This final book does a nice job closing the loop on character's storyline, which is what you want in a conclusion. For starters, you get to see more of Gale in this book. With the previous ones, it was all about Katniss and Peeta, even though Gale was a choice she had to make. In this book, you saw more of him as well as Katniss with him. Seeing him allowed readers to understanding the ending and why Katniss made the choice she made. It was also the choice I wanted her to make.
Collins also reworked Peeta. Peeta was tortured by the capital causing him to turn on Katniss. He was down right cruel sometimes and totally out of character for him. She really tried to make the reader hate him and in some cases I'm sure it worked. I never doubted him though.
The most surprising part was the ending, a true Shakespeare paradox. The one thing that causes Katniss to board this rollercoster ride of the Hunger Games is the one thing she couldn't stop from happening in the end. The fate or destiny of it all.