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certainlychirpy's review against another edition
4.0
Read it in one sitting and it was a good and enjoyable read. Didn't guess all of the mysteries and it kept me guessing.
carlyoc's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Not as good as the Shadowshapre series but I love the Sephardic Jewish rep! That's not a culture I see in media often, especially fantasy children's fiction. Older sprinkles Spanish, Ladino (the spanish-sounding language of the Jews of the Iberian peninsula), and Lucumí (an African-derived language used by practitioners of Santeria) throughout the novel, which made my linguist brain happy.
The protagonist Matteo has crippling social anxiety and a sparky but immature inner monologuing that i think would appeal more to middle grade readers than even adults who love YA like myself.
He feels like an outsider in his own community, which is a group living in Brooklyn, New York after being displaced from their magical Atlantic Island San Madrigal when it sunk beneath the waves when Matteo was a baby.
The San Madrigal community is composed of a mix of pirates, Santerios, and Sephardic Jews who all found shelter their fleeing the ills of empire, capitalism, inquisition, and the slave trade.
Now, one of the pirate leaders claims to have found a way to raise the island back from under the sea. But she us hiding dark secrets and has no qualms unleashing monsters and violence on any who stand in the way of her designs.
Matteo and his teenage friends must discover the truth about their own connections to the island to ensure that the truth gets out and island is raised the right way if at all.
The protagonist Matteo has crippling social anxiety and a sparky but immature inner monologuing that i think would appeal more to middle grade readers than even adults who love YA like myself.
He feels like an outsider in his own community, which is a group living in Brooklyn, New York after being displaced from their magical Atlantic Island San Madrigal when it sunk beneath the waves when Matteo was a baby.
The San Madrigal community is composed of a mix of pirates, Santerios, and Sephardic Jews who all found shelter their fleeing the ills of empire, capitalism, inquisition, and the slave trade.
Now, one of the pirate leaders claims to have found a way to raise the island back from under the sea. But she us hiding dark secrets and has no qualms unleashing monsters and violence on any who stand in the way of her designs.
Matteo and his teenage friends must discover the truth about their own connections to the island to ensure that the truth gets out and island is raised the right way if at all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
morganl_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
missjeann's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
manglitter's review against another edition
3.0
I have to be honest, I was going to DNF it after reading 40% of it because it starts really slow and due to all the heavy political innuendoes (I was like: Is this book really for Middle Grades?)and the MC was getting on my nerves with his bad jokes and sarcasm but I kept reading due to the cultural aspects of the book and the use of Spanish which are the main two things that I loved about this book. By the end, we get attached to Mateo's story and family, we get some action after he gets out of his shell.
I will be waiting for the sequel.
I will be waiting for the sequel.
librarydancer's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
The first YA book in the Rick Riordan Presents series, this fantasy tries to blend Hispanic, Ladino and Jewish myths and traditions into a cohesive story. There is definitely a demand for books like Percy Jackson for teens, and this will certainly be a good addition to YA - especially, as it's more fantasy without the dystopia of so many other books.
As a Jewish reader, this book made me a bit confused and uncomfortable until about mid-way through the story, when the author finally explained how the different faiths (and multiple gods) could exist with the Jewish traditions. I didn't need to believe the explanation (it is a fantasy, after all), but I did need a discussion about it.
Some of Mateo's descriptions and thought process goes on a bit too long, but the author has created an interesting fantasy for teens.
The first YA book in the Rick Riordan Presents series, this fantasy tries to blend Hispanic, Ladino and Jewish myths and traditions into a cohesive story. There is definitely a demand for books like Percy Jackson for teens, and this will certainly be a good addition to YA - especially, as it's more fantasy without the dystopia of so many other books.
As a Jewish reader, this book made me a bit confused and uncomfortable until about mid-way through the story, when the author finally explained how the different faiths (and multiple gods) could exist with the Jewish traditions. I didn't need to believe the explanation (it is a fantasy, after all), but I did need a discussion about it.
Some of Mateo's descriptions and thought process goes on a bit too long, but the author has created an interesting fantasy for teens.
kbalkum's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When the island nation of San Madrigal sank into the ocean fifteen years ago, the survivors made their way to New York, settling in the Brooklyn neighborhood that has come to be known as Little Madrigal. The citizens of this community continue their way of life, whether it be their culture and traditions or the politics, but all of them are hopeful of finding a way back home, of raising the island again. High school student Mateo Matisse who lives with his Aunt Lucia is only interested in his music and perhaps one day being good enough to play backup for his idol Gerval, a local legend. But on the night of a major celebration, Mateo learns that he is an initiated child of Galanika, a god with healing powers, and is one of three such initiates of the island spirits that possess the ability to raise the lost island. He is not happy with the unexpected role that has been thrust on him, but is unwillingly dragged into the fray as political infighting leads to violence on the streets. As the evil that sank their island returns once more, Mateo must learn to use his new powers and uncover San Madrigal’s long buried secret history.
The world building was my favorite part of this book. Unlike the other series in the Rick Riordan Presents collection I’ve read so far, Ballad and Dagger wasn’t based on any one mythology, but was rather an amalgamation of many cultures, with a wholly original setting that was wonderfully portrayed. The ins and outs of the culture, history and politics were so well detailed, along with the themes of diaspora and colonialism woven in, and it made for a fascinating backdrop to this story. Both San Madrigal and Little Madrigal were so immersive that at times I forgot it was fictional – the community was so well described that it felt real.
The characters were all right, Mateo makes for a good narrator, though I felt like his arc wasn’t the best in terms of character development. I didn’t really connect to any of the characters, but they did all have important roles to play and they kept the plot moving.
Pacing was the one major area where this book suffered, in my opinion. Despite the interesting premise, I found it extremely hard to get through the first half of the book with how slow it was. If it hadn’t picked up when it did, I might have well DNF’d this book. Admittedly this is all set up time for this intricate world so I’m glad I stuck with it, but a reader needs to have a lot of patience to make it to where the real story begins.
Overall, given how much this book sped up by the last quarter of the story, I think it pulled together for a decent ending that wrapped up everything rather well, and it has made me curious enough that I’ll probably pick up the sequel next year. I’m looking forward to checking out other books by the author as well and I would recommend this book for fantasy fans!
3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When the island nation of San Madrigal sank into the ocean fifteen years ago, the survivors made their way to New York, settling in the Brooklyn neighborhood that has come to be known as Little Madrigal. The citizens of this community continue their way of life, whether it be their culture and traditions or the politics, but all of them are hopeful of finding a way back home, of raising the island again. High school student Mateo Matisse who lives with his Aunt Lucia is only interested in his music and perhaps one day being good enough to play backup for his idol Gerval, a local legend. But on the night of a major celebration, Mateo learns that he is an initiated child of Galanika, a god with healing powers, and is one of three such initiates of the island spirits that possess the ability to raise the lost island. He is not happy with the unexpected role that has been thrust on him, but is unwillingly dragged into the fray as political infighting leads to violence on the streets. As the evil that sank their island returns once more, Mateo must learn to use his new powers and uncover San Madrigal’s long buried secret history.
The world building was my favorite part of this book. Unlike the other series in the Rick Riordan Presents collection I’ve read so far, Ballad and Dagger wasn’t based on any one mythology, but was rather an amalgamation of many cultures, with a wholly original setting that was wonderfully portrayed. The ins and outs of the culture, history and politics were so well detailed, along with the themes of diaspora and colonialism woven in, and it made for a fascinating backdrop to this story. Both San Madrigal and Little Madrigal were so immersive that at times I forgot it was fictional – the community was so well described that it felt real.
The characters were all right, Mateo makes for a good narrator, though I felt like his arc wasn’t the best in terms of character development. I didn’t really connect to any of the characters, but they did all have important roles to play and they kept the plot moving.
Pacing was the one major area where this book suffered, in my opinion. Despite the interesting premise, I found it extremely hard to get through the first half of the book with how slow it was. If it hadn’t picked up when it did, I might have well DNF’d this book. Admittedly this is all set up time for this intricate world so I’m glad I stuck with it, but a reader needs to have a lot of patience to make it to where the real story begins.
Overall, given how much this book sped up by the last quarter of the story, I think it pulled together for a decent ending that wrapped up everything rather well, and it has made me curious enough that I’ll probably pick up the sequel next year. I’m looking forward to checking out other books by the author as well and I would recommend this book for fantasy fans!
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
The Rick Riordan series goes YA with this deliciously wonderful fantasy set on an island I wish existed, right off Brooklyn. The book gets off to a slow start, as Older builds both an intricate and fascinating world (Santeria, Jewish myths, pirates!) and develops the characters through Mateo, a shy music nerd who is used to nobody noticing him. he likes it that way.
We meet a richly diverse set of characters both young and old as danger threatens the balance of the island, which has been sunk and needs raising . . .
Okay, I just deleted five paragraphs of basically spoilers as I attempted to untangle the complexities of plot and character. I think it's far more fun for the reader to learn San Madrigal's history and rhythms as the pages turn.
Things I appreciated? the gradual rise in stakes and tension to a truly stunning climax. Also, I loved, loved, loved the way Mateo was written, seeing the world in musical terms. I also loved how the Spanglish infusing the narrative adds its own rhythms to the language.
I look forward to more in Older's series, as well as more YA entries in the RR wider series. It's off to a terrific start.
Copy provided by NetGalley
We meet a richly diverse set of characters both young and old as danger threatens the balance of the island, which has been sunk and needs raising . . .
Okay, I just deleted five paragraphs of basically spoilers as I attempted to untangle the complexities of plot and character. I think it's far more fun for the reader to learn San Madrigal's history and rhythms as the pages turn.
Things I appreciated? the gradual rise in stakes and tension to a truly stunning climax. Also, I loved, loved, loved the way Mateo was written, seeing the world in musical terms. I also loved how the Spanglish infusing the narrative adds its own rhythms to the language.
I look forward to more in Older's series, as well as more YA entries in the RR wider series. It's off to a terrific start.
Copy provided by NetGalley
pj_reads_stuff's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0