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Spoiler warning: This post explains the ending of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in detail, including major twists. If you have not finished the book, stop here.
Quick answer: At the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Coriolanus Snow turns on Lucy Gray after realizing she is the last link to his crimes, fires into the woods and does not know whether he hit her. He returns to the Capitol, becomes a Gamemaker and rises toward becoming President Snow.
Quick facts
Author: Suzanne Collins, published 2020
Genre: dystopian prequel
Main characters: Coriolanus Snow, Lucy Gray Baird, Sejanus Plinth, Dr. Gaul
Setting: 64 years before The Hunger Games
Content: violence and child death
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes shows how a charming teenager becomes the tyrant of The Hunger Games. The ending is a study in moral collapse, as Coriolanus betrays everyone who trusted him. This post explains the final chapters, the fate of Lucy Gray and how the book ties to the original trilogy. Spoilers follow.
This post discusses violence and the deaths of children.
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Table of Contents
What Happens at the End (Short Version)
After the tenth Hunger Games, Coriolanus is forced to become a Peacekeeper and requests assignment to District 12 to be near Lucy Gray. They resume their romance, but Coriolanus’s crimes, including a murder, put him at risk. When they plan to flee, he reveals he caused Sejanus’s death. Realizing Lucy Gray is the only person who could expose him, he turns on her. Bitten by a snake and believing she set a trap, he fires a rifle into the woods, unsure whether he hit her. Her fate is left unclear. He returns to the Capitol, is pardoned through Dr. Gaul’s influence and eventually becomes a Gamemaker.
Coriolanus’s Choices
Throughout the book, Coriolanus makes small compromises that grow into betrayals: cheating to help Lucy Gray win, killing a tribute, informing on Sejanus. The ending completes the arc. Each step is rationalized as survival, but together they reveal a man who values power above love. Readers see how the architect of the Capitol’s cruelty was formed.
Sejanus’s Death
Sejanus, Coriolanus’s only friend, is a District 2-born idealist who sympathizes with the districts. He joins the rebellion, and Coriolanus records a conversation in which Sejanus admits his plans, passing it to Dr. Gaul. Sejanus is hanged publicly. This betrayal is the point of no return for Coriolanus.
What Happens to Lucy Gray
The book leaves Lucy Gray’s fate ambiguous. Coriolanus shoots into the woods and leaves, not knowing whether he hit her. In the original trilogy, ‘The Hanging Tree’ song and mockingjays echo her melody, suggesting that her influence survives. Many readers believe she escaped, but the text does not confirm it.
Dr. Gaul and the Rise to Power
Dr. Volumnia Gaul, the head Gamemaker, mentors Coriolanus and shapes his worldview, teaching that people need control. She arranges his pardon and brings him back to the Capitol. Under her influence, he introduces reforms that make the Games more compelling, including the Victor’s Village and rewards for winning districts. These become the system Katniss knows.
The Connection to the Original Trilogy
The prequel explains the origins of several elements: the arena, the Games’ spectacle, the Victor’s Village and the song ‘The Hanging Tree.’ It also shows the first sign of Snow’s roses and his use of poison. The final scenes tie the story to the older Snow, who will become President.
Dean Highbottom’s Death
Coriolanus poisons Dean Highbottom, creator of the Games, when the dean threatens to reveal his past. The murder shows how far he is willing to go. It also removes a link to the Games’ origins, allowing Coriolanus to claim the future.
Clues and Foreshadowing
The book seeds Snow’s fascination with roses, his use of poison and his manipulative charm. Lucy Gray’s songs, such as ‘The Hanging Tree,’ foreshadow the trilogy. The title itself hints at the pairing of beauty and danger.
What Happens to Each Character
Sejanus is dead. Lucy Gray vanishes. Dr. Gaul influences the next generation. Coriolanus becomes powerful and isolated. The ending is a tragedy of corruption.
Film Adaptation and Content Notes
A 2023 film adaptation stars Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler. The book includes violence, the deaths of children and political brutality. It is suitable for older teens and adults. Readers who loved the original trilogy will find a darker and more adult story.
How to Reread The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Knowing the Ending
Once you know how The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ends, a second read becomes a different book. Pay attention to the first chapters, where the author plants details that look harmless but later carry weight. Notice who gives information, who withholds it and which scenes are described in the most vivid detail, since those are often where the author is steering you. Mark lines that gain a second meaning, and compare your first-read impressions of each character with how you see them now. Many readers find that the ending does not spoil the book but deepens it, because what felt like plot on the first pass starts to look like design. Give yourself a few weeks between reads so that the details feel fresh.
Questions to Discuss After Finishing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Which moment in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes changed how you saw the story, and why?
- Did the ending feel earned, or did it surprise you in a way that felt unfair?
- Which character’s choices did you understand best, and which frustrated you?
- What do you think the author wanted readers to take away?
- Would you change anything about the ending?
- How does the book’s setting shape its events?
- Which scene stayed with you after you finished?
- Who would you recommend The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to, and who might want to skip it?
How to Recommend The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Without Spoilers
If you want to recommend The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes without ruining it, talk about the mood and the questions the book raises instead of the plot. Say whether it is fast or slow, funny or grim, and what kind of reader will enjoy it. Avoid saying ‘you will not see the end coming’ or ‘the twist is amazing,’ since both prime a reader to hunt for clues. If a friend has already started the book, ask what they think is happening and listen without correcting. Spoilers spread quickly online, so mute discussion threads until you finish. And if you do accidentally reveal something, apologize and suggest reading anyway; many readers find the journey still rewarding.
Why Endings Like This One Divide Readers
Endings divide readers because they carry the burden of everything that came before. A twist that delights one person can feel like a cheat to another, and an open ending can read as either bold or evasive. When you finish The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it helps to ask what kind of satisfaction you wanted: justice, surprise, comfort or a lingering question. Authors who withhold closure are often trusting readers to carry the story forward, while authors who tie everything up are offering the pleasure of completion. Neither approach is better. The strongest endings feel inevitable in hindsight, as though the early chapters were quietly pointing toward them. If The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes left you frustrated, try naming exactly what you missed. That exercise often turns irritation into insight and helps you choose books that match your taste.
Processing a Heavy Ending
Some endings, including the one in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, leave a residue. If you feel unsettled, give yourself time before starting another book, or choose something light for a few days. Talking with a friend who has read it can help, as can writing down what you felt in a few sentences. If the book touched a personal experience, such as loss, abuse or illness, be gentle with yourself and step away from social media discussions that feel intense. Reading about hard subjects can build empathy and understanding, but it can also stir difficult feelings, and it is fine to stop or to return later. If something in the story brought up distress that does not pass, talking to a trusted person or professional is a good step.
What to Read After The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
After finishing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, you may want something that echoes its mood or something that cleanses the palate. If you loved the suspense, look for authors who work in the same vein and read their most acclaimed titles first. If you wanted more character depth, try literary fiction with a similar theme. If the ending left you bleak, a funny novel or a cozy mystery can reset your reading mood. Libraries and bookstores often shelve read-alike recommendations near popular titles, and librarians are happy to help. Keep a short list of what worked for you in this book, whether pacing, voice or structure, and use it to guide your next pick.
Reading Journal Prompts for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
If you like to process books in writing, try these prompts after finishing:
- Write three sentences about how you felt in the last chapter and one sentence about how you felt a day later.
- List the three moments that changed how you saw the story.
- Note a detail you would have missed without knowing the ending.
- Write a paragraph in the voice of the character you understood best.
- Describe what you would say to the author if you could ask one question.
- Rate the ending from one to five and explain what would have raised your score.
A Book Club Plan for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
A book club discussion of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes works best when members share first reactions before debating details. Start with a quick round where each person gives the ending a score from one to five and says in one sentence why. Then move through three topics: the twist or central question, the characters’ choices and the author’s craft. Save the hardest question, such as whether the ending was fair or what really happened, for the middle of the evening, when everyone is warmed up. Close with a vote on the most interesting line or scene, and ask what each person will read next. If members disagree, encourage them to point to passages instead of only opinions. Serve something simple so the conversation stays the focus, and agree in advance that spoilers are welcome.
Books Like The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The original dystopian novel about Katniss Everdeen.
Check price of The Hunger Games on Amazon
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The final book in the original trilogy.
Check price of Mockingjay on Amazon
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. A Japanese novel about students forced to fight to the death.
Check price of Battle Royale on Amazon
Related: six of Crows Ending Explained and a Court of Mist and Fury Ending Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to Lucy Gray at the end?
Her fate is unclear. Coriolanus fires into the woods and does not know whether he hit her.
Does Snow kill Sejanus?
He betrays Sejanus by providing a recording that leads to his execution.
How does the book connect to The Hunger Games?
It explains the origins of the Games, the Victor’s Village and ‘The Hanging Tree’ song.
Why does Coriolanus turn on Lucy Gray?
He sees her as the only person who could expose his crimes.
Is there a movie?
Yes, a 2023 film.
Do I need to read The Hunger Games first?
No, but reading it afterward adds depth.