We wanted a The Hunger Games prequel, we did. Suzanne Collins wasn’t wrong about that. When the book was first announced, I remember thinking: how cool, there’s so many characters I would like to know more about! Haymitch. Effie. Mags.
Instead, the prequel, titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (out May 19), is all about … Coriolanus Snow.
Who asked for this? Who wanted it? No, really …can you point me towards anyone?
The news was confirmed by EW, which released a excerpt from the book – one that, admittedly, I stopped reading midway through because I just have no words to explain how very little I care about the VILLAIN OF THE SERIES being painted in a favorable light.
To make matters worse, we all know how Snow’s story ends, and we know that, even to his last moment, he remained …well, not exactly a good guy. Sure, people are complicated, but not all villains need a full-fledged “This is what made him who he is” story. Hell, not even Darth Vader really did.
We’re now all mature enough to admit Obi-Wan was the only good part of the prequels, anyway.
Back to The Hunger Games, I will at least say this: I’m glad they didn’t keep the identity of this mysterious protagonist a secret till the book came out. At least I can take this off my TBR pile and continue on with my life of not humanizing men who created an entire oppression/torture system build on child murder.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be available May 19th.
