Reviews tagging 'Death'

Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older

9 reviews

cj13's review

adventurous emotional funny fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Blood and Death

paigereitz's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

Wow wow wow. I really loved this book. I loved the creation of a mythic island where colonialization did not touch, and the reckoning with realities in our society. I loved the electric mix of cultures. I loved the teenagers learning who they are and coming into themselves. I loved how love and loss and hope and betrayal are handled. Beautiful book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Colonisation, Death, Violence, and Blood

eni_iilorak's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Medical content

Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Racism

Minor: Mass/school shootings, Sexual content, and Slavery

emmakchapman's review

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Blood, and Death

Minor: Slavery

erins_bookshelf_'s review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This started out a bit slow but I got drawn in very quickly and I loved it, the whole book is full of culture and and it was incredibly diverse within the story I just loved it :) 
The action was cool and

when Mateo activated the full extent of his power it was so cool and the fighting scenes got a lot more interesting so

I can’t wait to see any fighting scenes in the sequel :) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Slavery

antonique_reads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gore, and Colonisation

scarlettskyes's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, and Violence

kayladaila's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Colonisation and Classism

Minor: Police brutality, Racism, Vomit, and Panic attacks/disorders

2treads's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

—"la mentors mata al mentiroso." The lie kills the liar.

Older's story practically vibrates with music, culture, and identity. Living in a piece of modern Bronx, the people of San Madrigal hold tightly to their traditions of story, religion, and language. So when the opportunity arises to go back home, tensions rise and threaten to split the community apart.

What drew me in was Mateo, awkward, shy, and intensely talented with music; his relationship with his aunt(s), friends, and the complexities of who his people are and their continued survival in a world not attuned to their magic.

He was able to keep the momentum and mystery that surrounds the destruction of their island and the ways in which a return or arising can be achieved. But there exists dark forces that seek to use the powers and kinds of our heroes for their own goals. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence