It's very rare for a sequel to manage to keep up with the pace of the first book of a series. Catching Fire isn't simply just as good as The Hunger Games, it's what one may call a 'natural' sequel. 
 Katniss is still a very strong and independent character even though she was very preoccupied with keeping all her loved ones alive and well in this book. Although the story is told from Katniss' point of view, S. Collins still manages to show the reader what's going on in the minds of other characters. 
 The story is thrilling, full of action with one event dramatically replacing the other. Each chapter ends with a heart-stopping moment that immediately gets you hooked, so you can't stop from turning the page and reading the next chapter. Most books nowadays are predictable, so this one is a real pearl for an avid reader. 
 Catching Fire was so impressive that I kept having nightmares (just like Katniss and Peeta) until I was done with the book. I can't remember when was the last time I was so gripped by a work of fiction and so worried for the fate of its characters. By all means all this was achieved thanks to the undoubted storytelling talent and writing skills of the author.