The 2010s nostalgia craze might be coming back earlier than expected. “Sunrise On the Reaping,” a new installment in “The Hunger Games” series, was released on Tuesday, March 18, adding yet another prequel to the franchise’s expanding universe.
Author Suzanne Collins’s fifth book in the franchise, “Sunrise On The Reaping,” appears to have that classic battle royale, brutalistic atmosphere. The plot centers around a then 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy and his journey to winning the 50th annual Hunger Games. Later in the timeline, he is a mentor to Katniss Evergreen. However, seeing his experiences as a contestant is fascinating. Considering he sees the propaganda and manipulation of the Capitol, much information about past participants should be seen in a bigger light.
New readers need to access new lore, as the book occurs at an earlier point in the series canon. Many readers will relate to the world inside the Hunger Games as it portrays the use of media manipulation. It’s very similar to what the real world is going through with its intense political climate.
Overall, it’s a surprise how this installment came to fruition, and more people should be willing to check it out for the political commentary and mystery alone.
