So The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the Hunger Games series. I liked this book as much as I did the original Hunger Games book. But, there is a caveat as this is a Young Adult book again. This is entertainment and escapism, but not true literature. That is fine as long as you know that before reading this book or any in the series. There are A LOT of possible spoilers so I will not ruin it for anyone!
Interestingly, the reviews of this prequel are ALL over the place on Goodreads, but quite high on Amazon.
I believe that the Hunger Games fanbase is split over this prequel and whether this should be canon or not. I think it should be canon.
Finally, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie comes out on November 17, 2023. I had NO clue about the movie until I looked up how to spell Coriolanus!! If you want to read it BEFORE the movie comes out, now is the time! Here is movie information here if you are interested: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10545296/
REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
The writing in this book is SIGNIFICANTLY improved from the Hunger Games series! It felt like this book was better planned, written, and somewhat better edited for publication. The ending and the epilogue were very good. But, I wish that the ending and the epilogue were the beginning of a 2nd prequel - this is where some editing would have helped!
Yes, it is a Young Adult book, but it was not as graphically violent which was a relief for me. I do think that this book does need a 12+ rating.
This book did not feel rushed like the last two books in the Hunger Games series. I do think that there will probably be two more books in the prequel series.
The narrator, Santino Fontana, did not do it for me. He read VERY, VERY slowly so I adjusted to 1.5X speed which worked well for me.
Character development: 4.0 stars
Again, there were a LOT of characters included in the plotline - at least forty (many were throwaway, a few somewhat important, and a handful very important). It became hard to keep them separate, especially during the 10th Hunger Games (the setting of this book). Since many of the names were similar and unusual, it was hard to separate Tribute from Mentor at times, but I just rolled with it. But, once there were fewer characters, the character development was very strong and very interesting. I wanted to know MORE about them!
The Coriolanus Snow character's development is really fascinating and shows how ONE event can snowball and completely change our lives. It will be interesting to see the parallels in Katniss' and Coriolanus' lives and how their lives intersect and develop. I really, really hate to say this, but I liked the Coriolanus character in this book. In future books, I hope NOT!
Storyline: 3.5 stars
The storyline is based on the 10th Hunger Games for about 2/3 of the book with about 1/3 spent out in the Districts. The differences and similarities between the 10th and the 75th/76th Hunger Games' are startling. I cannot really say much more or I will give it all away!
Book cover: 3.0 stars
Continuation of the boring covers.
Book title: 4.0 stars
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It really explains a LOT about the book in the title! VERY good title!
Gut feeling: 4.5 stars
This book was WAY more than I expected!
Definite RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins
541 pages or 16 hours and 16 minutes
8 days to listen via audiobook (it took quite a WHILE to listen to it)
Listened to as a library audiobook - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 05/19/2020 (released during the pandemic)
https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5588066073
https://www.scholastic.com/home
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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