A review by puckeverlasting
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Collins does a wonderful job encouraging readers to sympathize with evil without softening the story or shying away from the morbidity of the material. This story feels complex in a way that surpasses the previous works in the series, although those have their own merits as well. Although character groundwork was laid, the ending still felt a bit abrupt. Very solid all around, from characterization to plot to writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

All your typical Hunger Games TWs, but perhaps a touch more extensive