‘Ballad & Dagger,’ by Daniel José Older

Ballad & Dagger, by Daniel José Older, combines supernatural adventure with political intrigue among a diaspora community of pirates, Cuban Santeros, and Sephardic Jews which have made a new home for themselves in Brooklyn after their island community of San Madrigal sank into the sea almost 16 years ago.

The story centers around Mateo Matisse, a high-school student and gifted musician who, when the story opens, is only concerned with gaining the attention of Gerval, a famous musician with local ties. Mateo gets much more than he bargained for, however; when he witnesses a brutal murder committed by a person he thought he knew.

What I’m reading (May 6, 2022)

In this video, I share 3 books that I am currently reading, and 2 books that are on my radar for books I want to read.

Rick Riordan Presents, two upcoming titles

Here is an early look at two upcoming books under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia (August 4, 2020), and City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda (January 2021).

‘Race to the Sun’ by Rebecca Roanhorse

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse is a recent addition to Rick Riordan Presents, an imprint that features stories about characters from world mythologies, written by authors who are inspired by the mythology and the folklore of their heritage.

In his introduction for Race to the Sun, Rick Riordan shares that the character of Piper McLean from his Heroes of Olympus series was “inspired by conversations I had with Native kids” during his visits to schools.

“They asked me repeatedly whether I could add a Native hero to Percy Jackson’s world. They wanted to see themselves reflected at Camp Half-Blood, because they simply never saw themselves in popular kids’ books. Piper was my way of saying, ‘Absolutely! I see you. I value you. You can be part of my world anytime!’”

Piper, who was half-Cherokee, was part of an ensemble that populated Heroes of Olympus. But Riordan believed that a story centered around a Native protagonist, inspired by Indigenous mythologies, needed to come from a Native writer.

Race to the Sun features a protagonist who is Navajo, or Diné. The author, Rebecca Roanhorse, identifies her ethnic heritage as Ohkay Owineh and African American. She is married to a Navajo man and, “for the last twelve [years], I have been the mother to a smart, funny, and beautiful Navajo daughter.”

The book centers around the adventures of Nizhoni Begay, a seventh-grader who is able to see monsters - specifically, a monster who is able to change shapes but to everyone else around her, simply looks like “Mr. Charles,” the man who’s offering her father a new job.

Nizhoni and her brother, Marcus, are “practically twins” since only 10 months separate their ages. Marcus has a special power of his own and Mr. Charles hopes to make use of it as soon as Marcus’s power manifests. To defeat Mr. Charles, Nizhoni must embrace her legacy as a slayer of monsters.

In an afterword, Roanhorse shares that she drew inspiration from the Hero Twins of traditional Navajo stories.

I enjoyed the story, which features Nizhoni’s first-person narrative throughout. Given the appeal of Riordan’s own series, as well as other stories from Rick Riordan Presents, I believe that Roanhorse’s Race to the Sun will similarly be received by young readers who enjoy mythology-based adventure.

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley

‘Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky’

This latest offering from Rick Riordan Presents features gods and heroes of Western African mythology, alongside African-American folk legends. The author, Kwame Mbalia, has done a fantastic job assembling a cast of characters that this reader really cared about.

I sympathized with titular hero Tristan Strong, who has a lot of challenges to deal with.

When the story opens, Tristan has lost his best friend Eddie, who was killed in a bus accident. Tristan can’t help feel as though he should have been able to save Eddie, and he valiantly protects Eddie’s notebook of stories, the only thing of Eddie’s he has left.

Tristan is also dealing with the shame of having lost his first boxing match. This is a big deal because Tristan’s father was a renowned boxer, so Tristan has to deal with feelings of letting down the family legacy.

‘The Fire Keeper’ by J.C. Cervantes

With The Fire Keeper, author J.C. Cervantes continues her Storm Runner series that centers around gods from Maya mythology.

Teen protagonist Zane Obispo chronicled his earlier adventure with a secret message for other “godborns” who, like himself, had a god for a parent. In this follow-up, he learns that by doing so, he’s placed those other godborns at risk and, moreover, his father Hurakan is going to be put to death by the other gods.

Cervantes’ books in the Storm Runner series are part of a unique imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, which is published by Disney Hyperion.

The books involves themes and characters from world mythologies, written by authors who are from those cultures and who have a deep familiarity with the legends and traditions.

Rick Riordan, of course, is the bestselling author of mythology-based adventures that combine modern-day characters with figures out of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies.

Like Riordan’s own books, the stories in this imprint involve themes and characters from mythology, but Riordan’s role can be described as that of a curator rather than author (“Disney Announces New Rick Riordan Imprint,” Publisher’s Weekly, Sept. 13, 2016).

As related in the article, Riordan had been asked “about a zillion times” by his readers, “When are you going to write about (fill in the blank): the Hindu gods and goddesses? Ancient Chinese mythology? Native American legends?”

As his editor, Stephanie Owens Lurie, explained concerning the imprint’s launch: ”I know he feels that, in some instances, the books his readers are asking for him to write are really someone else’s story to tell.”

Having avidly read each new title as it was released by the imprint, I especially enjoyed a continuation for the saga of Zane Obispo. It populates an exciting and suspenseful adventure with characters that I came to care about.

I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley

‘Aru Shah and the Song of Death’ by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah and the Song of Death is author Roshani Chokshi’s second book in a four-book series, or “Quartet.” This story continues a mythology-based adventure that began with Aru Shah and the End of Time.

As this second book opens, it immediately drops readers into the action.

Aru Shah and her friend Mini are the reincarnated souls of demigod brothers, the Pandavas, from Hindu mythology. In this new installment, they meet another girl, Brynne, who is also a reincarnated Pandava. (There were five brothers in all, so it makes sense that in future offerings, two more Pandavas will be introduced.)

Putting aside their initial antagonism, Aru and Mini have to work with Brynne and a classmate, Aiden, to recover a bow and arrow that was stolen from the god of love. This was a fun story, due to be published in April under the “Rick Riordan Presents” imprint. I think this book will definitely appeal to readers of mythology-based fantasy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinion expressed is my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

‘Sal and Gabi Break the Universe’ by Carlos Hernandez

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is slated to be an upcoming release under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Sal, protagonist and narrator, has the ability to open portals to parallel worlds and pull objects through to our own universe. He can even summon people -- specifically, the other-world counterparts of his deceased mother.

Gabi, the school’s student-body president and editor of the school newspaper, is determined to get the complete story behind the so-called “Poultrygate” incident ... in which Sal made a raw dead chicken appear in the school bully's locker and then mysteriously vanish again.

‘Del Toro Moon’ by Darby Karchut

Four centuries ago, Santiago Del Toro, his brother-knights and their warhorses arrived in the New World with a special mandate from the monarch of Spain: to contain an ancient evil inside enchanted coffers and keep that evil from escaping.

Del Toro and his brother-knights were accompanied by their Andalusian warhorses and magic-enhanced maces - effective weapons against the monsters.

The coffers were hidden throughout the New World — each guarded by a knight and then, in-turn, by that knight’s descendents.

For 500 years, generations of Del Toros have continued this quest — safeguarding a coffer hidden in the El Laberinto Wilderness Area near Huerfano, Colorado.

‘Dragon Pearl’ by Yoon Ha Lee

On an impoverished and remote planet, Min and her brother Jun dreamed of one day traveling together among their civilization’s “Thousand Worlds.” Jun joined the Space Forces and Min’s plan was to enlist alongside him as soon as she was old enough — but as Dragon Pearl opens, Jun has disappeared.

Seemingly, Jun deserted his post to pursue a mystical object, the “Dragon Pearl.”

To figure out what really happened to Jun, Min decides to run away from home, and follow him into space. Complicating matters, Min and her family are fox spirits, who are viewed with suspicion by their society.

‘The Storm Runner’ by J.C. Cervantes

Maya mythology forms the backdrop to The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes. It centers around teen protagonist Zane Obispo, who’s at the center of an ancient prophecy.

Zane is destined to release the Maya god of death and destruction from his prison in a dormant volcano. Desperate to do whatever it takes to protect those he cares about, Zane finds himself at the center of a war between Maya gods. As the adventure progresses, Zane comes to learn amazing revelations about himself.

A rich cast of supporting characters — some human, and some out of mythology — surround Zane on his quest.

‘The Burning Maze’ by Rick Riordan

It felt as though we were being chased by fire in October 2017, as we traveled Highway 29 -- away from the Napa Valley floor, up Mount Saint Helena, and into Lake County, Calif.

The complex of fires that raged that month has been called the largest in California history. I could readily imagine them as the earthly manifestation of an ancient Titan’s wrath.

Well, raging fires and other "natural" disasters form a backdrop to the action in this latest adventure in Rick Riordan’s Trials of Apollo series. Traveling through the Labyrinth, Apollo, Meg, and Grover the satyr emerge in southern California where new perils await.

‘Aru Shah and the End of Time’ by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi is a fantastic read, a fast-paced story that pits two girls (reincarnated ancient heroes) against an entity known as “The Sleeper.”

The story is populated by gods and characters from Hindu mythology. I’m looking forward to continuing the series with Aru Shah and the Song of Death, which is slated for publication in April 2019.

Chokshi’s book is the first story to be released under a new imprint, Rick Riordan Presents (Disney Hyperion). Riordan is known for his fantasy-adventure series that combine modern-day characters with figures out of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies.

‘The Serpent’s Secret’ by Sayantani DasGupta

This enjoyable adventure features characters from the folklore of West Bengal, India, placed into a modern setting.

The protagonist, Kiranmala, has been raised in Parsippany, New Jersey, by parents who told her stories that she believed to merely be fanciful, about princesses and demons. And truth be told, at the beginning of the story, Kiranmala is embarrassed by her parents.

On her 12th birthday, Kiranmala comes home to discover her home in disarray and her parents disappeared. And then, two colorfully-clad princes show up, warning of dire peril.

The trio confront a ravenous demon and thus in spite of her disbelief and skepticism, Kiranmala finds herself on a quest in a magical dimension where the creatures from her parents' stories are real.

This story was a lot of fun to read, and is sure to appeal to fans of mythology-based fantasy. It is first in a planned series, Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond.

Disclosure of material connection: My taxes support local libraries’ acquisition of this and other resources. I consider the access I enjoy to be a “priceless” return on my investment.

‘Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard’

Among books I’m reading, The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan is the second in his series featuring heroes and gods of Norse mythology, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard.

Like Riordan’s series that center around Egyptian and Greek and Roman mythology, Magnus Chase combines trademark action with wry first-person storytelling.

The protagonist, Magnus, was a seemingly ordinary teen, who was living homeless at the time of the series’ opening.

Magnus died early in the series’ first book, but he was transported to Valhalla by a Valkyrie, Samirah al-Abbas. The Valkyries gather the souls of people who have died a hero’s death, and Samirah’s judgement was critically challenged on the basis of her choosing Magnus.

‘Lowriders to the Center of the Earth’

In Lowriders in Space (Chronicle Books, 2014), Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria and El Chavo Flapjack Octopus achieved their dream of owning their own garage, where they could repair, detail and clean cars without having to answer to their tyrannical boss.

But the book’s closing page introduced a new crisis: their beloved cat Genie was gone. Now in Lowriders to the Center of the Earth (July 2016), the trio set out on a road trip in search of their missing cat.

Written by Cathy Camper and illustrated by Raúl the Third, this new graphic novel combines a storyline that many children can relate to — searching for a missing pet — with Aztec mythology and geological science. (Genie is being held prisoner by the Lord of the Underworld and as our heroes travel ever deeper toward the center of the earth, El Chavo Flapjack Octopus humorously scrambles the names for the various layers of rock.)

YA author profile: Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan’s first Young Adult novel, The Lightning Thief, debuted in 2005. According to New York Times reviewer Polly Shulman, the book casts its hero in the “Harry Potter” model: “an ordinary boy who at first seems set apart from his peers, not by any special talent but by his painful home life and his difficulties fitting in.”

Percy, or Perseus, Jackson learns he is the half-human offspring of a Greek god and mortal. He is brought to Camp Half-Blood, where he meets demigods like himself. An oracle’s warning sends him and campmates on a quest to retrieve the god Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt. The quest takes the teens to various locales around the United States.

Riordan works full-time as a freelance writer (Gale). He worked as a middle school English teacher from 1990 to 1998 and lives with his wife and two sons in San Antonio, Texas. Reviewer Bob Minzesheimer, in his review for USA Today, states that “Riordan, a former teacher, blends page-turning action with mini-lessons in mythology and history.”

Riordan has been honored both as teacher and as writer: he was given the Master Teacher Award by Saint Mary’s Hall in 2002 and inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 2003 (Gale). The Lightning Thief was a New York Times Notable Book for 2005 and in 2011 the Children’s Book Council honored both Riordan and his book The Red Pyramid with Author of the Year and Book of the Year for Fifth to Sixth Grade respectively (Gale).

‘The Son of Neptune’

The Son of Neptune is the second book in Rick Riordan’s series Heroes of Olympus. If you read the original series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, or saw the film “The Lightning Thief,” you were introduced to the Greek gods and their demigod offspring.

This new series introduces readers to the gods in their Roman aspects. The members of Camp Halfblood learn that there is another group of demigods, children of the Roman gods, who have historically been the enemies/rivals of the children of Greek gods. For that reason each camp has been kept ignorant of the existence of the other.

Originally posted on Facebook

‘The Lost Hero’ by Rick Riordan

The Lost Hero (Disney/Hyperion Books, 2010), first book in The Heroes of Olympus, returns readers to the world of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series about demigods, offspring of mortals and Olympian gods.

The first book in this new series takes the story in an interesting new direction: the Greek gods were also known to mortals in the guise of their Roman counterparts — and produced demigod offspring of their own.

Originally posted to Facebook