The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

This prequel to the Hunger Games series follows the story of young Coriolanus Snow, who will eventually rise to become the tyrannical President of Panem. In the days leading up to the 10th annual Hunger Games, 18-year-old Snow is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the tribute from impoverished District 12. The novel explores themes of power, human nature, and survival as Snow navigates the treacherous political landscape and the moral complexities of the Games.