Ballad & Dagger

Not part of Riordanverse

This book or series is published under Rick Riordan Presents and its contents are not considered canon to the Riordanverse.

This article is written from a real world point of view.

Ballad & Dagger is the first book in the Outlaw Saints duology by Daniel José Older published under Rick Riordan Presents. It was released on May 3, 2022.

Synopsis[]

Ballad & Dagger introduces readers to Mateo Matisse, born in San Madrigal, an island in the Caribbean that for centuries provided a refuge for pirates, Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition, and Cuban Santeros. After the island is destroyed by a freak hurricane, a vibrant diaspora emerges in Brooklyn. Fifteen years later, Mateo, now a teen and a piano prodigy, lives with his two aunts—one alive, the other a spirit. While he is playing the piano at the San Madrigal Grande Fete, a raucous annual party, gods and magical creatures appear, resulting in street battles breaking out between the three neighborhood factions. During the melee, Mateo discovers that he has healing abilities. One person seems to know what's going on: Chela Hidalgo, the rabbi's daughter, who, like Mateo, possesses newly discovered secret powers. Mateo and Chela set aside their differences to unravel the mystery behind their sunken homeland and to stop a dangerous political operative who's trying to harness their powers to unleash a whole new terror on the world.

Characters[]

Trivia[]

Was previously mislabeled as "Mateo Matisse: Lullaby for a Lost Island", but it was announced on February 18 2021 as Ballad & Dagger.
The book is based on the author's own experiences as a Cuban-Jewish man, Santeria priest of 10 years, protest medic, and music lover.

Outlaw Saints
Books:	Ballad & Dagger \| Last Canto of the Dead
Main Characters:	Mateo Matisse \| Chela Hidalgo \| Maestro Grilo Juan Gerval
Secondary Characters:	Tía Lucia \| Tams \| Maza Alameda \| Tolo Baracasa \| Anisette Bisconte
Minor Characters:	Trucks \| Maybelline Alameda \| Aunt Miriam \| Jorge Medina \| Sandra Medina \| Vedo Bisconte \| Si Baracasa \| Mimi Baracasa \| Jaime Hidalgo \| Aviva Hidalgo \| Moses Arroyo \| Archibaldo Coraje Medina \| Baba Maximo \| Johnny Afrá \| Arco Kordal \| Iya Lisa \| Edgardo Pio \| Safiya \| Farts \| Tantor Batalán \| Oba Nelson
Santos:	Madrigal \| Okanla \| Galanika \| Vizvargal \| Elegguá \| Shango \| Ochossi \| Yemonja \| Oya
Related Content:	Daniel José Older \| Rick Riordan Presents

Rick Riordan Presents
Pandava Quintet:	Aru Shah and the End of Time \| Aru Shah and the Song of Death \| Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes \| Aru Shah and the City of Gold
Storm Runner Trilogy:	The Storm Runner \| The Fire Keeper \| The Shadow Crosser
Shadow Bruja Duology:	Lords of Night \| Dawn of the Jaguar
Thousand Worlds series:	Dragon Pearl \| Tiger Honor \| Fox Snare
Sal & Gabi Duology:	Sal & Gabi Break the Universe \| Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe
Tristan Strong Trilogy:	Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky \| Tristan Strong Destroys the World \| Tristan Strong Keeps Punching
Paola Santiago series:	Paola Santiago and the River of Tears \| Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares \| Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows
Sikander Aziz series	City of the Plague God \| Fury of the Dragon Goddess
The Gifted Clans series:	The Last Fallen Star \| The Last Fallen Moon \| The Last Fallen Realm
Pahua Moua series:	Pahua and the Soul Stealer \| Pahua and the Dragon's Secret
Serwa Boateng series:	Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting \| Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem \| Serwa Boateng's Guide to Saving the World
Outlaw Saints:	Ballad & Dagger \| Last Canto of the Dead
Winston Chu Duology:	Winston Chu Versus the Whimsies \| Winston Chu Versus the Wingmeisters
Drop of Venom series:	A Drop of Venom \| A Touch of Blood
Stand Alone Novels:	Race to the Sun \| The Spirit Glass \| It Waits in the Forest \| The Dark Becomes Her
Others:	The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes