Last week, I had nothing to do for my blogpost, so I decided to speedread The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which I'd started, but never finished. However, I liked the main Hunger Games series, so I had high expectations. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes met most of them, but had a few flaws.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the Hunger Games series, set from the point of view of a much younger Coriolanus Snow, during the 10th Hunger Games. At this point in the Hunger Games, they choose mentors from the Capitol to mentor the tributes, and Coriolanus, desperate to raise his status, hopes for a tribute from the stronger districts. However, he is chosen to mentor the girl from District 12, the poorest district. Coriolanus decides to go and meet his tribute, Lucy Gray. When he arrives, he sees that she isn't as weak as she seems and is very smart. With her powerful singing voice, she is a very popular tribute, but she also is dangerous. To try and get more people to watch the games, Coriolanus decides to introduce the idea of sponsors. Meanwhile, Coriolanus and Lucy Gray grow closer to each other and eventually fall in love, but Lucy Gray must first win the Hunger Games if they want to be together.
I thought that this book wasn't as good as the original Hunger Games book, but that it gives a lot of background information on why President Snow acts the way he does. Knowing that he turns into the main antagonist in the main series couldn't really make me like Coriolanus' character, but he's also shown as more than a one-dimensional villain, which was interesting. It also gives a view on living in the Capital, which wasn't shown in the main series. However, this book still had flaws. *SPOILERS* After Lucy Gray wins the games, Snow is assigned to become a Peacekeeper as punishment for cheating in the games. I don't remember anything about the other Peacekeepers (um this might also be because I read most of this book backstage during rehearsal) and I think that they really could have given more information about being a Peacekeeper. The only thing that Snow really seems to do is meet Lucy Gray's family. I also forget why Sejanus, Snow's friend, is a Peacekeeper at all. *END OF SPOILERS*
Overall, this was an interesting book, but I preferred the main series. I would recommend however, if you've already read the main series and want some more context. It's a pretty good book, but in my opinion it got kind of boring in the middle.
-Juni
I personally really loved this book. As you mentioned the context it adds to President Snows character sheds some light on why he did the things he did. I also really liked the characters in the book like Lucy Gray and the rest of the Covey. I definitely understand how you might feel it gets slow in the middle. One thing that helped me, was listening to parts of the story in audio book form.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great review! I also had trouble connecting with Coriolanus as a character—knowing his future made it hard to sympathize with him, even though the book tries to flesh him out more. You’re right about the middle feeling slow—it kind of dragged for me, too, especially when the focus shifted away from the Hunger Games and Snow’s role as a Peacekeeper.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book, but I saw like 20 billion TikTok edits of snow when the movie first came out. Ill have to read it!! Thanks for the recommendation Gooni
ReplyDeleteHey Juni!! Tbh I’m in the same situation you were, because I loved HG so much that I wanted to read of Songbirds and Snakes, but it got really boring when he got recruited to be a soldier…. Though the movie was really great! I think I’m gonna start reading it again soon. Great blog though!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really interesting! I like how you mention that Coriolanus Snow is not written as a one-dimensional villain. I think that definitely interests me to read this book!
ReplyDeleteI read the Hunger Games serious before, and I really liked it! I haven't read this book though, but it sounds really good. I might check it out soon!
ReplyDeletepersonally I really like the hunger games, I have only seen the movie for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I didn't knew that there was a book that came after the normal serious, so I was pretty exited to read this book.
ReplyDeleteI liked this post a lot. I loved hunger games so much (The first book) but still haven't read the next 2 books. I heard the movie was just okay but the book seems really interesting. Again great post!
ReplyDeleteThe hunger games was one of the first series I ever read on English, and when I discover a need book created by the same author was coming out, the only thing I wanted was to read this book. I personally really like this book and movie, it gets into the deepness of one of the biggest antagonist of the whole series and explains what happen to him.
ReplyDeleteI actually never read the books, but I watched the movies--including this one--and it was pretty good. Like you mentioned, it was pretty interesting to see more sides to President Snow and life in the Capital. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot about the movies, but have never read the books. I'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteI keep on seeing people with this book and it looks so cool! I saw the movie so I think that would sort of spoil it for me /:. but I will defiantly check out this book. Nice blog!
ReplyDeleteGuess I finally have to get back into the Hunger Games!
ReplyDeleteI've seen the movie before and I'm now interested to see how the book differs! I'll make sure to check this one out at some point!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it wasn't as good as the original Hunger Games books but I found it really interesting to read about President Snow's past life.
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