The Hunger Games series is known for its emotionally devastating moments and its darker plotline, which made it a staple of the dystopia genre back when it was first published. Sunrise on the Reaping could continue that trend, especially as the book is set to take place during a particularly dark time in the Games' history that Haymitch was unlucky enough to witness firsthand. That being said, I am not prepared for Haymitch's book to break the one trend that held me together through each installment: the hopeful ending.

Haymitch's Hunger Games Prequel Will Be The First Book That Doesn't Have A Hopeful Ending

Haymitch's Original Characterization Proves His Book Ends Darkly

Sunrise on the Reaping will most likely be the first book that does not have a hopeful ending in The Hunger Games series due to Haymitch's disillusioned and depressed characterization in the original trilogy. Though they covered very dark topics and had a largely tense storyline, The Hunger Games books often ended on a hopeful note. The original Hunger Games trilogy ended with Katniss winning each time with her successful berry ploy, her extraction from the arena, and her final happy ending with Peeta respectively, making each section of the series easier to read.

Related

I Know 2025's Hunger Games Book Is Going To Break My Heart, And Its New Haymitch Quote Confirms It

Haymitch's Hunger Games prequel is already expected to break hearts, but a newly release quote confirms just how devastating it will be.

Posts

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes also ends hopefully for Snow and the audience, as Snow gets what he wants and the final fate of Lucy Gray is left unknown, allowing us to assume that she is still out there somewhere. However, even if Suzanne Collins finds a way to put a hopeful spin on the tragedies Haymitch experiences, his overall ending will still remain bleak, considering how shattered we know he becomes. Despite knowing that Katniss helps him later on, Sunrise on the Reaping is still going to be a tough read if this trend gets broken.

Sunrise On The Reaping Breaking This Series Trend Will Make It A Much Tougher Read

Adding A Bleak Ending Will Further Darken The Book's Plot

By breaking this trend, Sunrise on the Reaping will become a much harder read as that lack of a hopeful ending will add to the suffering Haymitch is set to experience despite knowing his fate in later books. Haymitch was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games, which was the Quarter Quell that had double the tributes and was Haymitch's first act of rebellion before the main series. We know those events are going to leave lasting scars because we have seen them, such as Haymitch sleeping with a knife in The Hunger Games, so having a bleak ending will simply drive that home.

The foreknowledge that Katniss and her journey allow him to heal and get justice through the rebellion does not help either. Haymitch's suffering will be playing out in real-time and will end with him staying in that headspace for years to come, so knowing that it does get somewhat better for him is not likely to ease the ache, especially as we will be in his perspective. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, ultimately, will be the tragedy of Haymitch, with the book set to remind us every page how truly tragic he was before the original trilogy.

Like

Follow

Followed

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Science Fiction

Action

Adventure

Release Date

November 20, 2026

Director

Francis Lawrence

Writers

Billy Ray

Producers

Brad Simpson

Cast

See All

• 
  Joseph Zada

  Haymitch Abernathy
• 
  Whitney Peak

  Lenore Dove Baird
• 
  Mckenna Grace

  Maysilee Donner
• 
  Jesse Plemons

  Plutarch Heavensbee

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping explores the dystopian world of Panem 24 years prior to Katniss Everdeen’s story. This prequel focuses on the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, unveiling the origins of crucial events and traditions in the series.

Powered by

Expand Collapse