Title: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Author: Suzanne Collins
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Link to book: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Oh boy, what a disappointment this was. I remember not being able to put down the Hunger Games trilogy as an 18 year old. I remember the trilogy being on my reading list for the longest time but resisting to get it because I wanted to focus on my national exams. Right after my final paper, I took a bus to the bookshop, bought the trilogy as a treat, and finished all of it in 3 days. Oh, how I miss that kind of book! Granted, I am not the same 18-year-old that indulges in young adult novels anymore, as I am sure many of the OG Hunger Games fans aren’t. I guess that is what happens when you publish a prequel 10 years later. Okay, to the book.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy (5 stars for the trilogy, no doubt). Set decades before the events of the original series, the book delves into the early years of President Coriolanus Snow. The story is centered around the 10th annual Hunger Games, where tributes are chosen from the Capitol’s prestigious Academy. Coriolanus is assigned the task of mentoring Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12, and the dynamics between mentor and tribute form the crux of the tale.
The novel attempts some form of character development for young Snow, but ultimately fails to do so much except show how confused he is all the time. The gold star for good-guy-turn-bad for me is Anakin Skywalker is Revenge of the Sith (“You were the chosen one!!!). In this novel from the get-go, you probably won’t be on Snow’s side at all. Throughout the book, he voices his struggles, moral dilemmas, and the choices that ultimately shape his path. In the first place, writing a prequel on Snow was an interesting choice on really a not so interesting character. There are so many other possibilities like any of the Rebellions, anything on District 13…!
Once again, the intricate world building gives more insight into the socio-political landscape of Panem. Additionally, the introduction of the enigmatic Lucy Gray Baird adds a layer of mystery and unpredictability to the story. Boy, she was a strange one. Collins explores themes of power, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions, offering readers a thought-provoking narrative.
“I think there’s a natural goodness built into human beings. You know when you’ve stepped across the line into evil, and it’s your life’s challenge to try and stay on the right side of that line.”
Compared to the original trilogy, the pace is a lot slower with a lot less action-packed, intense battle scenes. Moreover, the novel was definitely a tad too long. A tad too many songs too. Nonetheless, it was interesting to learn how the games were conceptualised and how came to develop itself as such. I thought that was cool. While it may not replicate the same adrenaline-fueled experience as the original trilogy, it deepens our understanding of the world of Panem and perhaps pave the way for more prequels (hint District 13).