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Hunger Games Series: Best Reading Order

by Nathan Dec 03,2025

Includes All 4 Books Hunger Games Box Set

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1. The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...

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This groundbreaking YA novel launched the global phenomenon. After author Suzanne Collins found herself switching between war coverage and reality TV late at night, she conceived this bestselling story about children forced to fight to the death for their nation's entertainment. A brutal entry in dystopian fiction, it sparked countless imitations and a blockbuster film franchise.

The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a resourceful teen from impoverished District 12 who hunts illegally to feed her family. When her younger sister is selected as a Tribute for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Teamed with Peeta Mellark, the baker's son, she must survive the deadly arena while navigating the Capitol's political games.

2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Catching Fire

Sparks are igniting. Flames are spreading. And the Capitol wants revenge.

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After their unprecedented survival in the Games, Katniss and Peeta should be living in luxury as victors. But their defiance has sparked rebellion across Panem. President Snow threatens Katniss's loved ones unless she maintains the Capitol's illusion of control. The Victory Tour reveals growing unrest in the districts, culminating in a shocking twist that forces both Tributes back into the arena. Introducing memorable characters like Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason, this sequel expands Panem's lore while setting up the revolutionary finale.

3. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay

Mockingjay

"My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead."

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The trilogy concludes with Katniss becoming the reluctant symbol of revolution. As District 13 wages war against the Capitol, the battle shifts from the arena to urban warfare. President Snow turns the Capitol's streets into a deadly maze of traps, forcing Katniss to navigate moral compromises and political deception. This unflinchingly dark finale subverts expectations with its nuanced portrayal of power and sacrifice.

Note: The film adaptation was split into two parts - Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2.

4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its price.

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Set 64 years before the original trilogy, this prequel explores young Coriolanus Snow's role in shaping the Hunger Games. As mentor for District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird, he witnesses how performance and charisma transform the Games from punishment into entertainment. Their complex relationship reveals how Panem's future tyrant developed his ruthless philosophy. Filled with series Easter eggs, it recontextualizes the main trilogy while standing as compelling origin story.

Will There Be More Hunger Games Books?

Preorder the Next Novel

Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel)

Release: March 18, 2025.

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$27.99 save 32% $18.99 at Kindle

Four years after Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Collins announced another prequel exploring Haymitch Abernathy's victory during the Second Quarter Quell. Scheduled for March 2025, the book will bridge the 40-year gap between prequels and the original trilogy. A film adaptation is already planned for November 2026.

For more reading recommendations, explore our guides to Lord of the Rings reading order, Percy Jackson series, and Game of Thrones books.