"Blood Debts" delivers an electrifying blend of magic, mystery, and family dynamics set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans. The Trudeau twins' struggle to reclaim their family's legacy and unravel old curses is packed with intense drama, making their journey both suspenseful and deeply emotional.

A Powerful Tale of Magic, Family, and Legacy

Terry J. Benton-Walker’s Blood Debts is a thrilling contemporary fantasy filled with deep family secrets, political intrigue, and a richly developed magic system rooted in New Orleans’ history and culture. This book is a gripping blend of mystery, supernatural power struggles, and social commentary.

The story follows twin siblings Clement and Cristina Trudeau, heirs to a powerful magical legacy that was shattered when their family fell from grace. After their mother’s mysterious illness and their father’s murder, the twins are pulled back into the dangerous world of magical politics, uncovering dark secrets, betrayals, and a curse that could destroy their bloodline. As they navigate powerful enemies and their own strained relationship, they must decide how far they’re willing to go to reclaim their family’s place.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its vibrant setting. Benton-Walker brings New Orleans to life with its rich history, supernatural elements, and complex magical traditions. The story is told from multiple perspectives, adding depth to the characters and their personal struggles. Themes of grief, trauma, and systemic injustice are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making it more than just a fantasy—it’s also a story about resilience and fighting for what’s right.

While the magic system is intriguing, the worldbuilding can feel overwhelming at times, especially with the multiple POVs and intricate family histories. Some plot threads could have been explored more deeply, but the pacing keeps the tension high, leading to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion.

Blood Debts is perfect for fans of Legendborn and The Inheritance Games, offering a rich, fast-paced fantasy with unforgettable characters and a powerful message

💀 Blood Debts 💀

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ (3.75)
Finished: 02/25/25


New Orleans, magic, Black authors and Black characters with queer rep all over the book, it had everything that I needed to be intrigued but I did soft DNF this when I first started it. But once I came back and I listened to the audiobook, I really enjoyed it.

My first time picking up Blood Debts I was slightly disappointed with all the characters fighting and having petty arguments with each other it felt too much for me in the very beginning. But further along in the book the family came together to keep each other safe and try to uncover the truth of their grandparents.

Following Cristina and Clement was a joyride of emotions. The betrayal, injustice, and love they all encounter during their investigation made me not want to stop listening. The narrators did an exceptional job, I have enjoyed listening to books narrated by the voice of Cristina for quite a few books and the voice of Clement was *chefs kiss* and I'd like to listen to more books from him.

With how this book ended, I'm going to need to read Blood Justice very soon to see how everything concludes.

Great book I loved the characters and how they progressed through the novel It was a great read that I really enjoyed

I forgot to leave a review for this when I first read it. What a delightful book. Highly recommend it!

actual rating: 4/5 stars

blood debts by terry j. benton-walker is a spellbinding contemporary fantasy that blends magic, family drama, and deep-rooted curses against the backdrop of a vibrant, dangerous new orleans. this debut novel is a thrilling ride full of tension, intrigue, and heartbreak, with a rich magical system that pulses through every page.

the story centers on the trudeau twins, clement and cristina, who are dealing with the aftermath of their father’s death, a family curse, and the rising tension between the magical and non-magical communities of new orleans. at sixteen, they are caught between grief, betrayal, and their own complicated personal lives. cristina, once a powerful practitioner of magic, has renounced her powers after the death of their father, while clement leans heavily on his magic as both a distraction and a way to cope with his anger. as they uncover the truth about their mother’s curse and the violent past that haunts their family, they must confront their fractured relationship and learn to trust each other again.

the world-building is immersive, with the city of new orleans coming alive as a character in its own right—steeped in magic, history, and danger. the political machinations of the magical community add layers of complexity to the narrative, keeping you on edge as secrets unfold. there are plenty of twists and turns to keep things exciting, though the multiple perspectives at times make the story feel a little scattered. however, the main focus on the twins and their personal growth gives the novel its heart.

the dynamic between clement and cristina is one of the book’s strongest aspects. their complicated sibling relationship—full of love, resentment, and loyalty—is beautifully explored, and their individual journeys of self-discovery, especially in terms of sexuality and identity, add depth to the narrative. the romance elements, while not the central focus, are another engaging layer, with clement’s flirtations and cristina’s relationship providing a contrast to the darker themes of the story.

while blood debts is packed with action, mystery, and emotional weight, it’s also a story about healing, trust, and the strength of family. the violence and mature themes, such as sexuality and the intricacies of family dynamics, make it a more mature read for young adults. the audiobook, narrated by a full cast, is an excellent way to experience the story, bringing the characters and the magic to life in a powerful way.

overall, blood debts is a strong start to what promises to be a captivating series. with its unique blend of magic, family drama, and political intrigue, it’s easy to see why this book has received so much attention and praise. i’m excited to see where the story goes next.

Holy POV. There are so many voices and they all sound the same. The magic of the world was fun at the beginning and I was very intrigued by the doll they found. I love the intrigue of New Orleans and magic and the premise was very fun. However, the book quickly becomes all about the family drama and gets quite complicated. The characters are all pretty shallow, hard to connect with, and impossible to root for. The magic does start to feel a little dark, so just know that’s coming.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you (and apologies) to NetGalley for the readers copy in exchange for a (very late) review.

I originally planned to post my review but forgot (whoops) but was reminded when I saw book 2 Blood Justice was out (I know, I’m ashamed).
I really loved the premise of this book but at the beginning I was a little concerned that I wasn’t going to like it. The first hundred pages were a little rough but thankfully the narrative decided to shift and I could get behind it.
It was still a bit chaotic in the middle but I’m thankful I hung in there.
I will say one of my biggest concerns was that even though this is a fantasy novel the magic system was basically trumped by everything else happening in the story and wasn’t given enough time or energy.
But aside from that this was a decent first book in the series.

Hmm....It was somewhat a thrilling read. I love reading fantasy stories. This young adult fantasy was good enough. For those who want to read for the first time, this book would be a great start!

I was excited for this based on the synopsis but I had a hard time getting into it. I don't read much urban fantasy and I was intrigued by the premise. Perhaps I was not in the right frame of mind at the time I picked it up. I did not connect as much as I expected.
I was glad to see both queer and disability rep but I struggled a bit with the pacing. The characters had personality and the writing was compelling but I found myself drifting a bit with the pacing.

I loved the concept of this novel! It was intriguing to see the magic sects divided by race and to use them as a springboard to have hard discussions about race. I really enjoyed the NOLA setting as well. The main characters were all interesting and I enjoyed seeing how they all grew together despite their differences. It was a testament to the power of forgiveness.

Benton-Walker's prose is lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into a vividly imagined universe. Themes of loyalty, revenge, and self-discovery are explored with nuance, making it both a thrilling and thought-provoking read. The blend of urban fantasy with cultural depth ensures that "Blood Debts" stands out as a compelling addition to the genre.

I really enjoyed the magic systems in this book! The cast of characters is diverse and their magical groupings are fresh. We've got 16-year-old twins Clement and Cristina Trudeau who hail from a family known for their powerful generational magic as well as an unsavory part of local history. Thirty years ago, their granny was framed for the supernatural murder of a well-known local family. Now, they've discovered that their sick mother was actually cursed and they want revenge on whoever tried to kill her. I think the interpersonal relationships made for messy families and added to the mysterious plot. There were a few parts of this story that seemed repetitive regarding race but I understand why that was a part of the conversations. The characters are nuanced and frustrating, at times, but they are relatable. Check this book out, if you haven’t already!

Blood Debts sucked me in right from the beginning and did not let go until the very end. Absolutely loved the New Orleans vibe and the magic woven throughout the story. It was refreshing seeing a story that doesn't solve all the problems with magic right away and actually has characters questioning whether the magical way is the right way. Can't wait to read the next book!

I really was excited for this book and was disappointed that it was a miss for me. I did appreciate the disability/queer rep in this story, but it just was all over the place for me. I found the storyline hard to follow, and I feel that the writing was a little discombobulated. There was a complex plot but it didn't flow the way that it needed to in order to create a great novel.

I did not realize this one was an urban fantasy when I picked it up. Urban fantasy is a genre that I don't usually read and I'm tentative to pick them up. I wanted to love this one a lot more then I did.

the writing was way too immature and basic for me to enjoy this. very disappointing since the synopsis sounded interesting but the prose ruined it.

I enjoyed this book a lot! I loved the setting - New Orleans! The book follows two siblings that are trying to figure out who put a curse on their mother, among other things. I liked the magic system in this - it is really intense! It is a pretty firm YA book, and that comes through with the interactions with the characters. This part I did struggle with, but I think anyone in this target audience will not have this problem at all.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I tried getting into this one a few different times and unfortunately couldn't. I was really excited about it too as I'm from New Orleans and love to read books set here. I enjoyed the POVs, and the character's personalities really shined in the writing, but I think I'm just not as into YA as I was in the past.

Thank you NetGalley and TorTeen for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blood Debts is a young adult fantasy that follows 16 year old siblings as they are figuring out who put a curse on their mother and the cause behind a massacre that occurred thirty years ago.

I will be upfront. This book, unfortunately, was a DNF for me. Though this book has a very intricate magic system and delves into the politics of the current systemic structures of the world today, I was a bit bored. It was due to the pacing of the book. The writing style was honestly really good, I would love to read another book by this author.