Ratniss Neverclean leaves the comforts of Slum 12 to take her younger sister, Pignose's place in the 74th annual Hunger (But Mostly Death) Games. But since the games are more about death, than food, Ratniss is bound to win, because all she ever does anyway is take out her anger on small woodland creatures. But as the drama unfolds, Ratniss realizes that there are fates worse than death, like having to 'pretend' to date her fellow competitor, and life-long stalker, Pita.