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

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Suzanne Collins has done it again. I only read this book because I wanted to see the film, but I regret putting it off for so long. I was turned off by a book being about a villain/ their origin story, but I should’ve never doubted Suzanne. She writes so brilliantly, and it was really fun to read this knowing about The Hunger Games trilogy and recognizing the evolution of the games, or catching all the nods to the original trilogy with references and quotes. Big fan. The last 3 chapters had me shook. Would read a roll of toilet paper if she wrote on it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Some of the murders of both tributes and capital children as well as the descriptions/ displays of the bodies had me cringing in my seat.