As I sat down to write this column, one thing was on my mind: the current book I was reading. Over the past weekend, I read two books. I am trying to get back into reading with a long hiatus during the winter months. My goal by the end of this year (2025) is to have read 50 books. While I am writing this, I stand at 10 books read out of the 50 I need to read.

 What helps me to read 50 books by the end of the year is my very (and I mean extremely) long to-be-read (TBR) list. I plan to read books I currently have on my reading shelf I need to get to or by buying the books I have listed under my “want to read list” on Goodreads. Reading two books over one weekend sure did help me.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

 “The Hunger Games” returns once again. This time focusing on a fan-favorite, Haymitch Abernathy, a mentor to Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark during the original book series. “Sunrise on the Reaping” is one of two prequels to the series. The other prequel focuses on President Coriolanus Snow before he became president of Panam.

 Haymitch’s book focuses on his Hunger Games during the Second Quarter Quell which holds 48 kids from the 12 districts instead of the original 24 kids. The prequel focuses on Haymitch’s survival during the games and post-games. It’s one of the most gut wrenching stories I have read. The fight for survival, near missing death more than once and living in a dystopian world causes the protagonist to fight for his life.

 I truly enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to read about characters that were seen in the original series. Since it takes place about 24 years before what takes place in the first book, you learn more about characters that are younger than what they were in the original series.

 Taking a deeper look into Haymitch and his past, it kind of adds up to how and why he turns out the way he does in the original trilogy. Collins does a wonderful job of portraying his trauma and grief. I look forward to seeing the movie when it is released next year.

 The casting that has been announced for the movie-version of this prequel is one of the best castings so far I have seen in a while. Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Havensbee are two of my favorite castings for the movie. I especially love that Jesse Plemons was cast because he looks very similar to Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Plutarch in the Hunger Games movie.

My rating for the book? 10/10!

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco

 The second book I read over the weekend was “Throne of the Fallen” by Kerri Maniscalco. This book was amazing and I give it high praises. It is a fantasy adventure romance novel. The series is an adult standalone continuation of the young adult series, “Kingdom of the Wicked.”

 This book (a dense 592 pages) was finished within a day and a half. I could not put it down. This is my second time re-reading it as I wanted to read this and its newly published second back to back.

 The book series each focuses on a different prince. “Throne of the Fallen,” which is first in the standalone adult series, focuses on Envy. Envy is battling a curse within his court and he needs the help of Camillia, an artist to help break the curse.

 This book is fun, romantic and thrilling. I enjoyed reading the mystery twist of Envy and Camillia trying to break the curse but I also appreciated the unfolding of the romance between the two of them.

 I won’t say too much more about this book but I also give it a 10/10. I am ready to take a dive into the next book in the series, “Throne of Secrets.” Happy reading!