The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a creative and interesting prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy. The main character is Coriolanus Snow, AKA President Snow in the trilogy. You may recognize his name as he is the main antagonist from The Hunger Games. This tells the story of Snow’s experience with the post-rebellion society, the Hunger Games, and living as a high-class citizen in the Capitol. The Games are not thriving as they are in the trilogy. The students of the famed Academy are in charge of putting together a way to engage the rest of the Capitol and the Districts. Coriolanus just wants to pass his class and save his family’s legacy. So when he comes up with a solution to the Capitol’s low view issue, he doesn’t expect it to get as much attention as it does. Suddenly, Coriolanus’ class is in charge of the Hunger Games. The only problem: Corio doesn’t want this role. In light of the situation, he decides to do the best he can to regain some status for his family. All is going smoothly until Coriolanus is assigned the girl tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low, the weakest of the weak. However, when Corio sees his tribute, Lucy Gray Baird for the first time, he realizes it might not be as much of a challenge as he thought. Lucy Gray is a shining star, feisty and brilliant. Coriolanus and Lucy Gray even begin forming a bond, even through the rocky start they might have had. But all the fun and games are cut short when it is time for Lucy Gray to enter the arena. And this arena is not like the one we know in the trilogy. The competitors are fierce, the weapons are scarce and there is no food to be seen. The tributes must rely on their own charm to gain sponsors and earn their loot. But Lucy Gray is smart, and Coriolanus won’t go down without a fight. With Corio’s wit and Lucy Gray’s bravery, they manage to fight Lucy Gray’s way out of the arena, but it’s not without deception. Soon, Lucy Gray is sent back to district 12, and Coriolanus thinks he is set with his scholarship to the University. But when Coriolanus’ cheating is discovered, he is faced with two choices: Public humiliation or serving as a Peacekeeper in the Districts. And thus, Coriolanus begins his training as a Peacekeeper in District 12. His adventures in 12 range from good to bad. He meets Lucy Gray’s family: the Covey, makes new friends and begins to excel in his peacekeeper training. However when Coriolanus’ first public execution ends with a riot, he realizes something is amiss in District 12. Families clash in this book’s dramatic finale. Betrayal, heartbreak and conflict are all present as Coriolanus fights his way back to the Capitol and his place as a shining star.
I absolutely recommend this book to Hunger Games fans. And if you haven’t read the trilogy, read it just so you can fully appreciate this fantastic book. For anyone who is a fan of dystopian, post-war settings or villain origin stories, this is the book for you. Seeing Coriolanus go from an innocent boy to the all-powerful, bloodthirsty villain from the trilogy left me in shock, sadness and absolute elation. The beginning is attention grabbing, the middle is intriguing and chock-full of interesting plot and the ending will leave readers stunned. It adds so much insight to the story and you will see President Snow in a whole new light. I loved seeing certain names we find in the original trilogy, such as Coriolanus’ cousin Tigris; Caesar Flickerman’s ancestor, Leucritius; and Hilarus Heavensbee, whose family name might ring a bell. This book is a page-turner that will leave you craving more.
5/5