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Half-Resurrection Blues
(Bone Street Rumba #1)
by
“Because I’m an inbetweener—and the only one anyone knows of at that—the dead turn to me when something is askew between them and the living. Usually, it’s something mundane like a suicide gone wrong or someone revived that shouldn’ta been.”
Carlos Delacruz is one of the New York Council of the Dead’s most unusual agents—an inbetweener, partially resurrected from a death h ...more
Carlos Delacruz is one of the New York Council of the Dead’s most unusual agents—an inbetweener, partially resurrected from a death h ...more
Mass Market Paperback, 326 pages
Published
January 6th 2015
by Roc
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Jean
Young adult and mature because of language and moderately explicit (allusive, not using taboo language) sexuality.
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Start your review of Half-Resurrection Blues (Bone Street Rumba, #1)

Adult urban fantasy -- With a series named Bone Street Rumba, how could this not intrigue me? Older's hero is Carlos Delacruz, a half-dead, half-alive agent and hit man for the New York Council of the Dead. (You knew the dead of NYC had a bureaucracy, right? Of course they do.) Delacruz has no idea who he was when he was alive. He doesn't know how he became an in-betweener -- not exactly mortal nor a ghost -- but his special status makes him valuable to the Council since he is able to move freel
...more

Broken finger review #6:
In a fit of compulsive organization, I'm cleaning off my TBR. Perhaps because of Shadowshaper, Older popped up. Intrigued by the premise, a half-dead, half-alive main character--because if there's ever a metaphor for modern life, that's it--and thought it might be the perfect gym read. I still have the broken finger, so I can't hold heavy hardcovers, and hey--paperback! And urban fantasy--fast moving, right?
Well, sort of. The first 140 pages blipped by on the exercise bik ...more

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/01/05/b...
UPDATED: US GIVEAWAY FOR HALF-RESURRECTION BLUES details at http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/01/05/b...
It feels like just the other day I was expressing my desire for more ghosts in urban fantasy, and then onto my lap drops Half-Resurrection Blues. There’s a twist to it, though. Protagonist Carlos Delacruz isn’t exactly a ghost. Instead, he’s an “inbetweener”, which is exactly what it sounds like – someone not quite alive and ...more
UPDATED: US GIVEAWAY FOR HALF-RESURRECTION BLUES details at http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/01/05/b...
It feels like just the other day I was expressing my desire for more ghosts in urban fantasy, and then onto my lap drops Half-Resurrection Blues. There’s a twist to it, though. Protagonist Carlos Delacruz isn’t exactly a ghost. Instead, he’s an “inbetweener”, which is exactly what it sounds like – someone not quite alive and ...more

LOVE this ghost-y urban fantasy, multicultural, noir, magical war type series with a large, distinct, and very diverse cast across the trilogy and so much amazing worldbuilding that I don't even know what to do with myself. Carlos Delacruz, the most central main character, is a half-alive half-dead agent of New York's Council of the Dead, doing the dirty work of their bureaucracy, until he discovers he's not the only partially resurrected dude around - and the other ones may be up to Very No Goo
...more

I really enjoyed the linked short story collection Salsa Nocturna: Stories so I picked this up. NY-set urban fantasy where the inbetweener Carols (was dead, got resurrected, is now somewhere in between) worked for the Council of the Dead, dealing with rogue ghosts and keeping things tidy. Obviously it all gets complicated, with a significant building threat and some fantastic evil vowel-free demons who operate on timy exercise bikes. As you do. Urban fantasy fun with terrific spirit of place and
...more

Originally posted on The Book Smugglers
Carlos Delacruz is an agent with the New York Council of the Dead who can be often found working alongside his ghostly partner trying to maintain peace between the dead and the living and protecting the entrada to the underworld. Brooklyn is his domain, where he goes hunting when he is told and where he has found a measure of peace and companionship amongst those who know what he is if not who he is.
For Carlos is an inbetweener, someone not entirely dead bu ...more
Carlos Delacruz is an agent with the New York Council of the Dead who can be often found working alongside his ghostly partner trying to maintain peace between the dead and the living and protecting the entrada to the underworld. Brooklyn is his domain, where he goes hunting when he is told and where he has found a measure of peace and companionship amongst those who know what he is if not who he is.
For Carlos is an inbetweener, someone not entirely dead bu ...more

This book was received through a goodreads.com giveaway
I was really excited to read Half-Resurrection Blues, but my excitement rapidly turned to disappointment upon reading. As an avid fan of urban fantasy, I’m always looking for a new series with a different twist, and had high expectations for this book’s ghostly premise. However, the book had several glaring shortcomings that ruined my experience.
The Main Character: Carlos Delacruz is one of the most boring generic characters I’ve ever had th ...more
I was really excited to read Half-Resurrection Blues, but my excitement rapidly turned to disappointment upon reading. As an avid fan of urban fantasy, I’m always looking for a new series with a different twist, and had high expectations for this book’s ghostly premise. However, the book had several glaring shortcomings that ruined my experience.
The Main Character: Carlos Delacruz is one of the most boring generic characters I’ve ever had th ...more

I am quite pleased to say I enjoyed this. Is it the best-written book ever? Nah, it's not. But it was entertaining and a new (mostly) genre for me. I don't read a lot of paranormal noir. Paranoirmal? My last few forays into Paranormal were an urban fantasy romance which gave me eye strain from constant rolling and the Moore books about the little girl who was the Big Death, which were just too much for me in too short a time period.
I can't remember why I'd put this book on hold at the library. I ...more
I can't remember why I'd put this book on hold at the library. I ...more

A lot of urban fantasy covers some pretty similar beats. Dangerous person working for/against/around a powerful paranormal organisation, wandering around fixing this week's intra-dimensional threat. And Half-Resurrection Blues doesn't go anywhere particularly new on this point. Carlos is a man without memory or a pulse, not quite dead and not quite alive, working for an organisation that sends not-alive people (mostly ghosts) to fix paranormal/supernatural issues. The current problem is imp-thin
...more

I gave it 100 pages.
Sorry, DJO! I still like you!
Friends who haven't tried this author:
I recommended starting with Anyway: Angie if you like harder, more horror-leaning urban fantasy, or one of his other Tor shorts.
If you prefer YA, Shadowshaper is excellent. Especially recommended for Brooklyn residents. ...more
Sorry, DJO! I still like you!
Friends who haven't tried this author:
I recommended starting with Anyway: Angie if you like harder, more horror-leaning urban fantasy, or one of his other Tor shorts.
If you prefer YA, Shadowshaper is excellent. Especially recommended for Brooklyn residents. ...more

I honestly think this is a "it's not you, it's me" situation, so don't take my rating as a knock at the book because it's really just for how I felt about it. I tried for more than a quarter before having to DNF because I wasn't feeling it at all. And the thing is, I wanted to like it so bad! I did like certain parts of it, like how relatable the world felt. And ain't that some shit when it's an Urban Fantasy, huh? I haven't felt this at home when I read contemporary! I found Older's world to be
...more

This book is made awesome by the setting and cast — it’s full of detail that places it exactly in time and space, in Brooklyn and in the ghost/s of Brooklyn; it’s full of characters with all kinds of origins and all kinds of stories, all of which is supplemented by the kind of details that make them feel real. Mannerisms, foibles, culture-specific ways of speaking or thinking… and it’s never some kind of monolithic culture, but all sorts of cultures in a melting pot, a dialogue. The background o
...more

3.5 stars
I adored Carlos' narrative voice; he really sounded like he was telling the story and I was right there next to him. Somewhere in the middle things got a little muddled and I remember wondering if anything was even happening or if it was all just words, but the action kicked in again in the end. I never grew attached to Sasha; their romance felt way too rushed to me. I loved Riley and Dro and Mama Esther and Baba Eddie and Dr Tijou. The ngks were bizarrely scary, especially once you saw ...more
I adored Carlos' narrative voice; he really sounded like he was telling the story and I was right there next to him. Somewhere in the middle things got a little muddled and I remember wondering if anything was even happening or if it was all just words, but the action kicked in again in the end. I never grew attached to Sasha; their romance felt way too rushed to me. I loved Riley and Dro and Mama Esther and Baba Eddie and Dr Tijou. The ngks were bizarrely scary, especially once you saw ...more

2.5 stars
I immediately bought this book (Kobo had 50% discount code I could use) without reading any early reviews because I am a sucker for urban fantasy with male protagonist. I always try to find a new series I can follow. So I was intrigued -- and the a couple of friends gave this 4-stars rating.
Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me...
Maybe I am a lazy reader; I don't like the sensation that I've been dropped in the middle of an urban fantasy world without so much of an introduction. ...more
I immediately bought this book (Kobo had 50% discount code I could use) without reading any early reviews because I am a sucker for urban fantasy with male protagonist. I always try to find a new series I can follow. So I was intrigued -- and the a couple of friends gave this 4-stars rating.
Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me...
Maybe I am a lazy reader; I don't like the sensation that I've been dropped in the middle of an urban fantasy world without so much of an introduction. ...more

3.5 stars
This one didn't grab me quite as much as the Shadowshaper books did. It lacked the humor and camradie of the ensemble cast of characters that the Shadowshaper books used to great effect, hence why I'm giving it 3.5 instead of 4 stars, but otherwise, everything else I've come to expect from this author holds true. Great world building, an imaginative and detailed world of spirits and how they navigate the world of the living, cultural and racial sensitivity, and just a really intriguing ...more
This one didn't grab me quite as much as the Shadowshaper books did. It lacked the humor and camradie of the ensemble cast of characters that the Shadowshaper books used to great effect, hence why I'm giving it 3.5 instead of 4 stars, but otherwise, everything else I've come to expect from this author holds true. Great world building, an imaginative and detailed world of spirits and how they navigate the world of the living, cultural and racial sensitivity, and just a really intriguing ...more

Half-Resurrection Blues (Bone Street Rumba #1) by Daniel José Older is a different kind of urban fantasy. The main character is an agent for the dead because he is in-between the living and the dead. He takes cases for the dead. He sees the dead, knows them like we know live people but at the same time, he has live friends. The mystery is good, suspense filled, great fresh fantasy, and great characters. The only fault I found is too much sex. I am not a prude, I don't mind sex in books but ther
...more

You can also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2014/12/...
I’ve been waiting so very long for a full length novel featuring Carlos Delacruz, who works for the New York Council for the Dead. I first met Carlos in Older’s magnificent story collection Salsa Nocturna and so, of course, I couldn’t wait to dig into this. A bit of history: Carlos is an inbetweener, both alive and dead, and he has very little memory of who he was before he “died” and went to work for the Council. It makes ...more
I’ve been waiting so very long for a full length novel featuring Carlos Delacruz, who works for the New York Council for the Dead. I first met Carlos in Older’s magnificent story collection Salsa Nocturna and so, of course, I couldn’t wait to dig into this. A bit of history: Carlos is an inbetweener, both alive and dead, and he has very little memory of who he was before he “died” and went to work for the Council. It makes ...more

Truly fantastic. So many layers to explore and discuss. The character development was great and Daniel's Brooklyn is alive--not in the cliché "practically another character" sense. More like it was the fabric, the sinews, the magic that tied everyone together.
Anyway. I listened to the audio version which I HIGHLY recommend. Daniel narrates it himself so the inflection and rhythm and emotion in the words comes across perfectly. It's an added bonus to hear him give each character a different voic ...more
Anyway. I listened to the audio version which I HIGHLY recommend. Daniel narrates it himself so the inflection and rhythm and emotion in the words comes across perfectly. It's an added bonus to hear him give each character a different voic ...more

Sep 08, 2015
The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears
rated it
it was amazing
All you need to know for now is that Carlos Delacruz is my newest book boyfriend. I don't care that he's half dead, he's got a sword cane and mad swag.
...more

Whatever it is that's been causing all this static is out where tonight. I'm sure of it.
The more I can disappear, the more chance I have of catching it.
Carlos Delacruz is an inbetweener, a partially resurrected dead man who was nursed back to half-life after being found in a Brooklyn park years ago.
As a being neither dead nor truly alive, Carlos has proven himself a worthy asset to the Council Of The Dead, the spectral court of laws in the land of the deceased, as a Soulcatcher. A Soulcatcher fi ...more
The more I can disappear, the more chance I have of catching it.
Carlos Delacruz is an inbetweener, a partially resurrected dead man who was nursed back to half-life after being found in a Brooklyn park years ago.
As a being neither dead nor truly alive, Carlos has proven himself a worthy asset to the Council Of The Dead, the spectral court of laws in the land of the deceased, as a Soulcatcher. A Soulcatcher fi ...more

I thought it was a decent first effort but I have to admit that I had a difficult time connecting with the protagonist, Carlos Delacruz. It took me much longer to read the book than usual and I found it easy to set it aside and read other things. The entire time I was reading the story I kept waiting for something to open up and grant me more insight into the character, something that would make me give a damn about him. Rather than getting a lightening bolt moment it sort of trickled in but it
...more

Jun 04, 2020
Karen ⚜Mess⚜
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
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machalo-buddy-read
MacHalo Buddy Read
Pretty good story. Daniel Jose Older had a good story to tell, but it felt lacking in grit. Needed a little bit more meat and potatoes. It got good when the action got real. Unfortunately, that only happened in the middle and the end. Ah! And the humor was really good!
...more
Half-Resurrection Blues is a pseudo-enjoyable romp through an ultra-contemporary paranormal New York mired in way, way too much profanity.
Don’t get me wrong. I work at a newspaper as a reporter. I swear way too much and, because of this, we even set up a swear jar in the newsroom. Twice.
I have no problem with profanity, especially in everyday usage.
I do have a problem with the overuse of profanity in novels, where the profanity serves no actual purpose. That’s the most detracting thing abou ...more
Don’t get me wrong. I work at a newspaper as a reporter. I swear way too much and, because of this, we even set up a swear jar in the newsroom. Twice.
I have no problem with profanity, especially in everyday usage.
I do have a problem with the overuse of profanity in novels, where the profanity serves no actual purpose. That’s the most detracting thing abou ...more

This is a hard book to review. When deciding whether to buy it, I checked Goodreads and saw a number of 5 star ratings. Everywhere I looked, this novel was obtaining great reviews. So I bought it.
Let me say that the author is an amazing writer. I have nothing but great things to say about his sense of style and craftsmanship. If I was going to rate it solely on that, I would agree.... 5 stars. Unfortunately, the story and the characters just didn't do it for me. While I enjoyed the Brooklyn set ...more
Let me say that the author is an amazing writer. I have nothing but great things to say about his sense of style and craftsmanship. If I was going to rate it solely on that, I would agree.... 5 stars. Unfortunately, the story and the characters just didn't do it for me. While I enjoyed the Brooklyn set ...more

Not quite abandoning this book as of October 2019, but can't quite continue reading it either.
I picked it up as an autumn-themed read and as a break from two huge rereads (The Godfather and The Golem and the Jinni), and I was fully ready to be immersed in a new urban fantasy tale and setting. Also, I had never read anything by Daniel Jose Older before and had heard only good things about his fiction, so I was ready to like this book.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Couldn't connect with any ...more
I picked it up as an autumn-themed read and as a break from two huge rereads (The Godfather and The Golem and the Jinni), and I was fully ready to be immersed in a new urban fantasy tale and setting. Also, I had never read anything by Daniel Jose Older before and had heard only good things about his fiction, so I was ready to like this book.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Couldn't connect with any ...more

3.5 stars
I can’t remember the last time I came across an urban fantasy written by a man? But I was into it because I had a little faith that Daniel Jose Older would do right by us. And it was good. Engaging and funny it read very easily, any slang or cursing purely organic. I liked Carlos as a narrator because of his ease with breaking down a situation and his sometimes lack of filter. It works for me. My only gripe is I wish some things had been given more depth or page time to develop. Both wi ...more
I can’t remember the last time I came across an urban fantasy written by a man? But I was into it because I had a little faith that Daniel Jose Older would do right by us. And it was good. Engaging and funny it read very easily, any slang or cursing purely organic. I liked Carlos as a narrator because of his ease with breaking down a situation and his sometimes lack of filter. It works for me. My only gripe is I wish some things had been given more depth or page time to develop. Both wi ...more

This was a 3.5 read for me.
My thoughts:
• I was excited to read this book and was not disappointed.
• This is a first book in a series and the worldbuilding was expertly done without dragging down the plot yet allowing the reader to feel the actions matched the world. The author also left enough room so that the world complexities could be further flushed out in future stories.
• So love that Older gives us the “real” Brooklyn with all of the diversity, pageantry, grittiness, conflicts of old timer ...more
My thoughts:
• I was excited to read this book and was not disappointed.
• This is a first book in a series and the worldbuilding was expertly done without dragging down the plot yet allowing the reader to feel the actions matched the world. The author also left enough room so that the world complexities could be further flushed out in future stories.
• So love that Older gives us the “real” Brooklyn with all of the diversity, pageantry, grittiness, conflicts of old timer ...more

This is a book that I wanted to love with my whole heart, but that fell a little short.
The Good: Older's characters are interesting and all have their own voice, distinct and new. He promised a diverse urban fantasy novel and delivered on that -- the NYC of Bone Street Rumba is populated with people and ghosts who would be right at home in the real city. It's nice reading a fantasy where the protagonist could be someone like you.
The world-building, too, is fascinating, but Older doesn't give it ...more
The Good: Older's characters are interesting and all have their own voice, distinct and new. He promised a diverse urban fantasy novel and delivered on that -- the NYC of Bone Street Rumba is populated with people and ghosts who would be right at home in the real city. It's nice reading a fantasy where the protagonist could be someone like you.
The world-building, too, is fascinating, but Older doesn't give it ...more

Half Resurrection Blues is a beautifully written ghost noir by Daniel Jose Older that paints a realistic and vivid picture of New York that I’ve never witnessed before. There’s so much to love about this book whether it be the world he’s created, the humor, or the diverse cast of character, but one aspect I must praise is its writing. When it comes to writing, one thing that irks me is lengthy descriptions. I find it ridiculous when some authors will gladly spend ten pages describing a sunset or
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Urban Fantasy Afi...: February 2020 - Half-Resurrection Blues | 2 | 10 | Feb 08, 2020 08:23AM | |
Play Book Tag: Half-Resurrection Blues - Daniel José Older, 3 1/2 stars | 1 | 10 | Feb 23, 2017 08:20AM | |
Good Reads Mad Re...: BOOK RIOTS MARCH QUARTERLY BOX (#BKR06) PRODUCT REVIEW | 1 | 4 | Mar 28, 2015 10:05PM |
Daniel José Older is the New York Times bestselling author of the Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher (Scholastic), the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series (Penguin), and the upcoming Middle Grade sci-fi adventure Flood City (Scholastic). He won the International Latino Book Award and has been nominated for the Kirkus Prize, the Mythopoeic Award, the Locus Award, the Andre Norton Award,
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