The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
2020 • 540 pages
Ratings187
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings187
Average rating3.6
Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its price. 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.
Featured Series
3 primary books4 released booksThe Hunger Games is a 4-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2004 with contributions by Suzanne Collins.
Reviews with the most likes.
Good book. But I couldn't stand being in Snow's POV. He's repulsive with how he rationalizes the awful stuff he's done. Definitely makes you hate him more when looking at the Hunger Games trilogy with Katniss
Also, justice for Sejanus and Lucy Gray! Idc if it's unlikely, she lives in my book
The last section lets this book down for me, the whole book was a little slow- but i didn't dislike that. The last 50 pages or so are just a turnabout speedrun with - for me, an unsatisfying ending. i know things can't be wrapped up in a bow but i do feel a certain character was let down and lacked a lot of agency. i wish we could have seen more of her own perspective, mixed/changing feelings and agenda.
I was very enthralled by parts of it and thought Snow was written very well, always teetering between charming and terrifying. I found my self simultaneously cheering for she being unnerved by the romance, i think this is exactly what Collins was going for. I would have liked Tigris to have a larger role, she was a very interesting character especially knowing where she ends up!
The Mockingjay symbolism was interesting but was a bit in your face by the end of it
Bought this when it first released and has been on my TBR pile for a while.
Loved The Hunger Games trilogy so was looking forward to this to gain more insight into President Snow and the story provides that.
It took a few odd twists I didn't expect.
I'm a diehard fan of The Hunger Games. But this book fell flat for me. I loved the extra world building and I liked Lucy Gray's songs. But Snow isn't a compelling character. This got a third star only because once again a narrator can make or break a book. Fontana made this book so much better.
Featured Prompt
1,237 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
