Review: Dagger by @StevendosSantos @thetorchkeeper

 

 Dagger by Steven Dos Santos

First let me say how much I admire this author and his "No holds barred"approach to diversity. I really love books with Lgbtqiap themes especially when the author identifies as such. I can't count how many books I've put down this year because I felt as though it was a poor attempt at a Queer main character, something that happens often when I choose a book coming from a cis-white woman who has no idea what it's like being a gay teenage boy and only wishes to profit from it. Dagger is not the former. It is an amazing story crafted from the author's experience on being a gay male(no coming out story, no point of focus to the story) and if it couldn't get any better than that, he's a uber cool, kick ass spy that works for a private sector that even the CIA has no idea about.

Can you say f*ck yea?

There are tons of things I totally loved about this book and if i could spend all day talking about it if you let me but here are some things that just really stuck out to me:

1.The DiVeRsItY!

Dagger himself was gay and I wasn't completely sure if he was Latino but I totally cannoned him Latino. Both his friends were Latino so it only felt natural picturing him that way too. Maybe it's because I'm Latina as well, but I love reading Latino/a/x characters in Speculative fiction.

2. The Twists

Oh the twists! There was a twist I honestly didn't see coming and my mouth stayed dropped for several pages trying to pull myself together. Why did you do this to me, Steven? Why???? Lol. I am forever dedicated to Dos Santos's plans to take over the YA Speculative fiction Realm, one story at a time because he is just that dope! I can't believe it's taken me this long to read any of his books.I totally have The Culling on my bookshelf and that book needs to get read like now!

3. The World Building

The world Steven set up reminded me a little of that secret force of B613 in Shondaland's Scandal, with a little Kim Possible, The Famous Jett Jackson and Supa Ninjas all in one neat little package. If any of these shows mean anything to you, you will totally get what i mean. Dagger works for D.U.S.T, a super secret governmental operation that handles missions in the "Supernatural". At first I wasn't sure I was going to completely get Dagger because this was the first book I ever picked up with a heavy Espionage theme. But you don't have to "get" spies to "get" Dagger. It's really just about a regular teenager who goes through what we all went through at one point. he just happens to be a fly ass spy on the low and is pretty damn good at what he does.

4. Dagger

How can I say what I loved about this book without mentioning how much I loved Dagger. He was nothing short of hilarious and his voice is genuinely real that I totally pictured my cousin(who's also a queer male) in this character. Dagger is really snarky and sarcastic, two combinations I totally love in a character and the way he describes the objects of his affection? It's like he stole the words right out of my mouth,lol.

5. The Cover

Can i say how much I love this cover? 

This is why I cannoned him Latino because the guy unapologetically looks Latino....That is all.

 *Click me to buy =)*

What I didn't connect to as much:

This book was almost perfect minus one detail I wouldn't have even commented on years ago when feminism wasn't a huge part of my life. The use of the word b*tch. Dagger said the word a lot and I don't necessarily think he said it with bad intentions as B*tch has been a word reclaimed by many and doesn't always carry around a stigma the way it used to when people say it now. For example, I grew up in an urban neighborhood so calling someone your b*tch can mean friend depending on the context, I'd be a liar if I didn't occasionally use it in that context but I still cringed with how many times he said it. It was a natural part of his speech and like I mentioned before, I don't think he said it ill-intentioned or to be oppressive, but I still took of a very small 1/4 point for it. But please don't let that stop you, This book overall was a very quick read for me and I read slow like molasses. I think I finished it in less than 4 days, Hands down, the fastest book I read all year. Trust me fellow book bloggers, you will not be disappointed!

Actual score 4.75 rounded to 5

 

About the Author:

Steven dos Santos is author of THE TORCH KEEPER novels, a Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic series. Book One, THE CULLING, was released by FLUX Books in March of 2013, and named an American Library Association 2014 Rainbow List Top Ten Selection. Book Two, THE SOWING, was released on March 8, 2014. Steven is currently finalizing Book 3 of The Torch Keeper series. His new novel, DAGGER, a Young Adult Paranormal Espionage Adventure, will be released by Evernight Teen in September 2015! Steven is a Team Member of We Need Diverse Books and is represented by literary agent, Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown, Ltd. Steven studied Motion Picture production at University of Miami and graduated from Florida International University with a B.S. Degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications Television Broadcasting program. He is a passionate advocate of LGBT rights.  

 Stalk Steven:

Official Website

Steven Dos Santos's Goodreads Author Page 

Tweet with Steven:

@StevendosSantos

@TheTorchKeeper

Follow Steven on Tumblr:

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Buy/Pre-Order Dagger here or click the Cover up above!