The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

WOW! I didn't know if I would love this but I was hooked in the first chapter. I was drawn back in so quickly it was like I never left Panem! I didn't think I would care for a story that centered on Snow the future president; but really it was fascinating. He's a teenager when the 10th Hunger Games takes place and he's assigned as a mentor to a girl from District 12. Readers get SO MUCH backstory on the games, the war, and the slow and steady rise of the capital. Snow is from a great family but dirt poor - having his champion, Lucy Gray, win the Hunger Games could secure his spot in University - tuition free. Snow always land on top. Things get a lot more complicated when he starts to fall for Lucy Gray, how could they ever make romance work though - she's from the districts?! Filled with so many unforgettable characters; this book will make readers want to re-read the entire trilogy. My true rating 4.5. Excellent, unexpected prequel!

Battle Royale: Angels' Border

I've heard this compared to Hunger Games and... yeah, it pretty much is. It's just a manga/ graphic novel version that is just as dark and depressing, yet oddly good. There aren't any science fiction or fantasy elements in this story, just a bunch of ninth graders trapped on an island with weapons and forced to kill each other until only one remains. There is a lot of back story though on some characters which adds to the depth of it. Sometimes I got a little lost on who was who or who liked who, so it's essential to pay close attention when reading. Also, I hadn't read  a manga in a while, so it took a hot second for me to get in the habit of properly reading from right to left. Definitely an interesting read!