This was a solid sequel! Initially, I had a hard time remembering some of the characters and their motives from book one. It also dragged in some places where I found myself skimming. I did feel that there was a bit too much going on, especially near the end. Also, liked that we got more Valentina in this book because she’s a fav. Overall, Blood Justice was full of rage, trauma and grief and for the most part I enjoyed t!

4 Stars
Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the E-Arc and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Blood Justice follows the Trudeau Twins Nine months after the events of Blood Debts. After they successfully cleared their grandmother's name and reclaim the Gen Council Throne.  A new murder mystery with the Twins Mom, Marie Traudeu ,who is the new Gen Queen and the main suspect. History is repeating itself as the Traudeu twins have to save their family yet again while trying to keep themselves together from falling apart. Old and new enemies come out as they form alliances to try and get the Gen Council Throne away from Trudeaus once again. 

I loved this one but for some reason, I felt like the first one was still better. I guess it has the case of "Second Novel Syndrome" where certain things Terry did approve on but for some reason it felt longer than the first one.

So lets play a game of What Worked and What needs to be approved on

What worked for me.

Unapologetically Black- Just like the first one, this one is Blackity Black to the bone while it does tackle issues like racism and homophobia . It still feels like a love letter to the Black and LBGTQ communities.

Chris's Rage- She did what had to be done and it was justifiable to the people she did it too. You just get tired of our people being treated the way we have been treated for centuries and you just want to do something about it.

The Political Intrigue- It was better in this one with certain characters making allegiances with people.

Getting more of Valentina and her mom bonding which we got more of her heritage.

Clem feels anger and hopelessness which he feels like he has to do on his own. Clem is still my favorite so the ending had me in pieces. BRING MY BABY BOY HOME TERRY! lol

The Moon King introduction, backstory, and the upcoming war. His whole introduction at the end felt like the ending of HP and The Goblet of Fire which was a total " Oh Shit" moment .

The fourth and fifth acts of the book which is the reason why I'm giving it a four and not lower. Those two acts was a total " What the fuck is going on!!" for me.

The Body Count- Terry said it is supposed to be the Black Game of Thrones and with the political scheming, the body's dropping and a potential war, it's getting there.

The Narration of the audiobook was still good as hell.

What could be approved on

Chris' Rage- It went from " Chris Girl Yes!" to" Chris Girl No!" towards the end she almost made a terrible terrible mistake. I'm glad her grandma saved her from herself which should give her a chance for development for the 3rd book.

Mama Trudeau barely being Queen of the Gen Council- The fact that she was out of commission again for the majority of the book with her being framed for murder thus being in jail. I can forgive the first book for her being sick because of the curse on her but barely seeing her in action again? Especially the fact we know thanks to the first one that she is powerful as hell and pretty much the rock of the family. She better get part of the action in the 3rd one.

The Trudeaus need Gen-Magic allied families-The fact the Trudeaus still feel like they really don't have allies while everyone else is scheming against them. There are maybe three people I would consider allies but they need whole families now.

Where the hell did Ursula go? - There was not enough Ursula in this book which is a shame because she was one of the strongest side characters in the first book. She is my fave aunt and I love her relationship with Clem so it's sad we really didn't get a lot of her in this book like the first one. We also need more of the sisters as a whole.

Eveline Beaumont being a villain- For some reason I just can't get behind her being a villain like Lenora was. Even if she was pulling the strings behind Lenora with her being a puppet and Eveline being the main puppeteer. I do like her scheming with Val but something about her character is missing. I guess Lenora was the grandma who kept up the mess while Eveline did her shit behind the screens. She is supposed to feel like a bigger threat with her doing what she is trying to do with Gen-Magic but she honestly doesn't.

The whole Mystery this time felt like it was solved too quickly. Like do you really believe people are going to believe what happened? I know it's a magical and spiritual community but come on!

The Third act of the book was dragging which took me forever to finish.

This is still one of my top reads of the year but first got the edge on it by a hair. Can't wait for the third one!!

A wonderful sequel to a fantastic story line.

The characters i this book are so well developed that it makes the plot that much better.

In "Blood Justice," Terry J. Benton-Walker crafts a thrilling sequel that continues the saga of Cristina and Clement Trudeau's quest for justice and power in a magically charged New Orleans. Following the events of "Blood Debts," where they reclaimed their family's throne, the Trudeaus face new challenges and enemies determined to undo their hard-won victory.

Central to the narrative is the formidable Valentina Savant, who seeks retribution after losing her grandparents and her rightful place as Queen. Her efforts to undermine the Trudeaus are mirrored by a relentless detective and the looming threat of a vengeful god, all converging to test the limits of Cris and Clem's resilience.

Benton-Walker weaves together themes of power, revenge, and the complexities of leadership against a backdrop where magic intertwines with everyday life. The narrative crackles with tension as alliances shift, mysteries deepen, and personal desires threaten to unravel their carefully constructed plans.

The author's prose is electric, drawing readers into a world where justice is not simply sought but fiercely seized. "Blood Justice" captivates with its richly imagined setting and compelling characters, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next twist in this captivating magical thriller.

For fans of urban fantasy with intricate world-building and high-stakes drama, "Blood Justice" delivers a spellbinding tale of ambition and consequence that resonates long after the final page is turned.

This is the sequel to Blood Debts and after reading that amazing first novel over a year ago, this one was a bit hard to get into. It definitely picked back up after a while but the first book was definitely better. If you need more of these characters in your veins though I would recommend reading this to get more!

I am a huge fan of Terry J. Benton-Walker and the follow up to Blood Debts shows me why.

At first I was a bit like what exactly are we working toward here because we clearly had a goal set out in front of us in book 1 at the very first chapter. Here we didn't really get to know our why until a bit further into the book. While it started a bit slower, I found that I was enjoying learning more about Clem and Cris and their minds.

I was very frustrated with some of the choices our two protagonists made but I seriously could not get over the fact that they went through absolute hell in book 1 and here in book 2 they didn't learn from their mistakes and trust each other for a bit. I'm still on edge about our local villainous teenager Valentina because she seems like something bad is just waiting to happen. I feel like a lot of this sets up what's coming next in this series but still gives you a lot of growth of our main characters and the struggles they've been facing.

Hands down I will absolutely pick up whatever Terry comes up with next because I just love the writing and vibes that you get from his stories. This was also just as great in audio form as it was in written form and I would highly suggest it to anyone. I cannot thank Netgalley enough for my advanced copy.

WOW! This book was such a journey - much more so than the first book. There were so many plot lines happening. I really liked the addition of alternate perspectives which we hadn't seen in the first book, and the twists and turns all felt believable - but also a few caught me by surprise. This is clearly building up to be an in depth, amazing series

I LOVED the second installment in this series. I relate to the plight of these characters so much and enjoyed seeing them come into their power and not take crap from anyone. I appreciate the representation and the magic system so much, how they’re both interwoven with the black diaspora and our experience. I really hope that Terry will be able to continue this series!

Having thoroughly enjoyed "Blood Debts," I awaited its sequel, "Blood Justice" by Terry J. Benton-Walker. This continuation did not disappoint. Benton-Walker dives deep into themes of revenge, the cost of wielding magic, injustice, and the grim consequences of murder. The book carries a vibe reminiscent of "The Vampire Diaries," with its dark, supernatural elements and high-stakes drama. However, it focuses on a contemporary Black family in New Orleans whose magic is integral to their lineage. This adds a unique and refreshing layer to the urban fantasy genre.

Benton-Walker's portrayal of New Orleans is vibrant and gritty, capturing the city's essence while seamlessly blending it with the magical realism of the family's powers. The characters are compelling and well-developed, each grappling with their struggles and the heavy burden of their heritage. While the fast-paced plot can be a bit overwhelming at times, the depth of the story and the richly drawn characters make it a highly enjoyable read. "Blood Justice" is a thrilling and dramatic continuation of the series and a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and anyone who loved "Blood Debts."

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the Blood Debts. There was so much going on that I felt it was so unnecessary when it came to separate plot lines. The male narrator was nit my favorite as his voice was too elevated during times where he should’ve been sad, quiet, or frustrated. While I will recommend this to my students, I wouldn’t read it again.

Breathtaking, Thought Provoking, A Masterpiece. For a sequel of the banger Blood Debts, they knocked it out the park. I hold Cris and Clement to my heart and need the next book yesterday.

After all they have been through, Cris and Cem are finally getting back what their family always deserves: the New Orleans magical community throne. All should be well with Cris and Cem, but their lives are going to become messier than ever.

Cris is still dealing with the aftermath of reliving his boyfriend, who isn’t all there. It’s going to take everything for him to relive him through and through. And it doesn’t help that someone is targeting his family again.

Cem thought that getting back her family throne would justify the wrongdoings of others. However, she is now realizing that the justice system isn’t doing too much for her. She wants them to suffer for their wrongdoings toward her and her family. She may not like what the consequences are.

I wasn’t prepared at all when I read this book. I knew that it was going to be a bit dark and twisted from the cliffhanger. But this book was a rollercoaster ride. I felt so much throughout the book that it kept me on the edge until the end. It was unexpected, chaotic, and more messy than ever, with shocking surprises and an unbelievable ending yet again. I don’t know what to do, except convince everyone to take the ride with me.

I read this duology because I am a fan of the Locrottum series and Blood Debts and Blood Justice seemed pretty similar. And I was right, the social constructs are there, great characters are present throughout, and side characters serve their purpose and then we move on.
Chris and Clem have a bound very few people could ever understand. Their respect and chemistry are obvious from page one.
I love how urban fantasy tells a story why putting society's issues front and center. Incorporating magic and generational curses like C & C experience while showing the ready that evil is made evil, but why?

I received an arc from the publisher and at the time I still thought this was a duology (which it was pitched when I read book one) so I was surprised to find out that it wasn't and disappointed that it ends on a cliffhanger. I loved book one and I was very excited for this. I ended up sad that I nearly DNFed this after the first few chapters and that's why this review is so late. It almost didn't happen because it touches on things that are triggering. (

Cris became so filled with rage and murderous that I didn't want to read about her. Having Clem worry about it doesn't offset that I no longer wanted to know Cris. Clem's story was far more tragic and interesting and if this was his story alone I would have eaten it up. He has to figure out how to get back Yves soul and restore him from the zombie state and on top of that Yves sister has disappeared and his mother has been blamed for a murder. But just like book one there is too much story for one book.

Cris and her former friends are battling it out for being queen and it matters because Cris has convinced her mother that she should be temporary queen because Mom is jailed instead of you know, any of her adult sisters. I know this is because of the YA nature of the book but it props up Cris being a bit of a sociopath manipulating adults to give her the power, sort of the thing you see in serial killers which feels apropos.

Cris barely has any consequences to her violent actions. Don't get me wrong, I logically understand the rage at oppression but does that justifying being judge jury and executioner? Everyone is her enemy, certainly everyone of a different skin color or anyone standing in the way of anything she wants. I was put in mind of historical conversations between the approaches of Martin Luther King jr and the more violent approaches (her mom taking the side of MLK and Cris the other) Cris's the ends justify her means attitude wasn't working for me (and I admit that could easily be my own privilege talking).

Also it makes it clear people of color in jobs such as law enforcement and medicine which have a history of institutionalized racism are traitors and are going to get what they deserve. It's stated almost that way. I'm medical, saw my friends going through that attitude from the people we were taking care of (double ostracization if they were women because women shouldn't be in medicine either so I know that pain) It is, of course, a legitimate way to feel but I've seen the damage it causes. And maybe I find it hard to get past here because Cris has a LIST of people she thinks she needs to deal with (In a very permanent way) and she's using this as part of her justification.

I really wish these were two separate books because Clem's story has my interest where Cris's drama does not (which also disappoints me because I want to support the female characters) I am not sure I will read further. I do want to know what will happen with Clem and there is a twist with the family that will affect Cris that was interesting at the end but there is so much darkness in this.

Wow!!!! Want a follow up to blood debts. This was much faster paced and way darker and I LOVED IT!!!!!

There is so much generational healing and rage here and it gives the reader so much freedom to really scream at the book without remorse.

I was NOT expecting that ending!! OMGGGGG

Unfortunately I could not get far into this sequel to Blood Debts, whose violent ending was already borderline gratuitous. Especially with the venomous POV of Valentina. I understand that the premise of Black rage has many faces and facets and she represents only one essential aspect. That said, I feel this premise could have been tighter and wrapped up in one book. I honestly do not have the stomach for another round of needless politicking amongst people of color in a world where the race dynamics are already too close to reality with a formidable foe, that is not remotely as well developed as white supremacy and appropriationists.

I did not know this book was a sequel when I requested it based on the blurb and it was really confusing to go into it without knowing the context behind all, so I ended up DNFing it. The writing was incredible and I started to like the characters. I will revisit this once I read the first book in the series, but that will probably not be for a while.

** 4.5 **
A TIME WAS HAD!
This book started & ended with a bang!!
Cris stood on business this entire book!!!
Clem </3
I cannot wait for the next book in this series.


I did receive this book as an E-ARC courtesy of NetGalley ( :

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the e-book copy!

I enjoyed the first book in this series as I felt it was a good high-stakes urban fantasy. Going into the sequel, I expected that it could be either just as good or better than the first book. I ended up feeling in the middle about this sequel as it was not terrible by any means but it had middle-book syndrome. A lot of this book was mostly set up for the next book but it also had filler that was not needed. I am not entirely put off by the series and will likely check out the next book to see where things end up going. I would still recommend this series especially if you like fantasies that focus on magic, sibling relationships, and politics.

I enjoyed the first book and this was a very worthy sequel. It started off slow, but I could not put it down after the halfway point. That ending…wow! We’d better be getting more of this world after that.
Benton-Walker’s writing is descriptive and immersive - I felt like I was in New Orleans with Clem, Cris and Valentina. As a reader, I struggle to visualize what I am reading, but the author’s descriptions really helped me feel everything that the characters were experiencing. The characters continued to develop throughout this book, but not necessarily for the better. Valentina is by far the character that I dislike the most. Does that girl care about anyone but herself? Cris is getting darker by the page, but why? You’ll have to read to find out. I still couldn’t help but love Clem and feel his pain. I found his part of the story quite heartbreaking. Is there hope? You’ll see…
I recommend this book to lovers of fantasy that takes place in modern times steeped in magic in our world and complicated characters that will do just about anything to protect their legacy (and family)
Many thank to NetGalley and Tor Teen for an e-arc of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.