The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) (The Hunger Games) Hardcover – 19 May 2020

Suzanne Collins returns to the dystopian world of Panem in this origin story for the villain of her original 'Hunger Games' trilogy; President Coriolanus Snow. The novel sees Snow aged about 18, living in genteel poverty with his grandmother and cousin in a Capitol still recovering from the civil war which ended ten years before. In a new idea to increase public interest in the brutal Hunger Games, he and his classmates from the prestigious Academy are called on to mentor the Tributes in the Games. He is assigned Lucy Gray, from impoverished District 12, who seems more of a singer than a fighter, and throws his considerable abilities into helping her succeed. But the stakes are extremely high, for Snow as well as Lucy Gray, not least as old grudges against his family keep working against him.Collins is always a compelling and very readable author and she creates a world that is immersive and believable in all its brutality. Her use of Roman names and the gladiatorial parallels of the Games are the perfect way to reflect a society that is both incredibly sophisticated and unbelievably cruel. Snow is very well drawn - Collins manages to make him sympathetic and likeable, despite readers knowing how he turns out, and yet also avoids making him too nice or saintly in a way that would be inconsistent with his characterisation as an older adult. Lucy Gray is also an interesting and very likeable character and as the reader doesn't know what becomes of her worrying about her fate is sufficient to keep you hooked. There's also a very chilling villain (more sinister than even the adult Snow was).The plot is eventful, packed with both action and psychological tension. It zips along and is difficult to put down. Underpinning that are real questions about human nature and how to run an effective society. Whilst it is ostensibly a young adult book (more for teenagers than younger, due to its darkness) I read it as an adult and other than the youth of the characters didn't see anything to distinguish it from good adult fiction.The novel does undergo something of a slump in the second half, after the Games themselves end but the story carries on for some time. Whilst the second part is still good and compelling, it never quite regains the tension that had been building as the Tributes fought it out in the arena. I'd have been tempted to split it into two novels had I been Collins (people would certainly have bought a second!). I don't know if she plans any sequels featuring Snow during his rise to power - there is certainly scope for more, although it would mean following an older character which I guess might affect her YA credentials.Overall this is a very well written, gripping and thought provoking book. It is dark and cruel, but still feels very escapist. It will appeal to teenagers, but equally to adult readers of fantasy and futuristic fiction. I'd definitely read any other books Collins chooses to write set in this world. In terms of reading order for those who haven't read the original trilogy, I think you could read this one before or after. The evolution of the Games from this novel to the later three is interesting, but could be appreciated in either order. There's only one real spoiler in the later trilogy which is the ultimate fate of Snow himself. So readers with the option could enjoy in either order.

I loooooooooooooved this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are a big fan of the original trilogy YOU WILL LOVE THIS. I was very apprehensive before reading this for two reasons, 1) The original trilogy is AMAZING, do we really need more and how could it possibly live up to it? And 2) When the protagonist was announced, I was very unsure as to whether we need to hear from President Snow, can anything really justify or even explain his actions? Especially when a Haymitch prequel has been so heavily requested.Nevertheless, my original concerns were quickly addressed.1) Yes the original trilogy was amazing, this book did not take away from that. I do not like to compare them, it is not possible to say that this book was in any way better or worse than the rest of the series as in my opinion they work well alongside each other in a complementary way. I would certainly argue that this book added a lot of depth to the overall story of Panem and the Hunger Games, it also helps us understand why President Snow’s hatred for Katniss is so deep. This book also contains a lot of familiar names that fans of the original series will recognise, we also learn about how the Hunger Games have changed and the reasons behind that which was all remarkably interesting to read about for me.2) This book, luckily, does not justify President Snow’s actions. Snow was an extremely well-written villain in the original trilogy and this book adds so much depth to his already complex character. Rather than being a justification for his actions, the book allows us to understand the series of events which led Snow to becoming who he was in the original series. Some of Snow’s traits, such as his ambition and hunger for power, were already rooted in him from the beginning of the book and motivated him throughout. At the end of the book, I still hated Snow, I understood his character much better, but he remains a villain, nonetheless.I loved how nostalgic this book felt whilst I was reading it, I loved having the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of Panem once again. All the characters in the book, especially Lucy Gray, were so well-written. I have since read some of the criticism that this book received, with many readers considering it to be quite slow. While I understand that some parts of the novel lacked the fast pace that the original trilogy had, I personally enjoyed the thought-provoking themes that this novel also explored, with Snow’s exploration of the ideas behind social theory, government, and war.There is something about the Hunger Games world that will always draw me in, therefore I would certainly not be opposed to Suzanne Collins writing more in this universe. I definitely recommend this book, it might not float everyone’s goat but it definitely makes for a compelling read.