The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
I was so excited to learn that there would be a prequel for The Hunger Games ! When Capitol mentors are paired with the District Tributes for the 10th Annual Hunger Games, Coriolanus Snow does not expect his tribute to have a chance. Not Capitol, but not District either, Lucy Gray Baird quickly wins hearts and minds.
The novel goes on to explore the lead up, the games themselves, and the aftermath of the Hunger Games. It is really the story of Coriolanus Snow... or as we know him, President Snow. I thought that Collins would attempt to explain the makings of the tyrant, and she did but none of it really makes sense. I find this Snow a weak imitation of the President we know to hate. The life that he lived does not explain why he becomes so hell bent on control.
There are elements of Lucy Gray's character that don't make sense with the ending of the novel. There's all the insinuation that she's untrustworthy, but she never actually does anything to merit the belief until the very end. It is blindsiding and a real character assassination.
I feel like Snow in this book is weak, pathetic, completely self-pitying. As a villain origin story, this is a complete flop. It also doesn't really explore the Hunger Games themselves as much as I had hoped. This is the defining element of Panem, its darkest side and it's sort of a pale side note in a rather boring story.
The novel goes on to explore the lead up, the games themselves, and the aftermath of the Hunger Games. It is really the story of Coriolanus Snow... or as we know him, President Snow. I thought that Collins would attempt to explain the makings of the tyrant, and she did but none of it really makes sense. I find this Snow a weak imitation of the President we know to hate. The life that he lived does not explain why he becomes so hell bent on control.
There are elements of Lucy Gray's character that don't make sense with the ending of the novel. There's all the insinuation that she's untrustworthy, but she never actually does anything to merit the belief until the very end. It is blindsiding and a real character assassination.
I feel like Snow in this book is weak, pathetic, completely self-pitying. As a villain origin story, this is a complete flop. It also doesn't really explore the Hunger Games themselves as much as I had hoped. This is the defining element of Panem, its darkest side and it's sort of a pale side note in a rather boring story.
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