The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

I was not sure that I would be ready for another novel, particularly a prequel, in the wonderful Hunger Games series as I thought everything was wrapped up very nicely. However, I loved this latest entry! Again, it is a prequel that gives us insight into the early years of Coriolanus Snow, who would go on to become president of Panem (and main villain) in the original trilogy.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an origin story for the Hunger Games themselves and tells us how and why they came to be in the first place.

With all that said, the primary character of Coryo (nickname in the novel) and his family are people who I liked and thought they were well developed as far as characters. We also are introduced to a love interest, Lucy Gray, and her family and clan that endured hardship by not being part of the Capital but who would capture the attention of Snow.

The action and buildup is done very well and we get inside the mind of Coriolanus and I actually feel for him throughout the majority of the book until he begins to justify in his own mind certain actions that he partakes in. It is there at the end that you see how he is beginning to turn into the man he was in the original trilogy.

The ending was spot on and so good!

I don’t think fans of the Hunger Games will be disappointed with this one! Great read!