I really enjoyed the world building in this novel and the narrators also did a great job. However, this story was very slow for me and I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It keeps up towards the end, but you have to go far before it gets there. I loved the premise, I just wasn't able to connect to this book and its characters.

This book was fun and the narrator did a very good job with the book. I had never read a book by the author before but I now want to read more of their stuff. I’m really looking forward to the next book.

DNF'd at 25%, I can see how some readers will enjoy this, but at a 1/4 of the way through, I feel like the plot hasn't gotten started and I keep having to rewind the audiobook because I realize I've missed what's happening.

It's just not holding my attention, though I can see how other readers will enjoy this. I'm not sure if the pacing will draw teens in to read this though.

Lee Osorio does a decent job with the audiobook, but I'm wondering if physically reading this would make it easier to get into the story as the characters all sound the same while listening.

I loved a lot of things about this one! Especially the mixture of cultures and customs - more like most real people I know! Great characters, and incredible lore.

I've never read a book quite like Ballad and Dagger. The world of Ballad and Dagger as we follow Matteo Matisse is vivid and real. I feel as if I'm walking down the streets with him. The rich sense of community is woven in this book as well and it just really helps you immerse yourself into the story. I loved the audiobook! I will say that you shouldn't be intimidated by all the different terms in different languages as I'm sure the physical book has a glossary. In this instance, I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator is fantastic and a lot of the terms are translated on the spot in the book. The world building, the dynamic and lovable characters, and the ongoing adventure has me singing this books praises. Again a huge round of applause for the narrator! This book danced and the emotions and characters really became flesh and blood under his narration. All in all, this book is a 10/10 for me!

This novel is seeped in myths and legends and the storytelling is AMAZING!
A mystery to be solved: Mateo's home island of San Madrigal suddenly vanished into the sea. Seeking refuge, the survivor's attempt to make a living in New York. But New York isn't really home. When the evil spreads to the main land and starts to haunt them: can Mateo and Chela team up to save their people?

What I loved:
Mateo lives with two aunts (one alive and one not alive)! I love this concept of good haunting after death - that love binds you to the world as a ghost.
Pirates!!!! There are three different cultures that flourished in San Madrigal before it sank, the pirates being my favorite.
Mateo has musical powers and abilities and I love his ambition and desires to make it big in the music world! And the message that music can heal - super powerful.
Each part starts with a ballad/text which is part of the world's mythology and it's in English and Spanish!!! I really love it. Spanish is sprinkled into the narrative and it's awesome.
The novel opens with a murder - so much action and excitement off the start!
Chela is a badass.
Jewish culture representation!
Tams.

The narrator was wonderful!
The map and glossary in the printed version are both amazing!

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.

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.

The narrator of the audiobook put in just the right amount of interest and intrigue into their performance. I highly recommend listening to the story.

I loved this first book in what I'm assuming is a series. I love the idea of a secret society/magical world in the middle of New York because their homeland was destroyed. I also like the Hancock-style story of two gods reunited (except in this one they don't die more when they get close to one another). I can't wait for the next book!

I had so much fun reading Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older! Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Books for providing a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

The audiobook narrator, Lee Osorio, acted the voices wonderfully. He brought the characters alive. Each had a distinct voice and personality and this was amplified by the way the narrator used his voice to characterize them. Because this book has lots of non-English words, I also recommend listening to the audiobook if you want to hear and learn the correct pronunciation.

Reason #1: Multilingualism Is Embraced
I loved the incorporation of Spanish in Shadowshaper, another book by Daniel Jose Older. So I was expecting to see it as part of the narrative for Ballad & Dagger. However, it was kicked up several notches because of the blend of cultures in San Madrigal. In San Madrigal, the people speak Spanish, Hebrew, Ladino and Lucumi. Older includes a glossary at the end of the book as a reference. The language of the characters makes the novel rich. I was also thankful that he tells you the dialect, for example, a lot of the Spanish is Cuban Spanish. Words have different meanings depending on the dialect.

I often encounter people who become intimidated when Spanish or a language other than English is featured prominently in a novel and I don’t really understand that. Use your context clues and Google! It’s just like when someone drops a $10 word that only gets used like twice a century in a book, you go look it up!

Reason #2: Colorful Cast Of Characters
Oh my goodness, you had me at pirates! I loved the cast of characters in this book! They have big, awesome personalities and I rocked with them in this diaspora of theirs. Mateo is hilarious, Tia Lucia is a wild sage, Rabbi Hidalgo is so cool! I loved the banter between Mateo and Chela. Also, I loved the representation of Chela being a badass brown girl with glasses and red hair who has the power and strength to end you with her magical swords. For those of you looking for a book that features a Black or Brown boy without trauma, but full of an adventure…Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older is that book folks!

Reason #3: An Intriguing World
The survivors of San Madrigal, a now-sunken island in the Caribbean, live in a diaspora located in Brooklyn, New York. They are a culture that includes pirates, Santeros, and Sefaradim. It’s a world filled with music, ghosts/muertos and an interesting political structure that is in place to keep the peace between the three groups. And what I found super interesting…cops and guns aren’t allowed in Little Madrigal!

Reason #4: The Sense Of Humor
Mateo Matisse is hilarious! That boy had me cracking up the entire book! “Dead people are a trip, man.” is a response to his Aunt Miriam, who is actually a spirit that lives with he and his Tia Lucia. Also when he says, “You mean Chela Murderface McDeathMurder Hidalgo?” I almost spit my drink out laughing when I heard that!

Reason #5: Adventure & Mythology
I spent my whole childhood only having Greek mythology available to me to read. So now as an adult I have the chance to learn about African mythologies. This book is an adventure of a young man who discovers he is the son of Galanika and he is a healer. As the power balances shift and power exchanges from one generation to the next, the desire to resurrect the lost island of San Madrigal comes to a crest. Mateo must work to not only find out who he is, but he must uncover the plots of those who are up to no good. He must listen to and follow the advice of his Tia Lucia to always “Escucha.” and “All I can say is, get close to everyone but trust no one.”

Excited For The Next Book
I can’t wait for book #2 in this Outlaw Saints Novel series and to see what Mateo and Chela will be up to next! I am so glad Rick Riordan chose Daniel Jose Older to start the Young Adult novel section of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Daniel Jose Older writing a YA title for Rick Riordan Presents signals a must read. Pirates, Sephardic Jews, and Santeros means robust world building and an entertaining story. It was a bit of a slow start, but the pace picked up until I couldn’t put it down.

The audiobook was sublime. Lee Osorio’s narration was enthralling. The pacing, voices, and mood were the perfect combination. The audiobook version is a definite five stars (I gave the print version four stars). Osorio made me feel like I was at the best storytelling festival. This will definitely be an attractive choice for high school students who are former Percy Jackson fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Disney Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this wonderful book. I really enjoyed the phenomenal world building, great characters, beautiful writing, and gorgeous imagery. Can’t wait to share this gem with my students and am looking forward to the next book in the series.