My Top Ten LGBT+ Book Characters

This beautiful Malec fanart
is credited to Noksindra. 

Hello readers! Being the LGBT+ pride weekend, I decided to write two posts and not just one. The previous one was a book tag, and this one is of my own creation. In this post, I will be writing about my top ten favorite LGBT+ book characters. I tried to put them in order, which was hard, but here we go! 

10- Juniper Andromeda, from the "Crescent City" series by Sarah J. Maas. 

Credits to  Sncinderart.

Juniper is a faun, a very talented dancer, and a friend to the series' protagonist Bryce Quinlan. Juniper is a very sweet and caring friend, and a firm believer in the power of therapy. Being a faun, she's also entirely vegan. She was thought to be just close friends with another friend, Fury Axtar, but the two are actually girlfriends. 

9- Princess Hasar, from the "Throne of Glass" series by Sarah J. Maas.

Credits go to lumbob.art on Instagram. 

Hasar is a very strong woman, who doesn't take anyone's crap, and tells people's truths on their faces. She is sassy, vindictive when she has to be, and very comfortable and open with her sexuality. She is headstrong, fierce, a brilliant strategist, and a caring girlfriend to her beloved Reina. 

8- Eliot Waugh, from "The Magicians" trilogy by Lev Grossman. 

Credits are given to Waxanie. 

Eliot is a magician in the Brakebills School for Magical Pedagogy. At the beginning of the trilogy, he lacks self-love and self-esteem (always sleeping with guys who treated him like garbage), he's almost an alcoholic, he's a chain-smoker, a cynic, and doesn't really care about others or takes on responsibilities. He used to follow a more hedonistic lifestyle. But by becoming a king in the magical land of Fillory, he evolves into someone more mature, with a healthier lifestyle, responsible, and with a better self-esteem. 

7- Anna Lightwood, from "The Last Hours" trilogy by Cassandra Clare. 

I couldn't find the artist,
but all credits go to them. 

Being a teenager in the 1900's, Anna defied all society expectations. She cropped her hair, and wore only men's clothes, all the while pursuing a relationship with her dearly beloved Ariadne. She's not only an amazing Shadowhunter warrior, but she's also very fun at parties, a great conversationalist, and has a very huge and tender heart. Even though afraid at first to show her true self, her mother and the rest of her family supported her 100% from the start, giving her the courage to live as herself. 

6- Alex Fierro, from the "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard" trilogy by Rick Riordan. 

Credits to the artist!

Alex is from Mexican descent, and a child to the Norse god Loki. Alex has the power of shape shifting, and is a brave and sassy warrior. Alex is gender-fluid; in Alex's case, they are mostly female but have some male days. Alex is also transgender, and has no shame or shyness to show who they truly are. Alex suffered a lot, being thrown away from their house by their mortal stepfather, and was homeless for many years, representing the struggles of many young people of the LGBT+ community. Alex is currently in a relationship with fellow demigod Magnus Chase. 

5- Aline Penhallow and Helen Blackthorn, from the "Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare. 

Credits to the artist!

I couldn't pick just one of them! Helen and Aline are a pair of married Shadowhunter women, who are not only super sweet together, but can kick any demon's ass. Not only that, but they're also a biracial couple: Helen being white and half-fae, and Aline being Asian. They were physically separated by the Shadowhunter laws for Helen being half-fae (long story) but they fought against all circumstances to be together again. They are currently planning on adopting a child. 

4- Baz Pitch, from "Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell. 

Credits to Ink Owl. 

Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch is a vampire and a mage (magician) who studied magic with Simon Snow (the Chosen One) since they were children. Baz has been in love with Simon for years, but it wasn't until recently that he admitted it. Simon also came to terms with his feelings for Baz, and they became a couple. Baz is dark, mysterious, and very protective of his boyfriend. He's also very smart, loyal to his family, and overall a good friend. Also, he's completely gorgeous- but that's beside the point. 

3- Wallace Wells, from the "Scott Pilgrim vs the World" by Bryan Lee O'Malley. 

Credits to the artist. 

Wallace is Scott Pilgrim's best friend and roommate. He is very sarcastic, responsible, and eventually kicks out Scott of their apartment, which helps Scott become a better adult. Wallace can have an apathetic mood towards situations sometimes, but he cares even if doesn't show it. Wallace is very open about being gay, and he has a serious thing for guys with glasses. He disapproves of Scott cheating on his couples, and tries to help him be a more mature and conscious person. 

2- Diana Wrayburn, from the "Dark Artifices" trilogy by Cassandra Clare. 

Credits are due to Oblivions Dreams.

This beautiful Shadowhunter created by Cassandra Clare is the first transsexual character in her series. Diana sought for medical help in the mundane world, something forbidden for Shadowhunters, but she did so she could be her true self. She has a fish tattoo on her cheek, and is described by the trilogy's protagonist as "the most beautiful woman ever seen." She is also extremely kind, caring and elegant. Diana has kept her trans sexuality hidden from her Shadowhunter community for fear of their reaction, but as the secret comes out, she finds more love and acceptance that she ever dreamed of. She's currently in a relationship with a male fae.   

1- Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood, from the "Mortal Instruments" by Cassandra Clare. 

Credits to Roits Something. 

Such as with Aline and Helen, I couldn't pick just one here. Magnus is an immortal warlock, flamboyant, extravagant, a party animal with many secrets. Alec is a Shadowhunter warrior, fierce, dedicated, with a huge heart. Magnus was Alec's first kiss and boyfriend, and their love inspired Alec to come out to his family and peers. Even though they were looked down at first, they didn't let this tarnish their love. They evolved as individuals and as a couple, eventually marrying and adopting two boys: a baby warlock, and a Shadowhunter boy from Argentina. Not only that, but they are also a biracial couple, as Alec is white and Magnus Asian. Reading their romantic scenes is really so beautiful; they are excellent parents and heroes, and their love is touching to say the least.  

That's the end for this post! Thank you everyone for reading as always. To my LGBT+ community: keep fighting, and stay strong. We are as strong as we are united. May love always win, and may our pride grow throughout the years. Happy Pride! 

P.S The "Shades of Magic" trilogy by V. E. Schwab also has a very beautiful gay couple, and they are everything to me. 

 

Pride Flag Book Tag

Love wins people! 

Greetings everyone! As many of you might know, this weekend we're celebrating LGBT+ pride. Therefore, in my community's honor and relating it to my love for books, I decided to write a book tag inspired by the colors of our flag. This tag was originally created by Common Spence on YouTube, so go ahead and check it out! The link to the video is in the YouTuber’s name.  

For this tag I will be answering six book-related questions, all inspired by the colors of the LGBT+ flag. Beside the color, I will be mentioning what each of them means. Without further due, let's get started! 

1- Red (Life): A book with a spirited protagonist totally proud of  who they are; someone who gives you life! 

I've said it many times: 
Sarah J. Maas is a goddess. 

Aelin Galathynius might be the closest character to my heart of all I've ever read. Aelin went through horrible things and trauma throughout her life, from being tortured to almost being murdered. But she refused to be broken; her will to live was way too strong for that. No matter what happened, she always got back up and conquered not only her enemies, but her fears as well. "You could rattle the stars, you could do anything, if only you dare." Aelin got me through the worst days of depression, for which I will be eternally grateful. 

2- Orange (Healing): A book that made you find a deeper meaning or catharsis in your own life. 

"I found god in myself
and I loved her fiercely."

This choreopoem by Ntozake Shange has shaken me to the core. I haven't read it completely yet, but I have read most of the poems here, and let me tell you... they're something else. They have made me reflect upon my life, my sexuality, my identity, and the great importance of self-love. I can't wait to read it all. "My spirit is too ancient to understand the separation of soul & gender/ my love is too delicate to have thrown back on my face..."

3- Yellow (Sunlight): A book that fills you with so much joy it could brighten even your darkest day. 

Not only the first book, 
but the whole series!

This whole series by Soman Chainani just brings me so much joy while reading it. To summarize it, it's about two best friends called Sophie and Agatha who are taken to the School for Good and Evil. Sophie thought that being blond, beautiful and gracious she would be trained to be a princess in Good; Agatha, always gloomy and dressing in black, believed she would be educated to be a witch in Evil. But they were each taken to the opposite school: Sophie to the School for Evil, and Agatha to the School for Good. From there the story just picks up in a most magical and imaginative way. Each chapter is filled with adventure and wonder, always leaving me craving more. 

4- Green (Nature): A book that is set out of this world- a reality different to our own. 

This beauty is just
AMAZING!

For this question I could have picked literally any book from my bookshelf hahaha. But I chose "Dorothy Must Die" by Danielle Paige, a book and a series that got me through my last years of college and my first year as a teacher. In this reality, Dorothy has returned to Oz and become its queen. Aided by her past friends and Glinda, she has been destroying the land by taking all of its magic and torturing its inhabitants. One day, a new girl from Kansas arrives in a tornado. Her name is Amy Gumm, and she is recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. Her mission? Remove the Scarecrow's brain, steal the Tin Man's heart, take the Lion's courage, and kill Dorothy. 

5- Blue (Peace): A book where one of the characters find peace with a difficult truth. 

Sansa Stark is the best. 
Change my mind, I dare you. 

In the third installment of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R. R. Martin, a thousand things happen and many characters must come to terms with the events. But I chose to focus on my favorite: Sansa Stark. Most of her family is murdered, she is married into the family who destroyed her own, she's used by her "friends", she's blamed for a murder, she's kidnapped, and is almost murdered by her aunt. In short, Sansa has to deal with a lot of crap; girl can't take a break! But she slowly accepts her reality and tries to make the best of it. Sansa evolves continuously, learns from her mistakes, and grows stronger. This quote from her is very close to me, "My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel."

6- Purple (Spirit): A book that deals with LGBT+ themes and religion. 

*Cries in gay.*

Simon and Baz are EVERYTHING. "Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell is one of the most beautiful LGBT+ books and romances I've ever read. Imagine a gay version of Harry Potter where Draco and Harry are in love; throw in some more magic, unexpected traitors and villains, an intense romance, vampires, magic swords, true love and you got the perfect recipe for a brilliant LGBT+ romance. I cannot recommend this gem enough. Like I said, Simon and Baz are everything. 

That would be all for this post. To my fellow members of the LGBT+ community: always stand proud and strong. Our fight doesn't end at equal marriages and adoption. We are still murdered and discriminated constantly just for BEING. May our fight continue, and our pride grow stronger. A huge hug for all of you. 

P.S The "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard" by Rick Riordan (the genius who gave us Percy Jackson) is a very good LGBT+ trilogy, so go and check it out too. 

 

Journey to the Past

Welcome back readers! For this Sunday's post, I will go into a personal reflection, based on my experiences during this weekend. To introduce this very quickly, I was having a very hard week. I began studying again, preparing to be a Montessori teacher, and let's just say this week made me cry more than once. I've had anxiety attacks, existential crisis and many moments of self-doubt. To make it short, I was being kicked in the butt.  

Someday I'll sleep again. 

On Friday, I received a message from a family group chat I'm in, reminding everyone of the small get-together they would be having on Saturday. 

I was very hesitant to go, since I hadn't seen this part of my family around 12 or 13 years (give or take a few). But a part of me yearned for it. I can't explain it, but I felt a deep ache, a need to go. Blood calls for blood I guess. So, I got in my car and drove to their hometown, which is not as far from mine as I originally thought. I was so nervous; I couldn't stop shaking when I arrived and parked. I didn't know if they would recognize me, if they would accept me. After all, the last time I had being with them I was no older than 11. But then I saw them... and every bad feeling and doubt went away. 

I've always related to Anastasia. 
Now more than ever. 

Going a little backwards, I used to stay with them for several days when I was a kid. They would come to my hometown and take me with them for weekends or a whole week. Those were the happiest days of my childhood. Every moment with them felt like an adventure. I was lighter than air, the sun shone brighter, the laughs were louder, and life was sweeter. I remember wishing those days would never end. I was away from school and my bullies, which was perfect. Plus, all of them were always so kind and caring. I've never found such kindness, love and passion for life anywhere else.  

Don't get me wrong, I loved my family back at home too, especially and mostly my mother. But I was never close with this side of my family. There were too many secrets, coldness, pain and resentment. Everyone was very indifferent, and never close. My mom was my safe place, in many ways; she was an exception to all that coldness. Nevertheless, you can see there was a strong contrast between the two sides of my family. Probably you can understand why I cherished those days I was away so much.

It was a time of innocence. Pure and simple innocence. As long as I was in my uncle's arms, and I heard my aunt laugh, and I spent time with my cousins, I was safe. Nothing and no one could bother me. There were no problems, there was only peace. It was home. 

Then, well... life happened, I guess. Responsibilities took over. We couldn't see each other so frequently anymore. I grew up like all children do. Life got harder, and we drifted apart. Even though we loved each other, we lost that connection for some years. As I grew up, I naturally lost that innocence. I matured, got my heart broken a couple of times, graduated from high school and then college, becoming a teacher; like they say in "Grey's Anatomy", life is a carousel and you can't stop it. 

Now, going back to present day, I met with most of them again. I can say without a doubt that I haven't felt this happy in years. Seeing them together again, laughing, dancing, joking, it was as if I was 10 years old all over again. For those moments I didn't care about the damn virus. I needed those hugs like lungs need air. The first one I saw was my uncle, to whom I am closer than with most relatives. Let me tell you: that hug and that kiss from him made me feel like something on the inside was fixing, something I never realized was broken. After greeting him I saw my aunt, who is the one of the funniest and most lovable people I've ever met. I greeted and hugged my cousins- kind, sweet and fun as ever. In summary, I was home again. 

There were no responsibilities, no pain, no fear, no cares. I lived in the present, without worrying for tomorrow. My heart was bursting out of my chest. I couldn't stop talking to them, hugging them; I needed them so much, I just never realized how so. We talked about our heartbreaks, our jobs, current events, other relatives, and I had an amazing conversation with one of my cousins about books! It was magic; every single second was pure magic. 

How can I describe what it really felt like? How can I explain how my heart felt just by watching them smile? How do I begin to describe how safe I felt in their arms? I felt so... ALIVE, as I haven't felt in years. Needless to say, when the time came for me to go back to my house, it was hard to say the least. As if I was being ripped from them again; I couldn't stop crying the way back home. It was such a bittersweet feeling, ripping me from the inside out. But I know this isn't the end. 

Since now I have my car, I can visit them more often. We're already planning more days to see each other; for that I am eternally grateful and happy. I won't let so much time pass again without seeing them. When my summer classes finish, I sure as hell will go visit again. I hope for a future with them as bright as our past. 

To summarize, I realized some very beautiful things; maybe deep down I knew them, but I needed to hear and experience them. I am more loved than I imagined, I am not alone, and no wound is so deep than it can't be healed with time and support. I also realized how much I missed and loved them, how much I longed for those days; as some people say, you never really know a moment's value until that moment becomes a memory. I just wish my grandfather was still with us so I could see him again as well. 

If one of them ever reads this, remember that I love you, even if I don't always say it. 

With hopes I see you guys again soon, 

Ema.  

PS. Happy father's day! Especially to my uncle, and my stepfather too- that man is really amazing and wonderful. 

The Summer Book Tag

Since summer is practically here, one of my best friends suggested a summer book tag for the blog. Sweetie, if you're reading this, I am very thankful for the idea; you're amazing.  

 

I found this tag on A Book Lovers Playlist so make sure to visit her page because it's amazing and gorgeous!

For this tag, I will be answering nine summer-based questions, all of them with the purpose of relating this season to books. And as we know, books are always beautiful and important, especially during these days. Also, I love doing book tags; I have so much fun writing them! 

Without further due, let's start! 

1- What book cover makes you think of summer? 

This is "Mermaid" by Carolyn Turgeon, and it's a retelling of the classic "Little Mermaid" story by Hans Christian Andersen. In this version, the little mermaid meets the princess whom the prince marries in the end. We follow both of the girls' perspectives, taking a closer look on their motivations for doing what they do, and how both of their lives are in jeopardy. Aside from the plot, just look at this cover! It's beautiful, and it makes me think of the sea. 

2-  What book has brightened your day? 

I've talked about "His Dark Materials" before, so I won't go deep into this. But even though I love the whole series, the first book really makes me happy when I read it. It's my safe place in many ways, and I have fallen deeply in love with the world and characters. It always brings a smile to my face. 

3- Name a book with yellow on it. 

I mean... the book doesn't just have yellow. Everything is yellow. This is the last book in the "Throne of Glass" series by goddess Sarah J. Maas. It might look bright because of its gorgeous coloring, but this book left me in pieces. 

4- What is your favorite summer beach read? 

I cannot stress this enough: "The Lightning Thief" is the embodiment of summer. It's fun, sassy, full of adventure , it's warm, and has beautifully written characters. I have read this book at least six times already, and it gets better every time. Reading this book makes me feel so free and full of energy. It's as if meeting with a very beloved friend. The world seems full of possibility and excitement while reading this, like the first day of summer. 

5- What action book had you running for the ice cream man? 

Good lord this book... I had to take a lot of breaks while reading it. It's very graphic in terms of violence and other content, and the level of darkness is high. The action sequences were also intense, especially by the end. The thing is that many events felt very realistic, and that scared me. Regardless, I did stop my reading a few times to eat something sweet to level the bitterness in here. 

6- What book has left you with a bad ending? 

The "Divergent" trilogy had one of the worst endings I've ever read, an awful thing. I won't write too much or I'll spoil it. But lord... it was so bad. Years have passed and I'm still not over this. 

7- What book gave you the happiest feeling when it ended? 

I believe this is one of the most beautiful books I've read in my life. The whole story is amazing, but the ending is so warm and sweet, like a calm summer afternoon. "Little Women" makes me think of my childhood, of happier summer days, my family, and the possibility of more summers full of dreams. 

8- What book cover reminds you of a sunset? 

Sunsets are my favorite part of the day. They fill me with nostalgia, peace and warmth, all at the same time. The cover of "The Great Gatsby" reminds of those feelings. The combination of colors, the look of the city, and Daisy Buchanan's eyes are simple but filled with so much beauty and sorrow. Just like a sunset. 

9- What is one book series you hope to read this summer? 

I began reading "House of Earth and Blood", the first book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas. There's still only one book because it just started. But it's amazing, like everything Maas writes, and I'm definitely planning on continuing reading the series as it progresses.  

This is the end for the summer book tag! Hope you liked it, and I'll see you guys next Sunday. Take care! 

P.S. I'd love to read "The Lightning Thief" by the beach someday. 

"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" Spoiler Free Review

Oh dear lord... this book. 

Welcome back readers. For today's post, we will be discussing the new "Hunger Games" book by Suzanne Collins called "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes". It is a prequel to the original trilogy, taking place 64 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the games. 

I really like the cover. 

Before we get into the book, I want to look quickly at the symbolism on the cover. As with the other books, this has target circles on the mockingjay, which again will be an important part of the story. Look at the circle on which the mockingjay appears- it's not a solid circle as with the other books, but made up by branches instead. This means, in my opinion, that these Games are just beginning and the story is barely starting. As with the animals, the serpent mostly represents Coriolanus Snow and the mockingjay Lucy Gray (I'll write more about them later on). 

As I said, this book takes place 64 years before Katniss. Therefore, these are the 10th Hunger Games. The story is told from a third-person narrative, focusing on Coriolanus Snow, whom we know will become the greatest villain of this world as Panem's president. He is around 17 to 18 years old, studying at the Academy in the Capitol. For these Games, the game maker Dr. Gaul has proposed something different: that each tribute will have an Academy senior student as their mentor. Coriolanus is then assigned to Lucy Gray, the female tribute from District 12 (Katniss' future home). 

As the story progresses, Snow and Lucy fall in love. Lucy tries to survive the Games, while Snow tries to save the goodness in his heart and the girl he loves, while slowly descending into the evil being we know and loathe. 

The story deals with similar themes to the original trilogy. It's gory at parts, heartbreaking, infuriating, and overall one hell of a ride. Of course, not everything is perfect, and I found myself putting down the book too many times. It was hard to get through at some points, and several parts dragged on a little. To better organize my ideas, I divided them between pros and cons. 

Pros: 

I really enjoyed Lucy Gray's character. She's wildly different from Katniss in terms of personality, and how she carries herself in the Games. She loves color (she mostly wears a rainbow dress), singing and flirting. Lucy is a free spirit with a deep connection with music and mockingjays- hence her representation in the book cover and title. She is not really from District 12, as she is part of a traveling music band that got stuck in 12 after the War. 

Lucy Gray Baird 
Credits to Shrakdraws! 

Another thing I enjoyed was Dr. Gaul. She is the game maker, responsible for designing the Games and bringing new and "entertaining" dangers to the tributes. Think of her as Dolores Umbridge in the Games, with tremendous science knowledge, but with the same sadistic pleasure for torturing. Even though she's a monster through and through, it was fun to read about her. She's not an entirely solid villain, but she was good. Dr. Gaul is the one responsible for most of Snow's corruption. 

Think of this bastard and there you have
Dr. Gaul, but in Capitol fashion. 

The third thing I liked in this book was reading from the Capitol's perspective. You get to see how the rebellion affected them; how some of them fell into things such as cannibalism just to survive during the worst parts of the War; and the way they react to the Games. Their reactions and decisions are seen as inhuman by us readers, and by the Districts too, but the Capitol citizens see them as normal; they were raised with that way of thinking. You also get to see how they justify the Games and all its cruelty, and the way they look at District people. 

This is Panem. 

This leads me to how things used to be, which was very fun to read. The Games are INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT from the ones we are used to. From the arena, to the way the tributes were treated, what happened to the victor, the bets, the mentors relationship with the tributes and so much more. You get to see how these Games started and how they evolved through the decades. 

Last but not least, something I loved were the connections this book made with the original trilogy. The katniss plants make an appearance more than once in District 12. You get to learn and understand why Snow hates the mockingjay so much. The Hanging Tree song is born, and Suzanne Collins does a terrific job explaining not only its meaning, but also its connection to both Snow and Lucy's story. And of course you can see how Snow's vision and ideas change the Games, bringing forth the monstrosity we've come to know. 

There's also a fan theory that Katniss' paternal grandmother appears in this book, as a character from District 12 that Snow gets to meet later in the story. Further into Katniss' character, at one point in the book, Lucy goes to collect the katniss plant, to which Snow replies that the plants were not ready yet; Lucy answers by saying that "two weeks can make a lot of difference." Two weeks was the time that Katniss spent in her first Hunger Games.  

Cons: 

I really didn't like Snow's point of view. Not because the author did a bad job; on the contrary, I think she did it quite well. But Coriolanus Snow is a character very hard to empathize with, you know? Even though he starts "mostly good", he tries to justify all of his horrible deeds, and that is sickening. The way he sees his friends as people to use, and how he looks at Lucy as his possession was very difficult to read. Even though he had multiple chances to change and see the world from the Districts' perspective, he refused to listen and change. He was a monster, period. 

A snake through and through. 
Credits to the artist who drew Snow's young version. 

Another character I didn't like was Sejanus Plinth. He is Snow's friend, and he moved with his family from District 2 to the Capitol. Snow befriends him only because of the many benefits that friendship could bring him. As for Sejanus... lord. He was always supporting the rebels and the Districts despite living in the Capitol, which was something I appreciated. But I hated how he constantly he threw himself in danger without thinking of the consequences for him and his whole family. Even though I liked how he faced Dr. Gaul and the Capitol's ways, he mostly came off as whiny when he talked about Panem's problems. Yes, he did try to do the right thing most of the time. But it's his recklessness that made me mad with frustration, as he was always jumping towards the first little rebellious act he saw. He was annoying for me. 

My mood with Sejanus Plinth. 

As for the romance in this book, I hated it. It came off as forced, full of cringe, possessive and ultimately abusive. I never for a second believed that Coriolanus and Lucy fell in love. For me it was just infatuation, and it was destroyed in a matter of minutes anyways. Even though the romance in the original trilogy is not the best either, believe me: Katniss and Peeta are way better than these two. I ended up appreciating Peeta more. 

I couldn't find the artist, but all credits 
go to them. 

Now, for my personal taste, Lucy Gray's fate was left too open. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against an open ending for a story or for a specific character. It's not my favorite type of ending, but I can live with it. But I think Lucy Gray's fate needed closure. I understand why it wasn't done this way, but still. It was frustrating. 

The last thing I didn't like was the book's pacing. It was very slow, especially in the beginning. Since the story is all from a Capitol's perspective, you don't really go into the Games as we did with Katniss. You are an outsider, watching the Games but not becoming a part of them. That made the story slow in many parts. Also, several moments used to drag on and on with Snow's reflections. Again, I don't have anything against this particular thing, but for me it's unnecessary to spend so much time in someone's reflections. They are important and good, as long as they don't make the plot slow down too much. 

I can't even. 

_____________________________________________________________

In conclusion, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is a good book. Not brilliant, but overall very entertaining and engaging once the plot picks up. The characters are not perfect, most are not fleshed out entirely, but they are fun to read about. I enjoyed reading how Snow fell into darkness and became succumbed by it, even if I didn't like his point of view that much. If you would like to explore how Panem was before Katniss, then this book is for you. Overall, I give this book: 

3/5 stars.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. I will continue doing so with other books. See you next Sunday! 

P.S. I'd like to read another book from Panem. Maybe the story of Alma Coin, who knows?