Blood Debt is an urban fantasy set in New Orleans. It tells the story of sixteen year old twins, Chris and Clem, who come from a long line of black witches that have been disgraced in the generational magic community. Chris and Clem are thrown into the dangerous politics of the gen magic community as they discover that their father's death was not an accident, someone is attempting to kill their mother and a 30 year old murder may not be what it seems. As they deal with the grief and the non-linear process healing, the author shows the strengths and bonds of family. It showcased how grief takes different forms for everyone , while immersing us into a world of ancestral magic . At times the pacing felt off and there were several lingering storylines. The characters continued to make frustrating decisions but I'm invested in the story and development of the Chris and Clem as the series continues. The audiobook was brought to life with the cast of talented narrators and it made the book more enjoyable and engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

'Thirty years ago, a young woman was murdered, a family was lynched, and New Orleans saw the greatest magical massacre in its history. In the days that followed, a throne was stolen from a queen.

On the anniversary of these brutal events, Clement and Cristina Trudeau—the sixteen-year-old twin heirs to the powerful, magical, dethroned family—are mourning their father and caring for their sick mother. Until, by chance, they discover their mother isn’t sick—she’s cursed. Cursed by someone on the very magic council their family used to rule. Someone who will come for them next.

Cristina, once a talented and dedicated practitioner of Generational magic, has given up magic for good. An ancient spell is what killed their father and she was the one who cast it. For Clement, magic is his lifeline. A distraction from his anger and pain. Even better than the random guys he hooks up with.

Cristina and Clement used to be each other’s most trusted confidant and friend, now they barely speak. But if they have any hope of discovering who is coming after their family, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other and their family's magic, all while solving the decades-old murder that sparked the still-rising tensions between the city’s magical and non-magical communities. And if they don't succeed, New Orleans may see another massacre. Or worse.'
__________________

Story 3 stars. Audiobook 4,5 stars. Overall 3.75 stars.

<i>Blood Debts</i> is Terry J. Benton-Walker's debut novel and is a contemporary young adult mystery and fantasy told from multiple characters' POV.

For a debut novel it was good and is great for the YA genre. Based on the cover artwork, I had thought going into the book that it would have a more historical/period setting. That was entirely my error and I don't really think this book was something I would usually chose , so I don't want to let that influence my review. My biggest complaint was that the character were exceptionally whiny, to the point where I just couldn't care about their troubles. 'Nobody loves me, everyone leaves me, everyone betrays me, everyone I care about dies' and on and on. It got old very quickly. This did improve after the story was established, but it was very heavy handed up front and I almost gave up.

Now as for the audiobook specifically, I thought it was very well done. There were multiple voice actors instead of one, so that each of the main characters was played by a different actor. This was very helpful as the chapters rotated narrators and there is a fairly large cast of characters to keep track of. Each voice actor also varied their voices to differentiate when they were reading for other characters within their own chapters. I also thought the New Orleans band that was used during transitions was a nice addition, it was well produced. I may not have stuck with this book, had I not being reading with the audiobook format.

I'm not certain, but I believe the author set up the ending of this book to allow for a sequel or series. Should there not be any future follow up though, the story ends with enough closure to be a satisfying adding.

Overall this book wasn't really for me, so I can't personally recommend it. But if you enjoy YA fantasy, this is a good debut book to try out a new author. I think this book is vest enjoyed in audiobook format.
_____

I would like to thank NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for sharing an audio eARC of <i>Blood Debts</i> by Terry J. Benton-Walker with me. This is my honest review.

Blood Debts is a magically wonderful fantasy book with such lovable characters, you'll have no choice but to finish in one sitting. An amazing fantasy debut from Terry J. Benton-Walker!

Following twins Clement and Cristina in New Orleans, the two are trying to pick up their own pieces after their father died. Clem has lost his way in life, and Cris has given up using gen magic. Though, they must come together again when a hex doll was found placed in their mother's room. It all connects back to their grandmother's death and dethroning as queen years and years ago, and their family's seemingly ever-present misfortune. Clem and Cris have to bring together their fractured family, heal their own traumas, help each other, and discover layers upon layers of mystery in order to fully bring justice to their ancestors. I would summarize more of the plot points, but they all blend into each other so effortlessly I wouldn't be able to talk about more without spoiling!

This book is such a wonderful blend of genres. Its the perfect book for fantasy lovers who want to get into mystery and vice versa. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! The reader can tell that Benton-Walker wrote this about their own experience as a black person-- a black queer lead and a black female lead matriarch? This book has it all. It did not shy away from difficult topics like police brutality, systemic racism, and reverse racism not being real, it was wonderful black representation. The characters were so complex, even though there were so many of them. No one faded into the background unless they were supposed to. Seeing how the same trauma impacted so many people differently in one family was SO interesting. Lastly, I am usually so confused when reading fantasy books, but the world building of this book was wonderful and easy to follow. Everything from the characters to the magic dynamics was thought out and executed well.

3.5 stars! A story about magical families living in New Orleans with lots of deadly drama and intergenerational curses!? I tripped running to request this one! This was a really fun YA urban fantasy with a really interesting magical system and setting.

I requested the audio for this and I'm so happy I did! It was a full cast and they were all amazing. They truly brought their characters to life so if you have the opportunity to listen to the audio for this I highly recommend you do so.

This story follows Clement and Cristina Trudeau—the sixteen-year-old twin heirs to the powerful, magical, dethroned family— who are mourning their father and caring for their sick mother. Until, by chance, they discover their mother isn’t sick—she’s cursed. Cursed by someone on the very magic council their family used to rule. Someone who will come for them next. Cristina and Clement will have to trust each other and their family's magic, all while solving the decades-old murder that sparked the still-rising tensions between the city’s magical and non-magical communities.

I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this book. I really liked getting to know the Trudeau's and their family history. The magical system was really interesting I wish we got to explore more of it. The book is multiple POVs which I usually don't mind but this time I think it took away from getting to know the characters more in depth. There were also a lot of different plot lines happening which got overwhelming and left me confused with what direction the story really wanted to go in.

Overall I was entertained reading this one it was fun and I liked the vibes! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blood Debts was a dark, mysterious story centered around traditional magics and family blood feuds. It’s fun tempered with angst and drama to keep you reading just to see what happens next.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook copy of Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker in exchange for an honest review. This story had a beautiful premise and was full of fantasy and destiny.

This book is phenomenal! I loved it from beginning to end. It has a bit of Louisiana culture, a bit of cajun culture, a whole lot of meaty story to keep you entertained, and a great plot. It's a great mystery/fantasy YA.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I definitely enjoyed this one- the setting, the characters, the magic, all was well done. I might have to go back and read it in a physical copy soon, but the narrators were absolutely perfect. Interested to see what comes next!

Blood Debts is set in New Orleans and centers around Clem and Christina Trudeau, twins in a powerful family on the wrong side of a magical history for 30 years.

The story follows each twin as they uncover life-altering secrets and mysteries about their family and try to fight for justice.

- Main Characters -

1. Clem
For Clem, a promising new love is on the horizon, but he is battling with the nagging voice in his head.

I'm not usually a fan of 'insta love' vibes, but it worked here because they were young. It was sweet and authentic!

Clean is a beautiful soul who has experienced loss in many ways but is still hopeful. He had the defiance of a teenager, and sometimes I wanted to hug him, and other times I wanted to shake him and ask ARE YOU CRAZY?!

2. Christina
The book starts with her feeling weighed down by her past decisions. But she begins to uncover things that cause her to re-examine everything!

She reminded me of my younger self in how she carried burdens that weren't hers. I loved her journey.

- Writing and Narration -
The book is told from many different perspectives, and it works well for the audiobook because each POV has a different tone.

The writing is geared towards an older YA audience due to some sexual content and violence.

The narration was top-tier thanks to the superstar narrators Bahni Turpin, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Torian Brackett, and Zeno Robinson.

The voices matched the characters so well! Especially Bahni Turpin as Valentina! She made her voice jarring and whiny, just like the character 😂

- Overall Thoughts -
I thoroughly enjoyed this book's twists, turns, mysteries, and messes! However, I know we are not done with these characters yet, and I eagerly await what comes next!

Bravo, Terry J. Benton-Walker!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me access to the advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

I chose to DNF at 38%. While I loved the events happening, the magic, and themes. I struggled greatly with the monotony in each of the character’s thoughts, actions, etc. Not only that, but a lot of the internal and external dialogue was the same/similar each time we met the character. There wasn’t any development for them. The repetition could easily have been mitigated if each character hadn’t been in a constant state of ‘woe is me.’ Through the almost 40% of the book I read, I was struggling to get the same voice from the author that we got in his author’s note.

Of what I read, I did enjoy each of the narrators. They conveyed the emotions of the characters well and made the listen as enjoyable as it could have been.

2/5 stars

I only got a few chapters in before deciding to DNF because I was very clear this book just wasn't for me.

What a great contemporary fantacy. I love a world where magic is explained in the every day life.

Thirty years after a murder, a lynching and a magic war in New Orleans Christina and Clement Trudeau are stricken by their ill mother, freshly mourning the loss of their father. While their family has a long history of being strong generstional magic practicionares, the twins are seemingly on different paths.

A mystery begins with the sudden recovery of their mother, the calling of a family meeting and a whole lot of half buried secrets peeking out of the grave.

This story is rich with characters that are diverse and powerful in a setting that drips with magical suspense.

Blood Debts is an absolute ride. I love that Macmillan Audio brought in four narrators, because they brought all the different POV characters to life and the aural differentiation really helped me stay with the story. This contemporary fantasy features twins Clement and Cristina who have grown up in the shadow of a violent magical massacre. The "debts" in the title refers to a generations-deep conflict with another magical family and readers will learn the truth behind the politics along with the twins. The world-building felt fresh to me, with a vivid, modern New Orleans built on centuries of magic, cultural melding and prejudice.

I loved the way Benton-Walker built out the relationships between people in different generations, both within the Trudeau family and in the magical council and the white folks who don't have Gen magic. Clement and Cristina have relationships with kids their age, but they also spend time with their parents' generation and their grandparents'. Their aunts are given agency and real personalities. There's a feud between grandmothers that involves murder and dark magic. I was totally sucked in.

There's some scary stuff in the book (see content warnings) but I really enjoyed that the MCs aren't somehow innocent. I was slack-jawed a couple of times, just listening to what Clem and Cristina did. I assume the trope wherein siblings pull each other back from the edge will happen in the sequel, but it definitely didn't happen in this one!

In all, I loved this book and thought the audio performances elevated the material. I'm looking forward to finding out how Clem figures a way out of the mess he made and how much of the world Cristina will set on fire.

***

Content Warnings: murder, necromancy, homophobia, racism, classism, references to slavery, past death of parent, toxic relationship, love magic that removes possibility of true consent

I read an advance copy of this audiobook via NetGalley.

A trip through the world of New Orleans conjuring families, this audiobook was quite the wild ride! I loved the narration for Clem and Cristina, but the switching between 1st person and 3rd person was difficult to follow at times.

Sometimes YA makes me feel sooo old and Blood Debts definitely did that.
I loved the New Orleans setting and these feuding magical families - all the ancestry and voodoo magic of New Orleans is so neat to me and Blood Debts wove it all so seamlessly. It’s one of those books where the magic isn’t explained like it’s something new or strange, it just “is,” ya know, like it’s totally normal and simply part of the story, not a unique characteristic, which I like. The necromancy angle and the POVs of Chis & Clem were fresh and relatable.
That said, there were a few too many POVs for me. I feel like maybe this is a set up for a series (it would def make a great one) and the author had to incorporate and introduce literally everything and everyone. The audio narration made all that more decipherable (a truly EXCELLENT audiobook) but I probably would have been even more lost actually reading this one- it’s gonna be one thick YA.
Overall, a wonderful and riveting experience that I’d definitely recommend to younger fans of magic and NOLA. It’s specifically a truly great representation for black and queer youth in a super fun genre.

I enjoyed this book so much. I loved the characters and the way the family interacted. I laughed out loud multiple times, gasped and got teary eyed as well. It was so good.

I will never be able to say enough about how incredible this book is. This book has been on my radar for a while now, and being able to finally fall into the magical world of New Orleans was a dream. Clem & Christina are dynamic characters that have me sobbing in anguish and joy by the end of the story. This story is perfect for kids who grew up reading Rick Riordian books and just aren’t ready to give that sense of magic up.

This novel has a lot going for it. Atmospherically it is beautifully done, I loved the setting and the way that I as a reader was drawn right into the thick if it. I found the magic system to be interesting and intricate.. I was not as impressed by the characters and the overall writing as I wanted to be with a book that I was highly anticipating. There were way to many character pov that were struggling for the spotlight in this book. The narrators as wonderful as they were really didn't help with the distinction between these as well. In my opinion some of the voiced were just too similar. This really had a tendency to be not only confusing but also made the plot seem disjointed. The switching between 1st and third also contributed to this issue. Keeping in mind that the main characters are 16 years old, I still really struggled with the overall tone of this book. The pettiness and childish disposition of the characters really through me off then the subject matter was so serious in nature. This may really have just been an instance where I have outgrown the YA genre. Overall I would still recommend this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC.

Though I didn't find the story was that compelling, the narrators were great and really brought a lot of the story. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for magical political intrigue in their books.

Like a few others readers, the cover threw me off and I thought this was a historical read. I personally am not an urban fantasy fan so I had a hard time getting into it. It's very much a YA read, so I would recommend it for teen readers in our store.

Absolutely obsessed with this book. I had chills hearing Clem and Chris narrate their stories. I was hooked from the first word. The magic is so ingrained in the world that I wanted to live there. It felt like falling down a rabbit hole and seeing a world not too different from our own. The politics and schemeing were some of the best parts, and I loved seeing Chris and Clem come into their own in both. Highly, highly recommend.