The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

A Hunger Games Novel

By: Suzanne Collins

Narrated by: Santino Fontana

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.

©2020 Suzanne Collins (P)2020 Scholastic Inc.

Narration not good- turn up speed.

While the story is, as expected, good, the narrator is pretty disappointing. Up the speed to 1.1- it helps.

Loved it..

I liked this book so much. The narrator is great for the POV he is portraying. I wish they had gotten a girl to play Lucy and sing her songs but that’s just my opinion. Otherwise, this book and the reading of it is great.

Riveting Prequel to the Hunger Games

If you’re anything like me, you’ve read the hunger games multiple times! This prequel focuses on how Snow became Snow. Taking a look at Coriolanus Snow’s youth as a mentor in the 10th Hunger Games to a girl from District 12. The entire time listening, I was making connections with the later books and interpreting a different dynamic between what will become President Snow and Katniss Everdeen’s relationship.
Both satisfying and tragic, this book left me only wanting more!

Very well done

I was hesitant to listen to this book, since I didn’t understand how a follow-up to the hunger games could be any good, especially a prequel. A family member really wanted it, though, so I got it for them and decided to listen to it too. I was pleasantly surprised about how much I liked it.

good book bad reading

the guy who reads this does the womens voices horribly and I feel like the cadence is off with his interpretation of the dialog.

If you like The Hunger Games trilogy...

...then this is a no-brainer. I’m not sure why all the hate for Santino Fontana, the narration is just fine and he transparently blends himself into the story as a good narrator should. Very interesting getting to know some of the background behind President Snow’s character.

so great

this was an amazing addition to the hunger games it adds some amazing background

Awesome! Did not disappoint.

I loved this! Suzanne Collins needs to keep this series going! Now waiting for the movie!

Narrators a bit dry

Speeding up to 1.1 helps a lot with the pacing and weirdly feels more natural for this narrators monotone reading, he does a fine job I think he’s just reading a bit slow ...maybe for accuracy?

Maturation of Storytelling

You can feel the story is more mature and deals with more of the roots of the politics of Panem through the eyes of Snow. You can see the roots of a villain.