Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins

74 reviews

katieav's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-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

4.0

I was incredibly apprehensive to read this book. I was completely uninterested in a redemption arc for a character I found so deplorable, but I was happily surprised. We’ve actually owned this book since it came out and I was inspired to read it yesterday, I was immediately captivated by the book-especially Lucy Gray, Tigris, and those who questioned the hunger games. I especially loved

Spoiler

the ways in which Suzanne Collins helped us understand some of the reasons that Katniss irked President Snow so much including the songs she sang, her singing, the constant references to Mockingjays, district 12 and more

The first 2/3 of the book I couldn’t stop reading, but towards the end I found myself wanting more from the end of the book.

Spoiler

I am alright with the ambiguity the ending holds, but I wish that we saw the build up of him deciding to leave Lucy Gray before the last few pages of the book.

overall, if you enjoy the hunger games I so recommend the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Child death, Classism, Gore, Grief, and Blood

Moderate: Alcohol

raeb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, Drug abuse, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Classism, Medical content, Police brutality, and War

Moderate: Gore, Torture, and Dementia

epohlig's review

adventurous dark mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Gore

marikiri's review

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Murder, Child death, Classism, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Death, Gore, and Violence

thatgirlemili's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Cannibalism

elenaluisa's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Injury/injury detail, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Slavery, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Colonisation, Deportation, Emotional abuse, and Sexism

phantomgecko's review

challenging sad medium-paced

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

5.0

As a standalone novel, it was good.  As worldbuilding/background information for the Hunger Games trilogy, it was really good.

I'm a fanfic reader (not of this series ever, actually), and exploring motivations and playing in a fictional setting are things I just really enjoy for some reason. This isn't fanfiction, but it fills the niche I'm talking about. 

Honestly, the character development here... It's fun to watch pieces slide into place, answers to questions I didn't necessarily have. It all fits, it all makes sense, and it was emotional too. Heartwrenching stuff.

Who's the songbird, who's the snake? Obvious in some ways, but a question that bears considering.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Classism, Gore, Blood, Death, Murder, Child death, and Drug use

mozimmerm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

4.25

It was so interesting to read the backstory to Snow and discover how he got where we find him in the Hunger Games series. I love a morally gray character. He was so charming, you almost want to cheer him on before you remember how he ends up. 

I loved all the references to the Hunger Games series, especially the songs 💕

Highly recommend if you love Hunger Games!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Classism, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and War

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Dementia, and Drug use

returningb00kworm's review

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, Violence, Death, and Gore

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Injury/injury detail, Drug use, War, and Toxic friendship

literarydumpling's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, Violence, and Gun violence

Moderate: Drug use, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Drug abuse, War, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Gore