Suzanne Collin’s second book in the Hunger Games trilogy is another riveting sci fi thriller that kept me on the edge and wanting more. Katniss succeeded in winning the first Hunger Games and disrupting the Capitol’s one-winner rule with the help of Peeta. Now it is time for the Victory Tour and the next games and the President has horrible plans to keep the districts in line once again.

Dystopian novels are defined as including an often futuristic version of a society in which conditions of life are miserable and characterized by poverty, oppression, war, violence and terror resulting in widespread unhappiness, suffering and other kinds of pain. So why would someone want to read such dismal fare? Catching Fire also includes characters who define what is great about humankind. They show sacrifice, love and humility for each other and in this case, fight for the greater good.

The final outcome of Panem will be revealed in the third novel due out next fall. If you cannot wait that long then try another exciting dystopian novel, The Maze Runner by James Dashner.