The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will cover the bloodiest Games in Panem’s history — but despite Haymitch’s prequel promising to be the bleakest book yet, it promises to continue the franchise’s smartest romance trend. The Hunger Games books are known for their searing social commentary, but all of Suzanne Collins’ books also feature memorable love stories. Indeed, the original Hunger Games trilogy became known for the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. And The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes emphasizes the connection between Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray.

Of course, romance is far from the point of The Hunger Games, but that’s what makes Collins’ books so incredibly clever. The author knows exactly how to hook readers with one aspect of her story, then deliver a message once she has their attention. And judging by the newly released excerpt of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch’s narrative will take the same approach as its predecessors. The first chapter highlights the most important people in Haymitch’s life, and one of them is his love interest.

Sunrise On The Reaping Excerpt Confirms Haymitch’s Hunger Games Prequel Will Have A Love Story

An Excerpt Of The Novel Focuses On His Feelings For Lenore Dove

People shared an exclusive excerpt of The Hunger Games: The Sunrise on the Reaping‘s first chapter, and it confirms that Haymitch’s prequel will feature a love story. This isn’t a total surprise, as Catching Fire reveals that Haymitch’s girlfriend is among the loved ones he loses because of the Capitol. However, the emphasis on Haymitch’s feelings for a girl named Lenore Dove suggests she’ll play a bigger role in his story than expected. She’s clearly a huge motivator for Haymitch, as she consumes his thoughts at the beginning of the prequel.

It’s not clear how much readers will see of Lenore Dove, as she doesn’t follow Haymitch into the arena — though Sunrise on the Reaping could take a leaf out of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes‘ book and continue beyond the Games. But whether Lenore has a prominent role in the upcoming novel or simply occupies Haymitch’s thoughts, the relationship between the two characters seems to be an important element of Haymitch’s journey. And that means Sunrise on the Reaping is continuing The Hunger Games’ best romance trend.

The New Hunger Games Book Will Continue The Franchise’s Smartest Romance Trend

Sunrise On The Reaping Will Use Haymitch’s Relationship To Drive Home Its Themes

By highlighting Haymitch’s love story, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping continues the franchise’s smartest romance trend. Collins cleverly uses romance in all of her books, even though there are far more important things going on in The Hunger Games. By getting readers invested in the characters’ relationships, Collins is able to fully immerse them in the stakes of her world. She ties the greater social and political themes of her story to relatable human connections, using romances between her characters to further her stories’ messages.

This is how Katniss and Peeta’s bond is capitalized on in The Hunger Games trilogy, and it’s also the reason Snow and Lucy’s relationship is such an important part of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Playing up the romances in the Hunger Games books also allows them to attract readers who might not be drawn to dystopian narratives without this element. This gives Collins’ books a wider reach, and once readers are invested in this aspect of her books, it’s nearly impossible to disconnect from the other, more important themes.

Sunrise On The Reaping Faces 1 Challenge To Its Romance That The Other Books Didn’t

Lenore Dove Can’t Be Present For The Entire Novel

It’s nice to see that The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is continuing the franchise’s clever use of romance, but the upcoming novel will face one challenge that prior books didn’t. We know that Maysilee Donner is the other District 12 tribute who will join Haymitch in the arena, which means Lenore Dove will be absent for a good portion of Sunrise on the Reaping. Even if later portions of the novel depict Haymitch’s journey home after winning the Games, their love story won’t be front and center the entire time.

This sets Sunrise on the Reaping apart from The Hunger Games trilogy and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Katniss and Peeta enter the arena together both times they participate in the Games, and they only spend part of Mockingjay separated. And while Snow doesn’t actually participate in the tournament in Ballad, he’s present for most of Lucy’s journey. This allows all the previous Hunger Games books to fully capitalize on their romances. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will have to be more creative, as Haymitch will be on his own for a good chunk of it.

Source: People