The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

by Suzanne Collins

hardcover, 528 pages

English language

Published May 19, 2020 by Scholastic Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-338-63517-1

(54 reviews)

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

6 editions

Matt K reviewed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #0)

A good prequel with a windy path

3 stars

This is a pretty decent book! It’s YA and if you appreciate it as such, it’s rewarding. It’s good to see a villain get a good backstory. The first half drags a little- takes forever to get to the actual hunger games, but the author is setting some traps for us to later stumble into.

It really picks up in the second half with some twists that bring Coriolanus Snow closer and closer to his true self as a sort of talented Mr Ripley.

The ending is vile and well done.

byte reviewed Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (a Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins

Makes you want to reread it all over again.

4 stars

Personally I loved it. There were moments that bore me sure, but they were short-lived before the book pulls me in again laser focused because the story gives you that edge-of-your-seat feeling. I wish there were more to the ending and I wish there more pages to this book. I can't wait to watch this book in theatres!

Jack 💜 reviewed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #0)

Review of 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I hate that I’m giving this two stars. Such a strong opening!! Yet it’s bogged down by a horrific bloated middle that just dilutes what impact there is by the end.

There’s stuff here I like. I like that Snow is as horrible as he is from the get-go. I love Lucy Gray and how we know so little about her because we’re locked in that limited 3rd person narrative. I love how you only get glimpses of who she really is through her songs. I love Sejanus and his whole conflict with his tribute. I love the revelations with the ending.

Ugh but hippity hoppity, that villain was lame. And would think! So was the game!

Man. This thing needs the fluff taken out of it to save the great opening/ending.

drizzy reviewed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #0)

Review of 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

It’s not over until the mockingjay sings

So how about a Hunger Games prequel you say? Well, I’ve read the original books long ago and so I won’t be able to make a comparison. On its own, the story is engaging as you follow the future president Snow through his mentorship of 10th Hunger Games and beyond as the slow descent into darkness begins.Pitting kids to fight each other to the death in an arena is a unbelievable proposition. So having a bit more background into how it came it be is a welcome thing. And the book certainly seems to try and show just how even some of Panem citizens feel uneasy about the games themselves, but unable to voice their opinions. And so they just go along with the tradition even long after the war.If history has shown us anything it’s that most people will hide behind the mass of other people and not swim against the stream too much. So perhaps the premise is not that far fetched in the bleak future.One way the descent into madness is meant to make sense to us the readers is by us getting a good look into the workings of Coriolanus’s mind and his inner reasoning for his actions. It feels like he goes through too many changes over the course of a few weeks.All that said - I found the ending somewhat unlikely. But the story was fun so I won’t complain too much.

Julia reviewed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #0)

My review of this bird and snake book

1 star

Was not necessary to be written. No one needs to develop empathy for someone as horrible as Snow.

mageofmip@books.solarpunk.moe reviewed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #0)

Review of 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Hm.

Bryan Fordham reviewed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #0)

Review of 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Did not know what to expect, but I really enjoyed this book. Shows what would probably be the formative time in President Snow's life, providing some insight into who he is.

I especially appreciated that Collins shows some of his transformation, but doesn't try to excuse it or make you feel sorry for him. Just tells a story.

There are also a number of things that foreshadow, or explain, things in the Hunger Games trilogy.

The audiobook was good, overall, but in several places the volume or clarity of the reading changed. Was a bit annoying, but not too bad overall.

4.5 rounded up.