This is a rather long series of stories set in the Hunger Games universe. They're mostly from Haymitch's POV, but there are some from other POVs (Effie, etc.). I'm linking all of them as a whole because they appear to share continuity. They follow canon closely but for some reason it works.

Rating: 4.5/5 overall, so far. In some ways I want to round that down, b/c I'm not a fan of the Hunger Games canon, but since I enjoyed these about as much as I did the books I want to round up. Hard choice. I do think you should read canon before starting these. I don't think it matters which order you read these in, assuming you're somewhat familiar with canon and can place the events. All are complete except for 'The Last Tribute' which takes place during book one of canon.

Title: The Last Tribute
Author: Fernwithy
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Status: WIP
Fandom: Hunger Games
Pairings: N/A, or I guess Katniss/Peeta exactly as played out in canon
Summary: Twenty-four years after winning his Games, Haymitch Abernathy is deeply embroiled in the rebellion, his relationship with Effie Trinket has deteriorated badly, and he has lost whatever marginal control he had over alcohol. When Katniss Everdeen volunteers for District Twelve, he realizes that he needs to straighten out, because he might just have a victor on his hands.
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10602244/1/The-Last-Tribute

Title: The End of the World
Author: Fernwithy
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Status: Complete
Fandom: Hunger Games
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy has plenty to worry about - a sick mother, a decrepit house, an empty larder. The last thing he's worried about is the Capitol's choice to double the number of Games tributes in a Quell year...
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9482380/1/The-End-of-the-World

Title: The Golden Mean
Author: Fernwithy
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Status: Complete
Fandom: Hunger Games
Summary: As Katniss and Peeta prepare for the Victory Tour and-eventually-the Quarter Quell, Haymitch Abernathy is preparing for a much bigger fight. Continued from "The Final Eight," which was in Delly's point of view.
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8862456/1/The-Golden-Mean

Title: The Narrow Path
Author: Fernwithy
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Status: Complete
Fandom: Hunger Games
Summary: In District Thirteen, Haymitch Abernathy is dealing with enforced sobriety, winning a war, and a troubled teenage girl. Continuation of "The Golden Mean," same continuity as "The Final Eight" and "House of Cards."
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9161427/1/The-Narrow-Path

Title: These are the Names
Author: Fernwithy
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Status: Complete
Fandom: Hunger Games
Summary: Effie Trinket becomes the District 12 escort, and works with Haymitch through fourteen years before his last tributes come along.
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10256002/1/These-Are-The-Names

Title: The Hanging Tree
Author: Fernwithy
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Status: Complete
Fandom: Hunger Games
Summary: Haymitch's life continues to deteriorate between the Victory Tour and his first Games as mentor.
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9961425/1/The-Hanging-Tree

The above are the ones I've read, though I'm only partway through 'The Hanging Tree' at the moment. Others that are part of the same series include the following: The Final Eight, House of Cards, & The Rites of Fall.

Honestly I'd start with whichever one holds the most interest for you. I started with 'The Golden Mean' then went in a ridiculous order based on which one sounded more interesting at the time, and it worked for me. I enjoyed the one from Effie's POV a lot more than I expected to, but it might be a hard story to start with.

If you want to start and go chronologically, I think "The End of the World" is the earliest. It's also one of the most original ones, since it takes place a good bit prior to canon and tells of Haymitch's Hunger Games and events surrounding them. But I might not have been as invested in Haymitch's past if I hadn't already read his characterization in the stories closer to canon. /shrug.

 

Huh, you know, I didn't pick up on that. I don't think so, given that The Hanging Tree is from Haymitch's POV and if he thought it possible we'd probably know.

I think the next part is Effie's POV (worth reading imo) and it doesn't come up there, though Mimi does feature again in a lesser capacity. Also interesting is that...

Spoiler

Finnick is Gia's son. Effie doesn't know that, but if you read the earlier stories first then it's pretty clearly implied. Haymitch most likely figures it out, but it's not his POV.

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Anyone else who rated care to comment? Pretty sure there were two 5 ratings a bit ago, now it's down to 4.25, so would be good to hear a critical review from whoever else read and rated it low. Possibly due to following canon closely in later stories? Nice to get some discussion.

 

Excellent point, to be honest. I'd suggest you try "The End of the World" or maybe "These are the Games" for something that doesn't rehash canon, but up to you if you want to bother. It might also help that it's been years since I read canon, and I only read it once, so it wasn't clear in my mind when I read these. Since I was foggy on the details the retread wasn't as irksome.

And yeah, one of the things about HP is how good fanfic opportunity there seems to be compared to other series.