Book Summary:

Thirty years ago, a massacre ripped apart the streets of New Orleans. In the modern day, the very same thing is likely to happen again. That is, assuming Clement and Cristina Trudeau can't find a way to prevent history from repeating itself.

It all comes back around to magic, family lines, and royal blood. Oh, and a curse. Can't forget the curse.

My Review:

Blood Debts is a magical and emotional debut novel for Terry J. Benton-Walker. I loved the setting and the magical complications this world brought to the forefront. It also hits pretty hard (see trigger warnings to understand why).

The twins (Clement and Cristina) are vastly different from one another. This helps build the world, adding layer upon layer while giving us different views of the plot. It also gives readers a chance to find a perspective they resonate with.

I'm not always wild about historical fantasy (I prefer my fantasy to have its setting – usually), but I did enjoy the setting of Blood Debts. A historical fantasy fanatic would fall head over heels for this tale.

Highlights:
Magical New Orleans
LGBTQ+

Trigger Warnings:
Murder
Racism/Lynching
Homophobia

This book sounded right up my alley and I was so excited to dive in when I received it. However, I was so disappointed to learn that it wasn’t a historical story but rather set in modern times. I loved the dual POVs and thought the actual story was very interesting. There was a lot to unpack and really think about which I enjoyed.

The book fell flat for me with the magic system and the pacing. It was reading like a stand alone book up until the very end when it seemed like there was a pivot to a much larger plot.

I’d read the next book in the series eventually but it’s not one that’s super high on my TBR.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

*4.5 stars* Blood Debts was a magical YA debut! While the first couple chapters made me wonder if I’d really enjoy this book, it ended up being an intriguing read.

The magic system within the book had a very good set up. It was easy to understand the intricacies of their magic. This story is both plot and character driven, which has the perfect blend of both. However, the pacing feels a bit off at some points within the book. Some pieces felt like they dragged, while others seemed to pass by without much elaboration.

Blood Debts features a lovable cast of characters and a dysfunctional (yet loving) family dynamic, which some will find they relate to. Blood Debts does not shy away from difficult topics like racism, police brutality, systemic racism, and many more. I do highly recommend reading the CW’s before reading!! This was quite an amazing read, I cannot wait to see what Benton-Walker has in store for the next one!

4.5 stars but rounding up for the review.

THIS BOOK GOT ME! I really enjoyed this story. In the midst of reading, I was like “why did he add all these characters” then I got to the end and was like “it made sense”. There’s still some loose ends - I didn’t know this was gonna be a series of some sort before reading but I am not at all disappointed. I actually cannot wait for the next book to be announced. I enjoyed the characters, even the ones who were annoying. I liked the writing style and the pacing of the story. There was a lot of drama but I didn’t find it overwhelming. I also liked the different perspectives - there were maybe like 4 or 5 but I didn’t find it challenging to keep up with. About 60% of the way through, I got the audiobook (just to finish the book faster) and it was very well done. The narrator(s) did a great job. This one will probably go down as a favorite from the year.

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker is a contemporary, urban fantasy set in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was an ambitious debut novel filled with hints of real world experiences and magical elements rooted in Voodoo. I liked what Benton-Walker was trying to do with this story. It felt like it represented different views appropriately, experiences of black and queer individuals, but this often got overshadowed by the confusing plot lines. There were too many. First, one of the characters was dying, then they weren’t. Then, there was a curse and bids for power and schemes and necromancy and sibling squabbles and guilt and loss and ghosts and gods and different magic systems. It was difficult to follow what was happening and all the different motivations. This also led to the characters feeling similar to one another because, while there were several different POVs, they all focused on so many different things it was difficult to grasp who they were.
The last 25% of the book ended a few of the plot lines, leading to a more central plot unfolding and an easier time making sense of the story. I didn’t fully comprehend the way in which the ending happened, but really enjoyed reading it. It was exciting and showed what Benton-Walker is capable of. I look forward to reading his future work. A lot of his heart clearly went into this book, which can be noted within the book itself as well as his acknowledgements.
As a parting note, I’ve seen several reviews noting this shouldn’t be classified as YA, to which I would ask- what is YA? Young adult still has the word “adult” in it. Young adults have sex, have terrible experiences, relationships, etc. I feel Benton-Walker properly represented many “young adults’” life experiences.

Favorite Quotes:

“I’ve wondered more than once if the gods cursed me with anxiety, which turned my subconscious into an internal frenemy who loves to remind me I deserve this pain.”

“Making more memories with her is only investing in my inevitable loss.”

“I hate when people say ‘don’t worry,’ like worry is some trinket I can leave at home.”

“‘Do not fret, my boy. Kings are not born overnight.’”

“I’ll be the reaper for us all if I have to.”

This book does a lot of things well, but I was ultimately a little disappointed by it. I liked Clem and Chris, and their family (especially the aunts) but there were a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track of everyone. The New Orleans setting and the magic system were really interesting and fun to read about. However, I ultimately found this book to be a little too long and tedious. I lost track numerous times of what the kids were even trying to figure out, as it seemed every chapter they were being sent off on another quest. It did all make sense in the end, but the payoff wasn't especially gratifying.

this was so so good. i loved the magic system, the politics, the way it showed social issues in a magical setting. the characters were so fun to read and i'm so excited for the second book.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. all thoughts are my own.

Blood Debts is the story of a magical family in New Orleans seeking justice. The story primarily follows teenage twins, Clem and Cris, in their own relationships with magic, family, love, and trauma. This book had a lot of really great elements — I loved the family relationships, the magic and politics surrounding it, and the gods that popped in and out of the characters’ lives. It ultimately felt like it was trying to do too much, though, which resulted in a rather messy ending and pacing that didn’t totally work for me.

From the very first page, Benton-Walker's writing hooks you, drawing you into a world where danger lurks around every corner. The author expertly weaves together a complex web of interconnected characters, each with their own motivations and secrets, creating a story that keeps you guessing until the very end. The pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the truth.

One of the standout aspects of Blood Debts is its well-developed characters. Each protagonist and antagonist is distinct and multi-dimensional, bringing a depth to the narrative that keeps you invested in their fates. Their flaws and vulnerabilities make them relatable, and you find yourself emotionally invested in their struggles and triumphs. Benton-Walker does an excellent job of exploring the psychological complexities of his characters, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.

so i don’t know if this was my brain being dense, but i struggled my way through this book, barely following along with the sheer number of characters and storylines we followed. not only did it take a solid 40% of the book for me to even feel like anything was happening, after we were introduced to the easily 20+ characters. what was happening was honestly kind of boring to me. i’m totally fine with a fantasy book being slow as long as there’s intrigue in the story. and unfortunately, this just didn’t hav that to me.

i truly just think we were following too many characters, and our main three(ish) povs’ of the twins + valentina, i just couldn’t get behind any of them or their actions. they, unfortunately, just annoyed me so much with their motivations, their inability to communicate ANYTHING. it made me feel so discombobulated. then we throw in the other random povs, which for the most part have little to no importance to what’s happening in the story. and that left me feeling lost. like, at the final events, and i still can’t even figure out who’s who kind of lost.

now, am i going to read the sequel… i honestly don’t know. i think i need like 5 days to process what i even just read before i consider it. i don’t think i could handle reading about any more car crashes tbh (no seriously, how were there two in the span of like 100 pages??? what are even the odds in real life of that happening like 3?? days apart).

A story of family, magic, secrets, and power. We follow twins Clement and Cristina Trudeau as they discover that the violence of the past has never really left their family and it's up to them to save their future. There's also a slew of very personal, emotional rollercoasters they each have to get through before they can face off against the evil that's trying to destroy them.
This is one of those books where I want to rave about specific decisions the author made because I loved them but I'm afraid that talking about them might ruin the surprise and/or shock that they actually went there with the story. It has a lot of the elements you'd expect from a YA of this genre while also touching on some dark themes that up the ante on every decision the characters make. It pulled me in, made me care for the characters, and kept me guessing.
I can't wait to get my hands on the next volume because I am still enthralled by the Trudeau family.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for the brilliantly magical read!

Things I liked about this book:
-The magic and its duality. Neither good nor bad.
-Fleshed out characters, who had both bad and good qualities
-The vibes
-The rage, and revenge

Things I didn't like about this book:
-What happened to Yves
-The mystery could have been a little more interesting

I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel. It seemed like it could be a mix of historical with modern, but it was just modern. I did find the writing to be a bit juvenile, however, this is a YA novel so I can understand why the writing style is the way it is. The twist wasn't really shocking in my opinion but it was still a good twist some won't see coming.

I enjoyed the idea of the book and the characters along with the storyline but about half way through it seemed drawn out and like the characters were repeating themselves. It didn’t feel like we’re making any progress but there was still info dumping going on. Sadly dnf’d it but I do look forward to what else the author has to offer.

I was a little thrown off by the beginning of this book... The first hundred or so pages had me worried that I wouldn't enjoy the story that was being set up. Thankfully the initial thing that we were working toward wasn't the entirety of the narrative, and while the middle of the book felt a little messy at least there seemed to be somethin that we were working toward.

Of the two romances in the book, I wasn't invested in either one. Now I am a grown man reading a book intended for children, and so I do think that there are elements at play in the Cristina/Oz situationship that a younger me might not have picked up on. As it stands I thought it was clear from jump that some fuckshit was going to go down and so the enjoyment for me was getting to see the breadcrumbs pay off. As for Clement's romantic life... I'm willing to see how the sequel plays out before I judge him too harshly. Of the two I guess his was the more interesting as I wasn't sure how Zachary was going to come back into the mix, and I never would have guessed that it was going to go down the way it did, even given some of the breadcrumbs.

The thing that really kept me going even when I wasn't sure if I was really going to like how the book was playing out was how important the family was. I've read books where there's a family secret or a person is trying to get to the bottom of what happened to a family member, but here Cristina and Clement and their various relations felt authentic in a way that endeared me to them. I was invested to know why their grandparents suffered the way that they had, and if their grandchildren were going to be able to get vengeance on the people that were behind their suffering.

In some ways I see why this story is going to continue into another book. There's certainly material for it that to happen, but partof me almost wishes this were a self contained story and that if it had been then maybe there could have been time to firm up some of the middle that felt like we were padding time and casting anchors into the future that we could deal with in the present.

This book has an incredible premise, tons of intrigue, and impactful social commentary. The characters feel well-rounded, and their relationships are complex and believable.

From a writing perspective, the point of view switches were sometimes a bit confusing, but that may have more to do with my following chapter titles. I will also say that sometimes the characters’ feelings and motivations are told rather than shown, leaving less for the reader to put together on their own, and draw conclusions from.

From a story-telling perspective, this book is very well done. It is well paced, suspenseful, heartfelt, and causes you to reflect on yourself and the world around you. I am not a POC so I will not comment on the experiences of racism felt by the characters in the book, but I will say that as a white person I appreciated that this book did not hold back when discussing the ways in which white people benefit from institutional racism, and how systems of oppression or personal biases play out even now. It is a book that makes you think about your place in systems of oppression, which we need more of.

Overall, I would give this 4/5 stars.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT

This book was so so so so good! I could not put ti down whatsoever? Needed a drink? It could wait. Needed food? That waited too. Needed sleep? I didn't sleep. I tried to put it down to sleep, believe me, but I knew I wouldn't have been able to sleep because I just needed to know what happened after where I would have put it down.

Everybody go read this! GO GO GO!

A heartfelt debut that I felt teetered on the edge between young adult and new adult. Balancing the themes of family conflict and preserving Black history and culture through the magic system of this world was beautifully done. The cast of characters seemed to grow every chapter and became a bit difficult to sort out at times, but each character serves a purpose and has a place in the story eventually. Our protagonists Clem and Cris' personal romantic storylines being the undercurrent of the much larger murder mystery plot and ongoing power struggle between magic families was an interesting and unique way of tying together the story elements while also differentiating the twins through their own more isolated conflicts. All in all, a fantastic debut that seemed already ready to outgrow it's pages and expand into something bigger and bolder.

Blood Debts is a gripping and magical story set in New Orleans, filled with mystery, political intrigue, and several characters, each with their own motivations. The premise of Blood Debts was exquisite, and while I thought the execution could use some work, overall, I think it's a great story, with great potential for the sequel.

I thought the characters were all really well-rounded, and I could always understand where their motivations came from. Some of the characters could be unlikeable at times, but I think this was intentional. Since they're teenagers, it makes sense that they're messy and imperfect. It made the story feel much more genuine.

In regard to the plot, I loved the idea of a magical New Orleans. It's the perfect setting for a story like this, so I couldn't wait to read it. And overall, I thought it was done really well. The magic system itself was intricately designed and thoroughly developed.

My main issue with Blood Debts came from all of the plot points. There were so many of them that I had trouble keeping track of what was happening and how each event was connected. I feel the book would have been significantly strengthened had it focused more on fewer main plotlines and worked to thoroughly expand on those. Then, the rest could be explored in the sequel.

Despite this, though, I did still enjoy the premise of Blood Debts, and I'm interested to see where it's going in the sequel, so I'll definitely be continuing on with the series!

This was just phenomenal. The characters, the setting the plot this was just perfect and I can’t wait for the sequel.