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znvisser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
For me it’s been long enough so that I don’t remember the precise details of the later President Snow’s evil. At some point though, Snow was just a (cocky) kid a bit too gullible buying into the propaganda poured over him after growing up in a war. Simultaneously however, the basis for his later evil is already apparent as well: his character is classist, distrusting, and extremely calculating; as a teenager, Snow is therefore cold and unable to form any genuine relationships. From the start Snow is constantly - and quick at - rebuilding his outward image to control how he comes across in public, whether it is to hide his insecurities, arrogance or cruelty. It’s also shown early on how he is actually able to drop this guard to some extent around Lucy Gray, which makes his actions harder to predict sometimes, and as a result for a more interesting plot. It’s quite a feat how the author entangles you into this story about someone not even that likeable; somehow you still root for Snow to magically take his life in a different direction, even though this is a prequel and we already know not even love (or whatever the feelings were that he called love) could save the guy.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Deportation
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
noemie_13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kylasmv15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
kat1105's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
garlicbelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
themelleh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Classism
emercedesrich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Slavery, Vomit, and Alcohol
kingspite618's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Torture, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
olliepopop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I also really appreciated getting to see Snow's perspective and the mindset of the Capitol elite (and eventually people) that would've contributed to the longevity of the Hunger Games.
I was shocked when it was revealed Lucy Gray did actually love him at all and wasn't just playing him, but that just further showed the sinister nature of his lying, that she could think he did things for her when it was really just to save his own reputation, future, or life every time. The last chapter felt the perfect culmination and reveal of Snow's true nature even while he was still making himself sick lying to himself.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and think it showed what it wanted to incredibly well!
Part 1: 4 ⭐️
Part 2: 4.25 ⭐️
Part 3: 5 ⭐️
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
caitlin_123a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War