This has been a very divisive prequel, as I think often happens with any enjoyed series. However, I think rereading the original series prior to reading this is probably causing quite a few of the lowered ratings. Having distance between the original tales and this one allowed me to experience this as a near standalone, which I think let me enjoy it more. I didn't enjoy it as much as the original trilogy, but I still found it to be worth my time and I think it added to the depth of the world created...it could give me some new things to experience should I reread the trilogy down the road.

Is Coriolanus Snow an evil mess of a villain with no redeemable qualities based on prior reads? Yes. Absolutely. He's awful. Everyone is aware of that. But this was such an interesting experience in character work. The writing is just as great as the originals and the cast of characters is particularly fun. I liked being able to see more of the world. I enjoyed being able to return to the games and having a perspective on how things had evolved in the Capitol and Districts over the years between this book and the start of the original series.

Focusing on Snow was an interesting choice, but it did provide some great background information. Though I already knew what he would become, Suzanne Collins still had a way of making me...hopeful? It was a bit of a mind distorter (keeping it clean over here, folks). He had SO many opportunities to be something better. There were many, many times where he started to do something good and for the right reasons, but then just ultimately spun right back into psychopath mode. Snow is clearly quite intelligent and cunning and is a very well-crafted villain. My hat's off to Collins for managing what I thought was a good balance between an enjoyable story and a horrible person.