BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES, THE: MOVIE TIE-IN - by Suzanne Collins

No, just…… no. When I first heard about this prequel I was super excited. I purchased it the day it came out but sadly hadn’t gotten around to reading it until now. This book was SOO hard to get into, I could only handle reading three chapters a day if I was able to get through it. I am a HUGE Hunger Games fan, have all the books and movies, love every single one (catching fire my favorite in the trilogy) except this book. Have the movie as well but will be returning as I have no desire to watch it now because no. This prequel did not feel like a true back story to books 1-3. This felt like the author lost too much time from the last book until now, had forgotten what the first three books were about and was just trying to simply recreate similar characters. Snow is by far just as black hearted in this book as he is in the first three books but I found I hated him even more as a young man than when he was president. None of the characters were favorites of mine, not even Lucy. Half the characters names were extremely hard to pronounce and the story left more questions than answers. The only thing I did like about the book, the reason I gave it three stars instead of the two I really wanted to rate this, is the nostalgia of being able to go back into Panem and see how everything came to be: the mentors, the Victors Village, drones, etc. I had such high hopes for this prequel but it fell so short I can’t even. Honestly I feel like this prequel is a slap in the face to the first three books which can and will stand by themselves just fine without this one bringing them down. For those who have never read THG, I highly recommend you DONT read this first because it will ruin the first three books for you. If you’ve already read the first three books, I still do not recommend reading this as it will taint everything you love about the first three books. Bottom line, some books just shouldn’t be written. Suzanne Collin’s, you really let Katniss and the other characters down.

Excellent book on the early years of Snow and how he became the dictator that he is to become. What I don't like is that the movie doesn't go far enough telling the story

Very engaging and well written book.

Amazing beginning to end!

My paper back book came bent.