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A review by librarydancer
Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older
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.