Cover Image: Blood Debts

Blood Debts

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TL;DR: This is what I desperately wanted Dhonielle Clayton's [book:The Marvellers|56896065] to be: a story set in New Orleans with a unique magic system + racial commentary + diverse representation without making you constantly think of other magical school stories.

Vibes: <i>True Blood</i> + The Princess and the Frog + the essence of To Kill A Mockingbird wrapped in a comforter of contemporary commentary

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 ♡
A good deal of romance among various characters, particularly Clem; also a sex positive book

Character MVP: Definitely Cristina; while I enjoyed both Clem and Cris's characters, I felt Cris' arc was more dynamic and empowering (yes, she crosses some morally ambiguous lines in the name of revenge, but the message is there)

Verdict: 4 stars.
Disclaimer: the cover for this book made me think this was a historical fiction book -- which I can't be the only one, because the cover for the sequel is drastically different -- so that was a bit jarring when I started reading.

That being said, I really, really enjoyed this book. I mentioned this above, but this is what I wanted Dhonielle Clayton's The Marvellers to be, because I couldn't read that book without thinking of Harry Potter and other magical school stories. I appreciate what she was trying to do, but I was more interested in the MC's father's magic that was briefly introduced at the start of the story. I wanted more of that -- this new inventive magic system rooted in New Orleans -- which is what Benton-Walker delivered here.

I struggled a bit to come up with the vibes, because it wasn't like much of what I'd read before. There was a well-developed (governed by rules!) magic system that was unique but also made sense within the world and history of New Orleans. Benton-Walker deftly connected it to the racial tensions in New Orleans (and the rest of the US) in a way that was informative and not preachy (<-- NOT that it should be!) and clearly came from his personal experiences.

I also loved the queer representation -- especially important because I feel like so much queer YA centers on white experiences and characters.

Not a full 5 stars because I did feel like the pacing was a bit off -- and I'm not sure all the POVs switches were necessary. Between Clem and Cris, yes, of course. And even Valentina's made sense, since she's a big part of the conflict/tension, and seems like she'll figure prominently in the sequel. But there were a couple other POV chapters that didn't seem necessary (like Zach?) especially because those moments of tension weren't developed in the story.
EG: There was a "twist" with Valentina and Oz that came out at the end, but wasn't really mentioned in Valentina's chapters (clearly, because it would have ruined the "twist," but also just seems manipulative / unreliable narrator) and the incident with Zach + Clem + Yves happens off-screen. And while I think it's clear what happens -- especially with Jean-Louise's presence -- it's not an explicit part of the story, and that was an odd choice to me.

I'm still excited to read the sequel though.

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Babbbbyyyyy Terry J. Benton-Walker was WRI-TING!!!!! Blood Debts surpass all of my expectations and then some. This was so GOOD! This is a story where even the secrets have secrets. It is equal parts fantasy and equal parts mystery but completely black and queer. Benton-Walker is unapologetic in their writing and it shines through in the quest for justice and revenge of each character.

My only critique is this is improperly labeled as young adult when this feels very much new adult. Call me old if you wish, but the twins, Clem and Cris felt more like college students than high schoolers. There is no way on God's green that male companions could spend the night in my house, no matter how sick she was. (She couldn't just be on her death bed but completely dead, and somehow I'd still think she'd contact Jean Louise to use his necromancy skills to whoop my tail from beyond the veil).

Outside of that one minor critique, this book was flawless for me. I cackled, I cursed, I yelled, I swooned and I sought vengeance for the Trudeau family. Let me tell you the ugly side of me showed itself more than once while reading it and I don't regret a single moment. Papa Eshu have mercy on me because I felt like I was owed a blood debt. Clem and Aunt Ursula were undoubtedly my favorites, Cris irked me from time to time but I supported her and Yves well just know that a special place is saved in my heart for him.

I cannot wait to see what secrets unfold in Blood Justice, because I have a feeling more heads will roll.

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DNF at 20%
I dont feel I'm the target audience for this book which is why I'm struggling with it. The book has a strong message and feelings at the beginning which will be relatable and a comfort to its intended readers. For me I was struggling to pinpoint if the opinions being voiced by some characters, were the characters opinions alone, or also that of the author, which is where my discomfort is coming from. I hope this book reaches its readers who need it.

The plot was something I was very excited about, and I'm still intrigued, but I also couldn't form attachments to the characters, I wasn't feeling a connection there. I've tried to read this book twice and each time I haven't gotten far.

The book isn't bad from what I read, just not for me.

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Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one just shy of 60% through. It's not that I didn't like it. I just couldn't keep up with all the characters and plot. I kept losing the thread. If you can keep up and like the pov changes and a whole lot going on, this one is definitely a good choice. I loved the witchraft and lore. The setting and characters were wonderful, I just kept losing what was going on with who.

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I haven’t read a fantasy book in a bit. This was a great one to come back to! I loved the characters, the plot, the twists!

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In the enchanting backdrop of New Orleans, twins Clement and Cristina Trudeau, heirs to an ancient magical family, grapple with the sudden death of their father and the apparent illness of their mother. Uncovering a curse from the magical council their family once led, the twins unite to unveil the threat and save their family. Blood Debts is a captivating fantasy with a compelling plot, intriguing magic system, and well-developed protagonists. Filled with drama, mystery, and magic, it kept me hooked until the very end. An enticing YA read that promises an engaging experience.

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I requested this book after seeing a blurb from TJ Klune, a favorite author of mine. I figured if he's promoting this book, there's a great chance I'll love it as well. Unfortunately, TJ and I didn't quite align on this book. It was an interesting and unique read, but at the end, it was a book that I enjoyed but didn't love.

As mentioned, this was an interesting read. It had a lot of unique elements that I haven't read in too many of my fantasy reads. The main characters were strong characters with a lot of development and personality. There was also a lot of excitement and events happening throughout the book to keep the reader engaged.

In spite of all this, I unfortunately didn't love the read. For starters, I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable. This, in and of itself, isn't a bad thing. I actually think this is kind of intentional and realistic. All the characters have a certain degree of trauma, so it's understandable that they're not overly loveable. I tend to struggle with unlikeable characters, so this is more of a "me" thing and unfortunately impacted my personal enjoyment.

In addition to this, I felt that there was a bit too much going on. Between the necromancy and the bewitching the character to a psych ward to the many characters backstabbing others, it just felt like a bit much and at times was too complex and convoluted. It made things exciting at times, but ultimately detracted from my overall enjoyment.

This was a fun series debut that had a lot of interesting premises. I didn't love it overall, but I am excited to see what happens in book 2!

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Incredible! This was gripping from beginning to end with a greatly developed back story for the twins. It’s definitely going to be in every single YA list for the next few years! I’m a big fan!

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Generally not a fan of fantasy, Blood Debts caught and kept my attention immediately. Magic almost took a back seat to the characterization of Clement and Cristina, the entire Trudeau family, and all of the secondary characters and antagonists. The cliff hanger left me craving a sequel.

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This was everything I need to see more of in YA right now. Full of unexpected twist and turns, with a refreshing lead, honestly what is not to love. I loved the family secrets, and how each chapter kept me guessing till the end.

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Terry J. Benton Walker's captivating masterwork "Blood Debts" deftly crafts a sinister and entrancing tapestry of magic, intrigue, and family drama. The story's colorful and rich New Orleans setting gives the already compelling storyline further dimension. The travels of the Trudeau twins, Clement and Cristina, are replete with suffering, self-discovery, and sacrifice. They are two multifaceted, realistic people.

With the ideal amount of tension and intensity, the author's writing style is nothing short of enthralling and keeps you turning pages. The complex plot of the book is a real page-turner, full of family secrets, decades-old murder, and ancient curses. The brothers' development and metamorphosis are exquisitely shown as they negotiate the perilous waters of magic and familial allegiance.

The term "blood debts"

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I loved the magic and storyline so much I purchased a finished copy for myself and family members!
I'm definitely interested in other Terry Walker future works.

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4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!! Clem and Cris are twins born into magic. Their father was killed and their mom is sick and they’re not sure what’s wrong with her. Cris thinks she’s the reason why her father died so she doesn’t want to use any magic to figure out what’s wrong with her or heal her. Chris finds a hex doll under their mother’s mattress and once he removes it, their mother starts feeling better. The twins realize that someone is trying to kill their mother.
This starts the journey of them learning more about their history, and why their mother is not in power as the Queen, and what happened to their grandparents. We also learned more about Cris, Clem and their family. This was a great book and I highly recommend it.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

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This book is beautifully written and exquisitely plotted.

I have also tried to get into it like six times and every time, I make it between 10-15% in before giving up. I'm just going to accept that while I love the concept, and the plot seems fascinating, something about this series is not working for me.

Hopefully this struggle to finish the book is just about my shifting tastes in fantasy novels. :)

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3.5 stars rounded up.
This is a rare instance where my feelings towards a book actually improved a bit with time. While reading Blood Debts, I struggled a bit with the high-drama aspect of the story, not because of the focus on family feuds and magical rivalries, but because the adults were acting out worse than the younger characters. While I don't expect every adult character to always behave thoughtfully and intentionally, I had a hard time being on board with some of the rash decisions that were made in the name of holding a grudge.
But after finishing the novel, I just keep thinking about it. My long-term memory holds this book as fast-paced and fun, and I am interested in how the ending cliffhanger is explored in future books. I liked how the magic was explored in this contemporary setting, and I liked how the sibling dynamic evolved in the story. I wouldn't rush out to buy the sequel, but I will definitely keep my ears open for reviews from folks who enjoyed the first book.

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Thanks to the publishers at Tor Teen for a chance to read “Blood Debts” by Terry J. Benton-Walker.

A thoughtfully woven family drama with at least three different kinds of magic, political plotting, and a murder mystery all rolled into one plus some coming of age, ancestor work, blossoming romances with two black teenage twins as our protagonists.

If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. This book is nothing if not ambitious, and honestly? I’m here for it. At Blood Debts’ best, it’s intriguing, keeps you reaching for the next page, and invites you into an alternate world where the ancestors’ power becomes literal in the form of Gen magic. What’s most refreshing about “Blood Debts” is the way it dives head first into racial politics, and truly allows its protagonists the full range of their feelings including but not limited to anxiety, depression, grief, and rage without ever reducing them to caricatures. In particular, this book is an ode to anger and the way anger - an often maligned emotion in even in the most progressive of social justice circles - is often the key towards progress.

While “Blood Debts” is trying to set up sequel novels, I did sometimes get overwhelmed by the number of loose plot threads and multiple character POVs that left me more confused than intrigued. Did there need to be a love dodecahedron between some of the adults, including the birth of a secret love child? How is the narrative is served by having Valentina or Zack as additional narrators, especially when their chapters come in critical moments of the book at the expense of the story’s momentum?

“Blood Debts” tries to balance all of these genre bending tropes, big ideas, and multiple perspectives in a single volume but is not necessarily always successful. Regardless, it was such a great read and I can’t wait for the sequels.

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Closer to 4.5 stars but I rounded down due to just some parts of the book, mostly the first fifth, feeling a little slow for me to really get into. This was one I wasn't sure what to expect but had seen circling around on social media every once in a while. Once it picked up, I had so much fun reading it and found myself not really putting it down for a break. Will definitely pick up the next book and looking forward to more!

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I applaud the author's attempt at creating fleshed out characters but ultimately, this was not enough to captivate me throughout the story. The premise was interesting and I am still looking forward to what this author writes in the future.

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3/5 stars!

Okay, this book. I liked it but I didn’t like it. I’m conflicted. While there were great aspects to the story line, the ancestral witch history & there were some I was not so fond of, the vert explicit sex scenes for a YA book… This book is borderline NA genre. I’m not sure who on the editing team thought yah this is appropriate for teens to read…. But maybe that’s just me?

Pros to this book were the multiple perspectives which for me are a huge plus. I like when you get more than one view of the story especially between the main character Cristina and her antagonist Valentina. Also, her twin brother Clements perspective. I love a New Orleans witch setting. Lots of dramaaa! I enjoyed the addition of the twist of solving a 30 year mystery. Also, the cover is gorgggggg!

Cons….. Well, there were just a lot of random things happening in this book that weren’t necessarily related to one another… I wish that the use of magic was well more magical, felt taboo and boring. The themes in the story weren’t explored enough such as racism, anxiety, depression, drug use and loss. And again, as I mentioned the overly explicit sex scenes…

I think this book had a lot of potential to be over the top great, but it just missed the mark for me. I think if you’re someone who loves drama and mystery with a tie in of magic and family history then I think this book would be a perfect fit for you.

Thank you net galley for this advanced E-Arc for an honest review!

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