We all have to admit that a follow-up (or prequel in this case) of one of the greatest fiction stories ever told was a tall order. Another book in theWe all have to admit that a follow-up (or prequel in this case) of one of the greatest fiction stories ever told was a tall order. Another book in the Hunger Games franchise needed a strong justification, and in this one, we follow a young Coriolanus Snow as the protagonist. Something that was interesting, given the villainous, yet complex role he had in The Hunger Games trilogy.
All in all, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was a mixed bag. I enjoyed the ways it expands on the history of Panem and the first Hunger Games first-hand. And it provided an intense and enjoyable read at times (with its slower moments). Overall, I wouldn't say it was a masterpiece as the first two books, I'd put it more in line with the third which tried more complex stories and stumbled a bit along the way. I'd love to see how the movie takes on this book, but given how just above average it was, I hope it doesn't lead to more Hunger Games spin-offs for the sake of more content. The story is great enough as it is....more