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

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This prequal was a villain origin story of both Snow and  the Capital.  It’s how they came to be what they are in the Hunger Games. 
I loved the dynamic of Coriolanus Snow, Lucy Grey, and Sejanus. I think it paints a broad picture of Snow and how he falls further down the power hungry hole that leads to manipulation of people. He was a starving child who would do anything for himself to survive and make his family proud. Even if this means the trust and love and friendship between him and others is thrown away in favor of control. 
Not a perfect book: it had some pacing issues but overall I liked this a lot!
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