Izzy S., Indian Creek School
The first of the Outlaw Saints duology, Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older is a young adult fantasy novel that centers around the fictional diaspora community of San Madrigal. San Madrigal was a small Caribbean Island that sunk suddenly sixteen years ago. This caused the community to relocate to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Little Madrigal, where San Madrigal’s cultural mix of Piracy, Judaism and Santeria rule the streets to this day. The story tells of Mateo Matisse, a 16-year-old musician who discovers his godly powers while learning more about the role he plays in San Madrigal’s history.
Older creates a world so realistic that if not for the book’s introduction, I would’ve thought that San Madrigal was a real place. I enjoyed the witty and relatable perspective of Mateo and the various twists that left my mouth agape. Ballad & Dagger truly has everything: fantasy, romance, humor, it even touched on issues such as colorism and political discourse. While there are many characters and storylines to follow, Ballad & Dagger creates a world so real, so complex and layered, that you will feel as if it is not a book, but a friend telling you about his crazy adventures. Ballad & Dagger is a Rick Riordan Presents book, so Percy Jackson fans especially will find this story to be one of their new favorites.
Click here to check out Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older.