expecting a better ending. It actually became boring at same point. The writing was confusing, I became lost at some conversations, and this final is just absurd. She spends most of the end out of herself, just drugged, and then in a few pages everything develops. We don’t have a significant explanation for some events, it´s just unreal… I was expecting a better job since the other ones were just exceptional. ( )

Excellent end to a great trilogy. I'm not sure what to say without spoiling the book and the trilogy. I will say that I was fascinated by how events and plans never turn out as expected. ( )

I felt rather under-whelmed by this book, I'm afraid.

One of the things I liked about the previous two was the immediacy and the emotion of the main character and the connection the reader has with her. The fact that she didn't know what was going to happen, didn't agree, but made the best choices within her power.

In this book, a lot of the action is off-screen, out of the character's influence and what action she gets involved in feels staged. Yes, a lot of it is staged by necessity, but by choosing this format, I feel the author loses the immediacy that comes with a story told in first person. This volume is much more epic in nature, more distant from the characters. I feel there is simply too much 'stuff' in this book, a few too many betrayals for them to make a true impact in me. I feel it would have been better had the story been kept simple and more involved on a personal scale.

The fact that I wasn't so involved with the character made me more focused on the fact that I wasn't (have never as a matter of fact) buying the setting. The government, the president, the Capitol are simply too evil and too one-dimensional for me to find them believable as antagonists. ( )

These books just get more and more crazy and unrealistic as they go on. I get that it's supposed to be science fiction, but Collins' never-ending supply of various mutants and creations/abominations that all hone in on Katniss kind of gets redundant after the first two or three times.

But you know what really saved this book and this series for me? The last few pages, where Katniss FINALLY starts thinking for herself.

Not thinking about what Gale or Peeta said they would do in the current situation (which is what she did all throughout The Hunger Games).
Not thinking about what her old government expects her to do (which is what she for half of Catching Fire).
Not thinking about what Coin and the government in exile expects her to do (which is what she did for half of Mockingjay).

Katniss finally takes an arrow and points it at the person of her own choosing. And she's got the right answer, all of her own accord.

Oh, of course; then there's the conventional bits where she takes back everything she has ever said about not wanting kids, especially since conditions are so not ideal, and then she goes on to live a regular life and blah blah blah. Really though, when you've killed a leader, where do you go from there, anyway, I guess. ( )

I guess, after the surprising beauty of the first book, I didn't expect the next two to devolve into YA convention. But they did, and you know, whatever. Collins' clear strength is in dramatic action, and the unique settings of the Games invite brilliance. But when the Games are gone, the narrative follows. ( )

I guess, after the surprising beauty of the first book, I didn't expect the next two to devolve into YA convention. But they did, and you know, whatever. Collins' clear strength is in dramatic action, and the unique settings of the Games invite brilliance. But when the Games are gone, the narrative follows. ( )

This last novel in The Hunger Games trilogy is, by far, the most powerful. Katniss has survived the Hunger Games. Twice. But her world has been destroyed and she's drawn into a war that she's not ready for and may not survive. She struggles emotionally, mentally and physically. She suffers more loss than anyone should have to know in a lifetime. She has to trust her instincts when she's no longer certain of whom else she can trust.

This book is gripping and I couldn't put it down. I cheered for Katniss and I feared for her and I cried for her. While the cheering and the fearing may have been done silently, the tears rolled down my face. Literally. It's not often I'm moved to tears by a book. I really loved this series.


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What a disappointing end to an outstanding series. This isn’t to say Mockingjay was bad, it’d be almost impossible to live up to the previous two books, but being mediocre only made the let down sting worse. Far too much time was spent on descriptions of making propaganda, called propos in the book, along with an extremely dull build up where the protagonist, Katniss, was reduced to a spectator role. This was the book’s fatal flaw, where instead of making decisions, right or wrong, Katniss was forced act depending on the whims of others, either oppositional characters or dangerous plot devices. This was quite a disappointment considering the first two books relied so heavily on her decisive, if sometimes foolish, choices.

Thankfully, by the third act, Katniss sheds this role of a spectator soldier to take charge before the final confrontation. Though, even here, the book hits a hard turn with a forced surprise ending that I found difficult to believe. I sympathize with the cynical theme of everyone in war is manipulative and evil, but this detachment only worked to diminish the power and tension behind Katniss’ final decision.

Overall, the thematic swing from “survival at all costs” to “throw in the towel and damn them all” felt forced and quite jaded. Unlike many of the other heroic tales dominating the YA fare, I applaud Collins for attempting such a gloomy and distressing subject, but in the end, I’m not sure it worked in the manner she desired. Themes aside, Mockingjay was an entertaining read and a terrific shakeup of the YA genre. ( )

I was absolutely riveted by these books and I can't really tell you why. I didn't even like the main character very much, they are incredibly dark and entirely dystopian. But I couldn't put them down.
There is much in these to ponder. I am going to give them a second read through before I write a real review but I will say I can and do recommend the series highly. ( )

I read all 3 Hunger Trilogy books in less than a week and even though the author did successfully answer all questions, the ending was kind of a curve ball and was certainly not expected. Not sure what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't that! Still, extremely glad I took the time to read these books. They were, as a whole, extremely enjoyable. ( )

Speechless.

That’s how this book left me.

The ending to this amazing series left me wanting more. But I loved every second of it!
I will never forget this story and I feel crazy for having such a strong attachment to these characters.

Thank you so much, Mrs. Collins!
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This was my least favorite book in the series, but it's a good conclusion nonetheless. I'm very happy the battle was taken outside of the arena in this one. There were some good twists, some unfortunate deaths, some well-deserved deaths, and, as always, stupid politicians making an ever-increasing mess.

The end might have been a little cliche, but it was a cliche I was hoping for. It was just too adorable (in a heart-wrenchingly, unfortunately happy, sad way). Not a bad way to spend an evening. ( )

OK, so the study series isn't my favorite adventure series. I have to look through and see if there's any more I wasn't thinking of when I said that. This was consistently great through all three books. The ending was all I could have hoped for. ( )

At the conclusion of such a fast-paced series, I am thoroughly exhausted - in the best possible way. I remember these characters like they are sisters and brothers, and find myself wondering how they're doing today. :)

Everyone of course wants to know who does Katniss choose? The childhood friend who is there through thick and thin - or the on-screen love who will protect her heart and mortality at all costs? Sorry, no spoilers here...you will have to read to find out!

There is war, intrique, suspense, action, romance...even zombie-type-mutts! I have rarely felt such completion in a series.

One major spin I liked is that Peeta seems to be the 'hero' of this one, not Katniss. Well done, and please write more! ( )

OK, so the study series isn't my favorite adventure series. I have to look through and see if there's any more I wasn't thinking of when I said that. This was consistently great through all three books. The ending was all I could have hoped for. ( )

A solid ending to the story. I was a little dissatisfied at how some things played out (trying to avoid spoilers here) but that is certainly more realistic than having everything wrap up neatly in a struggle this violent. This book raises a lot of thought-provoking issues about what actions are justifiable in war.

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This is the third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as the first two.

This one picks up shortly after the end of the second book, Catching Fire, which ended on quite a cliff-hanger. Everything has broken loose and been turned upside down. It’s no longer a matter of surviving the Capitol’s Hunger Games. It’s a matter of surviving open warfare, and now everyone is at risk, not just the tributes in the arena.

Yet with so much at stake, our hero Katniss mostly just fumbles around. Yes, she’s been a pawn before, and I suppose she knows she is still just a pawn, but she only breaks out from that on the rare occasion. You’d think that by now she would be coming into her own. So, for much of the book, I was kind of annoyed with her. Towards the end, she does finally break out on her own – or at least, of her own volition – but ultimately she falls short of her goals, with others stepping in to do the heavy lifting.

I was kind of disappointed by the ending. It’s not so much what happened as how it was revealed to us. Again, Katniss has been sidelined as a pawn, and so much of what has happened is simply told to us as a fact. There’s very little dialog, and very little narrative of discovering what has happened and seeing Katniss’ reaction. Instead, we get a “this is where I am now” info-dump that is lacking in passion. She does finally make some good, independent choices, but it wasn’t enough to save the ending for me.

The love triangle was resolved more or less the way I thought it would end, and that was at least satisfying. So, it was a pretty good book, but I think it was a weak ending to the trilogy. ( )

I loved the books but this one seemed cruel to me. The author could have gone in so many other ways to have this ending. I sobbed as Prim died and as Katniss mourned her sister. Even Buttercup broke my heart. Peeta thank GOD winds up where he belongs, in Katniss's heart and she finally figured that out but good grief did it have to be so heartwrenching? I wanted to know the games ended and the world changed for the better but instead I felt like it was hopeless to think politics would ever be about what is best for people and not all about power and lording it over everyone.

I loved The Hunger Games and really liked Catching Fire. This last book, however, just didn't do it for me. I found the story was finally getting flat and began to drift from the realm of "believable futuristic fiction" and included more far-fetched elements. For the first time in the series, I slowed my rapid pace of reading. I still enjoyed the book as a whole, but it simply did not live up to the high expectations set by the preceding novels. While it was great to win some closure for the characters in this series, the pathway to that closure isn't very enjoyable. ( )

In the third part of this series District 12 has been attacked by the Capitol, all but destroying it. Surprisingly, District 13 is there to help them pick up the pieces and hide everyone and since everyone still believes District 13 is still destroyed this works out for a little while. By design Katniss becomes the face of the rebellion or their "Mockingjay." Peeta has been kidnapped, brainwashed and tortured and is one day found or dropped off conveniently by the Capitol. A terrifying amount of characters in this story are killed in this conclusion and you may be surprised by a happy ending, if you can read through the tears as this book emotionally rips you a new one. ( )

First read 14-17 September 2010.

Reread from 16 October 2012 - 21 October 2012 ( )

See this review and more on The Moonlight Library!

Katniss’s final act of rebellion in the Quarter Quell Hunger Games in Catching Fire starts a revolution that she is fated to lead as the famous ‘Mockingjay’ – the symbol of the very rebellion she tried so hard to avoid.

Mockingjay was a very good book which I found hard to put down. Suffice to say, Katniss is fucking awesome in a warzone, even though she’s encouraged to use a bow among bombs and guns. The book runs much the way as the first two: the first half of the book is preparation and the second is the ‘Games’ part – although this time, like I said, it’s a warzone. Katniss is still televised (and she sucks at scripted lines) and the rebels are trying their hardest to get their message out while bringing down the Capitol.

I personally felt that this book wasn’t as good as Catching Fire, but I really liked the warzone section. It reminded me a lot of Tomorrow, When The War Began because it’s no longer a ‘game’ – even though the Hunger Games have always been life-or-death. Katniss doesn’t change much as a character – she is already strong and kick-ass, but now she is dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, which didn’t seem to affect her much in Catching Fire. I feel that the many deaths were appropriate – they didn’t necessarily have a ‘reason’, but they are in a war zone – and tell me honestly, what death has a point in a war? There are going to be casualties and it may be your favourite character. Shit happens. In the end this is still a Hunger Games book, and it’s a fight to the death.

I did not like the ending. I felt too many things were unresolved and it could have been fleshed out further to gain a more satisfying ending. I don’t feel this way simply because it is the last book of the trilogy, but I feel that too much at the end just ‘was’ without a proper explanation. I can’t say too much more without spoilers, but suffice to say that character motivations were not explained and we are just expected to accept out of character behaviour. OK. Overall, I still really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to re-read the whole trilogy and also see the last two books made into films. ( )

A good story that most people will enjoy. I liked quite a few things about the world and characters that Suzanne Collins created, but the polish wasn't there. The character of Katniss just didn't allow me to connect with her, since she seemed so emotionally unattached. The world had some interesting combinations of technology and lack there of, but it wasn't polished enough to give you a grand scheme of a world that made any real sense.
Not great literature or storytelling, but still a good decent read.

Superb ending to the incredible series. As good as I anticipated. ( )