prisca | Audio Book Review (Reply)

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The 4th book of the Hunger Games Series, though it takes place years before the original trilogy
Author: Suzanne Collins
German Narrator: Uve Teschner

The Story
It's the time of the 10th Hunger Games, when the playmaker decides on some changes. Children from the Capitol are chosen as mentors for the tributes of the districts.

18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is eager to get a tribute from the wealthier districts, who are usually stronger, and the chance to win the Hunger Games is big. Which would bring him fame and open the way to university, although his family is poverty-stricken. To his disappointment, he gets Lucy Grey, the tribute from the poorest district 12.

Wildly resolved to make the best out of the situation, but with only little hope of the win, he meets Lucy Grey for the first time. And he instantly feels attracted by her charm and pride. He starts to train her; is even willing to overstep the lines to help her survive. Until he finally had to admit, he might feel more for her than it was good for both of them...

My Opinion
First I want to say, how much I enjoyed the original trilogy. I could feel with the main characters and I could hate President Snow.

Now, in this book, we meet a young Coriolanus, and we learn more about his life circumstances. Even if he is the main character of the book, and we start to understand his behaviour, it is not easy to forget the Snow from the original trilogy and to feel with him.

Lucy Grey is the character the reader of the book can love; despite her fate, she is a strong young woman, who has not yet forgotten to show compassion, but on the other hand, she is willing to do what needed to be done for surviving.

S P O I L E R (better don't continue reading, if you don't want to know too much about the story's course)

It is not a surprise that Lucy Grey finally wins the Hunger Games, but it might be one that this is not the end of the book but only the first half of it.

The story of Lucy Grey and Coriolanus continues, they can enjoy some freedom together, when Coriolanus gets transferred to the Peacekeeper as punishment for his behaviour during the Hunger Games. As a reader, you can feel the situation's tension: on one hand, you want Lucy Grey and Coriolanus happy together, on the other hand, you can't close your eyes for the fact that deep inside Coriolanus is still looking for something different. And that he is willing to sell his grandmother to get what he wants.

The end of the book is... hmmm... not a surprise. Especially not when you already know the original trilogy.

My Resume
Not so sure what to think about this book. I enjoyed parts of it, but accepting Snow as the main character was difficult. Interesting to find out more about his past, yes, but this doesn't make him a likable character.

Without any question, a great female main character, Lucy Grey. Even harder that the book ends with a cliffhanger when it comes to her.

(fannish 50 / fandom 50 - post 7)