A ballad about songbirds and snakes

The novel "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is a prequel to the best-selling trilogy "The Hunger Games"

• The book is presented in a dust jacket before the premiere of the large-scale screen adaptation

The story depicted in the novel takes place 64 years before the main events of the trilogy. During the rebellion of the counties, the influential family of 18-year-old Coriolan Snow lost almost everything. Coriolanus' only chance to return the family to its past greatness and wealth is a scholarship to study at the University. It will be awarded to the winner of the last school project - mentoring work with one of the tributes, participants of the Tenth Hunger Games. Snow must win this reward at all costs, even though he has a slim chance of success. Coriolan's protege, the charismatic Lucy Gray from District 12 is a master of sensationalism, but she is by no means a winner. But the closer they get to know each other, the closer they become. Will young Snow manage to find a balance between true feelings and a thirst for victory, and what will be the price for success?