A story should always have a clear beginning, middle, and end. In Blood Justice — we gain a phenomenal middle that still kept me at the edge of my seat. It brought me emotions that the first one easily did but this time, it was full of rage like the characters. Book Two aka Blood Justice did not hold back on what our main characters felt and I’m glad it didn’t. Terry reminded me that if he can write a story about people who can express their rage about their lives or the world around them then there is no reason for me to hold back in expressing my own emotions to myself or to others that are willing to listen. A wonderful book/series to get into. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to review this.

I loved Blood Debts so I was really excited to read Blood Justice and it did not disappoint. This book was an exciting, action packed sequel that got a little dark at times, but it worked perfectly for the sake of the story. For this to be a YA story this book felt so thrilling and slightly mature, but still digestible for a younger audience. I really enjoyed this and based on how this ended I do hope there is a third book!

This one took me a while but this is just as much of a sucker punch as the first! Benton-Walker really takes you another thrill ride and the justice is on another level. Like others have mentioned Clem is stands out a lot this go around.

I'm so happy that this book has come out! Not only because I was truly intrested in seeing how the story would continue but because the authors writing is so eloquent. Also, even though I loved the original cover design of the first book in this series, Blood Debts, I truly love the new direction the cover design went with the sequel.

y kids and I recently listened to and read Terry J. Benton-Walker's recent release, Blood Justice, the sequel to last year’s Blood Debts which we also loved. This sequel has exceeded our expectations and it has now left is waiting for the third part of this trilogy. This new book is brilliant in keeping the characters and the magic and worldbuilding consistent. It has a great plot, filled with unexpected twists and turns. The cast of characters is wonderful in the juxtaposition of their uniqueness and relatability. They are flawed but their motivations are completely understandable.
My 17yo son said: Creative story consistent world building but the redemption arc of one of the main characters was too short for my taste so I am really intrigued to see how the author takes that into the next level
My 15yo daughter said Phenomenal writing, treating the characters trauma with respect, not rushing Chris into a new relationship, it was easy too sympathize with characters even when they were villains they had a plausible backstory, great LGBTQ+ representation !

So I really loved Blood Debts and I had really high expectations for Blood Justice. I thought this book started off with a bang and it really did reel me back into the story however when I got to about 50% and I wasn't sure were the story was going. I felt like the story was a little disjointed. I think there were a lot of plot lines that the author was trying to show us but they didn't come together. I still really love the characters and this world and if there is another book in the series I will defiantly be reading it.

I was excited to read Blood Justice because of how much I liked Blood Debts, however, even though I liked the book it felt a little disjointed at times. It felt like the author had a lot of ideas that weren't fully fleshed out. I hope that the story won't be all over the place for the next book because I do like the story and would like to finish the series.

DNF! The story and its set up is throwing me off at the moment. this book is feeling more disjointed than the first.

THIS WAS AMAZING. Often the second book of a series fails to compare to the first, but BLOOD JUSTICE didn’t have that problem. This book had action, scheming, depth, murder, and even soft moments. The pace stayed fast and engaging. Clem and Cris are so unique in their emotions and how they handle situations, yet I can see myself in both. I can’t wait for what’s next. I hope this series never ends.

Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton Walker
Rating: 3.8⭐️
Pub Date: OUT NOW!

In Blood Justice, the sequel to Blood Debts, we pick up nine months after the fiery end to Lenora Savant’s reign of the Generational Magic Council of New Orleans and the reinstatement of Cristina and Clement’s mom as Queen.
Cris feels as though there’s more justice to be served for the wrongs her family has suffered, and violence might be the only way to achieve sufficient justice.
Clem is overwhelming himself by trying to keep up the appearance that Yves, his boyfriend that was killed then partially brought back to life, is still attending school, while trying to figure out a way to bring Yves back fully.
Valentina Savant is grieving the death of her grandparents and is angry that her chance on the throne was stolen, leading to her forming alliances and a plot to take back what’s hers.
While we follow these three main characters’ journeys, a murderer is on the loose, anti-magic protestors continue their racist bullshit, and a brutal god is possibly hiding in the shadows.

It’s been a year since Blood Debts came out, so I forgot about certain things. While some parts were very well recapped, unfortunately, there were bits that weren’t. I enjoyed learning more about gen magic and seeing the twins’ growth in it; however, the middle 50-60% was a bit slow, but I’m guessing it’s setting up for the last book in the trilogy to be a war on two different fronts. The one issue that continued from the last book was that there are chapters through other POVs, which revealed a couple of things that would have had a bigger impact if those POVs weren’t included or were more vague. As a heads up, there is a bit of body horror/gore, and lots of murder (hence the title). Overall, I really enjoyed Blood Justice and appreciated the continuation of the commentary of racism in America. I can’t wait for the last book to see what happens!

First, thank you Net Galley for this ARC.

Now, onto Blood Justice. I wanted to devour this book the moment I got my hands on it, and I did dive right in. The story kicks off just a few months after what happened in Blood Debts. The plot wastes no time in jumping into not only the fallout from what happened in the first book but also the big changes that it caused for much of the cast.

I do not want to say too much to give away any of the plot, as I feel like it is best experienced going in with just the knowledge of the first book. The twists, turns, and secrets revealed are done so well that each one left me absolutely shocked before needing to read a couple more chapters. Clem and Cris are still two of my favorite MC's right now and I cannot wait to see what happens next after the cliffhanger that happens at the end.

It is honestly safe to say that the author has gained a lifetime reader from me after this book, and I am going to be recommending this series to everyone I can.

I have so many words and none at all! How did Terry J not get hit with the sequel blues bc this read was literally everything?! EVERYTHING! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. The adventure, the storytelling, I felt like I was watching a movie. THIS NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE!!

There is nothing bad that you can say about this book.. hell.. about TJBW! I won't allow it.

Infinity out of 5 Stars

I loved everything about this book. Full Stop. The way Terry continues to expand this world while also making me feel every single emotion should be studied. I’m not a fantasy reader and he has changed that with this series.

We pick up right after the events that ended Blood Debts and for a few pages I hoped the nonsense would be a thing of the past. It wasn’t, in fact it was more egregious than in Blood Debts. Yes the Trudeau’s have reclaimed the throne but what’s coming is even more challenging. Bodies are dropping, people are giving up and some folks are missing. It’s literal chaos.

My babies Cris and Clem. I feel so connected to them, they represent what it’s like to be Black. I FELT Cristina’s rage and Clem’s exhaustion because really how much should they have to deal with. I even found myself feeling bad for Valentina, it didn’t last long but it did happen. The last 15% of the book was filled with so much that I was kind of out of breath by the end. I know plans for book 3 haven’t been announced but someone needs to get on their Zoom IMMEDIATELY. THIS STORY DESERVES EVERYYHING.

I could go on and on and on about how much I loved this book, but I think you should read it for yourself. Thank you Terry for giving visibility to not only black teens but LGBTQ+ people of color. The respect and care you showed with your characters is not in vain and frankly I’d like to see more of it. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to start this one a little early. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

I'm very grateful for this ARC and I loved Blood Debts, but unfortunately I DNF'd at 57%. This was very dense and I found that while there was a lot happening, I was just mostly bored. I wanted to love it more than I did. There was just so much going on.

I am sitting here utterly speechless and that is saying something after having read blood debts the first go round. Just when you think Terry J. Benton-Walker has nothing left in the chamber, another clip is unleashed and metamorphic bullets spray between pages. Blood Justice is a mf reckoning and heads will roll. (Literally)

My initial thoughts:
1. There wasn't nearly enough Aunt Ursula in this book and that is a crime.
2. As I stated before, the only person who doesn't vex me and that I 100% stand behind is Clem. His pure heart doesn't deserve the hand life has dealt him and peace eludes him.
3. This book is unapologetic and loud about it. It is a wonder that it hasn't shot up the ever growing list of banned books in America. Blood Justice is uber gay. There isn't a queer representation that I can think of that hasn't been showcased with the exception of asexual (but don't worry I have a feeling that could be Aurora's bag). In the Blood Debts Series being heterosexual is almost the minority in this book... as is not being a murderer.
4. Then add in how militantly Black the characters become and how it's detailing the systems of oppressions inside and outside the community. There is some undeniable truth to the story Terry is telling and it is invigorating to see characters take their destiny into their own hands. Regardless of how it is done or by what means....If I were a straight cis het white man making the rules I would be quaking in my boots.
5. This book is a look at humanity as a whole and the self-centered behavior that consumes everyone enough to cross the line of morality. If you ever wondered what a free fall into chaos would look like if people gave into their nature and were granted in the form of magical abilities look no further. Blood Debts paints a vivid bloody picture.

One my qualms about this book is that it feel unnecessarily long. Even though the action was nonstop and the plotline was hitting, this could have been broken apart. I know many won't agree with me but I felt every bit of them 480 pages. At some point it just becomes too much.

Needless to say but I will continue on in this series because Terry is cooking and serving it up!

Generational magic..
I'm still on a high from this book. So many different magical threads to follow. I loved the first book and this book goes deeper into the systemic racism and plots to undermine every power structure in the Gen Counsel and magical community. Everyone is fighting to get control. There are themes of stereotypes, white supremacy and homophobia in magical realism with a very unique magic system. The magic they held was so fascinating and the gods were terrifying. Loved the teenagers being forced to take the lead since the adults were playing deadly games. There was a lot of loss and some of it is graphic but necessary to the story, FYI.
Recommend if you enjoy:
🔸 Witches with generational magic
🔸 Revenge
🔸 New Orleans aesthetic
🔸 Lots of drama
🔸 Supernatural


Thank you tor for the e-ARC for the gifted copy.

"Blood Justice" by Terry J. Benton-Walker presents a captivating sequel set in magical New Orleans. The story delves into complex family histories and political intrigue, weaving together the lives of various families with a long and tangled past.

Set against the backdrop of generational curses and power dynamics, the book explores themes of justice, identity, and societal imbalance. Drawing from Conjure, Hoodoo, and other African Traditional Religions, the rich world-building expands the magical system, creating a vibrant and immersive experience for readers.

While the narrative is action-packed and engaging, it's advisable to start with the first book in the series to fully grasp the intricate plot and character dynamics. Overall, "Blood Justice" delivers a compelling story with vibrant characters and thought-provoking themes, leaving readers eager for the next installment.

One of my anticipated books. I was so excited for this to drop and it didn’t disappoint. I loved seeing the characters again like catching up with my babies. Terry really pulls you into the magic that is New Orleans. The elements of how the magic works continues to weave in these twins lives and how that affects their decisions and their relationships with each other and people outside their twin bubble on their journey to revenge. Great sequel and I can’t wait to see if they’ll be more.

I enjoyed every part of this book and definitely can't wait for the next installment! Keep them coming, Terry J.!

This book picks up right the events of book one 'Blood Debts' so likely spoilers for this but not for book two in this review

Cris and Clem are both looking for justice and/or a resolution after the events of book one.

Cris feels some parties involved in manipulating her and harming her family were let off too easy and she wishes to seek her own justice.

Clems justice is also on a personal level as he just wants Yves back. But at what cost.

The Moon God, and Oberyn, have eyes on the twins and their actions, which either of could have disasterous consequences for not just their family and community, but the magical community as a hole

A Dark trip down a path of family, vengeance and the thin line between right and wrong.... was a great book and I enjoyed it even more than the first one..... now where's book 3!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for a review copy of this book, all opinions my own