The first two books in the Hunger Games trilogy are fast-paced and interesting, though they rely on some cliches and don't develop their characters thoroughly. This third book, however, lost that fast-paced, interesting vibe. Instead, it became a long, drawn-out Peeta vs. Gale battle with a backdrop of assaulting the Capitol. The action is rushed, the characters seem stagnant, and the epilogue is unrealistically optimistic. Not Suzanne Collins' best work.