Finest Studying Order for ‘the Starvation Video games’ Sequence by Suzanne Collins

• Suzanne Collins launched “Dawn on the Reaping,” a prequel to “The Starvation Video games,” on Tuesday.
• Collins has printed two prequels to accompany the three books within the beloved sequence.
• I would not suggest studying the 5 “Starvation Video games” books chronologically.

In case you seen the rustle of pages accompanied by hushed gasps as you walked by your nearest bookstore Tuesday, there is no must panic. It was in all probability simply the sound of “Starvation Video games” followers speed-reading Suzanne Collins’ newest novel, “Dawn on the Reaping.”

“Dawn on the Reaping” is the second “Starvation Video games” prequel Collins has printed, as she launched “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” in 2020.

As Collins expands the world of Panem, newer readers of her works are torn about how you can begin the sequence. As a longtime fan of her work, I’ve ideas on one of the best order to learn the “Starvation Video games” books.

There are two prequels to ‘The Starvation Video games’

For individuals who weren’t a part of the unique “Starvation Video games” craze, the sequence was initially a trilogy. The primary three books Collins printed — “The Starvation Video games” in 2008, “Catching Hearth” in 2009, and “Mockingjay” in 2010 — comply with Katniss Everdeen, a young person residing within the dystopian society of Panem.

In Katniss’ world, two kids from Panem’s 12 districts are “reaped” to struggle to the dying in opposition to one another in a televised competitors known as the Starvation Video games annually. Katniss volunteers to compete within the video games after her youthful sister’s title is known as in “The Starvation Video games,” and the trilogy follows her expertise within the video games in opposition to the backdrop of rising pressure between the districts and the federal government of Panem, led by President Coriolanus Snow.

Collins’ first three works function a sweeping solid of characters, although they’re all advised from Katniss’ perspective. She makes use of her prequels to give attention to two characters that seem within the trilogy and supply perception into Panem outdoors Katniss’ purview.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” takes place 64 years earlier than the occasions of “The Starvation Video games” and stars a teenage Coriolanus Snow. Within the novel, Coriolanus lives within the Capitol within the preliminary years after the primary Panem revolution, and he turns into a mentor for a tribute from District 12 within the video games named Lucy Grey Baird.

The guide capabilities as a personality examine into Coriolanus, displaying the reader how he turned the tyrant Katniss knew a long time later — and providing perception into why he has notably destructive emotions towards District 12.

In the meantime, in “Dawn on the Reaping,” Collins takes the reader into the lifetime of Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss and Peeta Mellark’s grumpy, alcoholic mentor once they compete within the Starvation Video games. Set 24 years earlier than “The Starvation Video games,” the guide follows Haymitch’s time competing within the video games for District 12, which Collins’ retains largely a thriller within the authentic sequence.

Do not learn the prequels first

The 5 books within the “Starvation Video games” universe happen over about 65 years. The occasions of the prequels happen round 40 years aside, and people of the three authentic books happen over about 18 months, excluding the epilogue on the finish of “Mockingjay.”

Though they weren’t launched as such, the “Starvation Video games” books might be learn in chronological order:

• “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”
• “Dawn on the Reaping”
• “The Starvation Video games”
• “Catching Hearth”
• “Mockingjay”

Nonetheless, I do not suppose that will supply one of the best studying expertise.

Collins creates an unlimited world in “The Starvation Video games,” and Panem’s advanced authorities system is significant to the plot. The unique trilogy does an excellent job of easing new followers into the universe. I believe it could be a disservice to readers to not expertise the cautious world-building Collins does in her authentic books first.

I additionally suppose the prequels may confuse the reader concerning the significance of sure characters within the trilogy and supply some spoilers — from the extent of Snow’s function in Katniss’ story to Haymitch’s expertise in a Starvation Video games Quarter Quell, which has some connections to “Catching Hearth.”

With all that in thoughts, I like to recommend studying the books of their publication order:

• “The Starvation Video games”
• “Catching Hearth”
• “Mockingjay”
• “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”
• “Dawn on the Reaping”

And in the event you plan on watching the movie variations of Collins’ works after studying the books, I might comply with the identical order. The film model of “Dawn on the Reaping” will hit theaters in November 2026.