Years before becoming the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope of a once-powerful but disgraced family in the post-war Capitol. With the tenth edition of the Hunger Games fast approaching, young Snow is alarmed when he is tasked with mentoring young Lucy Gray Baird, tribute to the unassuming District 12.
However, when Lucy Gray captivates the attention of all of Panem by singing bravely during the ceremony, Snow feels she has a chance. Combining their instincts for spectacle and innate political sense, Snow and Lucy race against time to survive.