On March 18, Connecticut author Suzanne Collins released her fifth addition to the dystopian world of “The Hunger Games” franchise titled, “Sunrise on the Reaping.” One of the most anticipated book releases this year, Collins’ return to the post-apocalyptic land of Panem has been a hit among fans of the series.
The novel finds itself at the No. 1 spot on Amazon charts for the top 20 most sold and most read books of the week, with a rating of 4.8 stars.
The book is set 24 years before the original novel, “The Hunger Games” that was released in 2008, and 40 years after her most recent release from 2020, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The story of the Hartford native’s newest release focuses on Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s mentor Haymitch Abernathy, giving fans an inside look of his journey to victory during the 50th annual Hunger Games. “As the day dawns on the 50th annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes,” the description on the book reads.
According to AP, while working on “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Collins drew inspiration from Scottish Philosopher David Hume.
“With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few,’” Collins said. “The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day.”
The novel is not the only thing fans can look forward to. In 2024, Adam Fogelson, chair of the film production company Lionsgate, announced a theatrical release of the novel’s story, set to release on Nov. 20, 2026. Lionsgate has previously worked on all four film adaptations for the series.
“From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the Hunger Games franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026,” said Collins.
For now, the novel is available for purchase online on Amazon and other stores such as Barnes and Noble and Target. May the odds be ever in your favor as you enjoy reading “Sunrise on the Reaping.”
