The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It turns out this book rather surprised me. I originally didn't want to read it because I wasn't sure I'd want to get into the head of Snow and his youth.

Turns out, I shouldn't have worried. After just re-reading the original trilogy with its moral and ethical slant that IS NOT good, this one is pretty much a more deeply explored version of the same. Why keep the Hunger Games going, after all? Is it genuinely a good reason to keep the bread and circuses BECAUSE we all think that the world will devolve into violence without them?

Well, Rome asked that question. History is forever forgotten, too.

Well, I can see these books playing to both sides of the question, obviously, and fooling either kind of reader into buying into the rationale or its obverse.

Back to this particular book--I actually PREFERRED her writing in this prequel over the original trilogy. It got rid of the cringe, gave us genuinely interesting, even likable characters (yes, I'm looking at you, Snow) and their twisted descent.

Maybe I'm just weird, but I think this was better than the trilogy--but perhaps not as good as the single first book by itself. The other had simplicity on its side. But I'll be the first to admit I love complicated, rich tales, so that might explain why I preferred this one overall.

To my synesthesia, I swear I was smelling and tasting a vanilla chiffon cake. While there was love, it was truly sweet.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

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