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 got the audiobook too which is nice! shifting between the book and audiobook was great to combine while going through the story.

I liked the story idea, but struggled with the audiobook format and ended up DNFing it. I plan to read it in physical or e-book form since there were moments I enjoyed. The story itself is great, but the audiobook wasn’t for me.

I got caught up in this book from the beginning... mystery + magic are intriguing, but the execution doesn't always work out. In Blood Debts, it definitely does. Following twins Clement and Cristina, they both sort through their own individual challenges while also navigating the loss of their father, the sickness of their mother, the estrangement of certain members of their family, and the power dynamics within the Generational magic council. Benton-Walker does a nice job of weaving together these tougher topics with some moments of lightness and humor, as well as a unique magic system and mythology. The book can feel a bit crowded at times, but all in all I enjoyed and plan to read the next installment.

Blood Debts has been on my #TBRList for a while now. NetGalley gave me an opportunity to “Listen Now” and I grabbed at it (chuckle). It is so worth a listen. It is narrated by Bahni Turpin, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Torian Brackett, and Zeno Robinson. The cadence and flow of the words sucked me into another world. A world where mystery, magic, and danger loom everywhere.

I have to say that Blood Debts lived up to the hype. I don’t normally pay attention when a lot of people brag on a book because, for me, that is almost a guarantee that it won’t be my cup of tea (chuckle). Terry J. Benton-Walker has proven to be the exception to the rule.

The story is smart. What may seem inconsequential ends up having meaning and I love that because I pay attention to everything (which is why I hate filler (chuckle)). There are layers upon layers. The secondary cast is incredible because you don’t know who to trust and the person you can trust today may not be the person you can trust in the next five minutes.

There is a romance for Cristina in the background and that is where it should be for this type of storyline. It gives her the support she needs for the battle she is fighting. Whereas Clement's story is all about romance. Damn, it brings out all of the feels.

Blood Debts has everything. Chase scenes. Love scenes. Intrigue. Back-stabbing. Humor. Death. Things that go bump in the night. Family. I can go on and on. I need to read the second book quick. Blood Debts is a must read.

I’ve had *Blood Debts* on my list for a while now, and with an upcoming trip to New Orleans it felt like a perfect time to dive into this magical world of Terry J. Benton-Walker‘s.

>> ❤️What I loved: *Blood Debts* is chock-full of magic, mystery, and adventure. It’s clear that Terry J. Benton-Walker has something big planned for this series, and did an excellent job with world-building, laying out a lot of intriguing possibilities, and a variety of plot lines for us to follow. There a lot of clear lessons in this book about how racism and prejudice works in society, and I appreciated some of the choices he made in that vein, particularly around ideas of appropriation. I read this book as an audiobook, which had great narration for the different characters!
>> 💔What I didn’t love: I typically like multi-perspective books, but I struggled a bit with how this one was done—I’m not sure if it was because of the inconsistency of when we would switch perspectives, or the amount of people whose perspectives we saw. For example, I loved Clem’s relationship with Yves, but it felt like there were some significant jumps in their relationship’s development because of the perspective switches. The multi-perspectives will, I think, make more sense in the long game of the book, but taking this book on its own I think it might have been better to stick with only Clem and Chris’s perspectives until the very end.

Many young people and adult readers who enjoy paranormal fantasy, mystery, and a little romance will find a lot to like about this book. I look forward to reading book 2!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (3.5-4)
>>Acknowledgments & Disclaimers
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Terry J. Benton-Walker, and Macmillan Audio, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook to review. I really feel like this was a me problem but I just couldn’t get into this book. It seemed like there were so many different pov’s and I had a hard time staying invested. I wanted to like this so much. I do think I will come back to this one and try again.

I enjoyed the story. I didn't like the multiple POV but understand why it was written in this way. The narration was done very well. I liked how the voices helped me know whose POV it was at the time.

This is a story that in physical form I would have DNF'ed but the audiobook was enjoyable.

2.5 stars rounded up. I am usually okay with YA novels, but these teens were WAY too angsty. They also had too much magic and dark energy at their fingertips to just expend, which made this book feel dangerous and explosive in parts. I did really like the idea of exploring magic in New Orleans, but just not with these characters.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is for the audio version of this book.
I have high praise for the narrators, there are multiple, and all of them did an excellent portrayal of the POV they were narrating. This book is long, as is the audio version, over 14 hours. But with the multiple narrators, the 14 hours was very enjoyable.
I dont' read a lot of YA books, but this is a mature YA book. There are mature issues involving sex, death and racism. I am also pleased that there was a LBGTQ+ storyline in the book.
Teens, Clement and Cristina Trudeau—the sixteen-year-old twin heirs to the powerful, magical, dethroned family. We follow the teens through the journey they are taking, along with their family, to get back the throne their family unfairly lost. Magic and its powers are the highlight of the story. But along with magic, there are the deeper themes of racism, loss of black traditions, and young love. One of the better YA books I've read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6543972070

I had a bit of a slow start getting into the book, but soon I became invested in the story. The narration was so well done and I felt each of the characters brought to life. There were a lot of characters but I was able to distinguish who was who.

I really enjoyed how the story felt gothic while still being urban fantasy and how it weaved politics, generational trauma, and race issues into the main storyline and the various subplots within.

This book started out slower than I would have liked however as the story unfolded I became entranced. I loved the relationship dynamic between some of the characters, however I hate the happenings between Chris and Oz although necessary. I’m looking forward to seeing where this families journey leads and I hope it ends well.

Blood Debt is an intriguing mix of magic, family drama, and historical intrigue set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans. The novel starts with a captivating premise: thirty years ago, a young woman was murdered, leading to a series of tragic events, including a magical massacre that resulted in a dethroned family. This sets the stage for a compelling narrative involving twin heirs, Clement and Cristina Trudeau, who must navigate the complexities of their cursed legacy while uncovering dark secrets.

The blend of voodoo, hexes, and generational magic in a richly described New Orleans creates an atmospheric and engaging setting. Byrne’s depiction of the city’s mystical and historical elements adds depth to the story, making it a standout feature of the book.

While the main characters, Clement and Cristina, are well-developed, the side characters feel somewhat underexplored. This lack of depth in the supporting cast detracts from the overall immersion into the story. The pacing is brisk, which keeps the story moving, but it occasionally sacrifices deeper character exploration and world-building. The tone fluctuates between dark and intense, particularly with the graphic depictions of violence and the liberal use of swearing. These elements may not appeal to all readers, especially those who prefer a lighter or more toned-down narrative.

Blood Debt is a decent read that offers a unique blend of magic and mystery set in a vividly described New Orleans. While it excels in concept and setting, it falls short in fully immersing the reader due to the underdeveloped side characters and somewhat fragmented plot. However, for fans of YA novels featuring voodoo, hexes, and rich historical settings, it is worth a try.

The audiobook was excellent with three different narrators, one for each of the main characters. Each had a unique voice that immerses you in the story. While there were some shortcomings with this book I am looking forward to the second one to see what happens with these characters.

It was one of those books that I feel would have worked really well as a movie or a show rather than a book. I liked how diverse the cast was; not just different races but different sexual orientations too.

I most definitely would not have finished this book if I chose to read it myself rather than listen to the audiobook. The narrators did a fantastic job on it so I really wish I could rate the audiobook separately from the book. It took a VERY long time for the book to get good. I contemplated dnf-ing several times because of how bored i was. And when it did pick up, it was still quite random. I was not a fan of the pacing and some scenes in it was mature enough to not be considered typical YA but also not mature enough to be considered NA. It was at an awkward in between. I also noticed that a character’s body was described quite weirdly; in a way that would be considered body shaming thin people in the real world. I’m not sure if I am overthinking that but if the opposite was portrayed, it would not be considered okay. And the ending kind of felt unfinished rather than a to-be-continued.

I am glad that people seemed to like this book and I can see why it would be some people’s cup of tea; it just wasn’t mine. I don’t think I will continue the series since I didn’t care for the characters or the book enough.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Loved this book!! I loved the voices and the jazzy music. The story was interesting and kept my attention. At various time both kids annoyed me but they were kids. I think this was a well developed story. It wasn’t too long or too short. I love going to New Orleans and I feel like this book gave the essence of the city and culture. Can’t wait to read the sequel!

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker is the first book in this series. It is a contemporary fantasy with powerful magical families, intergenerational curses, and deadly drama in New Orleans!

The more Contemporary fantasies I read, the more I love them! I had heard great things about this book but went into it blind, not knowing much about it. There is drama, twists and turns, and plenty of intrigue to keep you guessing. Blood Debts is set around solving a 30-year-old crime through the lens of the two main characters, Clement and Cristina Trudeau. I loved the use of generational magic in this story and the inspiration from Voodoo, especially in New Orleans.

I listened to the audio version of this book and loved the dual POV, the narration of this magical system, and the rich history; I felt that it added to the story, really making it come to life. Terry J. Benton-Walker did a fantastic job with the storytelling in this novel. I had so much fun reading it and uncovering everyone's secrets. I recommend picking up this book if you haven't!

I missed my window to listen to this audiobook but have since listened and wow!

I love stories about twins. Twin siblings Christina and Clement were such a joy to journey with. Tasked with caring for their ailing mother after the loss of their father, they discover someone has cursed their bloodline and set out to figure out why and how to stop it. In this process they discover a murder 30 years ago that took the lives of their grandparents, resulting in someone stealing their grandmother's seat at the head of the Generational Council.

For such a politically charged fantasy, I believe the actual political elements of the world could have been fleshed out more. I adored the magic and how queer normative this was.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

4.5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the Audiobook Arc exchange for an honest review.

Blood Debts is about twin 16 year magical siblings, Christina and Clement Traudeu, who are caring for their sick mom after the tragic death of their father. They made a discovery after a doctor visit that she wasn’t sick at all but was cursed by a person who does Generational Magic. As they trying to figure out who cursed their mother, that are unraveling the secrets of a 30 year old murder which took their lives of their grandparents who was killed by a lynch mob of a murder they didn’t commit. It all comes ahead as they figure out not only the secret they took from their grandparents and who cursed their mom but who stole their grandmother’s throne as the head of the Generational Council. As they try to clear their grandmother's name and take everything that was stolen from their family back.

Love this one for the most part but it needs more world building and political/court intrigue which is why it didn’t get a full five stars from me. They are both in the book which are done pretty well for the part but it needs to be more done in explaining the Gen council. It’s the fact it only feels like two families that are actually fighting for the Gen Council throne instead of multiple gen magical families. The author describes this book as the “Black Game of Thrones” but in Game of Thrones, you had multiple families fighting for the Iron Throne. Also you had houses allying with each other and also betraying each other to get more power and closer to the throne. It needs to be more of wheeling, dealing and scheming in the second one and not just two families doing it. The formation of the magical system and is explained is solid. I love how they do incarnations and the fact you have different gods that help them.

I should have read this one like last year when I had the arc. I really enjoyed the family, magical, mystery and political aspect of it. I always feel like what makes a good book is that if you can take the fantasy out of it and still put it towards real life and relate to it, it is this book. I think any group of people who face adversity can understand this and relate to this book but this book is really a love letter to Black and Queer Community. Certain things in this book you wouldn’t truly understand if you are not a member one or both because it is so deeply rooted in our culture. I am most definitely reading the second one!

This story was so so excellent to me!!!! I was really excited because I've been on a kick of stories that take place in New Orleans. I also love stories about family with a sense of mystery. This story was so exciting as a person who is new to fantasy. The narrator did an amazing job of conveying the story in general. I'm so excited to read the follow up of this story!

Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook and what a great story. Loved the diversity of the Characters and storyline. I’m so so with fantasy so at times it didn’t do it for me but I can see why a lot of people enjoyed this.

A beautiful fantasy with magic and more! Blood Debts follows the history of a family and the beginning of a new romance. Beautiful!