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.

I enjoy the New Orleans setting which is what drew me to want to read this story. I love New Orleans and to have the setting there with magical element is what I enjoyed in parts of the book.. The drama of the story is also what I enjoyed, I love a messy family drama. I also loved the representation throughout the story and the themes of racism, loss, and suspense are elements that I enjoyed..

While there were elements that did work for me, there were some that did not which is what made this one not fully work for me. It seemed a bit too YA for me at times, but other times the language used brought me back to the age of the characters.. It seems as though the kids were very immature. There were also several characters placed throughout the story that made it seem a bit all over the place for me. It may be that this is the first book in the series, and may play out and work more once the story is continued.

This book did not disappoint! From the amazing setting of New Orleans to the realistic sibling relationship. I could not get enough of it or the magic system!!!

Well written and incredibly interesting!

I loved the magical system in this book! It was incredibly well developed and I deeply enjoyed not only the characters relationships to it but also just the way it was all portrayed. I enjoyed the clarity with which it was all conveyed and the various functionings of it.

Both Clem and Cris were really interesting and distinct characters to read -- they are the protagonists of the story, although we do get a few other POVs thrown in, which I also appreciated as it gave the book a lively pace and a lot more moral greyness, which I do not think we get to see particularly often. The twins are both deeply complex characters and I really, really want to see who they become in the aftermath of this book.

I enjoyed the various relationships within the book! Family is obviously very key and I loved the way everyone was deeply fleshed out, It was a pleasure to see basically competent adults in a YA fantasy novel. The twins love interests and the way it all played out was very captivating -- Clem's story seemed a tiny bit insta-lovey but I am nonetheless invested in what happens next. Cris's story is deeply empowering and, without spoilers, you are in for a rather heavy discussion with her.

The plot was wonderful -- whenever I felt my interest dwindling a tiny bit, a new twist would occur and they were always so drastic that I would immediately get sucked back into the book.

The only thing is that I am no longer quite the target audience for the character journeys that our protagonists go on, so at times their sentiments were a bit difficult to fully feel for me but I am very, very invested and I do recommend it immensely for anyone who is interested,

thank you for the arc unfortunately couldn't really get into it until i listened to the audiobook

Magically twins in New Orleans, sign me up! Clem and Cris dealing with the untimely death of their father and their mothers illness delve into a world of mystery's to save their family from a generational evil.

Things I loved
- the atmosphere, the New Orleans setting will never fail
- the family and their realistic arguments they have with each other
- amazing cover helloooo

Things I didn't like
- i need more communication, the lack of communication between characters was one of the things that dragged this book
- i need a sensible adult, i understand people can be petty and childish but i need a break all of the characters being set in their ways drives me up a wall
- the amount of povs, i get why but i didnt like Valentina's pov at all, i could not stand her and made me put the book down multiple times

Thanks to netgalley and tor for approving this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I’m so happy I finally got around to reading this book, it was incredible and I’m super excited to check out the next one!

I highly recommend reading this!!

My Reaction: BRAVO! What a great series opener and first book.

I really enjoyed everything about Blood Debts:

YA Novel ✔️
BIPOC ✔️
Black tween main characters ✔️
LGBTQIAP+ ✔️
Major references to magic ✔️
Breaking generational curses ✔️
Thirty-year time span sequence shifts ✔️
Strong plot ✔️
Very well written and executed ✔️

It truly reminds me of why I love Young Adult fiction. Sure, you have to deal with characters that may work your nerves from time to time...but have we forgotten what being a teen is like? I'm looking forward to diving into the second installment! If you like suspense and family driven plots, go grab your copy NOW!

This book was definitely good, and it's perfect for YA fantasy lovers!
It was unfortunately a miss for me. I did enjoy it, no doubt about that, but I had a hard time getting into it, and it took me a long time to actually finish the book.
But I will still recommend it to people since I know a lot of people who would love it!
I'm giving it 4 stars because I can see it's a good read, just not perfect for me.