June 2020 Not First in a Series BOTM - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins

[Alaina]

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.

[Jammin Jenny]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ It's interesting seeing Coriolanus Snow's years at the 10th hunger games, and that his family was not doing so well then. He must be the ancestor of Cornelius Snow we know in our Hunger Games ages. Also interesting how they were scheming to try and make laws at the time to ensure the districts were actually watching the hunger games. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

ooo I really want to look at your comment!! I'm almost done with reading mockingjay then I'm going to dive into this book tomorrow

[Jammin Jenny]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[ Coriolanus seems to want to be good, but he's got a lot of bad in him. His teachers are really cruel. His tribute from district 12 is still in the mix. I wonder if that's why the Snows hate District 12 so much in Katniss's time. (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

Chapter 37 (view spoiler)[

So now Coriolanus has been sent to District 12 as a peacekeeper. He finds Lucy Gray again, but finds that she belongs to another person in District 12. I have a feeling that this is going to be the beginning of the end of the love for District 12 by the Snows. (hide spoiler)]

[Dana]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Chapter 12 [spoilers removed]"

Hi Jenny! I haven’t read your other comments yet, but I think it’s actually more than a relation. They are one in the same from my understanding. ☺️

[Jammin Jenny]

Finished!!

I loved this new installment and prequel to The Hunger Games. It was so interesting to see the early years of Coriolanus Snow and his involvement in the 10th annual hunger games. And we find out (view spoiler)[ that Snow's father is the true creator of The Hunger Games (hide spoiler)]. Great prequel to the series.

[Alaina]

Starting this now!

[Alaina]

29%: (view spoiler)[this has been kind of interesting so far and I like how the mentors really talk to their tributes. Also I know this happened forever ago but the whole snake thing scenting who touched the paper was caaaareepy (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

Alaina wrote: "29%: [spoilers removed]"

I LOVED that part...I was like, no don't do it!!!

[Alaina]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Alaina wrote: "29%: [spoilers removed]"

I LOVED that part...I was like, no don't do it!!!"

Haha omg same! Definitely yelled at my phone

[Alaina]

58%: (view spoiler)[HOW IS SHE SO CALM WITH THESE DAMN SNAKES? I would be shitting my pants. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

87%: (view spoiler)[those jabber jays are so freaking creepy.. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH SHITTTTTTTTTT (view spoiler)[THAT SONG WAS FOR SNOW? WHAT THE (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

100%: (view spoiler)[holy cannoli. I really enjoyed getting to know all about Snow! I was always intrigued with him throughout the hunger game books and movies.. and to know all of this now - just wow. I feel like my blind is blown somehow. Now I want to know all about the other victors and their games.. like Finnick, Joanna, Haymitch - THE WORKS! Pretty please make little books for them! (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

I'm with you Alaina! More please!!!

[Alaina]

YESSSSSSSS! I hope it becomes a thing

[Stefani]

I totally forgot that I voted for this one! Probably because I haven't waded into a BOTM in this group yet.

I need to start it this weekend, my current books are very lackluster.

[Alaina]

Stefani wrote: "I totally forgot that I voted for this one! Probably because I haven't waded into a BOTM in this group yet.

I need to start it this weekend, my current books are very lackluster."

I hope you enjoy it!

[Maya]

Ahh okay can I be honest? Okay so obviously I was gonna read this 'cause Hunger Games (duh!), buuut I was not going into it with high hopes.

Man was I wrong!! I'm really, really enjoying it! It's super interesting to hear from Snow's point of view and to see that he actually has a heart lol.

Looking forward to reading more!

[Maya]

Alaina wrote: "29%: [spoilers removed]"

Oh my gosh, yes!! That was cray cray! I audibly gasped.

[Kelly]

I just bought the audiobook with Audible. Hopefully I'll get to it before the end of the challenge :P

[Alaina]

Maya wrote: "Alaina wrote: "29%: [spoilers removed]"

Oh my gosh, yes!! That was cray cray! I audibly gasped."

hahaha YES!

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "I just bought the audiobook with Audible. Hopefully I'll get to it before the end of the challenge :P"

DO IT!

[Kelly]

Alaina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I just bought the audiobook with Audible. Hopefully I'll get to it before the end of the challenge :P"

DO IT!"

THE PRESSURE lol

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I just bought the audiobook with Audible. Hopefully I'll get to it before the end of the challenge :P"

DO IT!"

THE PRESSURE lol"

You're welcome :D

[Kelly]

I'm at Chapter 22/52 and so far, I'm liking it but I feel like the audiobook could have been better for such a popular author / series? I might think that because I just listened to Illuminae which was amazing.

(view spoiler)[ Listening about the tenth hunger games when it was just the beginning is interesting. I feel like the girl is manipulating him into thinking she has feelings for him and then she'll break his heart and it'll be another excuse to treat district people badly? Just a theory. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Chapter 28/52 : (view spoiler)[His teacher (the dr with the snakes) is creepy. I didn't expect Snow to end up in the arena, even for a short while. I'm guessing Lucy is going to win and he'll get the scolarship? mmm, we'll see. I liked that he tried to give her scent to the snakes but his reasons aren't selfless. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 32/52 (view spoiler)[ "he'd won glory, a future and maybe love too." Yeaaaaah, I don't think you're going to get what you want, buddy. Or maybe I'm wrong. It's funny (but not really) how everyone congratulates him etc when he wasn't the one who had to survive etc.

Wait, wut? President Snow got sent as a peacekeeper? (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Alaina wrote: "58%: [spoilers removed]"

Lol same here

[Kelly]

Chapter 43/52 : (view spoiler)[I was wrong about Lucy but I don't think it's going to end well. Snow is jealous & controlling. And him saying you should "kill them all" (about the birds) creeped me out. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "I'm at Chapter 22/52 and so far, I'm liking it but I feel like the audiobook could have been better for such a popular author / series? I might think that because I just listened to Illuminae which..."

Oh yes girl, that audiobook was so good but then again I did listen to this before I dove back into that re-read. SO I enjoyed both so much

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "Chapter 28/52 : [spoilers removed]

Chapter 32/52 "."

OMG YES THE SNAKE PART WAS CAREEPY

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "Chapter 43/52 : [spoilers removed]"

I feel like we always knew something was up with him.. but I did enjoy (view spoiler)[all the mockingjay references in this book (hide spoiler)].

[Kelly]

Alaina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Chapter 43/52 : [spoilers removed]"

I feel like we always knew something was up with him.. but I did enjoy [spoilers removed]."

I re-watched some of the scenes with Snow on youtube and in one of them he was talking about mockingjays and it was nice to have a little more backstory. I almost wanted to re-watch the movies but I have too much to do ^^

[Alaina]

Haha I definitely rewatched the movies after I read the hunger game series

[Meg]

So many plot twists in this book!! Can't believe I found myself rooting for Snow in the first part of this book. I really liked getting to see his backstory.

[Kelly]

Finished - (view spoiler)[ The end was more fast-paced and I was on the edge of my seat. I feel bad for Lucy and now we know more about the song and the origin of the hunger games...

Just a question as I feel I might have missed something listening to the audio. Did he kill her in the hunt? We heard her cry out when he shot in her direction but then I don't think he found her and then he left and went back to base? (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Alaina wrote: "100%: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I'd love to know more about Haymitch :)

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "100%: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I'd love to know more about Haymitch :)"

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Meg]

Kelly wrote: "Finished - The end was more fast-paced and I was on the edge of my seat. I feel bad for Lucy and now we know more about the song and the origin of the hunger games...

Just a question as I feel I ..."

(view spoiler)[
I was wondering the same thing too when I finished! As far as I know, it is a mystery of what happened to her. I feel so bad for her and Sejanus. I don't know why I allow Suzanne Collins to break my heart again after what she did in Mockingjay. (hide spoiler)]