[guessing at the star rating / mining my old FB notes now that they are almost impossible to find]

there's a danger in the second book of a trilogy: trying to keep the momentum of the first, while saving the real action for the last. at first i thought this book was going to be too predictable: oh look, another games. and instead of rue, an infirm old lady impossible to protect. and another lie/secret for katniss to keep throughout the games.

but i didn't expect peeta's latest declaration; that was good. and then the plot didn't even revolve around this latest lie - instead the hunger games switched in tone as the tributes found solidarity. that was a nice touch. of course the ending wasn't a real ending at all; just a set-up for the next book. i'll be devouring that soon :)