I've read the whole series (and I own all of them except the first) and I loved it. The ending was . . . so-so. And of COURSE it's a rival to the Hunger Games! Suzanne Collins wrote both.
I've read ALL of it.
Of course Ripred dies! Everybody dies! Mwahahaha!
Oh NeverMind....
Don't listen to her. I do want to tell you, but it's a lot better if you read it yourself (but everyone does NOT die)
She was my least favorite character. Henry comes next.