Name: Ruby Emmeline Fisher's review of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Item: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Rating: 2.5
Author: Ruby Emmeline Fisher

Suzanne Collins

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

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.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

jean

Coriolanus knew it had hit home, this dark, moving, far too personal account of her life. He knew the gifts would pour into the arena for her. That her success, even now, reflected back on him, making it his success. Snow lands on top and all that. He knew he should be elated at this turn of events and jumping up and down inside while presenting a modest, pleased front. But what he really felt was jealous.

For a moment he laughed, forgetting where they were, how depressing the backdrop. For a moment there was just her smile, the musical cadence of her voice, and the hint of flirtation.

Lucy Gray was one thing belonging to Coriolanus that he would never, ever get.

But he had thought about her more as his contender. His filly in a race, his dog in a fight. The more he had treated her as something special, the more she’d become human.

Without turning he knew it was the girl, his girl, and he felt immense relied that he was not entirely alone.

oh! doesn‘t this encapsulate coryo‘s character sosososo well. 

Ana Belén

He‘d decided, for simplicity‘s sake, to cross the teams off in pairs, regardless of what had happened to them. He didn‘t mean to be ruthless, but there was not other way to keep it straight. 

Miss Collins really did not want anyone misinterpreting her, huh? 

A second-class citizen. Human, but bestial. Smart, perhaps, but not evolved.

i like these small pieces of snow shining through in the still deciding stage of who coryo would choose to be. 

you could put a turnip in a ball gown and it would still beg to be mashed. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakeswill revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (a Hunger Games Novel)

Izaac Richards

Coriolanus felt sure he'd spotted his first mockingjay, and he disliked the thing on sight.

but the point was, he got to keep her. And he wanted to keep her. Safe and close at hand. Admired and admiring. Devoted. And entirely, unequivocally his.

Mrs. Plinth shook her head. "No. No. Your cousin's his only friend." 

How sad, thought Coriolanus. To have no friends. 

"But surely, you're not comparing our children to theirs?" asked Lucky. "One look tells you ours are a superior breed." 

"One look tells you ours have had more food, nicer clothing, and better dental care,' said Dean Highbottom. "Assuming anything more, a physical, mental, or especially a moral superiority, would be a mistake. That sort of hubris almost finished us off in the war."

On reflection, he had never even learned her name, but it had earned him the reputation of being rather a player. 

But Lucy Gray was his tribute, headed into the arena. And even if the circumstances were different, she'd still be a girl from the districts, or at least not Capitol. A second-class citizen. Human, but bestial. Smart, perhaps, but not evolved. Part of a shapeless mass of unfortunate, barbaric creatures that hovered on the periphery of his consciousness. 

The previous night's jealousy over her loser of a boyfriend and the way her star quality sometimes outshone his own evaporated. He felt remarkably close to her, this girl who'd dropped into his life so unexpectedly and with such style. And it wasn't just about the accolades she'd brought him. He was genuinely fond of her, far more than he was of most of the girls he knew in the Capitol. If she could survive - oh sweet only if - how could they help but have a lifelong connection? But for all his positive talk, he knew the odds were not in her favor, and a heavy melancholy descended upon him.

So he added a paragraph about his deep relief on winning the war, and the grim satisfaction of seeing the Capitol's enemies, whơ'd treated him so cruelly, who'd cost his family so much, brought to their knees. Hobbled. Impotent. Unable to hurt him anymore. He'd loved the unfamiliar sense of safety that their defeat had brought. The security that could only come with power. The ability to control things. Yes, that was what he'd loved best of all.

He swallowed his peevishness and accepted the congratulations that were pouring in from all sides. They helped to him that he was the real star of the evening. Even if Lucy Gray was confused on the issue, in the eyes of the Capitol, she beong to him. What point would there be in crediting a district tribute.

His girl. His. Here in the Capitol, it was a given that Lucy Gray belonged to him, as if she'd had no life before her name was called out at the reaping. Even that sanctimonious Sejanus believed she was something he could trade for. If that wasn't ownership, what was? With her song, Lucy Gray had repudiated all that by featuring a life that had nothing to do with him, and a great deal to do with someone else. Someone she referred to as "lover, no less. And while he had no claim on her heart - he barely knew the girl! - he didn't like the idea of anyone else having it either. Although the song had been a clear success, he felt somehow betrayed by it. Even humiliated. 

"I think your odds get better by the minute," said Coriolanus, adjusting a hot pink rosebud in her hair. It matched the one on his lapel, just in case anyone needed a reminder of who Lucy Gray belonged to. 

"Well, you know what they say. The show's not over until the mockingjay sings," she said. 

"The mockingjay?" He laughed. "Really, I think you're just making these things up." 

"Not that one. A mockingjay's a bona fide bird, she assured him. 

"Not my show, sweetheart. Yours. The Capitol's anyway" said Lucy Gray. "I think we're up.

"Run, huh? Seemed like a lot of effort to get shot," she said. Coriolanus shook his head. 

"You can joke, but it won't change what you did for me. I hope I can repay you in some way."

In those few words he sensed a shift in their dynamic. As her mentor, he'd been the gracious giver of gifts, always to be met with gratitude. Now she' d upended things by giving him a gift beyond compare. On the surface, everything looked the same. Chained girl, boy offering food, Peacekeepers guarding that status quo. But deep down, things could never be the same between them. He would always be in her debt. She had the right to demand things. 

"I don't know how," he admitted. Lucy Gray glanced around the room, taking in her wounded competitors. Then she looked him in the eye, and impatience tinged her voice. "You could start by thinking I can actually win."

"My condolences on the loss of your friend," the dean said. 

"And on your student. It's a difficult day for all of us. But the procession was very moving," Coriolanus replied. 

"Did you think so? I found it excessive and in poor taste," said Dean Highbottom. Taken by surprise, Coriolanus let out a short laugh before he recovered and tried to look shocked. The dean dropped his gaze to Coriolanus's blue rosebud. "Its amazing, how litle things change. After all the killing. After all the agonized promises to remember the cost. After all of that, I can't distinguish the bud from the blossom." He gave the rose a tap with his forefinger, adjusting the angle, and smiled. "Don't be late to lunch. I hear we're having pie."

Yes, she laid down her life taunting her tribute with a sandwich, thought Coriolanus. Maybe her gravestone could read, "Casualty of cheap laughs."

He could see Lucy Gray trying to hold on to a shred of dignity, sitting as upright as the chains would allow and gazing straight ahead, ignoring the corpse swinging gently over her head. But it was no use. The dirt, the shackles, the public display - it was too much to overcome. He tried to imagine conducting himself under those circumstances, until he realized this was undoubtedly what Sejanus was doing, and snapped out of it.

Coriolanus thought it was quite a display for Arachne, disproportionate to both her life and death, the latter of which could have been avoided if she'd refrained from being such an exhibitionist.

Being a hero at home had its limitations; he needed a larger audience. 

After a breakfast of fried potatoes and cold buttermilk, he made his way to the Academny with the somberness the occasion demanded. Since he was known to be Arachne's friend, and had proven it by trying to save her, he seemed to have been designated chief mourner. In the hallways, condolences came in from every side, along with praise for his actions. Someone suggested that he cared for her like a sister, and although he'd done nothing of the sort, he allowed it. No need to disrespect the dead.

Fabian

Necessary for the plot obviously and good writing I just f-ing hate Coriolanus and hated reading from his pov but also Suzanne did a good job of showing the minute and slight ways of his descent to evil from the beginning in his thoughts and offhand comments he would make 

Ruby Emmeline Fisher

kari <33

good but i frankly dont care enough. like ive watched the movie so i didnt have the anticipation of will she win and i read this like 2 years after reading the og books so im kinda put of my hunger games obsession. but it still is a good book so i wont mark it down 

melanie

I watched the movie before reading this, and now that I have finished this, I can say with 100% confidence that this book adds so much to the series. Snow's inner monologue provides so much characterization (that makes you despise him) that you don't get from the film. I loved seeing Snow transform from "rude and uneducated" to "this is now a part of your character, and you are now a dictator." 

Riley

Finally got around to finishing this. I had already seen the film prior to reading this but regardless, I still thoroughly enjoyed. Suzanne Collins, the LEGEND you are. 

Hearing this story felt so satisfying. I loved all the connections back to the original trilogy and it really felt like you began to understand Snow’s motivations throughout this life. It’s so interesting that even though in some ways his character has some endearing qualities, you can feel undercurrents throughout of where is morals are faltering. AND Lucy Grey is just fantastic and I love her. 

I loved the section about the section at the beginning about the mentorship, and funnily found some sections when the games were actually on a little bit slow. I think it was just different from the in game perspective we have been given prior.

Overall, a fantastic addition to the original trilogy and now… onto Sunrise on the Reaping! 

Eimear O'Connor 

Finally got around to finishing this. I had already seen the film prior to reading this but regardless, I still thoroughly enjoyed. Suzanne Collins, the LEGEND you are. 

Hearing this story felt so satisfying. I loved all the connections back to the original trilogy and it really felt like you began to understand Snow’s motivations throughout this life. It’s so interesting that even though in some ways his character has some endearing qualities, you can feel undercurrents throughout of where is morals are faltering. AND Lucy Grey is just fantastic and I love her. 

I loved the section about the section at the beginning about the mentorship, and funnily found some sections when the games were actually on a little bit slow. I think it was just different from the in game perspective we have been given prior.

Overall, a fantastic addition to the original trilogy and now… onto Sunrise on the Reaping! 

that’s a scary villain. sometimes people are just naturally born evil.

This one was rather confusing me even after a re read 

Brittany Peterson

the only book to ever leave me in actual despair 

Faith

i watched the movie first before reading the book, so i wasn’t completely blind to the story. but then again, i know i wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as i did if i hadn’t watched the movie first. 

i enjoyed the first and third parts of the book, actually more than the game itself — which is also the reason why it took me so long to finish it. the second part just wasn’t as interesting as the other two imo. 

anyways, this book gives us glimpses of coriolanus’ thoughts — despite how nasty and vile they were. goes to show how he’d do anything in his power just to regain the influence the snows once had, even if it involves losing, or to a more extreme extent — threatening or killing — the "supposed" love of his life.

that said, i love lucy gray’s fate. she is, and will always be a mystery just like she once mentioned.

joey

i watched the movie first before reading the book, so i wasn’t completely blind to the story. but then again, i know i wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as i did if i hadn’t watched the movie first. 

i enjoyed the first and third parts of the book, actually more than the game itself — which is also the reason why it took me so long to finish it. the second part just wasn’t as interesting as the other two imo. 

anyways, this book gives us glimpses of coriolanus’ thoughts — despite how nasty and vile they were. goes to show how he’d do anything in his power just to regain the influence the snows once had, even if it involves losing, or to a more extreme extent — threatening or killing — the "supposed" love of his life.

that said, i love lucy gray’s fate. she is, and will always be a mystery just like she once mentioned.

Kassandra Nordeste

"It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

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" 

Goodreads' Summary


The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 

I knew this was going to be a 5 star read, but holy shit this was a home run.

Chloé Dupèré

if i had any qualms about it, the final chapters completely silence them

kait

i started where i left off so it was little confusing at first but then i got the hang of it. i think snow’s story is very interesting, he had plenty of times to do right and didn’t. it kills me that i don’t know where lucy ended up and there’s so many theories but PLEASE LET HAVE A SHORT STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS… anyways now time to read sunrise of the reaping 

debbie <3

Wowowow. Now I want to read the hunger games all over again.

Olivia Rousseau 

Collins does a remarkable job depicting the beginning of a story we already know the ending to. I could not put it down. As always her depiction of corruption, propaganda, and human nature left me devastated 

Kalista Dickson

First time reading a novel of any sort, so I'm not really sure if I can make a proper review about the book, but one thing's for sure: I found it pretty nice. Maybe reading a lot more will give me insights on how to write a proper review next time. But until then, all I can say is that it was a nice read :)

Karl Matthew Quiñones

The fact that this book took me 4 years to read when I’m such a diehard hunger games fan should have been a warning or omen or something. I really didn’t like this book. I understand what it was trying to do, but it really didn’t work for me. 

For starters a lot of things from the original trilogy are nodded to here, and for a bit it was interesting, but after a bit I started to roll my eyes. There was a particular bit where Snow expresses such vehement hatred for mockingjays, and even says that he wishes they would all die out, and reading that just made me feel like Suzanne was nudging and winking at me, “haha get it, he hates mockingjays and Katniss becomes the mockingjay hahah get it”, and yes, I got it. 

Secondly, Snow’s character wasn’t all that compelling. Hell, I think i liked him way more as a villain when I didn’t know anything about him. He wasn’t interesting, he was actually quite boring. For a villain as compelling as Snow, I felt this origin story did not do him justice at all. He didn’t feel nuanced enough for me, I get that he becomes a horrible dictator in the future but I was hoping to see a steady progression to that, and that wasn’t there.

I hated the romance that was added in. A lot of it was to show Snow’s controlling nature and how selfish he was, with all the depictions of how much he viewed Lucy Gray as his property, or some sort of trophy, but it hurt to read. Which I guess was the point, but still. I felt like it also did a disservice to Lucy Gray’s character too, I really didn’t find her that compelling. 

The pacing of this book was so aggravating to me. It was interesting for a little while but somewhere in there I got so bored. It like flatlined for a majority of the book. It wastes so much time in the middle I felt like, and then rushed to the end. I was so over it.

Anyway, I liked some of the characters, Reaper and Sejanus were some favorites. I liked the Covey too, i wish we got more of them. I guess that’s it, 11 year old me would be appalled by this review.

bel 

The fact that this book took me 4 years to read when I’m such a diehard hunger games fan should have been a warning or omen or something. I really didn’t like this book. I understand what it was trying to do, but it really didn’t work for me. 

For starters a lot of things from the original trilogy are nodded to here, and for a bit it was interesting, but after a bit I started to roll my eyes. There was a particular bit where Snow expresses such vehement hatred for mockingjays, and even says that he wishes they would all die out, and reading that just made me feel like Suzanne was nudging and winking at me, “haha get it, he hates mockingjays and Katniss becomes the mockingjay hahah get it”, and yes, I got it. 

Secondly, Snow’s character wasn’t all that compelling. Hell, I think i liked him way more as a villain when I didn’t know anything about him. He wasn’t interesting, he was actually quite boring. For a villain as compelling as Snow, I felt this origin story did not do him justice at all. He didn’t feel nuanced enough for me, I get that he becomes a horrible dictator in the future but I was hoping to see a steady progression to that, and that wasn’t there.

I hated the romance that was added in. A lot of it was to show Snow’s controlling nature and how selfish he was, with all the depictions of how much he viewed Lucy Gray as his property, or some sort of trophy, but it hurt to read. Which I guess was the point, but still. I felt like it also did a disservice to Lucy Gray’s character too, I really didn’t find her that compelling. 

The pacing of this book was so aggravating to me. It was interesting for a little while but somewhere in there I got so bored. It like flatlined for a majority of the book. It wastes so much time in the middle I felt like, and then rushed to the end. I was so over it.

Anyway, I liked some of the characters, Reaper and Sejanus were some favorites. I liked the Covey too, i wish we got more of them. I guess that’s it, 11 year old me would be appalled by this review.

Interesting back story, I enjoyed reading it from Snow's point of view.

The story got very slow paced in the middle but towards the end it got interesting again. 

Yega

Interesting back story, I enjoyed reading it from Snow's point of view.

The story got very slow paced in the middle but towards the end it got interesting again. 

Originally, I was not at all thrilled at the announcement of this book, its subject in particular. And I am still glad that I left reading it until now; I think that was the rigth decision as it helped me approach it with more of a positive attitude and an open mind.

Frankly, in the hands of a different author, this could have been an absolute disaster. However, Collins is miles above many of her peers with excellent command of language, plot and themes. It genuinely feels refreshing to read a book that is both an entertaining read and clear and smart in its messaging, whilst also remaining firmly within its target age group (YA / older YA).

One thing I really liked about the novel is that Collins does not directly condemn anyone's actions. Obviously, the audience already knows who Coriolanus is, they come with a pre-concieved notion of him. However, rather than trying to make him excessively cruel or comically evil, Collins lets the character take the natural direction of development - a culmination of his upbringing, circumstances and personality. Instead of blatantly stating his characteristics and giving them a moral value (increasingly rare in mainstream YA and NA), she often places other characters in juxtaposition of him. She leads the readers to ask questions of what is right and what is wrong, how would they react if put in those same situations, and trusts them enough to find their own answers. It is simple but smart writing and what helps bring so much nuance to "The Hunger Games" series.

Another thing that is notable to me is that Collins is absolutely excellent at building up tension. She has such great mastery over her prose that you cannot help but feel anxious in moments that are meant to be joyous, suspicious when things are going well for the characters (even until the very end), moved in dramatic moments (even if Coriolanus, as the main POV, is not). It makes this novel almost fun to read; I definitely gasped in real life at several points. And she achieves all of this even though we know how it all ends!

Last but not least, as always, her worldbuilding is fascinating. It feels grounded in reality - something that a lot of the series' dystopian peers and children seem to lack - and that is because Collins seems to ask how could we get to this point in the first place. This helps here a lot as it allows to create a setting that clearly belongs to the same universe as the original trilogy but does not feel too familiar or like a repeat. 

On the downside, there are parts where the novel feels too connected and referential to the original. I think she could have toned down the elements of the mockingjays and even the Hanging Tree, though it is funny to imagine how gagged Snow was when Katniss showed up. 

Originally, I was not at all thrilled at the announcement of this book, its subject in particular. And I am still glad that I left reading it until now; I think that was the rigth decision as it helped me approach it with more of a positive attitude and an open mind.

Frankly, in the hands of a different author, this could have been an absolute disaster. However, Collins is miles above many of her peers with excellent command of language, plot and themes. It genuinely feels refreshing to read a book that is both an entertaining read and clear and smart in its messaging, whilst also remaining firmly within its target age group (YA / older YA).

One thing I really liked about the novel is that Collins does not directly condemn anyone's actions. Obviously, the audience already knows who Coriolanus is, they come with a pre-concieved notion of him. However, rather than trying to make him excessively cruel or comically evil, Collins lets the character take the natural direction of development - a culmination of his upbringing, circumstances and personality. Instead of blatantly stating his characteristics and giving them a moral value (increasingly rare in mainstream YA and NA), she often places other characters in juxtaposition of him. She leads the readers to ask questions of what is right and what is wrong, how would they react if put in those same situations, and trusts them enough to find their own answers. It is simple but smart writing and what helps bring so much nuance to "The Hunger Games" series.

Another thing that is notable to me is that Collins is absolutely excellent at building up tension. She has such great mastery over her prose that you cannot help but feel anxious in moments that are meant to be joyous, suspicious when things are going well for the characters (even until the very end), moved in dramatic moments (even if Coriolanus, as the main POV, is not). It makes this novel almost fun to read; I definitely gasped in real life at several points. And she achieves all of this even though we know how it all ends!

Last but not least, as always, her worldbuilding is fascinating. It feels grounded in reality - something that a lot of the series' dystopian peers and children seem to lack - and that is because Collins seems to ask how could we get to this point in the first place. This helps here a lot as it allows to create a setting that clearly belongs to the same universe as the original trilogy but does not feel too familiar or like a repeat. 

On the downside, there are parts where the novel feels too connected and referential to the original. I think she could have toned down the elements of the mockingjays and even the Hanging Tree, though it is funny to imagine how gagged Snow was when Katniss showed up. 

Unfortunately, having first seen the movie, I couldn't completely enjoy the plot twists. Still an amazing story, with an original POV compared to the first trilogy.

Gemma

Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its price.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)

It was a little to dragged out in some parts but overall a really good book.

Isabell McMann

Syasya Diyana 

Too long for what it added to the series but overall it kept my attention and was enjoyable.

4.5 
aaaaaaaa me parece loquisimo como gente lo QUIERE y lo ve como la victima ES UN PSICÓPATA

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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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Fabian &The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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Fabian &
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins