The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a dystopian action-adventure novel by American author [Suzanne Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Collins). It is a spinoff and a prequel to [ *The Hunger Games*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games)  trilogy. Set against the backdrop of the 10th Hunger Games,  *The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes*  revolves around the adventures of a teenage Coriolanus Snow, who would become the dictatorial president of Panem by the events of the [original trilogy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games). With his family on the brink of poverty, Coriolanus is tasked with mentoring [District 12](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_12_\(Hunger_Games\)) tribute Lucy Gray Baird for his one shot at glory