The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Genres: Dystopia, YA, Science fiction
Pages: 517
Cover: Paperback
Age rating: 12+
Buy on: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
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The tenth annual Hunger Games will begin on the morning of the reaping. As a mentor in the Games, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is in the Capital getting ready for his one chance at greatness. With its fate resting on the slim possibility that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outthink, and outmaneuver his other students to tutor the victorious tribute, the once-powerful house of Snow has fallen on hard times.
The chances are not in his favor. The lowest of the low has assigned him the disgraceful task of mentoring the female tribute from District 12. Their destinies are now inextricably linked; Coriolanus's decisions could result in success or failure, success or disaster. It will be a death-defying battle inside the arena. Outside the arena, Coriolanus begins to feel sorry for his doomed tribute... and must decide whether to respect the rules or to do whatever it takes to survive.
SPOILS ALERT!
General Opinion
I like this book, and it made me like Snow, which I never thought was possible. This prequel was my 2nd favorite book in the Hunger Games series, and Snow's backstory was the perfect example of power and ambitions trump all. ​
Characters
Snow wasn't always evil, he was nice and compassionate towards his family members, but it was short-lived. But that is what made him a well-written character, Snow was complex and realistic. He is power-hungry, but never admits it until the end of the book, where he chooses education and power over his supposed girlfriend: Lucy Gray. What made Coriolanus Snow so interesting was how he always tried to justify his actions, always thinking that he was a good person. And for a moment, Snow almost convinces me.
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Snow keeps making bad decisions along the way, starting by killing Bonnie in the arena, which is understandable since Bonnie tried to kill him. But this was the path of Snow's innocence and "goodness" started to fade, after that, he committed 2 more murders, and betrayed Sejanus along the way.
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Coriolanus Snow also thinks he loves Lucy Gray, and I thought that he did. But that love quickly becomes possessive and obsessive, and Snow is more interested in owning her, referring to Lucy as "his girl" multiple times. This possessiveness shows how hungry power he is, and how he loves to be the one in control. I'm not gonna spoil what went down between them, but in the end, Lucy Gray's presence haunts his entire life after.
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Lucy Gray is a diva, a great singer, a fighter, smart and calculated. She outsmarts Snow and is the victor in the tenth Hunger Games with Snow's help. Her existence is a mystery, and it is sad to see how no one in District 12 knows about her in the present Hunger Games, with Lucy being the first victor ever.
Plot
The begin of the book was a bit slow, but it did quicken up a bit. As the story unfolds, Snow's backstory was revealed, and it wasn't a pretty one. The overall plot of the book shows how Snow wasn't born evil, but was corrupt by the Capitol, by Dr. Gaul, and the way he was raised. That Capitol are supreme, that without Capitol's control, society will be animal-like. Which really reflects the world we live in today. One of the reason I love this book so much.
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​Conclusion
This book is a must read, and so are others Hunger Games book. It is realistic, it shows us how easy it is to corrupt someone with power. Moreover, I came to understand Snows's character more, and how the Hunger Games evolve.
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