Scan barcode
aline_o's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
upstate_joy's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
hollyway's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First off, let's just be clear that Suzanne Collins remains a master of the page-turner. This was, on purely an engagement/entertainment level, a great read. But as for the nitty gritty of the story itself... I can tell it's going to take me quite a while to figure out exactly how I feel about it all.
I think one of my issues is sort of fundamental, and it's the reason it took me so long to get around to this in the first place: Coriolanus Snow was never a very mysterious figure to me. I never felt as though I didn't understand him. I never wished for any greater insight into his mind than what we got in The Hunger Games. And despite the fact that I love a morally dubious or straight up villainous protagonist, I didn't find his psyche as presented through his POV in this book to be all that compelling. He wasn't a boring protagonist, but he didn't thrill me either.
But the biggest problem is simply this: I made predictions. I didn't mean to. I am not a person who actively tries to guess the plot, because I KNOW it's a recipe for disappointment. But my brain did it all on its own. By the halfway point, I had subconsciously developed my own ending, which seemed to fit so perfectly with the narrative, themes and character arcs that I couldn't shake it off despite knowing it would most likely not play out the way I imagined. And it didn't, cos it never does. But sometimes it's just really hard to abandon the invented plot that felt so right to you and accept the one in print. I have to wait for the real ending to cement in my brain before I can really judge it.
Anyway, I never expected this to resonate on the same level as The Hunger Games, which ensnares my heart as much as my pulse. I don't know that it really enriched my relationship with the original story but like I said, it was an entertaining and easy read and I really did enjoy it. And as I embark now on my Hunger Games reread, I suppose we'll see what Songbirds and Snakes brings to that experience.
I think one of my issues is sort of fundamental, and it's the reason it took me so long to get around to this in the first place: Coriolanus Snow was never a very mysterious figure to me. I never felt as though I didn't understand him. I never wished for any greater insight into his mind than what we got in The Hunger Games. And despite the fact that I love a morally dubious or straight up villainous protagonist, I didn't find his psyche as presented through his POV in this book to be all that compelling. He wasn't a boring protagonist, but he didn't thrill me either.
But the biggest problem is simply this: I made predictions. I didn't mean to. I am not a person who actively tries to guess the plot, because I KNOW it's a recipe for disappointment. But my brain did it all on its own. By the halfway point, I had subconsciously developed my own ending, which seemed to fit so perfectly with the narrative, themes and character arcs that I couldn't shake it off despite knowing it would most likely not play out the way I imagined. And it didn't, cos it never does. But sometimes it's just really hard to abandon the invented plot that felt so right to you and accept the one in print. I have to wait for the real ending to cement in my brain before I can really judge it.
Anyway, I never expected this to resonate on the same level as The Hunger Games, which ensnares my heart as much as my pulse. I don't know that it really enriched my relationship with the original story but like I said, it was an entertaining and easy read and I really did enjoy it. And as I embark now on my Hunger Games reread, I suppose we'll see what Songbirds and Snakes brings to that experience.
sparklytea13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
autumnleigh22's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
4.25
yourlocalredpanda's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
admiralvv's review against another edition
5.0
I found Coriolanus Snow to be one of the most complex and fascinating protagonists for a book in a long while.
beckeal's review against another edition
4.0
Well. I’m glad I read it. But there’d better be a gosh-darned sequel.
3 good things:
- The steady threat — from Snow’s iffy moral compass, from the people already in power, from the people who’re desperate, and from the environments. I was vaguely suspicious of everything. All the time. But in a good way.
- The establishment of Snow as a reasonable person living a reasonable life. Surprisingly believable.
- Some unfinished bits — a few mysteries we’re left to wonder about. I like that!
3 less good things:
- The Part I, Part II, Part III format. Which sometimes works. But in this case it just felt conveeeenient. An easy out for 3 stories that actually don’t belong between the same 2 covers.
- Sloppy pacing. Too fast, too slow, super-sonic! All the while, anticipating the catalyst(s) for — and final unveiling of — Snow’s moral shift. In the end, although conceptually passable, it was heart-breakingly unsupported.
- The rest of the unfinished bits — a few mysteries that felt like lazy loose ends. I don’t like that.
I think I could’ve loved it, but then they ran out of time ... “What? My deadline is WHEN?” *Hammers frantically on the keyboard. Hits Send.* Aaaaand publish.
3 good things:
- The steady threat — from Snow’s iffy moral compass, from the people already in power, from the people who’re desperate, and from the environments. I was vaguely suspicious of everything. All the time. But in a good way.
- The establishment of Snow as a reasonable person living a reasonable life. Surprisingly believable.
- Some unfinished bits — a few mysteries we’re left to wonder about. I like that!
3 less good things:
- The Part I, Part II, Part III format. Which sometimes works. But in this case it just felt conveeeenient. An easy out for 3 stories that actually don’t belong between the same 2 covers.
- Sloppy pacing. Too fast, too slow, super-sonic! All the while, anticipating the catalyst(s) for — and final unveiling of — Snow’s moral shift. In the end, although conceptually passable, it was heart-breakingly unsupported.
- The rest of the unfinished bits — a few mysteries that felt like lazy loose ends. I don’t like that.
I think I could’ve loved it, but then they ran out of time ... “What? My deadline is WHEN?” *Hammers frantically on the keyboard. Hits Send.* Aaaaand publish.
melirryd's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5