Rick Riordan Presents Ballad & Dagger

A striking adventure . . . The first entry for YA readers from Rick Riordan Presents offers the same heart and adventure that work so well in the imprint's middle-grade titles, with the addition of Older's finely tuned teenage voice and worldbuilding details that will make readers long for a place that feels believable enough to be real. The first book of the duology ends on a satisfying note, leaving readers excited for the conclusion. A new, magical world of rich folklore and hitting all the right notes.--Kirkus Reviews Ballad Dagger is a symphony of a book. Daniel Jose Older immerses readers in a sweeping epic about the power of ancient forces within the evolving reality of diaspora, all while balancing humor, magic, and romance. This is a story about teenagers who are willing to crack open history itself in order to find the truth, and Mateo Matisse is a hero worthy of song.--Tracy Deonn, New York Times best-selling author of Legendborn. Evocative and enchanting. Older has created an intricate, sometimes unforgiving world that weaves a vital narrative and provides a feast for readers' imaginations.--J. C. Cervantes, author of the New York Times best-selling Storm Runner trilogy San Madrigal is as real as Wakanda or the Shire or Earthsea. Once you read Ballad Dagger, you will see what I mean. Only the best authors can make me feel nostalgic for a place that never existed but needs to exist, and Daniel Jose Older is one of the best.--New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan Brimming with mystery, mayhem, and heart, Ballad Dagger gives us wondrous new magic steeped in deep traditions. It's a gorgeous romance, a wild adventure, and a powerful story that unravels not only the pain of diaspora, but the strength of community, and the ways we provide refuge for one another.--Leigh Bardugo, New York Times #1 best-selling author of Shadow and Bone