10 must-read SFF book releases to help you escape from reality this May
By Lacy Baugher
The next chapter. May 19. Welcome to the 10th Annual Hunger Games. #HungerGames #TheHungerGames #SongbirdsAndSnakes pre-order now pic.twitter.com/fWtFbtPb9o
— The Hunger Games Series (@songbirdssnakes) April 18, 2020
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Suzanne Collins
Probably the most anticipated book release of May 2020 in any genre – if not of 2020 entirely – is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. A prequel to her mega-bestselling Hunger Games trilogy, this novel has fans everywhere freaking out at the possibility of returning to the world of Panem.
Only, this is maybe not the story most of us were hoping for.
Songbirds and Snakes is indeed a prequel. And it does tell the story of an earlier edition of the infamous Games about which the series was based. But…it’s probably not the one you cared about. Let’s be real — we all wanted the story of a young Mags, victor of the 11th Hunger Games and the woman who would ultimately volunteer to take the place of Annie Cresta during the Quarter Quell Katniss participated in.)
Instead, this book is the story of a young Cornelius Snow, long before he was one of the primary villains of Collins’ trilogy. And, in short: It’s a prequel story most of us never asked for.
The official synopsis does make the story sound kind of exciting though. Even though we know who this young Cornelius will grow up to become.
"It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the 10th annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, 18-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 out charm, 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."
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is available on May 19.