The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

 The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - 528 pages

Ambition will fuel him.
Competition will drive him.
But power has its price.

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-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 outcharm, 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.

Opinion: I enjoyed this book, though not as much as the original trilogy. It was still a great book that is well written, I'll just always have a special place in my heart for Katniss's and Peeta's story. It was interesting to get some of the history of the games, though, and to see practices forming that were standard in the original trilogy. I don't know if anyone else was on social media back when this book/the movie came out--where people started to lowkey have a crush on Snow--but after (and before, but especially after) I don't know how anyone could?? I was constantly rolling my eyes because he sucks as a person. I don't know how anyone could read it and land on sympathizing with him. 

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins

 The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins-374 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Katniss Everdeen is 16 and doing her best to feed herself and her family in District 12 of Panem. District 12 is the poorest of the districts and putting food on the table is not easy. However, Katniss can hunt and often brings back squirrels and other meat to trade in the Hob. On Reaping Day, Katniss hopes that neither she nor Gale nor her sister Prim is chosen. In a nightmare scenario, her sister Prim (who is 12 and has only 1 slip in the drawing) is drawn as the girl tribute. Katniss volunteers as tribute and now must compete in the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark is the boy tribute for District 12. This is the story of Katniss and Peeta's harrowing experience in the 74th Hunger Games. 

I previously read this and have watched the movie several times, but this is our next selection for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book to Movie Club and it fits right in with this month's blog challenge. I liked it the first time and nothing changed in that regard on this second reading. It feels like a very timely book (along with the rest of the series) considering current events. 

 

Matched by Ally Condie

Pages : 366

If you haven't seen the movie The Lobster, you should. This book reminded me of a younger version of that movie. Though instead of being turned into Animals for not finding a life partner, they just get exiled.   

In this book love is not something you get to choose. It is distracting and can cause damage emotionally and physically sometimes if things don't work out. Something that isn't far from the truth in real life. So the government took that choice away and instead created an algorithm that chooses for you. Based off interests, compatibility, and longevity. They over see everything. The initial ceremony ball, the dates, the wedding. Your entire life is planned out. You can't even write, or read things that are not permitted. You know those little Knick Knacks that hold sentimental value for you? Those would all have to go to a museum. An if you dream to long, it is flagged. So many things are controlled in this world. 

Cassie wanted that, she wanted to fit into that neat little box. Be shown her partner and live her life. Except someone else had other plans. At her Ceremony she was shown not one but two men. One was her best friend. The safe choice. The other was a kid from the wrong side of things, that she was told to forget. Yet once shown an option its hard not to want to explore both sides. What could go wrong, except for well everything.  

I could go on and on about how this book was a great read but then id probably end up spoiling it all. Also bonus points because it is apart of a series. So you don't have to say goodbye to the characters after book one. 

 

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

454 pages

Personal Opinion, this book was kinda mid. 

I think the first book was so good and then I started this one expecting it to be just as good. The book bounced between chapters of Scarlet's POV and Cinder's POV. Scarlet was just hitchhiking with another character Wolf to find her grandmother who had been kidnapped. Cinder was aboard a spacecraft with another felon and had an identity crisis the whole book. 

I didn't hate it, but it definitely had that " filler episode" kind of vibe the whole book. 

I still plan to read the third book because from what I googled, the third gets better. We will see.