The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins -- Restarting April 1st 2025

[Aly]

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.

[Karen]

Really got my fingers crossed that Amazon don’t mess this order up! A bit nervous...don’t want to get too under the skin of Snow.

[Aly]

I agree, I was hoping it would be Mags' story or snapshots of several past Hunger Games. I guess we'll see!

[HeatherH]

I was so hoping for Mags' but I'll be happy to be back in the world of Panen anyways!

[Aly]

Yes, I'm sure it will be well written.

[Karen]

Opening chapter. (view spoiler)[ We’re offered more insight into Snow than we’ve had previously - the precarious attempt to keep up appearances explains quite a lot about his mindset. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannara]

Can I join?? Amazon has updated my order and says I should get it today!!

[Aly]

Ooh I'm excited for this!
Of course Shannara, anyone can join :)

[Shannara]

Thanks Aly!!!! Now hurry up Amazon!!! Lol!! 😆😆😆

[Aly]

Karen wrote: "Opening chapter. [spoilers removed]"

Yes (view spoiler)[ he's playing a part, which is what he does as president also, so now we see where that came from. (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

May I also join? I am just starting this one.

[Aly]

Yes!

[Aly]

ch 10 (view spoiler)[ So, 3 mentors and 6 tributes are dead? Wow, it hasn't even started yet. It is interesting to see how things started, like the mentors, interviews, feeding them and allowing them to have gifts sent in. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Also, in ch 10 little Easter egg (view spoiler)[ someone said the story could 'catch fire' (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

the audiobook chapters are way off so my updates might be random

[Deana]

25 percent - through chapter 9

(view spoiler)[ We meet a young Snow here, of old money long gone, the shine from his great family missing. We also meet his tribute Lucy - brash, lively, charismatic, rebellious. I kind of like this young Snow, and I adore Lucy. He’s innocent here. Not yet cruel. And Lucy is a PR genius. Maybe from her is where Snow learns to spin tales with the tributes to get the audience to care for them? And Tigris is his cousin? Wonder what happened to her to cause her major downfall later?

And Dr. Gaul is a horror show! Twisted and evil. Even Snow thinks so. I wonder what turned Snow so bitter and evil in later years? Fascinating to see the evolution of the Games. My guess is Snow ends up falling in love with Lucy and suffers a breakdown later.
(hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 18 (view spoiler)[ it's so interesting how the Games are run, so different from the 74th games. They don't have as many cameras to know what the tributes are doing, they're feeding them more, alliances are a new concept. I don't so much care about Snow, but the games are interesting (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "25 percent - through chapter 9 (view spoiler)[We meet a young Snow here, of old money long gone, the shine from his great family missing. We also meet his tribute Lucy - brash, lively, charismatic, rebellious. ... (hide spoiler)]"

(view spoiler)[ I believe Haymitch was the first from district 12 to win, so Lucy must die and you're probably right, Snow will have a break down. Gaul is horrible and where some of the terrible muttations come from late I assume (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 20/End of part 2 (view spoiler)[ Okay, maybe I misremembered the book because Lucy won. Hmm. Maybe it's because it was so long ago by the time we get to Katniss. Now Snow's sent to be a peacekeeper, I wonder how he'll turn it around into being president? (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

Aly wrote: "Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "25 percent - through chapter 9 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Ah you’re right about Haymitch! Thanks for the reminder!> (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 27 (view spoiler)[ Oh no, I'm getting really bored. I hoped the Games would go longer, now it's just Snow being a peacekeeper and secretly dating Lucy Gray. I need action! (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

50 percent - through chapter 17

(view spoiler)[ Bombs in the arena, and Lucy saves Snow’s life. Interesting how the other mentor students are really quite disgusted by all the death. The Games are certainly not embraced in the district by all at this time.

Wow, Snow is feeling possessive of Lucy, a bit jealous I’d say. Does this portend a dark part of his personality or his true feelings?

Interesting to see the psychology of the games change too. It has never been a party atmosphere, but this year there was excitement. Sejanus is the moral compass of the group. He acts out the other mentors’ horror. And early games were literally held in an arena? And were short apparently.

And what horrors with Jessup and the rabies! (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

75 percent

(view spoiler)[ Could Snow win the Plinth prize? He can’t unless Lucy wins, and she can’t either because District 12 did not win until Haymitch Abernathy. And now the Snows may lose their only home due to higher taxes. Snow must win to get the tuition.

This is such a barebones Games. No special effects or creatures. Flickerman doesn’t even know how to fill the broadcasting time. Spoke too soon: Gaul’s hideous rainbow snakes have arrived! And Lucy is like some crazy snake whisperer!

Reaper broke my heart, but Lucy won? How!? Haymitch was the first District 12 winner years later! But it was cheating because Snow helped her and now he is a Peacekeeper. But Sejanus arrives! And Lucy lives in the Seam. Isn’t that where Katniss lived? Now Lucy and Snow are back together but I’ve got a bad feeling about this. (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

100 percent

(view spoiler)[ So I don’t trust Sejanus. He’s too much of a pacifist for this world. And love how they snuck in Katniss’s name with her plant, which are actually swamp potatoes.

Oh lord, Snow has killed. What did Lucy really feel for Billy? Or even Snow? How will she feel now? And now Snow has both saved Sejanus and killed him with his actions.

Oh my gosh, as soon as Snow found the weapons, Snow was ready kill and leave Lucy! He saw a way back to the good life! So where is the love? Is she dead? He doesn’t care. Love made him too vulnerable. He ended up being evil as hell anyway. (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

Aly wrote: "ch 27 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, not much action in this book. Really just the laying of a foundation for Snow’s creation: himself. (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

Aly wrote: "ch 18 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I love how basic and unrefined the Games are. They’re being mentored by high school seniors! In a stadium. Unreal. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannara]

Dang!! You all read really fast!! I just got up to chapter ten. (view spoiler)[ I am so not surprised that the little tribute offed Arachne. Don’t taunt people with food!! Food is sacred, especially when you don’t get much of it. Oh and it’s taking every bit of my self control to not be sarcastic when reading about any of Snow’s troubles... (hide spoiler)]

I’ll have more time to read tomorrow!!

[Deana]

Shannara wrote: "Dang!! You all read really fast!! I just got up to chapter ten. [spoilers removed]

I’ll have more time to read tomorrow!!"

I do read really fast! 😀
(view spoiler)[I agree. Taunting with food, holding them at the zoo, not feeding them ... awful! It really was hard to read at times. And if you feel like you’re getting bored, keep going. The ending is worth it. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch4. Interesting to see how we’re being encouraged to feel about Snow.

[Aly]

Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "50 percent - through chapter 17
(view spoiler)[Bombs in the arena, and Lucy saves Snow’s life. Interesting how the other mentor students are really quite disgusted by all the death. The Games are certainly not ... (hide spoiler)]"

Yes, a lot of differences (view spoiler)[ between the 10th and 74th as we knew it. The rabies part was truly awful, I felt bad for Lucy and the boy. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "75 percent
(view spoiler)[Could Snow win the Plinth prize? He can’t unless Lucy wins, and she can’t either because District 12 did not win until Haymitch Abernathy. And now the Snows may lose their only home du... (hide spoiler)]"

I wondered that too (view spoiler)[ unless everyone forgot about Lucy, or they kind of buried it because it was cheating? I'm super confused about that part.
And very crazy that she's from the Seam like Katniss! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Shannara wrote: "Dang!! You all read really fast!! I just got up to chapter ten. [spoilers removed]

I’ll have more time to read tomorrow!!"

Totally agree! (view spoiler)[ It was her fault she died, she was taunting him and what does he have to lose? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Karen wrote: "Up to ch4. Interesting to see how we’re being encouraged to feel about Snow."

Yeah, I can't really feel compassion for him knowing him later. But villains evolve from something I guess

[Aly]

finished (view spoiler)[ I'm kind of bummed we never got to find out what happened to Lucy. I hope she went back to 12 and had a decent life. Coriolanus is paranoid and totally messed that up, I'm glad he didn't kill her.

We got to see how he got so involved in poisoning people and became so involved in the hunger games. I liked seeing how things changed and came to be how Katniss knows them later (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

Aly wrote: "finished I'm kind of bummed we never got to find out what happened to Lucy. I hope she went back to 12 and had a decent life. Coriolanus is paranoid and totally messed that up, I'm glad he didn't ..."


(view spoiler)[What was never answered is Tigris. How did she grow up to be Snow’s enemy, and with all her crazy body modifications? Did she do something later to incur his wrath? I’m thinking there’s another book coming. I feel horrid about Lucy, the not knowing part. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "Aly wrote:(view spoiler)[ "finished I'm kind of bummed we never got to find out what happened to Lucy. I hope she went back to 12 and had a decent life. Coriolanus is paranoid and totally messed that up, I'm glad... (hide spoiler)]"

You may be right (view spoiler)[ but I don't really know that I want another book. This one was so so (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Part one really sets the tone for a Games fraught with danger. Interesting to see the shifting dynamic between Snow and his mentee.

[Shannara]

Aly wrote: "Karen wrote: "Up to ch4. Interesting to see how we’re being encouraged to feel about Snow."

Yeah, I can't really feel compassion for him knowing him later. But villains evolve from something I guess"

Yeah, I’m pretty much like... aww.. oh wait, I don’t really care! Which is super harsh, but he’s a super big a-hole. Sooo.....

[Deana]

Shannara wrote: "Aly wrote: "Karen wrote: "Up to ch4. Interesting to see how we’re being encouraged to feel about Snow."

Yeah, I can't really feel compassion for him knowing him later. But villains evolve from som..."

Man, I really fell into the trap of loving Snow while reading this. Yeah, the ending changed that.

[Karen]

Up to ch17. The Games itself is a rather lacklustre affair in comparison to the ones we are already familiar with. Snow is Machiavellian in the way he rationalises his actions with potential reward.

[Karen]

Aly wrote: "ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes, I've liked seeing the Games in their fledgling state. I am rather surprised that they don't seem too bothered by the deaths of so many before the Games begin. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "25 percent - through chapter 9

We meet a young Snow here, of old money long gone, the shine from his great family missing. We also meet his tribute Lucy - brash, lively, charismatic, rebellious. ..."

(view spoiler)[ I'm rather surprised by his interest in Lucy - but there's a part of me that wonders if she is manipulating him from the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

Karen wrote: "Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "25 percent - through chapter 9

We meet a young Snow here, of old money long gone, the shine from his great family missing. We also meet his tr..."

(view spoiler)[Karen, keep that thought in mind. I’ve finished the book and still can’t honestly answer that. I’m interested to see what you think! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "50 percent - through chapter 17

(view spoiler)[ Just passed this point and I was a little shocked by how little regard they have for the tributes. With so many dead/looking ill, I wonder how long these Games will go on for. (hide spoiler)]

[Deana]

Karen wrote: "Deana - organically grown and sprinkled with wrote: "50 percent - through chapter 17

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[The tribute treatment is horrible! Hard to even read. It can always get worse though. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch21. (view spoiler)[ The Games really were over more quickly than expected, but there’s hints of some interesting tactics from those playing. Not surprised that they’ve taken their revenge on Snow in a way that will cause him maximum discomfort. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Karen wrote: "Up to ch17. The Games itself is a rather lacklustre affair in comparison to the ones we are already familiar with. Snow is Machiavellian in the way he rationalises his actions with potential reward."

Definitely less intense and interesting as the Games we know

[Deana]

Karen wrote: "Up to ch21. [spoilers removed]"

Just keep reading. To me the end made it all worth it.

[Shannara]

Finished part one and I’m losing momentum here... I just can’t seem to really get into this for some reason. (view spoiler)[ It’s like knowing what Snow becomes is hindering me from finding how he got that way interesting. Although, now I feel like he’s not the only jerk so that’s something?... 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Also Dr. Gaul has clearly lost her mind (or has always been nuts). I am kind of hoping Lucy Gray makes it, but as stated above, Haymitch was the first from that district. So I don’t see that happening. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch25. (view spoiler)[ Not surprised we get to see Lucy and Snow reacquainted, but I fear it will be a short-lived happy moment and this will be a pivotal moment in his backstory. (hide spoiler)]