The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When you hear that one of your favorite series is getting a prequel, you're pretty excited. Then when you hear that the prequel is about the villain of the series, you're not so sure. And honestly, Collins did a good job making President Snow a sympathetic character for a chunk of the book. I thought the background of an early Hunger Games (it's the 10th year) was fascinating, and I loved the character of Lucy Baird Gray. That said, Snow had to become the villain, and the tension between making him sympathetic and then an emerging villain was tricky.

This book started as more of a 4 star read, but the last third was less engaging...so it's 3.5 star rounded down. I would still recommend this book to people who loved the Hunger Games series, but it's important to remember that Katniss is a huge part of why we love those books, and she's not here. Neither are Gale and Peeta or Haymitch and Effie Trinket. So, go in with appropriate expectations, and I think you'll be entertained.

Happy reading and may the odds be ever in your favor--


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