The third book in the series is happily just as wonderful as the ones that came before it! We are still meeting new creatures and learning more about the Underland (I’d love to have a map!). This time, it was Cutters and Hissers and Nibblers (giant ants, lizards, and mice) that we meet. We also find out a lot more about the royal family.

Most of this book, though, focuses on war tactics and the ethics of biological warfare. How far is too far when it comes to your enemies? Who are really the worse race in this war, the rats or the humans? Just like in the Hunger Games trilogy, there’s a lot of exploration on the effects of war and fighting on people, especially youth. I wonder, as time goes by, if by the end the characters will be wasted and torn apart inside the same way they were in Mockingjay.

Collins is so good at that realism and I’m very happy to see some of that seeping in, even amongst all these fantastical creatures. She really does an excellent job bringing up real world issues in a beautifully crafted fantasy land. My only quibble so far with the series is that after three books, I’m sort of tired of the Prophecy-Brings-Gregor-to-the-Underland setup. I hope there’s something new in the next book. There’s hope for something new, from what happens in this book, so I’m crossing my fingers!

Book 1: Gregor the Overlander
Book 2: Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane