Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: Who wins the first Hunger Games?

In the prequel to The Hunger Games, titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, author Suzanne Collins takes readers back in time to explore the younger years of President Coriolanus Snow, the infamous antagonist of the original series. The story unfolds during the 10th Annual Hunger Games, where Snow reluctantly becomes a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12.Set in the war-torn Capitol after the Civil War, the novel delves into the origins of a dystopian regime and the transformation of Snow into a monster. As fans of the franchise have long wondered about the lore and history of Panem, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes provides a detailed exploration of the world-building that captivated audiences.The story begins with Snow living with his grandmother and cousin Tigress in their Capitol apartment. The Snow family, once proud and prosperous, now faces destitution and struggle to make ends meet. Snow, determined to restore his family's wealth, excels in his studies at the Capitol Academy despite the disapproval of his principal, Dean Highbottom. When Snow is chosen to be a mentor for the Hunger Games, he sees it as an opportunity to win the cash prize and improve his family's fortunes.However, Snow's anxiety mounts when he learns that he is paired with Lucy Gray Baird, the tribute from impoverished District 12. Lucy is a folksinger and member of The Covey, a traveling music group. During the reaping ceremony, Lucy gains attention by slipping a snake down the back of Mayfair Lipp, the Mayor's daughter, after Mayfair ensured Lucy's reaping out of jealousy. Snow accidentally boards the train taking the tributes to the Capitol and finds himself among them. Although the tributes consider killing him, Lucy intervenes to protect Snow, reminding them that their families would face dire consequences.The tributes are brought to the old zoo where they are held until the start of the Hunger Games. Aware that starvation weakens the tributes, Snow begins smuggling food from the Academy to give to Lucy, gradually building trust between them. Snow's peer, Sejanus Plinth, also starts feeding his tribute secretly, becoming sympathetic to the Districts' plight. Snow and Lucy devise a plan to gain popularity by having Lucy perform for the Capitol citizens.Snow's innovative ideas on sponsorships and betting in the Hunger Games attract attention, but the buzz is overshadowed by the murder of Arachne Crane, Snow's classmate and fellow mentor. Snow takes the opportunity to present his essay on additional game elements, but suspicion falls on him when the snakes used against his classmate recognize his scent on the pages. Feeling the pressure, Snow retrieves the overwritten essay, but his classmate Clemensia is bitten by the snakes when she lowers her hands, leading to her hospitalization.Amidst the chaos, the tribute tour of the arena is marred by bombs, killing several tributes and mentors. Lucy briefly considers escaping, but she stays to help an injured Snow. The games begin, and most tributes succumb to starvation, sickness, and weakness. Lucy, recognizing that she is smaller than the remaining tributes, hides in dark spots across the arena.Sejanus, a District sympathizer, protests against the Capitol by entering the arena. Snow convinces him to leave, emphasizing that he can make a greater impact alive. While attempting to escape, Snow and Sejanus are attacked, forcing Snow to kill a tribute. Reflecting on Dr. Gaul's genetically modified snakes, Snow drops a cloth with Lucy's scent into the snake tank, allowing the snakes to grow accustomed to her scent. As the snakes are released into the arena the next day, all other tributes are attacked, but Lucy remains unharmed, embraced by the reptiles. After several days, Lucy is declared the winner of the Hunger Games, returning to her District.However, Snow's involvement in aiding Lucy comes to light when he is confronted by the Game Makers with incriminating evidence during a victory celebration. To avoid punishment, Snow agrees to become a Peacekeeper in District 12, far from the retribution he had hoped to achieve.In District 12, Snow reunites with Lucy and their relationship deepens. Snow gains a better understanding of Lucy's wild nature and grows empathetic towards the plight of the Districts. He discovers that Sejanus is conspiring to help District residents escape to the North, a territory believed to be outside Panem's control. Snow secretly records evidence of the plot, which eventually leads to the execution of Sejanus and the death of Spruce, another rebel involved.In the midst of growing chaos, Lucy decides to leave for the North, while Snow is offered a position in the Officers Training Academy in District 2 for his information on Sejanus. However, Snow decides to join Lucy in her escape. As they journey together, Snow stumbles upon the buried guns they used to murder some people in District 12, realizing that the evidence could destroy any memory of his crimes and restore his family's honor.Torn between loyalty and self-preservation, Snow struggles with his decision, but Lucy misinterprets his behavior as a plan to abandon her and flees into the forest. In a moment of desperation, Snow shoots into the trees but is unsure if he hit Lucy. With no time to waste, he disposes of the guns and returns to District 12 before being transported back to the Capitol.In the epilogue, it is revealed that the Hunger Games were originally the brainchild of Dean Highbottom, who unknowingly passed the idea to Snow's father. Snow poisons Highbottom and becomes a Game Maker, implementing his own ideas into the games. The fate of Lucy Gray remains unknown, leaving readers to wonder if she escaped Panem or perished in the forest.As the film adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set to be released, fans anticipate the faithful portrayal of the book's storyline. The casting of Tom Blyth as Snow and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray has generated excitement, along with notable performances by Peter Dinklage as Dean Highbottom and Viola Davis as Dr. Gaul.In conclusion, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes readers on a thrilling journey into the making of a dictator and the origins of the Hunger Games. Through Snow's experiences as a mentor and his relationship with Lucy Gray, Suzanne Collins weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and the cruel nature of Panem's dystopian society. The fate of Snow and Lucy, along with the revelation of the games' origins, adds depth and complexity to the story. As fans eagerly await the film adaptation, they hope to see the nuances and intricacies of Collins' novel faithfully brought to life on the big screen.