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‘Snow Lands on Top�� is Coriolanus Snow’s family motto. But what will his belief cost those around him?

Sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games and forty years before Haymitch Abernathy’s backstory in Sunrise on the Reaping we again open on the day of the reaping ceremony, but this time we are in the Capitol for the 10th Hunger Games.

Before he was President Snow of Panem, Coriolanus Snow was an eighteen-year-old about to graduating from the Academy �� the most prestigious secondary school in the Capitol. For the first time in history each tribute from the districts is to be assigned mentors �� made up of twenty-four students from the Academy. As a high-honour student, and because the name ‘Snow�� carries weight in the Capitol, Coriolanus is certain he will be paired with a tribute from either District’s 1 or 2, which is why he is shocked beyond belief to end up with the District 12 girl. What hope does she have of winning? Because Coriolanus Snow is a winner!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was the darkness instalment of the series for two reasons �� Coriolanus was not a sympathetic character, and I was never rooting for him (don’t let his charm fool you), and the pre-game treatment of the tributes, and the Games themselves were even more brutal and primitive. I know that seems impossible, but it was. It was also one of my favourite books of the series because as horrendous as he was, Coriolanus was a fascinating and compelling character, and by the end of the novel I could completely envision teenage Coriolanus Snow as the evil future President Snow. I loved how each of the three parts were separate story arcs but also merged and impacted the overall plot. I’m 33 minutes into the movie, and so far I’ve noticed that they’re making Coriolanus kinder than the book. Will see if that trend continues.

There were several scenes in Sunrise on the Reaping that make even more sense now having read this one, and the spoiler I uncovered by reading Sunrise first didn’t turn out to be as big of a deal as I thought �� there were much bigger shocks and surprises in store. Those last few chapters, and how it all came together �� whoa!

A part of me is sad I’m all caught up with this universe, I’ve really enjoyed reading Sunrise and Ballad, but am planning to re-read The Hunger Games trilogy again soon as I haven’t written reviews for Catching Fire or Mockingjay yet. Please write more of this series Suzanne Collins. I’d be happy with anything but would really love Finnick Odair’s story.