A review by kelsey24
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love a good villain origin story, and this one kept my attention for 500+ pages. In this prequel to the Hunger Games we get a deep dive into young Snow and his quest for power and control. The author does an amazing job of telling the story through the lens of a truly terrible person in a way that feels terrifyingly realistic. Snow is the definition of someone who does good things for bad/selfish reasons. The author's writing style would suck me in where just when I would begin to empathize and root for Snow, I would have to consciously snap myself out of it and remember that he is doing these seemingly 'nice' things simply for his own gain. Obsessed with his reputation and family legacy, it was scary to think about how many young men really think like this. I do worry that, like with the Hunger Games trilogy books and movies, the main takeaway from some readers will be the 'star-crossed love story', although I would argue that there really isn't one. Instead, it is a toxic and dangerous 'love' that is based on control, image, and self-serving possibilities. 

Giving this 4 stars because I do feel like it could have been a bit shorter than 500+ pages.
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