None of the new book releases have gotten more buzz than Suzanne Collins' prequel to The Hunger Games series. Collins shocked fans when she revealed the prequel's main character is none other than notorious President Snow. During the 10th annual Hunger Games, Coriolanus Snow is selected as a mentor to the female candidate from District 12. Desperate to win a victory, Snow must use all his cunning and skill to help his doomed candidate, a girl he is beginning to care about.

I never really saw a need for a Hunger Games prequel but I liked the book more than I expected. Snow's backstory helped flesh out the early days of Panem and the impetus behind the Hunger Games. Since the movie was a faithful adaptation, I already knew the plot. However, I appreciated that Collins doesn't even attempt to paint Snow as a good guy, showing how calculating and transactional his behavior is throughout the entire story. The next prequel is Haymitch's story and I think I might actually read that one, too.