Read the first chapter of Hunger Games prequel Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes now

13 May 2020, 12:46

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Sam  Prance

By Sam Prance

Suzanne Collins has released part of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes for Hunger Games fans to enjoy ahead of the book.

Hunger Games fans, the wait is over. You can start reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The first chapter is out now.

Young adult fiction authors are really coming through in our time of need this year. Becky Abertelli has announced that she is releasing a Love, Simon sequel in June, Stephenie Meyer is blessing us all with a fifth Twilight novel in August and Suzanne Collins is about to drop a Hunger Games prequel that is already being adapted into a film by director Francis Lawrence.

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Now, Collins has put out the first chapter of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ahead of the book next week.

Hunger Games prequel: Read first chapter of Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Hunger Games prequel: Read first chapter of Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Picture: Lionsgate, Scholastic

In an exclusive with Entertainment Weekly, Suzanne Collins has debuted the very first excerpt of the Hunger Games prequel audiobook. No. We're not joking. You can genuinely listen to the entire first chapter of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes right now and, if that weren't exciting enough, it's read by Broadway King and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Santino Fontana.

LISTEN TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE PREQUEL HERE

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes tells the untold story of "an 18-year-old Snow as he prepares for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the 10th Hunger Games. He's up against it, though: His family has fallen on hard times, and he's forced to guide the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Suddenly, their fates are intertwined."

via GIPHY

Suzanne Collins' decision to base the Hunger Games prequel around President Snow has sparked some backlash from fans who are concerned about her humanising such a terrible villain. Discussing Snow and the prequel, Santino says: "You think you know someone but there are a lot of surprises. You're going to understand a lot more of why he is the way he is."

How fans respond to the storyline in full will become clear when The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is released everywhere worldwide on May 19. Until then, we'll be listening to the first chapter on repeat trying to figure out what will happen.

What do you think of the first chapter?