The switch in perspective from Katniss to Snow felt to me like switching from that of a teen living in Palestine, to a teen living in Israel, both feeling the very different effects of war. As you can imagine, it's painful and complex - but Collins weaves the story with incredible insight and power - even initially allowing us (should we wish to take it) a way to find (a very disconcerting!) empathy for this young man. The Ballad is incredibly insightful to the privilege and ignorance of humans in countries whose governments are on the wrong side of evil, and a testament to the power of propoganda, conditioning, and hate. That potential for empathy is particularly powerful, because contrary to popular opinion, human monsters aren't born. They are made! If we can't understand and care about how they're made, we can't stop it happening - never mind on a global level, as we are sadly seeing today.

I imagine a lot of people struggled to connect with this character and his story, knowing how it was all going to end up. I was honestly shocked by how much I was able to find some empathy for him, even whilst my hatred, frustration, and anger grew and grew, and my heart slowly broke for Lucy, and for their world, as the train picked up speed towards the inevitable wreck to come.

My hat is off (with a huge flourish) to Suzanne Collins. That's a feat not many authors could accomplish!

Note I read this book a year ago, now, and this review is based off comments I made to my friend at the time, hence, I won't give a star rating as it feels unfair to do so after so much time has passed! I'm sure I'll come back to it again, and can update then!!