I was really excited for The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins when I first saw it, solely because I really adored the original series. It’s true, that’s not the best reason in the world to be excited about a book. I don’t know what to expect about a novel that details the early life of one of the most disturbing of villains I’ve ever read.

I’ve noticed over the years that it’s become quite popular for some authors to portray their villains as horribly hurt people who would never have been awful had something terrible not happened to them. And, yeah, sure, it works sometimes. I don’t mind it. I don’t think it will work in the case of this character. It sure as hell didn’t work for Maleficent in those disastrous movies that Disney sent out.

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the 10th annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to out charm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined - every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

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Are you excited for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
I imagine Snow is the snake…

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