i was entirely immersed in the plot while reading this novel and inexplicably drawn to the setting and characters. the author proficiently wove together the themes of magic, drama, and love set in the backdrop of new orleans. i’m excited to check out the sequel once it comes out this year. thank you netgalley for the arc!

Blog post goes live Feb 4
Amazon post pending system approval

Tl;DR : Wow that was a lot, and I’m on the fence. Trauma and PoVs for days, but interesting magic and themes.

There is not a lot I can say about this one that hasn’t already been said. Especially as I’m not own voices for this. However, I do want to say a few things as I did read this as an ARC (that I’m incredibly late on) and I have some thoughts.

This one follows a set of twins dealing with grief after the passing of their father and the fallout of a generational curse that’s affecting their lives and those around them. This book is full of themes attempting to explore things like generational trauma, abuse, sexual identity and family. And while I enjoyed those themes and wanted more, the endless head hopping, and strangely slow pace, really stopped this one from connecting at all with me.

I don’t want to say I don’t recommend this, but I also cannot say I do recommend this? If you don’t mind the abundance of trauma, the frequent PoV changes with a slower pace (of a story that only spans a few days), then sure. This could work for you. However if you want something historical (the cover is truly misleading on this), or fast paced, or a bit more concrete in it’s themes, perhaps look elsewhere.

2 out of 5 stars

And if Cris decided to blow this joint up, I'd hand her the gasoline idc!

This was an interesting read, I know it's not out yet but I am excited to read Book 2 because hopefully we will get a bit more development on Clem <spoiler> we need more development cause we can't leave my boy as a zombie also was Jean - Louis possessed by that god???? </spoiler>. I must admit however that the beginning of this story was a bit slow going and some of the sections where we were just following them around could have been cut <spoiler> you know what else could have been cut Valentina like the kid was so annoying , need her to go in like the first pages of Book 2 but sadly with the way her storyline ended we are probably gonna get like some vengeance arc from her but I hope she learns from her grandmama and stay out people's business </spoiler>.

Loved loved loved the family taking back their throne <spoiler> when they killed that woman??? yea that should be framed in museums or something! </spoiler>

I wanted to love this book more but there were aspects of it that didn't work for me overall. Most of these are probably personal preference, for example, a lot of the content felt very mature for a book whose target audience is young adults. I think the story and the dialogue would have been more palatable for me if this was marketed as new adult instead as there was on page intimate scenes and a lot of swearing by the characters. I would have also loved for the author to focus on the magic system -- the appeal of this story stemmed from it being blurbed as a NOLA based fantasy novel; however, I felt like the dynamics between characters was more of a focus here than the development of the magic system itself.

Twins!Magic!Murder! Who could ask for more? Add in the city of New Orleans and an opportunity to break generational (magical) curses and you get a page turner I could not put down.

The mystery and magical elements of this book kept me sucked in til the end. I also loved the different POVs that gave insight to each character. There is so many things going on that is all connected that keeps you trying completely invested.

TL;DR: This is what I desperately wanted Dhonielle Clayton's [book:The Marvellers|56896065] to be: a story set in New Orleans with a unique magic system + racial commentary + diverse representation without making you constantly think of other magical school stories.

Vibes: <i>True Blood</i> + The Princess and the Frog + the essence of To Kill A Mockingbird wrapped in a comforter of contemporary commentary

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 ♡
A good deal of romance among various characters, particularly Clem; also a sex positive book

Character MVP: Definitely Cristina; while I enjoyed both Clem and Cris's characters, I felt Cris' arc was more dynamic and empowering (yes, she crosses some morally ambiguous lines in the name of revenge, but the message is there)

Verdict: 4 stars.
Disclaimer: the cover for this book made me think this was a historical fiction book -- which I can't be the only one, because the cover for the sequel is drastically different -- so that was a bit jarring when I started reading.

That being said, I really, really enjoyed this book. I mentioned this above, but this is what I wanted Dhonielle Clayton's The Marvellers to be, because I couldn't read that book without thinking of Harry Potter and other magical school stories. I appreciate what she was trying to do, but I was more interested in the MC's father's magic that was briefly introduced at the start of the story. I wanted more of that -- this new inventive magic system rooted in New Orleans -- which is what Benton-Walker delivered here.

I struggled a bit to come up with the vibes, because it wasn't like much of what I'd read before. There was a well-developed (governed by rules!) magic system that was unique but also made sense within the world and history of New Orleans. Benton-Walker deftly connected it to the racial tensions in New Orleans (and the rest of the US) in a way that was informative and not preachy (<-- NOT that it should be!) and clearly came from his personal experiences.

I also loved the queer representation -- especially important because I feel like so much queer YA centers on white experiences and characters.

Not a full 5 stars because I did feel like the pacing was a bit off -- and I'm not sure all the POVs switches were necessary. Between Clem and Cris, yes, of course. And even Valentina's made sense, since she's a big part of the conflict/tension, and seems like she'll figure prominently in the sequel. But there were a couple other POV chapters that didn't seem necessary (like Zach?) especially because those moments of tension weren't developed in the story.
EG: There was a "twist" with Valentina and Oz that came out at the end, but wasn't really mentioned in Valentina's chapters (clearly, because it would have ruined the "twist," but also just seems manipulative / unreliable narrator) and the incident with Zach + Clem + Yves happens off-screen. And while I think it's clear what happens -- especially with Jean-Louise's presence -- it's not an explicit part of the story, and that was an odd choice to me.

I'm still excited to read the sequel though.

Babbbbyyyyy Terry J. Benton-Walker was WRI-TING!!!!! Blood Debts surpass all of my expectations and then some. This was so GOOD! This is a story where even the secrets have secrets. It is equal parts fantasy and equal parts mystery but completely black and queer. Benton-Walker is unapologetic in their writing and it shines through in the quest for justice and revenge of each character.

My only critique is this is improperly labeled as young adult when this feels very much new adult. Call me old if you wish, but the twins, Clem and Cris felt more like college students than high schoolers. There is no way on God's green that male companions could spend the night in my house, no matter how sick she was. (She couldn't just be on her death bed but completely dead, and somehow I'd still think she'd contact Jean Louise to use his necromancy skills to whoop my tail from beyond the veil).

Outside of that one minor critique, this book was flawless for me. I cackled, I cursed, I yelled, I swooned and I sought vengeance for the Trudeau family. Let me tell you the ugly side of me showed itself more than once while reading it and I don't regret a single moment. Papa Eshu have mercy on me because I felt like I was owed a blood debt. Clem and Aunt Ursula were undoubtedly my favorites, Cris irked me from time to time but I supported her and Yves well just know that a special place is saved in my heart for him.

I cannot wait to see what secrets unfold in Blood Justice, because I have a feeling more heads will roll.

DNF at 20%
I dont feel I'm the target audience for this book which is why I'm struggling with it. The book has a strong message and feelings at the beginning which will be relatable and a comfort to its intended readers. For me I was struggling to pinpoint if the opinions being voiced by some characters, were the characters opinions alone, or also that of the author, which is where my discomfort is coming from. I hope this book reaches its readers who need it.

The plot was something I was very excited about, and I'm still intrigued, but I also couldn't form attachments to the characters, I wasn't feeling a connection there. I've tried to read this book twice and each time I haven't gotten far.

The book isn't bad from what I read, just not for me.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one just shy of 60% through. It's not that I didn't like it. I just couldn't keep up with all the characters and plot. I kept losing the thread. If you can keep up and like the pov changes and a whole lot going on, this one is definitely a good choice. I loved the witchraft and lore. The setting and characters were wonderful, I just kept losing what was going on with who.

I haven’t read a fantasy book in a bit. This was a great one to come back to! I loved the characters, the plot, the twists!

In the enchanting backdrop of New Orleans, twins Clement and Cristina Trudeau, heirs to an ancient magical family, grapple with the sudden death of their father and the apparent illness of their mother. Uncovering a curse from the magical council their family once led, the twins unite to unveil the threat and save their family. Blood Debts is a captivating fantasy with a compelling plot, intriguing magic system, and well-developed protagonists. Filled with drama, mystery, and magic, it kept me hooked until the very end. An enticing YA read that promises an engaging experience.

I requested this book after seeing a blurb from TJ Klune, a favorite author of mine. I figured if he's promoting this book, there's a great chance I'll love it as well. Unfortunately, TJ and I didn't quite align on this book. It was an interesting and unique read, but at the end, it was a book that I enjoyed but didn't love.

As mentioned, this was an interesting read. It had a lot of unique elements that I haven't read in too many of my fantasy reads. The main characters were strong characters with a lot of development and personality. There was also a lot of excitement and events happening throughout the book to keep the reader engaged.

In spite of all this, I unfortunately didn't love the read. For starters, I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable. This, in and of itself, isn't a bad thing. I actually think this is kind of intentional and realistic. All the characters have a certain degree of trauma, so it's understandable that they're not overly loveable. I tend to struggle with unlikeable characters, so this is more of a "me" thing and unfortunately impacted my personal enjoyment.

In addition to this, I felt that there was a bit too much going on. Between the necromancy and the bewitching the character to a psych ward to the many characters backstabbing others, it just felt like a bit much and at times was too complex and convoluted. It made things exciting at times, but ultimately detracted from my overall enjoyment.

This was a fun series debut that had a lot of interesting premises. I didn't love it overall, but I am excited to see what happens in book 2!

Incredible! This was gripping from beginning to end with a greatly developed back story for the twins. It’s definitely going to be in every single YA list for the next few years! I’m a big fan!

Generally not a fan of fantasy, Blood Debts caught and kept my attention immediately. Magic almost took a back seat to the characterization of Clement and Cristina, the entire Trudeau family, and all of the secondary characters and antagonists. The cliff hanger left me craving a sequel.

This was everything I need to see more of in YA right now. Full of unexpected twist and turns, with a refreshing lead, honestly what is not to love. I loved the family secrets, and how each chapter kept me guessing till the end.

Terry J. Benton Walker's captivating masterwork "Blood Debts" deftly crafts a sinister and entrancing tapestry of magic, intrigue, and family drama. The story's colorful and rich New Orleans setting gives the already compelling storyline further dimension. The travels of the Trudeau twins, Clement and Cristina, are replete with suffering, self-discovery, and sacrifice. They are two multifaceted, realistic people.

With the ideal amount of tension and intensity, the author's writing style is nothing short of enthralling and keeps you turning pages. The complex plot of the book is a real page-turner, full of family secrets, decades-old murder, and ancient curses. The brothers' development and metamorphosis are exquisitely shown as they negotiate the perilous waters of magic and familial allegiance.

The term "blood debts"

I loved the magic and storyline so much I purchased a finished copy for myself and family members!
I'm definitely interested in other Terry Walker future works.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!! Clem and Cris are twins born into magic. Their father was killed and their mom is sick and they’re not sure what’s wrong with her. Cris thinks she’s the reason why her father died so she doesn’t want to use any magic to figure out what’s wrong with her or heal her. Chris finds a hex doll under their mother’s mattress and once he removes it, their mother starts feeling better. The twins realize that someone is trying to kill their mother.
This starts the journey of them learning more about their history, and why their mother is not in power as the Queen, and what happened to their grandparents. We also learned more about Cris, Clem and their family. This was a great book and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.