Ballad & Dagger (Outlaw Saints #1) was a fun YA fantasy novel to read by Daniel Jose Older. The author did a great job of creating a world full of life, love and culture. I loved the inclusion of Spanish and other Afro-Latin context beautifully Woven throughout the story. The author did a great jib of alternating between the different languages throughout dialougue so it felt more real and flowed seamlessly. This was a YA story with a fictional history that seemed so real, which may have been the result of the author's inclusion of different historical concepts and issues that deeply affected whole populations of people. There were times where the explanations by the protagonist (Mateo) seemed a bit repetitive, but it didn't affect the overall pace of the story too much. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

15 years after San Madrigal, a free Caribbean nation, fell into the sea, its people are caught between two worlds. Among them, Matteo Matisse has had trouble fitting into the community after spending so much time abroad with his parents. Thrust into the dark secrets of the community, Matteo witnesses his crush and the daughter of rabbi murder someone. Soon, an ancient battle ensues and Matteo learns that he possesses powers that could save everyone and unlock the reason why San Madrigal sank back into the sea. Will he learn to use his powers? Will he be able to end the ancient battle once and for all?

This is an action-packed, mystery-filled fantasy with engaging characters, vivid world building, and engaging writing. Rich with folklore and magic, the community is descended from West African, European Jewish, and Indigenous people. Fans of mystery, fantasy, adventure, and mythology will want to pick this one up

Ever gone through a reading slump? You know, where you just aren't in to any of the books you start and nothing new seems to grab you either? No? Well, that was me in the lead up to Spring Break. In fact, I noticed it in my kids too...lots of Archie, not much else. We were all ready for a break and a reset, I guess.

Thankfully, at the beginning of the break I decided to start this little gem that had been sitting on my @netgalley shelf for way too long. This book drew me in and gave me that can't stop, won't stop reading feeling again. As usual, Rick Riordan Presents does not disappoint, with another well-crafted, fast-paced adventure that pulls you deep into the world of Little Madrigal, a community steeped in folklore, history and intrigue. @danieljose1 skillfully weaves 3 very diverse cultures into the fabric of modern-day New York, combining regular urban teenage life with magic, murder and mystery, with a little romance thrown in for good measure. So glad this was the book I chose to pull me out of my reading slump!

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC. Always much appreciated!

Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for providing a copy of this eARC for review.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was beautifully written and the storyline was interesting and well-developed. I really appreciated the friendships and familial relationships. I would definitely read more by this author. The sense of belonging of the main character was heartwrenching and the community support was beautiful.

I was thrilled with the description of this book. YA Fantasy, Cuban lore, set in the modern world with a main character who reminded me of Percy Jackson. I love the Rick Riordan presents books as a way for readers to experience a variety cultural beliefs and mythologies.

San Madrigal had long been a land of pirates, Cubans, Jews and Santeros lived together in a semblance of harmony. A council called Cabildo was established to keep the peace and each group provided a member from to provide leadership. Their undisclosed island was destroyed and survivors created a new community in Brooklyn called Little Madrigal. Something threatens the established peace of their new home, and new alliances form, while supernatural beings and mysterious occurrences begin appearing in the neighborhood.

Sixteen-year old Mateo loves music above everything else, but he also has distinct sense of pride and love for the heritage bestowed on him as a San Madrigal expatriate, even if he feels slightly apart from Little Madrigal culture. Mateo's parents are doctors who travel the world to help those in need and for some time he traveled with them, but he currently lives with his aunt(s), Tia Lucia and Tia Miriam, who is a ghost. Mateo's quest is one of personal journey, but also ultimately one of saving the society he learns to love and appreciate with new eyes.

I was not as enthralled with the book when I finished reading, which could very well be a state of mind thing. Some books just hit at the wrong time or the wrong mood. That said, I do believe that YA readers will enjoy it. Ghosts, action, adventure, mystery, romance all combined in one unique package. It is filled with rich descriptions of a way of life and beliefs that will resonate with many YA readers, especially those with Hispanic heritage..

This would definitely be one of those stories to read a second time. The story discussed current political topics, as well as some wonderful history of San Madrigal!

Ballad and Dagger is based on the intriguing concept of a magical Caribbean Island housing pirates, Santeros, and Jewish expatriates. The island escaped colonialism, protected people from enslavement, and organized through democratic process only to sink beneath the ocean fifteen years ago. Now, the San Madrigal residents are situated in Brooklyn, holding onto community traditions in a new locale. But that doesn't stop the yearning for their lost home. Protagonist Mateo has a unique perspective on unfolding events in his community for a few reasons. First, he grew up abroad with his parents, traveling for their work. He feels rootless and cut off from his culture even though it means a lot to him. Only through music does he feel connected. He also harbors a special connection to one of the three powerful island spirits...and everyone knows about it except him. This story shows the beauty of the island's diverse heritage while also reflecting on the impact of warring factions, colorism, and thirst for power on fragile peace.

How badly I wanted to enjoy this book with such an awesome premise. It's the first under Rick Riordan's imprint geared at young adults, but it still felt very middle grade to me in a lot of ways, making the upper teenage moments awkward once mixed in. Because of that disconnect, I struggled to immerse myself in the story, although I think it has an excellent central idea. Essentially, while there are many young adult books that crossover well for an adult audience, this one either suits a narrower audience that doesn't include me (fair enough, youths), or it might just be disjointed period. But my age was definitely showing when I wanted to yell at these wildly immature hot messes, "ARE YOU BEING SAFE? DID YOU USE YOUR LOGIC BRAIN TODAY? ARE WE PROCESSING OUR FEELINGS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY?" And every time Mateo was lovelorn after a brief, inexplicable courtship or let himself be distracted from imminent death and destruction by a pretty (and talented and smart and kickass, to be fair) girl, I wanted to smack him upside the head. I'm getting old, in other words. The constant insecurities and crippling self-doubt, info dumps, and extended music metaphors also took up a lot of space, slowing down the plot and leaving me frustrated.

So basically, this book has some powerful plot elements around diaspora and belonging, history and what is kept hidden, and community pride divorced from capitalist greed. If you are fifteen or a benevolent adult, maybe you will be able to reach those messages and appreciate the story. If you don't suffer fools or are a middle school teacher who sees enough unreasonable decision-making on a day-to-day basis, maybe give this one a pass. Thanks to Rick Riordan Presents for my copy to read and review.

Ballad & Dagger lends a fantastical twist to the immigrant experience. It's set in Brooklyn, but in a diaspora community from a fictional island that sank into the sea. The island's population was a blend of pirates, Cuban Santeros, and Sephardic Jews, and it had its own unique culture---and magic! The world-building in this book is top-notch and there are lush descriptions of the culture's music, which is especially important to the MC, Mateo. Most of the story revolves around the political machinations of the community's leaders and secrets that have been kept from the people for centuries (so it does start out a bit low on action and heavy on world-building, but eventually the plot picks up). The book tackles the topic of colonialism head-on, and it also talks about issues of racism and classism. All of this is tied into a magical story about a teenage boy with powers he didn't know he had. The fate of his community just might lie in his hands, but he isn't sure if the community is ready for what they might learn in the process. If you're a fan of contemporary fantasy with intricate world-building, this book is for you!

<i>Ballad & Dagger</i>, by Daniel José Older, combines supernatural adventure with political intrigue among a diaspora community of pirates, Cuban Santeros, and Sephardic Jews which have made a new home for themselves in Brooklyn after their island community of San Madrigal sank into the sea almost 16 years ago.

The story centers around Mateo Matisse, a high-school student and gifted musician who, when the story opens, is only concerned with gaining the attention of Gerval, a famous musician with local ties. Mateo gets much more than he bargained for, however; when he witnesses a brutal murder committed by a person he thought he knew.

This book captivated my interest in so many ways. The story was suspenseful, and Daniel José Older’s thoughtful world-building introduced concepts early that were significant later on without giving things away prematurely. I especially appreciate the vivid detail that Older brought to depictions of music. I’m looking forward to continuing the story with the second book in this series.

Ballad & Dagger was published on May 3, 2022, by Rick Riordan Presents / Disney Hyperion. I received a digital advance copy of this book through Publisher’s Weekly’s recent Grab-a-Galley promotion, with fulfillment through NetGalley. This book was featured in a #BookTube “What I’m reading” video at https://youtu.be/ai6HKeab9ZQ.

What I thought was great about this was that it read and felt like the next step up reading level wise. I also loved the unique setting--I don't think teens will have read anything like this before. It has a familiar story: kid discovers he's one of the chosen ones, but the setting and reluctance is really different.

This took me forever to get into. So long that my ARC expired and the book was physically published before I finished it. The first half of this book is pretty slow action wise, mostly world build and politics. Now, the world building was amazing and immersive. The culture and spirit of San Madrigal and it's people jumped off the page. The political system was a bit of a hang up for me, and it drug the book out. After the magic starts to appear, things got more interesting. The instalove between <spoiler> Mateo and Chela </spoiler> was annoying at first, but by the end of the book it's explained and I don't mind how it played out. Another big hold up for me was the characters - they all felt pretty flat and bland, even our hero. No one seemed to struggle with their powers - within a week Mateo learned how to heal and kill people. It just... I think the plot was good, just not executed in the best way.

3 stars for creativity, though. The myths and the world building are A+.

Best parts of this book:
1. Talking/ explanation of the Madrigal diaspora.
2. Pride in ones on culture.
3. How the people of Madrigal are a blend of many faiths and customs.
4. How Spanish and English are interwoven. I

It's a book I wish I had read as a teen. I can't wait to give this book to read to my nieces and nephews.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on final copy. All opinions are my own.
Rick Riordan Presents expands into YA with its first release, Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older, and does so wonderfully. I love Rick Riordan’s commitment to boosting the careers of authors from other cultural backgrounds, and while Older is perhaps a bit more “established” than other RRP authors, he has primarily made his name recently within the realm of Star Wars tie-in material. With that in mind, it’s great he’s being given a chance to shine and show these new readers what he can do with a story set within his own Cuban-Jewish cultural context.
Despite very much being set in our modern world, the lore of San Madrigal is richly depicted. There’s a real sense of community among those who escaped, and a rich expression of their heritage. It puts a magical spin on the lives of families hailing from the Caribbean, who came to the US as refugees, reckoning with the legacy and impact of colonialism and associated atrocities that happened there. I love how the legacy of San Madrigal highlights a blending of cultures, from pirates to Santeros and Sefaradim.
With that in mind, there’s some intriguing family dynamics at play. It’s a pretty typical “YA adventure story” hero story, with some twists. Mateo’s parents are away traveling, so he lives with his Tía Lucia and ghost aunt Miriam. I loved how this explores a relatively happy family dynamic that isn't the typical “bio-parent-and-child” type.
Mateo as a character in his own right is also really well-developed. He’s reckoning with a few different issues, from his newly discovered powers and the massive conflict that he finds himself facing as a result of this to his growing feelings for his friend Chela. She’s also discovered her own powers and is trying to figure out how to control them, which makes for a wonderful bonding point for them.
The book is a bit slow at times, especially in the first half. I do think it helped to ingratiate the reader within the community, as that is the highlight of the book overall. And ultimately, it makes the point where the action picks up matter much more.
This is the first of a duology, and I’m excited as to where it goes from here. If you enjoy fantasy set in the modern world, but with a rich cultural focus to the lore, I recommend this one.

3.5 stars.
After witnessing the murder of a member of his favourite band by his classmate Chela, a shocked Matteo is doubly shocked to discover he has the ability to heal people. Matteo has never been particularly interested in the religious and magical side of his San Madrigal culture, refusing to hear what his Tia or his best friend Tams have been telling him for years about their own interests and beliefs.

Once Matteo’s eyes are opened, he becomes aware of two camps of beliefs amongst the former San Madrigal pirates/Brooklynites regarding the fate of their many years-submerged island: some want to leave it where it is, and others want to raise it up out of the ocean, where it’s been since a terrible storm and flood years earlier.

Daniel Jose Older is hands down one of my favourite authors--he writes a book, I read it. I love his many different worlds, and have particularly loved his fantasies set in New York City, where Older's characters are put into difficult situations dealing with heritage, race, history, familial expectations, and magic.

In this new series, he creates a world in which the (made up) island of San Madrigal disappeared under the ocean, and the former pirates and their families inhabiting the island decamped to New York City. Now, years later, there's a movement within these immigrant and displaced people to raise their home out of the water. Matteo and Chela are thrown right into the middle of this community-wide discussion, because of their magical abilities. There are lots of questions raised by characters about the costs of the raising, many of which require using terrible powers, sacrifices, and violence. There are also lies exposed, and discoveries about the real history of the pirates with the wider world.

This book is fun. Matteo and Chela are interesting, though Chela's character needed more fleshing out as I didn't always understand her motivations or actions. I loved watching Matteo's journey through the book, as he confronts his own biases and those within his community. He's a bit awkward and goofy, and I loved how music was so woven into the way he used his new power. I also really liked how Matteo struggles to integrate his magical self with his existing perception of himself, much as Chela also has to, all while the two also have to deal with their attraction for each other.

The story is rich in detail and colour, and my only problem with this book is that I need to wait for a year for the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Rick Riordan Presents for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I have enjoyed everything published by Rick Riordan Presents and this was no different! The author did a really great job explaining culture specific words and stories without info dumping, which I always appreciate. The relationships between the main character and the other members of the commuty were very well flushed out and realistic. Super looking forword to a book two! Only reason it's a 3 star is because it truly felt like a setup instead of it's own story.

Thank you, NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide and Rick Riordan presents, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Mateo Matisse's island homeland sank into the sea years ago and the survivors escaped to New York. While the rest of the diaspora community dream to come back home and find a way to do it, Mateo, now a school junior and a piano prodigy, lives with his two aunts and he wants to get the attention of the musical legend Gerval. The chance presents the night of the Grand Fete, a celebration of blended culture of pirates, Cuban, Santeros, and Sephardic Jews that created his homeland lost in the sea. But when he witnesses a murder by a person he thought he knew and the evil that sank their island finally reaches them, everything changes. Now Mateo is involved into an ancient battle, with secrets, lies and awakening a power inside himself he knew nothing about. A power that connects him to the killer and that will help Mateo understand what happen to his lost homeland.

Ballad & Dagger is a brilliant, captivating YA urban fantasy that caught my attention and heart right away. It's a powerful story about two teens who find each other and their powers, finding themselves involved into ancients battle, lost homeland, secrets and lies. It's a book filled with mysteries, lies and discoveries, magic and power and it's also a brilliant romance, adventure novel and that shows the reader the strength and power in a community, its bonds and love. I loved reading this book. It's captivating, so well written. The setting and characters are amazing and I truly loved Mateo and his courage and stubborness.
The story is incredible and fascinating and I was sucked in right away. Amazing book.

Older has created a world that's truly compelling and engrossing. There's a lot of new terms in three languages(!!) but fortunately there's a glossary in the back! The biggest strength is the characters and their COMMUNITY that's established way before the story begins. Mateo and his Tia Lucia are a fun combination of big personalities. My favorites are Tambs and Maza, who show up for Mateo over and over. You feel like you're actually there, in Little Madrigal. The setting is that strong! I highly recommend the audiobook version specifically.

Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the ebook and eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review. Can't wait for book two.

Thanks to NetGalley & Rick Riordan Presents for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this and left it at 20% of the way through.

It's a very slow pace and I struggled to keep up with the info dumps in the beginning. It also didn't help that the characters had the same voice so it was hard to distinguish them. People say it picks up 60% of the way through but I'm not a fan of pushing through a slow book in the hopes I finally get into it...

Having read adult and YA by Older, this novel feels targeted toward the younger end of the YA spectrum. That turned me off of reading it for a while, but I wanted to give it a fair shot, Here’s my take…. The characters are diverse, providing representation for people of color and the LGBTQIA community. The setting is unique providing social commentary about colonialism without sounding at all preachy. The pace isn’t as quick as it could be to drive the narrative, and I found myself speed reading.

All that said… Daniel José Older should be an automatic buy for anyone that wants diverse urban fantasy with unique world building and storylines that make a reader simultaneously curious, captivated, and a bit concerned about what else may emerge from this author’s mind in the future.

The first Rick Riordan Presents book in the young adult category. I had not read anything by Daniel Jose Older prior to this book. He does a very good job of world building and making his characters come alive. I look forward to continuing the series to see how Mateo will mature and develop his new talents.