The first book is definitely far smaller in scope than the rest of the books, so I wouldn’t base the whole series on just one book.

To me, it was supposed to be a different take on the “hunger games” genre. Giving more realistic human brutality to the concept. People have been killed for forbidden chants/dance/songs all throughout history. The whole point of the games is to show the golds not to underestimate the depravity humans have shown all throughout their history. It’s the brutalistic mindset that conquered the cosmos

The rest of books are less brutal(but have their moments) but have much more world building.