The middle book in a trilogy often seems slightly less exciting than the beginning and the conclusion, but this book does a good job of extending the conflict of book 1 and leaving more than enough for book 3 to address. I continued to not really understand the love triangle, but that didn't take away from my immersion in the story. I kept wishing for more tender times for Katniss because she never seems to get enough time to enjoy the good things that happen. The fact that I care about Katniss and other characters to that extent is an example of how easily I'm pulled into the emotion and action.