The Ballad of Perilous Graves

Wildly inventive and unique world-building, so grounded in the love for a city and community. I felt nostalgic for this city I haven't seen in 20 years and connected to the author who can love a place the way others love their family. I'm positive there are many clever references to the real world that I didn't even clock; and that's ok, they are special treats for those who love this city too.
I didn't get solid reading time for this book; I picked it up in breaks and sometimes only got to read 3 pages in a day. I share that to say my opinion might be different had I read it straight and with full attention. There's a lot in flux in this story, setting, character, POV, timeline, and at some point I was convinced I'd missed a major show more reveal or flat out skipped a chapter. I had to take it on faith that the story would resolve in a way that made sense. In the end it was worth it, and I look forward to seeing what else this author produces. I also look forward to someday being able to travel safely and experience the vibe of New Orleans again. show less

The Ballad of Perilous Graves is an urban fantasy, written for adults despite its main characters being children. Well, despite three of its main characters being children; there's a trans man named Casey who has his own storyline as well. He just isn't mentioned in the description because, well, it's difficult to explain how his storyline fits into the overall plot. In fact, his storyline is confusing on the first readthrough, for reasons that would be a spoiler to reveal.

And that points to my biggest problem with this book. It keeps a lot of secrets that I don't think should be secrets. At least not for as long as they are. I'm used to reading fantasy, of course, stepping into an unfamiliar world that doesn't entirely make sense show more during the opening pages or opening chapters. I'm used to seeing words I don't yet know the meaning of and world-building pieces that are yet to be explained. But usually the book does hit a point at which the reader basically understands the world and how it functions. Even though new creatures or spells or places or concepts may continue to be introduced, the reader feels more like an explorer discovering something wonderful than like a foreigner lost and overwhelmed by culture shock. This book maintained that "opening pages" kind of feeling for me over the entire length. I would finally understand something that was written about pages ago while being confused about the current page. And, unfortunately, yes, this does mean I struggled to understand the ending.

To be fair, though, I'm not entirely sure this is the book's fault. It's written about a place I've only visited, from the perspective of a culture I don't belong to. I wouldn't be surprised if there were references I was meant to pick up on, narrative conventions or tropes or cultural stories that would have shed light on everything if I had only been familiar with them. From my perspective, I'm tempted to say that the author went a little too far down the "show don't tell" route, but who am I to demand that things be explained to me if I'm not in the target audience? Maybe there are some people who love this book precisely because it doesn't cater to the ignorant, wasting time and tragically simplifying a beautifully complex story that couldn't have been told otherwise. I just can't say.

What I can say is that it had fantastic world building. In the first few pages, Doctor Professor magically appears, playing and singing and almost compelling his listeners to dance along. Not long after, we're introduced to Peaches, a young girl with extraordinary powers that are treated as just a natural part of her, who never goes to school and lives alone in a house filled with every kind of pet. We get a magic system based on art and music, family traditions including powerful stories and magical artifacts and wisdom passed down through generations, fantastical creatures and modes of transportation and locations that defy the laws of physics. In short, we get an entire city brimming with life.

We also get great characters, each with their own set of desires and internal conflicts. They develop throughout the story, with the main characters each having their own journey. The children grapple with the weight of their responsibility, the loss of innocence, a coming of age. Perry and Brendy's parents are torn between protecting their children and their city's very survival. Peaches has a plotline involving her missing father. Casey is afraid of his own magical abilities. And of course the villains have a bit more going on than "they're just evil". There's also a minor romance subplot with Perry and Peaches, which plays out in a manner appropriate to their age.

It's a book of switching perspectives, multiple timelines, and plenty of action. There were definitely parts that kept me reading to find out what happened to the characters I cared about, although I did often wish I had a better understanding of the stakes, both in general and for the characters at a given moment. It took me a long time to figure out exactly what would happen if the songs weren't returned, and I often wasn't sure what the effects of a certain type of magic would be.

Content warnings are mostly in line with that: death, violence, etc. The book also spends some time grappling with racism. The family stories involve slavery. Perry has a terrifying encounter with a villainous judge (of sorts) who essentially wants to lynch him just for existing. But of course the book itself doesn't take a racist stance. The warning isn't so much "racism" as "depicting racism". You should take note if such things may be damaging to your mental health, not skip out if you're a privileged reader looking for accurate and powerful depictions. show less

If you think New Orleans is rich in magic and enchantment, wait until you discover the secret Nola: filled with music, sky trolleys, zombies, haints, and floating graffiti.

Evil is out to kill nine songs in the city - and these songs are manifesting themselves as spirits. If the songs are killed, Nola will collapse under the power of all the storms that have battered the city throughout history.

Three children - Perry, his sister Brendy, and their bewitching friend Peaches - are asked to collect these songs, but this task leads them on a perilous journey through Nola, including rescuing their grandpa who has disappeared. At the same time, Casey, an artist searching for his missing cousin, has discovered the secret Nola and the magic that show more lies in their artistry.

This book captivated me from page one! The dialogue, the imagination, the adventure, the characters: it’s all so rich and vivid that I couldn’t put this book down! show less

two cities of New Orleans, both magic, and full of comics, graffiti, and music. the onset of hurricanes drives the narrative. the language is full of colour and sound. the distinction between the living and the dead goes blurry. Professor Longhair and Dr John Rebennack bring the music. songs go missing, graffiti tags fill the air, dead cabs and sky trolleys cover the city. Lafcadio Hearn turns up. it's all kind of wonderful, and evocative of the power of the city, and of pop culture. the magic realism style is very vivid. this is a great new voice in fantasy, distinctive and rich. the narrative kinda runs out of steam though, about three-quarters of the way through; could have used another pass before publication.

Book Review…The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings

There is no other place like it. Nola is a place of sky trolleys and dead cabs, where haints dance the night away and Wise Women keep the order, and where songs walk, talk and keep the spirit of the city alive. Nine songs of power have escaped from the magical piano that maintains the city’s beat and without them. Unexpectedly, Perry and his sister, Brendy, are tasked with saving the city. But a storm is brewing and the Haint of All Haints is awake. Even if they capture the songs, Nola’s time might be coming to an end.

This was a vivid and magical read about family, friends and MUSIC! There's different points of views and some odd events and at times the story was a little show more confusing but it was still a wonderful read! I know I'm contradicting myself but the way the author made this story so vivid and rich was wonderful! The details in this story were amazing! The world building is imaginative, colourful and vibrant! The characters are diverse. Peaches was probably my favorite! She is mysterious and extraordinary. I'd love to read more about her! I know this book may not be for everyone. It's a story that takes patience but it is worth every moment you spend reading and losing yourself in the colorful, musical and magical world! show less

What a wonderful read! It truly captures the magic that is New Orlean with a sense of jazz found throughout. By that I mean, what happens was rarely expected. The book wasn't afraid to rush when needed. Characters were given space to have their solo moments. Things were a little off beat, but it all worked.

I totally recommend it to anyone who wants to escape into a novel that still struggles with issues in today's world. Yet long for the magic that just seems under New Orleans' surface.

I did absolutley love this book, but it was. . . so confusing at times. There was a lot to focus on, and it felt hard to keep up at times. Casey especially, whilst I loved him, it felt hard to keep up with him. I absolutely loved the world though, absolutely LOVED Nola so much and the culture!