Ohh CLEM!! Omg I was shocked at the things that happened in this book. I don’t know why cause book 1 kept me on my toes just like this one. Truly captivating! I love this author’s writing style and I’m sucked in every time. YOU MUST READ THIS!

Benton-Walker has crafted a mystical New Orleans that pulses with magic. I love Clem and Cris and their stories and am really enjoying the darkness to these books. Blood Debts took me a couple tries to get into, but I ended up really enjoying it. I had no problem jumping right into Blood Justice and enjoying the dark world of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advanced copy of Blood Justice for review. All opinions are my own.

Blood Justice, the second installment, surpasses its predecessor in intensity, delving deeper into the shadows of its magical realm. The characters, now even more morally complex, navigate a labyrinth of subplots and ethical dilemmas, creating a whirlwind of revenge, mayhem, and profound emotional exploration.

The storyline takes a darker turn, revealing an explosive fusion of magic, race, and politics, skillfully interwoven to create a narrative that is both enthralling and thought-provoking. As the sequel propels the reader through its pages, the intricate plot introduces a myriad of twists, keeping them on the edge of their seat, yearning for resolution.

Approaching Blood Justice with uncertain expectations, I found myself pleasantly surprised—it exceeded all anticipations. The narrative's seamless flow and the author's adept storytelling held me captive, urging me to devour each page with eagerness. The vivid portrayal of the characters and their morally ambiguous choices adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, making it a compelling exploration of revenge, justice, and the human condition.

Blood Justice serves as a powerful reminder that advocacy takes various forms, and the author, Benton-Walker, masterfully employs his voice as a resonant call for transformation. I highly recommend Blood Justice to teens and young adults who appreciate narratives that transcend the boundaries of fantasy, offering a mirror to our own world's complexities. Benton-Walker's narrative prowess shines through, and I eagerly anticipate future stories that promise the same level of unpredictability and brilliance as Blood Justice.

Thank you Tor Teen and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Terry J Benton-Walker is an amazing author and is continuously amazing me with how much he puts into his books! Blood Justice was flipping amazing like edge of your seat wanting to consuming the book and also terrified to finish! Cris and Clem are back and they have rightful taken back what belonged to their family. Cris is struggling though because so many people were involved in wronging the family and they are just getting away with it. Cris won’t allow that if no one else with do what needs to be done she’s got enough justifiable rage to do it herself. Clem is consumed by finding a way to save Yves and overwhelmed with the situation. Valentina suspects Cris’s family was involved with her heartbreak and she is determined to have her revenge on get what she believes belongs to her. When people start turning up dead or missing, Cris and Clem’s family are once again under attack. Can the figure out what’s going on? And just what do the Gods have in store for them? With everyone keeping secrets, including the Gods, Cris and Clem may just in over their heads. Every second of this book had me on edge waiting for the other shoe to drop and my heart to break! Cris’s desire for revenge/justice was absolutely perfect and I was so proud of her for kicking ass!!! I felt every bit of Clem’s heartbreak and his feelings of just being tired. I also get why he made the decisions he made and am excited to see where it takes him! Of course Terry’s dropping bombs right up until the very end and now I need to know what comes next and book two isn’t even out yet! My inner voice does not to these characters justice and I can’t not wait to listen to the audiobook for this one, I think it’ll blow readers away! Highly recommend reading this book of strong black characters that are faced with so much but will not let anyone stand in their way!

Blood Justice, the follow up to Blood Debts, by Terry J. Benton-Walker is the kind of book you want to drop everything else in your life for so you can just binge read it. It is a propulsive, fast-paced, full of interesting magic, thematic subtext, jaw-dropping reveals, and iconic scenes. I love this book, and I cannot wait for the next installment of this Game of Thrones-style YA series.

Blood Justice's plot is super high stakes, cathartic, violent, frightening, beautiful, heart-warming, tender, heart-breaking, and sickening. Terry J. Benton-Walker ran me through the spectrum of emotions.

Just like Blood Debts, Blood Justice has a large, fascinating cast, and it grows a little in this book. Yay! New characters! The relationships between the big cast of characters are so well defined and interconnected, and I loved the chapter-by-chapter POV-shifts. Most often, readers will experience the story through Clem and Cris, the twin main characters. We get their first person point of view. (I’m so loyal and invested in these two it hurts, by the way!) But, we also get treated to 3rd person omniscient viewpoints from Valentina, Oz, Zac, and one other character I don’t want to say here (because it was too moving of an experience to be led into their POV.)

I give the magic in this book 10/10. It has such a central, constant presence, and the writing about it is very beautiful and cinematic. Cris, Clem, and Valentina come into their own as gen magic welders, using their power to great effect for defense, offense, vengeance, joy and art. and more.

Terry J. Benton-Walker made these books ripe for fan theories and discussion. The exploration of justice is deep, tangled, and nuanced. I felt immersed in the messiness of defining and finding justice for self and community. I also found myself scouring the text for clues about the mysteries to be solved in the present and future.

Miscellaneous:
This book is unputdownable after Chapter 37.
I annotated signature colors for places and characters like blue, orange, gold, and green.
I closely followed the motif of string and tether imagery.
Sofia has my whole heart right now.
Ayden Holloway is back in this book too. I love the presences of visual and performing arts in this series.

Thank you netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Teen for allowing me to read this book. Terry has done it again. This man knows how to pull you in and keep you in to the very last page. I will forever be a Terry J Benton-Walker Stan.

The first book in this series? Phenomenal. I was on the edge of seat the entire time. The sequel? I have no words. It builds, and it builds, and doesn't disappoint when you get to the end. It was an incredible journey!

Valentina gripped me in the prologue and I was hooked from there. I love a villain that is sympathetic but also has the most unhinged reactions to things. You made my grandmother upset? I will curse your car so you die in a car accident. You stole my boyfriend? I am going to manipulated him into giving your mother magical cancer. Absolutely wild. And things she does in this one? I won't spoil.

For the emotional side of things, how things were left between Clem and Yves. I wanted this eARC just for that. Poor Clem.

Cris's journey to get in touch with her magic again was emotional, vengeful, and I loved every second of it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Grou for this eARC. I enjoyed every second of it.

Absolutely AMAZING. It is definitely an art to weave social justice issues into a book without it turning into an academic essay or an obvious teaching moment. Terry masters this in Blood Justice in a way that was so validating for me, and would definitely stick with younger YA readers too.

The character development was fire, I felt like I got to know many characters on a deeper level, even if I didn’t like the direction they were going. Loved the focus on Cris & Clem, and their relationship.

I wish the pacing of the mystery in the middle of the book had been quicker, which was a bit frustrating when you saw definitely saw suspicious activities going on *squints eyes*… but then it picks up! And when I say it all comes TOGETHER?!?!

Yeah basically LOVED this sequel!! Now we have to impatiently wait and see what happens next 🥹🥹

A beautiful continuation of the aftermath of the first book. I loved being immersed in the family dynamics and the Romeo and Juliet esque tragedy of it all. Terry has become an auto but author for me.

Blood Justice picks up after Chris and Clem along with their family have regained control of the magical council in New Orleans. However neither are able to actually enjoy this victory. Christina is set on finding vengeance against those that have wronged her and her family. Clement is unable to move on with his life as his love Yves still hangs in limbo after being murdered and resurrected. Valentina Savant has lost everyone that she actually cared for and her family has lost power. The magical community in New Orleans if facing outside threats of groups set on destroying magic and those that practice.

Terry really outdid himself with this book! The magic system and community are so bright and vibrant. I adore all of the characters. I really loved the additional focus on Valentina in this book! She is a really complex character and watching her flex her power was great. I am dying to see where this story goes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Benton continues to explore the themes of injustice, oppression, race, culture and appropriation in this contemporary coming of age story while also touching on subjects like incarceration and the unhoused in a way that enhances the story without it feeling spoon fed to the reader. Next I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss how I enjoyed Blood Debts but Blood Justice really elevated the stakes for me in a way I haven’t read since Catching Fire years ago. We continue on Cristina and Clem’s respective journeys as they try to deal with the consequences of their actions in Blood Debts while also deciding who they want be and just how far each of them will go to get what they want. I’m usually not a massive fan of multiple POV’s (after two characters I just start to lose interest) but the way Benton does is really special and it’s so integral to the story unfolding the way it does. Each character has a rich inner world that adds to the complexity of the story and allows Benton to broach sensitive topics in a nuanced way.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it. The cover art is super pretty and I hope they keep that as well

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
The sequel to Blood Debts, Blood Justice is an explosion of magic, race, and politics in the absolute best way.
I didn’t know what to expect out of this, but it was just so much better than I could have possibly expected. I absolutely flew through this book, and had so many moments where I was at the edge of my seat.
I don’t really want to say much more, mainly because the rest of my thoughts are spoiler filled, but what I do know is that I absolutely need the next one now.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for an eARC of this book.

Terry J Benton Walker has done it again! We are once again immersed in murder and magic in New Orleans with Clement and Cristina and the whole crew from Blood Debts. Mr. Walker's writing keeps you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns that are taken. And that ending!! Will leave you begging for book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advanced copy of Blood Justice for review. All opinions are my own.

Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker is the sequel to Blood Debts and has a dark alluring cover while being a mind arresting, surprising read. Benton-Walker takes the reader back to New Orleans into the world of the Cristina and Clement Trudeau as they continue to fight against their enemies, who want to take their birthright back within the magical community by controlling magic and its practitioners. While some background information on these rich characters is provided in this book, I suggest that readers that have not read Blood Debts, the first book in the series, to begin here for background knowledge of the characters and events.

Benton-Walker craftily uses his storytelling to question Blackness and difficult topics such as mental health and unhoused individuals along with queerness. While addressing these difficulties, the author shows the reader that there are many different lengths that one can be willing to go to obtain justice for themselves and those that are closest to them. This dark sequel has vivid details that makes it seem as if you are witnessing the story in real-time. Benton-Walker has masterfully crafted a tale that advocates for taking a stand for justice. Blood Justice prompts the reader to think about the cost of the pursuit of justice and what it means to know its cost in the present time and future.

I would recommend Blood Justice to teens and young adult who are willing to think beyond the magical world that Benton-Walker has created to see that advocating for change and social justice can be in many forms. Benton-Walker has a voice that demands to be heard and wields the pen as his megaphone. I look forward to more stories from this masterful author in the future that hopefully provide as many plot twists as Blood Justice.

So amazing. Thanks @netgalley for the ARC! This book is beautifully and masterfully written. I felt so much for the young protagonists and their family and friends. I can't imagine going through what Clem and Cris have to endure. The expansion of the characters and world building are done well in this series. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 3. There has to be so much more to Cris and Clems story! If you like magic, legacy and meddling gods you will love this.

I loved this sequel!

A lot of the time, I find sequels that may not engross me as much as the first novel in the series. However, I think I fell in love with Blood Justice just as much as I did with the first one. This book held my attention until the very end and I loved the maturity and complexities of Cristina and Clement. I definitely would recommend this sequel to anyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This reads as a book 2, and the opening is extremely exposition heavy. Not appropriate for our libraries as we focus on standalones, but that said, I love the themes and would love to see more! Stopped after chapter 1 (5%).

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars! I wanted so badly to love this book as much as I loved the first book, but sadly it was missing something for me.

That being said, I did almost give the book four stars for that ending! I still desperately need the next book after how it finished. Terry J. Benton-Walker sure knows how to write an ending and a cliffhanger.

For me where this book fell flat was it felt like it had middle book syndrome. A lot was going on with no real results. It felt like the characters were taking a thousand steps but weren’t actually getting anywhere. There was so much build up that the middle of the book really dragged for me.

I liked the mystery and plot of the first book a lot more. Where in this one I didn’t really care to find out who the murderer was because it seemed obvious which cast of characters it could be, so it was just a matter of who it was. Where the first book I was kept guessing and so wanted to know what was going on and who was behind everything.

Christina was in this a lot more than Clem was! I will say I really enjoyed her character a lot more than in the first book. Which I still liked her in the first book don’t get me wrong. Her journey of wanting to get justice was so compelling. The speeches she gave or thought about how she was done turning the other cheek, and how it wasn’t fair that people of color had to keep forgiving others when they were the ones who were done dirty, was so impactful. You could feel the anger and the frustration, and rightfully so. I thought that aspect of the book was written so well, just as it was in the first book. Her journey throughout the book of learning that violence may not always be the answer too was interesting to watch unfold.

Clem is still my favorite character though, and he seemed to be on the back burner for most of this book. Which made me sad. I am sure he will have a bigger part in the next book, but maybe not all things considered. The lack of Jean-Louise in this book also made me sad. I get with the circumstances that he wouldn’t be in it as much, but I thought it was wasted potential. He could have done a lot more. My guess is he will be in the next book more, so I am excited for that.

I didn’t really care for Valentina’s point of view, so it was hard getting through reading them. I do feel for her that her grandma was killed, especially because of how close they were, so I can’t even begin to imagine that kind of pain. That being said, her grandma was not a good person, and neither is she. It is hard to root for her in any capacity or want to read about what is going on with her because I dislike her. I enjoy characters that are morally grey or even just straight up villains, but I love Clem and Chris too much to want to root for her.

Some of the scenes at the end of the book were truly horrific. I was squeamish and deeply uncomfortable reading some of the lines. Benton-Walker did a fantastic job writing those scenes. I would love to see him write a proper horror novel, even if I would be terrified, because he did such a good job writing it.

The ending was such a wild ride that it got me so excited for the next book. It felt so much like the first book and I was loving it. Which is why I am disappointed the rest of the book felt too slow paced for me.

I will definitely continue on with this series! Don’t let the 3 star review scare you off from these books. The main characters and their family dynamic is truly so special, and the themes talked about in them are so important. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

I really enjoyed this book so much! I flew through this book and I was so upset when it was over. The plot was fast paced but not much which is what I really enjoy. I am obsessed with the characters and can not wait to read more by this author. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.