Ballad & Dagger is the first Daniel José Older novel in Rick Riordan’s imprint. It is about a teenager finding out the magical powers that he wields and finding his place in his community, a fictitious group of exiles from a lost Caribbean island.
The book details the shifts of power between two communities and the fact that the thriving but secretive Galeranos, former inhabitants of the San Madrigal island, were not as pure of heart as they believed. Mateo Medina, son to a couple of science-minded doctors who eschew all the traditions and beliefs, finds hard to be accepted in the community, or at least that’s what he thinks. Helped by his friends, he will befriend local legend Chela Hidalgo, an imposing girl, who literally stabs her way into his life.
The book is superbly crafted, mixing Latino, African and Jewish traditions into a single cauldron. It also deals a lot with Santeros and similar traditions, which sincerely make me uncomfortable.
The story is great, with many plot twists and surprises, so you never know what will happen next, it is an enjoyable read otherwise.
Korpilandia 