The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Hunger games had a prequel and I just finished it.

I was surprised to know it was written from President Snow's point of view, Corionlanus Snow. It's a strange thing to read about the antoganist in the series.You know you can't love him cause what he's done is unforgivable but you can't hate him either. Why?, that's because your learning why and how he came to be like that. 

What I liked best where the many twists and unraveling of his mind. I felt that it was strange that the 10th hunger Games were never mentioned even once in the series until Dr. Gaul(the crazy head gamemaker) reveals to Snow that the footage of the games had been wiped clean. He had been the mentor for the district 12 girl in the games, Lucy Gray Baird. They were the first games that had mentors and it had been then that sponsor's were introduced. The games are a lot more improved when Katniss volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games.

Corionlanus's parents were dead, he'd lived with his cousin, Tigris (whose parents had met the same fate) and their grandmother whom they loving called grandma'am. They had been still recovering from the war and had lost all their fortune with district 13. They kept up appearances and people still believed them rich. He was the top student at the academy.

He falls in love with Lucy Gray. He is thought to be a close friend of Sejanus Plinth, a boy from District 2 whose father bought their way into the capitol. Snow dislikes him because even though he had been bought up in the capitol in the finest way possible he still calls district 2 his home. Corionlanus known as Coryo in his youth has another reason to hate Sejanus, he's jealous of him. He gets all the luxuries  Corionlanus assumes the Snow's deserve.

He aims at winning the games for the added prize that Strabo Plinth offers to cover his son's recent rebel sympathizing action, Free education at the University which he greatly desired. For this he cheated in the games. his actions are discovered and he's given a choice to face public humiliation or become a peacekeeper. He' forced to choose the latter and thinks it's the end of his life. Later, he asks to be assigned at district 12.

Here none of his bunkmates recognise him, his only hope is meeting Lucy Gray who as a victor had been sent back to district 12. But when Sejanus joins him there and gives him his graduation certificate along with the news that he could take a test for becoming a officer, his spirits lift. He had once saved Sejanus from the arena and killed a tribute in self-defense. Sejanus was district in the heart and believed that the districts were treated badly. He disapproved of the games and belived in equality.

At district 12 they would go to the hob to listen to Lucy Gray and her band sing. One such night when Corionlanus followed Sejanus out into a shed behind the hob being suspicious about his actions lately. The scene ends up with mayor's daughter, Mayfir Lipp and Lucy Gray's ex, Billy Taupe dead. Corionlanus had killed Mayfair and was scared for his life when the other shooter was found by the peacekeepers, but he died soon due to injuries.

Sejanus was hanged for treason. He had confessed about a plan that included him helping a rebel prisoner escape and then run off with them to Corionlanus. Corionlanus had recorded this and it had found it's way to the capitol into Dr Gaul's hand. Even though he knew that Sejanus had considered him a brother. He grieved for him and I sincerely hoped Sejanus knew who betrayed him. But, we never know.

Now that he had lost the only true friend he had and Lucy Gray being targeted by the mayor for killing his daughter, they plan to run off together. But that morning Snow is told he's been selected for the Officer post and will be sent to district 2 for training. But he still goes with a heavy heart knowing that the gun with his fingerprints will be found soon and he would be executed. 

Both meet up at the place decided on walk to the lake in the forest. They get inside a shelter near the lake when i starts to rain heavily and Corionlanus finds a bag with the gun he had used to kill Mayfair.   There's another twist in which Lucy gray turns on Corionlanus and attempts to kill him after knowing he was responsible for Sejanus's death. Corionlanus manages to escape with a snakebite and Lucy Gray remains a mystery just like the girl from the ballad she was named after. 

Corionlanus dumps the bag deep into the lake and goes back to the peackeeper base where he gets himself some medicine for the snake bite. The next day instead of being taken to district 2 he's brought to the capitol. Here Dr. Gaul tells him she never planned to let him go to waste and tells him the peacekeepers was a summer vacation for him. Another way to learn a lesson. He was to study under her from now on.

In the epilogue we see that Corionlanus gets all he ever desired and thinks he deserved. Sejanus's parents take care of his family

It's distressing to know the reason Dean Casca Highbottom hates Snow. His father and the dean had been best friends, during their high school days the idea of hunger games had been penned down by Casca for an assignment when drunk. He had thought of it as a joke but Crassus Snow had submitted it for the grades. It was immediately put into effect by Dr' Gaul and the dean regretted it ever since. He tells him so when Snow is brought back to the Capitol after his peacekeeping days. Snow slips some poison into one of the morphling bottles that he dumps in his waste-bin. Knowing the dean would pick it.  

Argh, now I hate him more than ever...

I can't help thinking what if they were never poor, what if Dr.Gaul never existed, what if Snow wasn't so ambitious, what if Sejanus could have swayed him and most of all what if Lucy Gray was never what we though she was...

It was overwhelming to know "The Hanging Tree" was composed by Lucy Gray, inspired by Billy Taupe and sung to Corionlanus Snow!!!! 

What more can I say, 

Snow lands on top 

Even though he doesn't deserve it.