Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

It pains me to rate this book so low but after two re-reads and watching the film adaptation my rating remains the same.

It needed a dual POV and it needed a likeable love interest.

It felt lackluster after the awesomeness that is The Hunger Games.

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laurajordensharris's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

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ballousclues's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"But deep down, things could never be the same between them. He would always be in her debt. She had the right to demand things."

I haven't read any of Suzanne Collins' other books, so I can't compare The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to her other works. That said, I've given it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars.

I came into this book with a pretty clear image of President Snow as a complex, yet undeniably cruel villain, thanks to the Hunger Games movies. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was a fascinating dive into his origin story. It was intriguing to see this young man from the Capitol, someone who experienced the harsh realities of the districts firsthand, grapple with the morality of the Hunger Games.

For the majority of the book, there's a flicker of humanity in Snow. His connection with Lucy Gray was unexpected and added depth to his character. It felt like a genuine bond, at least on his end, and I was curious to see where their relationship would go. However, the narrative made it clear that their connection, while strong, was built on shared trauma rather than romantic love.

Snow’s internal struggle is fascinating. His decisions, particularly regarding Sejanus, show a man caught between his conscience and the ruthless world he’s being forced into. It’s clear that the latter half of the book is where Snow truly solidifies into the villain we know and loathe. His transformation is chilling, but also incredibly compelling. He really does remind readers that Snow lands on top, regardless of what it takes to get there.

Ultimately, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a well-crafted prequel that offers a fresh perspective on a familiar character.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = This book was phenomenal and very difficult to put down. The characters were lovable, the plot was great, and the writing was strong. Definitely have a book hangover. I know this will be a story I think about for a long time. Highly recommend to everyone!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = This book was very good but I was able to put it down for the night. The characters were good, the plot was fine, and the writing was good. I’ll recommend this book to others. There were definitely moments from the book I really liked, maybe even loved, and there were some parts that may have some room for improvement. I definitely recommend giving this book a try!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ = This book was fine. The characters, plot, and writing were all okay, but nothing extraordinary. I may have had an issue with some pieces in the plot or the writing. I may recommend this book to some people but not everyone I run into. It was a good book - it just wasn’t a favorite of mine.

⭐️⭐️ = This book was okay but far from a favorite. There may have been some moments that I liked, but overall, I may have had a bigger issue with the characters, plot, or the writing. I don’t plan on recommending this book to most people, or anyone at all. Just wasn’t for me.

⭐️ = This book I actually disliked. Definitely wasn’t my cup of tea and there wasn’t anything I enjoyed about it. I actually had a tough time getting through this book and may have not even finished it. I may have had major issues with the character, plot, or the writing. I do not recommend.

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kirstencholewa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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saumyagupta's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

While reading the book, time and time again, there are some moments where I want to root for Snow but few thoughts later, it dawns upon me that whatever is happening is not right. It should not have been happening in the first place. The mistreatment of tributes makes us think "Oh, they have it so much better in the original triology!" but even in the original triology, children are being sent to kill each other. This book releasing 10 years later might have felt like a cashgrab to many people, but its so well thought out and dives into topics which fleshes out the original story so much. I do not believe it as a sad back story which made a villian, no, because time and time again, Snow had the choice to do the right thing and time and time again, he chose not to. The only places he did something "right" were the places where he could benefit from. Suzanne Collins is such a great author and she never fails to write a story which hauntingly matches what goes on or what will happen in the real world. I was so conflicted while reading this because every chapter filled me with immense rage. Its wonderful

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kirbylover16's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Suzanne Collins is so good at character development. In The Hunger Games, she takes one of the most evil characters in the series and makes the reader empathize with him. She does this by showing how even the most powerful people in the Capitol can be victims of the society they live in. President Snow's lack of control over his own life and the resulting choices he makes show excellent characterization. The new characters like Lucy Gray and Dean Highbottom are fantastic too. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it delved deeply into themes of class, propaganda, and indoctrination. It was interesting to observe how the games transformed over time and the reasons behind these changes. I also appreciated the backstory provided on the creation of the games, as well as the integration of DNA and scientific elements.

My biggest complaints are all in the last third of the book. I was expecting the prequel to The Hunger Games book to be about the Hunger Games themselves, but it’s actually about the Capitol and District 12 again. Why?? We already spent so much time in District 12 in the original series! I think other districts deserve a little more love. I wish Snow got to go to District 2. The games in this book are so small that in-universe they are erased! The romance between Lucy and Snow is enjoyable. But the two of them don't really know each other, and it feels like something is missing.

If I'm supposed to believe that Lucy was using Snow, you need to give me more proof. The quick betrayal is written weirdly. Like blink and you miss it.

Last third was so rushed that could she not write another chapter or two?

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haileyhardcover's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This books starts on July 4th, so what a fitting day to finish it! I loved The Hunger Games series when I first read it, devouring each book within just a couple of hours. Still, for some reason, I wasn’t all that interested when I heard about this prequel. Who wants to read about the man we know becomes the ultimate villain? Turns out, I do.

Even if I hadn’t known the future of Coriolanus Snow, I would’ve hated him. From the very first page, he is vain, selfish, and entitled. There are plenty of new characters to love and root for in this book, but never once did I find myself rooting for him. Collins does an incredible job of giving us a look into the mind of a narcissist.

Like the other Hunger Games books, this one is easy to binge. Even when there’s not a lot of action on-page, it spurs you forward and you’ll look back and wonder how you just blew through 200 pages at a time without realizing it. I’m glad I decided to read it, and I’m looking forward to the next prequel she has planned!

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