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A review by imiinbook
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I came into this book with no expectations whatsoever and I really enjoyed it. It's got depth and the lack of redemption was refreshing - who wants to see Snow in a positive light?! He killed children!
I really liked experiencing and watching the development of a monster. Corilanus is so manipulative, self serving and opportunistic; but he also seems to be constantly convincing himself that he's making the right choices. I also love how Collins uses his internal monologue to foreshadow and allow the reader to predict his behaviour; fairly quickly into the book, you can immediately get a sense of what choices Corilanus will pick when he is presented with them because you know he will calculate what will benefit him most. Having said that, sometimes he does have a tenderness which caught me off guard a few times. I think the book really benefits from the complexity that these moments bring.
His interactions with the Plinths are one of my favourite parts of the book. The juxtaposition of how they see him and how he sees them is a fascinating part of his villain arc; and his conversation with Papa Plinth, where his expectation of some kind of monetary reward for saving Sejanus is thwarted, is one of my favourite scenes. Satisfying to see someone who sees all of his relationships as transactional be denied; but also oddly satisfying as a whole to see Corilanus succeed in the majority of his manipulations and deceits. Snow always comes out on top ;) Perhaps the satisfaction comes from knowing your assessment of him as an asshole is right?
Also hot take but I don't think Corilanus ever loved Lucy Gray. I think he loved the idea of her and the idea of what she could give him but I think that's as far as it goes. Curious if other people feel the same about that.
A final small note: I also liked that Collins stuck with the full 'Corilanus' name rather than referring to him as Corey. I enjoyed the sense of detachment that it brought - I didn't feel like I was supposed to like him or warm to him; or feel forced into familiarity.
This was a satisfying read and I really enjoyed the writing. Great to get back into some Suzanne Collins after so long.
His interactions with the Plinths are one of my favourite parts of the book. The juxtaposition of how they see him and how he sees them is a fascinating part of his villain arc; and his conversation with Papa Plinth, where his expectation of some kind of monetary reward for saving Sejanus is thwarted, is one of my favourite scenes. Satisfying to see someone who sees all of his relationships as transactional be denied; but also oddly satisfying as a whole to see Corilanus succeed in the majority of his manipulations and deceits. Snow always comes out on top ;) Perhaps the satisfaction comes from knowing your assessment of him as an asshole is right?
Also hot take but I don't think Corilanus ever loved Lucy Gray. I think he loved the idea of her and the idea of what she could give him but I think that's as far as it goes. Curious if other people feel the same about that.
A final small note: I also liked that Collins stuck with the full 'Corilanus' name rather than referring to him as Corey. I enjoyed the sense of detachment that it brought - I didn't feel like I was supposed to like him or warm to him; or feel forced into familiarity.
This was a satisfying read and I really enjoyed the writing. Great to get back into some Suzanne Collins after so long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Child death, and Classism