"Welcome back to New Orleans, where gods walk among us and justice isn’t served, it’s taken."

Wooooo this book! I loved returning to this world, and the magical elements of revenge and grief. It was suspenseful and powerful, and I can't recommend this series enough!

I finished this, thinking it was the end of a duology. Oooop, I was wrong!
Has that ever happened to you?! (I loved Blood Debts, the first book of the series, and wanted to go in to this one with no spoilers so didn’t read much about it.) I figured it out when the last 10% was getting more complex instead of tying things up 😂

Aaaaaanywaaaaay, I HIGHLY recommend this series! Magic, revenge, mystery, and family drama - all set against the tense backdrop of southern history and racism in modern New Orleans.

This is book two of the series so I don’t want to give too much away but the story continues to follow main characters. The story delves into themes of justice, identity, and the consequences of one’s actions, all set against the richly depicted backdrop of New Orleans.

This was very good. I enjoyed both book one and two. These are definetly worth the read.

I am very thankful to have been gifted a copy of this book; however, at this point this book will be moving to my DNF shelf. It sounds like something I would have really enjoyed, and will happily come back and re-review once I am in a better mindset for the book.

4/5⭐️ This was a solid duology with an ending I didn’t see coming. Although it dragged really slow at times, it really packs on the action in the end! The whole duology I would give 4.5 ⭐️ this was a great way to end it!

Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker, the second book in the Blood Debts series, is a whirlwind of chaos, betrayal, and long-buried secrets. The narrative digs deep into the past, unraveling lies and betrayals that shape the present. Benton-Walker amplifies the complex magic system introduced in the first book, making it a key element of the story’s heart-pounding action.

This New Adult Fantasy dives headfirst into serious themes of white supremacy, racism, and how deeply rooted prejudice continues to harm POC and queer communities. The book handles these heavy subjects with unflinching honesty, offering a brutal yet necessary critique of societal systems. What makes it even more engaging is the author’s deft balance of dark humor and uncanny twists that keep readers on edge.

The pacing of Blood Justice can feel a bit slow at times, as it's a longer read than anticipated, but the richness of the story and Benton-Walker’s growth as a writer make it worth the journey. His writing is clearer, more accessible, and expertly woven into this ever-evolving world.

If you’re looking for a book that challenges not only the fantasy genre but also tackles real-world issues with depth and heart, Blood Justice is a must-read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone craving an emotional, thought-provoking fantasy.

I forgot to put a review on here. Thank you MacMillan Audio for sending me the audiobook of Blood Justice to read and review! I won't say too much in my review since it's a sequel and I don't want to give too much away, but just know it was an easy 5 star rating for me! It's one of my favorite reads of this year so far. The narration was amazing. There are multiple narrators and they all did a great job. Terry has a beautiful writing style and I loved delving back into the world he created, in New Orleans. This sequel picks up about a year after Blood Debts ended. The characters and the plot are interesting. I especially love Cris and Clem, they are my favorite characters in the book. Blood Justice talks about white supremacy, racism, homophobia, and classism, and I like that Terry was brutally honest and did not shy away from the facts. I hope everyone picks up this fantasy story, not just to enjoy the world he created, but to learn important lessons too.

I stayed up late listening to the audiobook and finished it quickly! It's 480 pages, but I wish it was a little bit longer; just because I didn't want the book to end though. It ended on a good cliffhanger, so I hope there are more books. The book comes out April 23rd, go check it out!

The way this book had me SCREAMING at the end.

Another great installment in this series, as Cris and Clem try to navigate the world they’ve helped to shape because of the ending of Blood Debts (no spoilers!). The way Cris and Clem come at this though is very different. Cris is hellbent on revenge and Clem just wants to protect his boyfriend.

This book is a wonderful look at power, justice, and how vengeance can do more than change a person. You can go into something knowing in your soul it’s the right thing to do, but that doesn’t mean it should be done. Though I will admit, I was very on board for a lot of the choices made.

This is such a lived-in story, so fully realized in all of the POVs working in tandem. And just when you think you know where this story is going, you get the rug pulled out beneath you, just like these characters.

What a book. More is deeply needed.

Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker is a gripping, high-stakes fantasy that totally kept me on the edge of my seat. The story follows Kellan, a young guy who’s been thrust into a world of magic, bloodlines, and dangerous secrets. He’s trying to uncover the truth about his family’s past, but the deeper he digs, the darker things get. It’s packed with twists, and honestly, I didn’t see most of them coming!

What I really liked about this book is how complex the world-building is. The magic system and the political stuff are super interesting, and it’s easy to get sucked into the tension between the different factions. Kellan’s character is really relatable, even though he’s in this crazy, high-stakes situation. He’s trying to figure out who he really is while dealing with family drama, betrayal, and a whole bunch of enemies. It’s the kind of book that keeps you questioning who to trust.

The pacing is pretty fast, with a lot of action and emotional moments that hit hard. There’s a good balance of plot twists and character development, so it’s not just about the action, it’s also about Kellan’s growth and his relationships with the people around him.

I wanted to love this book so badly. Blood Debts was one of my top reads from this year. I gave it four stars, but something about this book didn’t pull me in quite the same way. I think that the message of this book is very powerful, and I really appreciate what Terry J. Benton-Walker is trying to say about racism and inequity in America. However, I don’t think that this book is for me. I felt the rage at the way that the system is stacked against our main characters, but I did not feel as connected to the plot as I did in Blood Debts. The throughline of the book was less clear, and it didn’t pull me in in quite the same way.

This was a great follow up to Blood Debts which I had so much fun with when it came out! I loved how the world was expanded on and we got to know some of the side characters more. My only issue was the pacing was a bit off especially in the beginning. It picked up by the midway point but there was definitely a feeling of repetitiveness?

I read the first installment of this series last year and was very impressed. I went into this book hoping for the same level of excitement that the first book stirred within me. However, it never quite got there,

This is not a “bad” book. I still really liked the world and most of the characaters/events. I think what ultimately brought my rating down was the pacing. The previous installment had a nice pace that kept me engaged throughout. This book really seemed to drag in places. I also didn’t enjoy Cris as much as I did in the Blood Debts. She seemed to be acting recklessly and was extremely negative for the duration of the story. That didn’t work for me.

I still loved Clement and found myself eager to get back to his chapters. I think he has the most compelling storyline. I would love to continue with the series just so I can spend more time with him.

Overall, it was still a decent read. I’m hoping the next book will take care of some of these issues and I will return to fully loving this witchy world.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I'm a solid citizen of the TJverse after reading this book! The twins are just... I don't have the words to express how much I enjoyed their growth!

This was a loottttt!!! From the beginning, the pot was stirring with where we left off in Blood Debts. I already knew the drama was coming, but I didn’t expect that ending.

The character development was there for sure, but mainly for the twins. This book actually gave more insight into how those characters felt, their emotions as situations occurred, and how it was affecting them over time. This actually made Clem my favorite character. Always the lover boy, trying to help people, but who helps him when he’s drowning? Cris didn’t really do a good job of that in Book 1 or 2. Maybe she can redeem herself in Book 3 (because there’s definitely going to be another right?).

Valentina’s character is still developing because we know how she was in the first book, but she’s changing little by little. It’s hard for me to see her as this one person when I feel as though she’s going to blossom into something completely different. She will be humbled and her ice will crack eventually.

Lastly, I loved the variety of the characters and the fixation on justice. I liked the quotes from our historical leaders as well. I could feel the rage that Cris felt and understood the things she did. I can see why each character wants Blood Justice, but does the blood of someone else have to be spilled for you to feel at peace? Hmmm…

I’m super late to the party, but I would like to thank NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC of this book.

So when i requested I had no idea it was a sequel. When I was talking to a friend about it and they were like umm hey Blood Debts is book 1. I immediately went and grabbed that. I was blown away I really found it mesmorizing. It had so many layers to it. And this book is no different. I have grown with these characters, I feel so connected. I also feel challenged as a reader because this book and world is just so engaging. It was truly a great read !

This book felt like a CW Teen drama in the best way possible. It feels very much like a soap opera, and honestly? I love Terry J. Benton-Walker for it.

This was such a good book! I loved this follow up! This was so well written and made me ravenous for the next one!!!! Watching these characters grow even more was awesome!

"**Blood Justice**" by Terry J. Benton-Walker is a powerful and electrifying novel that masterfully blends suspense, action, and profound emotional depth. Benton's gripping narrative and richly developed characters create an intense and unforgettable reading experience. This book is a remarkable achievement in contemporary fiction, offering a compelling and immersive journey from start to finish.

This book had so much going on! This has been one of my most anticipated releases this year and it did not disappoint. I loved getting back into this world and seeing what happened after that epic ending. This book definitely improved from the first installment and I found the POV's to be alot better and make more sense in this book than they did in book 1. All the scheming, murder and secrets had me on the edge of my seat for the most of the book. I could do without the romances that Clem and Cris are in, I do not feel like it adds much to the story and I find myself not being interested in them at all. I will say the beginning of the book was a little slow for me but it did pick up towards the middle and the ending left me satisfied. book 3 has not been announced yet but the way that ended will keep me on the hunt for the next installment.

Honestly just a fantastic wrap up to a duology. While not my speed because of it’s modern setting and YA-ness, I think if I were younger I would enjoy this a lot.