The Hunger Games series gave us many unforgettable characters that are still being discussed to this day. Fierce rebels, loyal hearts, and morally gray masterminds are all traits that once made us fall in love with the characters of The Hunger Games world. These six book recommendations capture the heart, spirit, and struggles of the most iconic figures of the series. Whether you’re craving romance, rebellion, or manipulation, there’s a perfect new read waiting for you on this list.
1. Katniss Everdeen – The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Katniss Everdeen is the brave and resilient main character of The Hunger Games and showed complete defiance against the Capitol’s cruel system. Tierney James of The Grace Year reminds me of Katniss and all her traits as she enters her “grace year”, a brutal ritual where girls are banished to the woods to shed their supposed “dangerous” magic before becoming wives. But survival in the wild isn’t their only threat; it’s the girls themselves who turn savage when survival becomes too much, and lovers of Katniss will admire Tierney’s fierce will to survive and how she challenges the corrupt world she lives in.
2. Peeta Mellark – These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
Peeta Mellark embodies quiet strength, deep loyalty, and an internal conflict between love and duty, similar to Roma Montagov from These Violent Delights. These Violent Delights is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in early 1920s Shanghai that follows Julliette and Roma as they work together to stop the monstrous contagion that threatens their city. Roma is a romantic caught in a violent world, and just like Peeta, is someone who is desperate to hold onto his humanity even when everything around him tempts him not to.
3. Gale Hawthorne – Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Personally, I’m team Peeta, but if you’re a fan of Gale’s intensity, rebellious spirit, and willingness to make hard choices, then you will find Xifeng’s ruthless pursuit of justice both haunting and captivating. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a dark East Asian inspired fantasy that follows Xifeng, a peasant girl, who struggles to embrace the darkness within her. Xifeng’s rise to power is packed with sacrifice, ambition, and moral understanding as she works her way up to become the Empress of Feng Lu.
4. Haymitch Abernathy – The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Haymitch is filled with trauma, addiction, and the lasting scars of his time spent in The Hunger Games. The Poppy War follows Rin, a war orphan, who earns a spot at an elite academy. But during her time spent at the academy, she discovers a deadly power within her. As war erupts, she must navigate the brutal battles, political corruption, and what it costs to wield such power. The Poppy War contains some of the most complex and flawed characters in literature who survive by their resilience and strength, even when hope feels long gone, just like Haymitch.
5. Effie Trinket – The Selection by Kiera Cass
Effie Trinket is all about her dazzling fashion, dramatic flair, and her complicated relationship between appearances and power. The Selection follows a young America Singer, who is chosen to compete for the heart of Prince Maxon in a televised royal competition titled “The Selection”. But soon America discovers that beneath the palace’s glamour lies a rigid caste system and quiet rebellion, one she’s not sure she wants to be a part of. Just like Effie, The Selection balances charm and style with deeper conversations about class, loyalty, and what it costs to play by the rules.
6. President Coriolanus Snow – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
If your favorite character from The Hunger Games is President Snow, then I have so many questions for you that I’m not sure I want answered. The Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes follows young Coriolanus Snow as he is ordered to mentor a tribute in the 10th annual Hunger Games. Both ambitious and desperate to restore his family’s status in The Capitol, Snow’s descent into manipulation and obsession with power offers an unforgettable origin story. President Snow would love a book all about himself and would eat up every page describing a character who believes power is the answer to every decision, and how a once charming man can become a villain we love to hate.
Whether you’re drawn to romance, resilience, or rebellion, these six book recommendations perfectly channel the heart of your favorite Hunger Games character. So if you’ve been missing the rush of The Hunger Games series, these reads may just fill the Panem-sized hole in your bookshelf.
Looking for more Hunger Games? Check out our article, Hungry For Another One: Books Like the Hunger Games.
Find these books and more on our Bookshop Bookstr Team Recommendations bookshelf.
