Sunrise on the Reaping was released in March, I just finished reading it and would like to read some other opinions on it. In general to me it felt very much like the first book all over again and didn’t give any new insights into Panem, but got lost in references to all the other books.
It suffers the same problems as many of the sequel/prequel ilk; as compared to the originals, it fails to stand on its own. Sure, it explains the origin and rationale for a few key characters in the original trilogy, but that’s the only function of this book. Any attempt to establish stakes is undercut before the start as we are locked up by the future we (who have already read the original three books) already know.
So, flat, perfunctory, and fan-servicing; punctuated by privations of humanity inflicted on District 12; this story was unsatisfactory.
I wonder at those who, to start their readings of these books, elect to go chronologically rather than in publication order. They are good books, but the two prequels rely on foreknowledge offered in the Katniss arc.