Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.
Suzanne Collins has written two prequels to The Hunger Games, and the release of Haymitch’s story begs the question: which is better, Sunrise on the Reaping or The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes? The Hunger Games books have become modern classics, as well as the standard for young adult dystopian fiction — and new additions to Collins’ world are always greeted with enthusiasm. However, 2025’s Sunrise on the Reaping is a far cry from the author’s first spinoff, which follows Coriolanus Snow rather than one of the franchise’s heroes.
Despite being set 24 years before Katniss’ story in The Hunger Games, Sunrise on the Reaping feels like a return to form for the franchise after exploring President Snow’s backstory. Both Haymitch’s book and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have their strengths, with both offering different perspectives of Panem and distinct commentary on oppression. But while each of Collins’ Hunger Games prequels serves a purpose, there’s one that comes out on top when comparing the two stories.
Haymitch Abernathy vs. Coriolanus Snow: Who’s The More Compelling Main Character?
Haymitch Is More Sympathetic & Interesting To Follow
To anyone familiar with The Hunger Games franchise, it will come as no surprise that Haymitch is a more compelling main character than Coriolanus Snow. Although Snow offers a fascinating perspective in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — it’s certainly the darkest and most twisted POV Collins gives us — it’s hard to understand or relate to him. To be fair, we’re not supposed to. Snow’s prequel is meant to raise discussions about nature vs. nurture, examining how and why he chooses selfish ends and ambition over and over.
Haymitch gives readers a far more sympathetic POV character in Sunrise on the Reaping, and his younger self is actually more interesting than Snow’s.
Haymitch gives readers a far more sympathetic POV character in Sunrise on the Reaping, and his younger self is actually more interesting than Snow’s. You’d think a younger Coriolanus would be vastly different from the President Snow we meet during Katniss’ story. However, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ lead has thought processes and reactions that make it obvious how he jumped from one point to the other. Surprisingly, young Haymitch feels like a totally different person compared to his adult counterpart, and that makes it feel like meeting him all over again.
It also makes Haymitch’s backstory far more tragic, allowing Sunrise on the Reaping to elicit emotions that Coriolanus simply doesn’t inspire. Being at a distance from the main character may be the point of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but it doesn’t always work in the book’s favor. The 2025 prequel proves more successful, as it follows a character readers care about and want to connect with.
Lucy Gray Or Lenore Dove: Which Hunger Games Prequel Has The Better Love Interest?
Lucy Gray Has A Larger Role In Her Book & The Franchise
Both Coriolanus and Haymitch have Covey love interests in The Hunger Games franchise, and Lenore Dove is undoubtedly a highlight of Sunrise on the Reaping. But while she’s a great addition to Collins’ world, she simply can’t compare to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Lucy Gray Baird. Lucy Gray has a much larger role in both the 2020 novel and the franchise overall, with her presence looming over the story even in Sunrise on the Reaping.
Lucy Gray benefits from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ main character problem, since she gives the audience someone to latch onto.
And Lucy Gray benefits from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ main character problem, since she offers the audience someone to latch onto. With Coriolanus being so unlikable, Lucy gives readers someone to root for during the 10th Hunger Games tournament. She also proves a bit more memorable than Lenore Dove. Even though both characters are singers, Lucy is a performer through and through. She leaves a lasting impression, partly because she’s in Ballad‘s Hunger Games and partly because she’s more vibrant.
Sunrise On The Reaping’s vs. The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Secondary Casts
The Characters From Haymitch’s Games Are More Memorable
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes may boast a better love interest than Sunrise on the Reaping, but the 2025 prequel has a better supporting cast. A few side characters greatly improve The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — Tigris and Sejanus immediately come to mind — but there aren’t a ton of memorable ones. The prequel adds some interesting villains from the Capitol, but Snow winds up overshadowing them all. And the tributes competing against Lucy Gray feel, unfortunately, forgettable, as the book doesn’t spend as much time in the arena as the others in the series.
By contrast, the supporting characters inside and outside the arena in Sunrise on the Reaping all leave strong impressions. The returning Hunger Games characters in Haymitch’s story are all a joy to see again. Mags, Beetee, Wiress, and Plutarch all get their own backstories in the 2025 prequel, and their journeys add devastating new layers to the original series. Additionally, the new characters in Sunrise on the Reaping feel far more fleshed out and sympathetic, making it more difficult to watch them perish in the arena.
How Sunrise On The Reaping’s Story Compares To The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes
Haymitch’s Backstory Is A More Enjoyable Read
In terms of structure and messaging, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping are both strong additions to The Hunger Games franchise. It’s difficult to choose one over the other, as both prequels attempt to unpack different themes and achieve different ends. Even so, Sunrise on the Reaping proves the more enjoyable read. This could be chalked up to the better protagonist and cast of characters, as well as all the callbacks to Katniss’ story. Ballad isn’t too far beneath it in terms of storytelling, but it is harder to get into.
Expanding The Hunger Games World: Which One Of Suzanne Collins’ Prequels Does It Better?
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes’ Setting Is More Interesting
Sunrise on the Reaping may be the better story, but The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes expands The Hunger Games’ world in more fascinating ways. Since the 2020 prequel takes readers further back in time, it offers a view of Panem we’ve never seen before. Haymitch’s Games are different from Katniss’, but the advanced nature of the arena, organized preparation of the tributes, and Capitol’s calculated cruelty all make the world feel incredibly familiar.
Lucy Gray’s Hunger Games tournament shows what the compeтιтion was like right after its inception, and it’s far more intriguing.
Lucy Gray’s Hunger Games tournament shows what the compeтιтion was like right after its inception, and it’s far more intriguing. Because the Hunger Games are still so new, Lucy’s time in the arena proves vastly different from Katniss’. The technology, sponsorships, and mentor program are all underdeveloped, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes tells readers how these things came to evolve. The Capitol and District 12 also look a far cry different from the original series, and Ballad offers more information about the Dark Days.
Which Prequel Story Connects Better To The Original Hunger Games Trilogy
Haymitch’s Story Is The Perfect Segue Into Katniss Everdeen’s
Although Sunrise on the Reaping doesn’t feel as much like a history lesson as The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it does offer the ideal segue into the Hunger Games trilogy. Obviously, both prequels are connected to Katniss Everdeen’s story. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes gives readers insight into why President Snow behaves the way he does, and it shows how the Games evolved before Katniss and Peeta entered the arena. However, Sunrise on the Reaping goes much further, planting the seeds of rebellion decades prior to the Mockingjay.
Not only does Sunrise on the Reaping make sense of certain interactions and decisions in Catching Fire, but it offers a new spin on Haymitch’s motivations in the trilogy. The end of Sunrise on the Reaping also sets the stage for Katniss’ revolution and gives a glimpse of her life with Haymitch and Peeta after Mockingjay. Fans of The Hunger Games will feel the nostalgia deeply in the 2025 prequel, which isn’t as true with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Sunrise On The Reaping Is The Better Hunger Games Prequel
Haymitch’s Story Is Almost On Par With The Original Books
Lucy Gray is a highlight of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and it makes for a fascinating study of the Games’ evolution — but ultimately, it’s the weaker of the two Hunger Games prequels. Sunrise on the Reaping comes out on top, packing a heavier emotional punch and delivering a more gripping, fast-paced reading experience. It’s easier to fall into, and it serves as a reminder of what made The Hunger Games so great in the first place. Haymitch’s story is almost on par with the original trilogy, while Ballad feels slightly too removed, as great as it still is.
The Hunger Games
- Created by
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Suzanne Collins
- First Film
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The Hunger Games
- Cast
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Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Willow Shields, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman
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