By MATTHEW WANG
“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins, takes place 64 years before the original “Hunger Games” trilogy. The story follows a young President Snow, or Coriolanus, who is a mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games. His family, originally among the richest in Panem, was forced into poverty after the war against the Districts. Coriolanus must hide the fact that he is poor while living up to the Snow status. Using the Hunger Games and the tribute from District 12, Coriolanus plans to make himself a powerful figure.
I enjoyed this book because this story answers questions from the original “Hunger Games” trilogy. Who created the actual Hunger Games competitions? Where did the songs “The Hanging Tree” and “Deep in the Meadow” come from? What are the origins of the mockingjay and why does Snow hate them? And finally, what is President Snow’s story? I also enjoyed how the story was told through the perspective of a Capitol citizen.
While the plot of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is gripping, this novel is twice as long as its sequels from the original trilogy, so do not expect this book to be a quick read. Some readers may not enjoy the fact that the protagonist of the novel is Snow, the main antagonist in the original trilogy. The prequel also doesn’t focus primarily on the games, but the drama and betrayal between characters provides the same amount of thrill and excitement.
In my opinion, this novel is definitely a 5 star book and a must read for anyone who enjoyed the original “Hunger Games” series. Every page is packed with suspense and each chapter has its own twist. This page turner will keep the reader constantly wondering what will happen next.