68.3k reviews for:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Suzanne Collins

3.9 AVERAGE

var_klar's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Probably my favorite book out of the series so far. I found it so interesting to read how Snow was calculating and cold, yet there was also a spark of good in him when it came to Lucy Gray. It was also fascinating to read about how

Dr. Gaul's

ideology as his teacher shaped him. The ending shocked me, although I knew something had to be coming to make Snow the antagonist once and for all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder

janalynnhill's review against another edition

3.0

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I just...don't know. It took a LONG time to get things moving. This is typical for Collins, I realize. But it seemed to drag longer than the others before things really picked up. And then it was a burst of exciting, and back to slow. I am glad I read it though - it's nice to have some background on Snow and the earlier days of the Capitol and districts.

jazzytea's review against another edition

4.25

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Love her writing, but Snow’s transformation felt extremely rushed

rewatchrereadrewind's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Cannibalism, Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent, War

marlene_suntie_helton's review against another edition

4.0

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thebluestbean's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

theloosepage's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lily1304's review against another edition

4.0

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The manic pixie dream girl trope is a little disappointing, but it's a great prequel anyway. I kept thinking how much Snow reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara - they both know that they're bad people, somewhere deep down, but they're so overwhelmed with fear of being white trash and losing control of their love interests. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail

Snake bites, public execution

knox_pursiful's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

eightshot's review against another edition

3.75

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lucy gray haunting the narrative yeah that's what i thought...and what HE DESERVES!