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

it sort of lost me about halfway through with snows characterization, but the ending really fixed that and I would definitely recommend hanging on until the end

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growplantsreadbooks's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

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

4.0

This added some very interesting context to The Hunger Games series. It didn't inspire or move me like the others did, but it was a compelling character study. People who think this story is kind to Snow have no reading comprehension... This is a portrait of an incel who, though he occasionally makes the right decisions, is only motivated by power and glory. It was very Shakespearean. I did roll my eyes the last 5 times "snow lands on top" was said, but other than that it was well written. Holy hell, I have no clue how they going to make this palatable for a movie audience - it was bleak and pretty upsetting.

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katieav's review

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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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alexlily's review

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slow-paced

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

5.0

I think most were apprehensive when going into this book afraid of a romanticization of Snow, Suzanne Collins does not let down because boy did I hate being in this man's mind in the best way! Certainly slower passed to the original trilogy and leans more on the philosophy side and metaphors to real life. We get to see a rougher side to the games and the future president as the games are first starting. The comparison to life is certainly less hidden behind spectacle both by the early beginning after the big civil war that started the games but also as the audience is now much older from the original publication of the trilogy. Fun look into how the games became what they were in the 74th-75th rendition and how this society was affected by the war. You certainly grow to hate Snow until it's almost disgusting to be inside his mind as we get a snippet of in his presidency.

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smasson13's review

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challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This book was a wild ride. While I still prefer the original series, this novel was full of twists!

At first I was confused as why it didn't end after act 2, and the start of act 3 felt like it was dragging on but not leading anywhere...but the end threw me. I think Suzanne Collins does a lovely jobs of trying to convince you of some sort of compassion in Coriolanus while he is struggling in the Capitol. Yet, by act 3, my hatred was renewed.

I would love to read more about the development of the early Hunger Games, I thought this was a really interesting perspective to take for a prequel novel.

As well, I know critics seemed not to enjoy the folk songs throughout the book, but I think they lend nicely to the story telling as well as the history of the area of the USA that District 12 apparently occupies.

Overall, it was a huge novel to get through, but never felt like a struggle. The tension and anticipation was high throughout, though at times frustrating. Definitely recommend it for those who have read the original series, it did not take away from what has already been created.

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