The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins

I admit I checked out The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes because I needed an audiobook to put on in the background while also watching youtube videos about how to tailor shirts, and I figured this wouldn't be too demanding. And it's true--at no point did I have trouble following the plot or understanding the characters. In spite of that, I found myself actually enjoying it. Setting yourself up to write the backstory of your universe's biggest villain is an incredibly difficult task, and Collins 100% succeeds at it. Convincing plot, authentic character development, a sense of intrigue throughout in spite of knowing how it ultimately comes out--it works. And Coriolanus Snow was just likable enough to follow for 16 hours of audio while still being very convincingly villainous by the end. I bought it all, and I was entertained. And what do I want from the Hunger Games, after all, if not entertainment?