A review by spttsn
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is the first book that made me cry this year, so it gets bonus points just for that.

Coriolanus' internal justification for his actions starts almost acceptable and spirals into truly psychotic - or maybe sociopathic is more correct.  An insight into intense radicalisation that you can't help but keep reading. 

Some say there are pacing issues, and maybe that's true, but I like to believe this was intentional to reflect the story. Everything happening in quick succession leading up to the games, the slowing down in
district 12, almost the calm before the storm
, and the way the end speeds up as
the rest of this man's sanity unravels and he seemingly loses the plot entirely
.

Go into this as spoiler free as you can - I think it will hit different if you don't know certain events are going to happen.
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