I really enjoyed this story. For the main characters to be teenagers it was very dark and gritty. I loved the family aspect of it and how magic was used to talk about the struggle for power but it also was a commentary on race with one form of magic being a powerful magic that was given by the ancestors and passed down from generation to generation and the other form being a sort of "watered down" version of that other that was "learned" or "borrowed" from the other culture. The characters were all very strong, especially the women and i love a good revenge plot and the final revenge was very satisfying. I will say i had a bit of trouble with the pacing in some parts. In some parts it was seeming to take forever to get to a new reveal or clue. I also was conflicted about the ended. i was satisfied that they were able to win against the antagonist but im still let with a lot of questions about some of the character. I also dont really understand that need to happen to the Yves character , not just because i really liked him as a character but because i just didnt understand why it was necessary the plot other than i guess to get Clemont to embrace his necromancer power. I really do hope there is a Book two, i really enjoyed these characters and would be curious to see how their story continues especially with them reclaiming the throne and the fact that there are still some enemies out there that we didnt get a resolution for.

BLOOD DEBTS by Terry J. Benton-Walker is an exciting, magical story set in New Orleans amongst rival factions of witchcraft. The characters are complicated and sympathetic, and the setting is fun and evocative. The mystery at the heart of the story makes for a compulsive reading experience, while the characters remain front and center. Like any good fantasy, this one reflects reality, highlighting racism, homophobia, and injustice.

I really enjoyed Blood Debts!! The magic system was super intriguing, and I really felt the New Orleans atmosphere. Both the main characters' voices were so endearing, and I enjoyed their sibling bond. The queer aspect of the brother was a big plus too. I am looking forward to what Terry J. Benton-Walker puts out next. Overall, a fast-paced, consuming fantasy with diverse elements that only elevate the narrative.

Thirty years ago, a young woman was murdered, a family was lynched, and New Orleans saw the greatest magical massacre in its history. In the days that followed, a throne was stolen from a queen.

This book has a lot going on; racism, family feuds, power struggles, politics, romance and lots of magic. For twins, Clem and Cris, they feel it's their duty to return their family to the throne. With an incredibly eclectic cast of characters, the group investigates, conjurs and finally forms a plan to try to repay this Blood Debt. I highly recommend for fans of fantasy and magic.

Thank you to @netgalley and @torteen for allowing me to preview this book.

The fact that there is a sexual scene in a YA classified novel is not okay. The story was great but I almost Dnf'ed it because of that.

Blood Debts focuses heavily on political challenges, racism and social issues and I really loved that the author had multiple messages to spread throughout the book. It was done in a powerful way that made the reader think. I also liked the multiple POV's this story had and I think it made reading it a lot more enjoyable! It was definitely an overwhelming read at times with so many things going on! I also really enjoyed the magic system and the New Orleans setting along with all the secrets and family drama.

[ Rating: 3.5 stars ] I have mixed feelings about "Blood Debts." It was a lot to take in. A lot of intergenerational trauma and drama interwoven with important racial, social and political issues. But I think this is a good book all things considered.

New Orleans is still affected by what happened 30 years ago. This tragic, horrific event and all that followed the work of hate, greed, and lust for power. An inciting incident whose intricacies are deftly unfolded throughout the story and further pulling you in. It took me a while to fully grasp the extent of darkness and wickedness of this situation. There were also many character names and connections (all important) you needed to keep track of.

"Blood Debts" is primarily told from Clement and Cristina’s viewpoints, with a few chapters from other characters’ POVs. Clem and Cris are twin heirs to a stolen throne but what currently shadows their hearts and minds is the loss of the father and potentially soon their mother.

Clement just wants things to go back to the way they were and to not be ruled by his anxiety. You can tell that he’s heading towards a breaking point. Clem also wants to feel needed and useful, especially with the investigation. He’s a kind but lost soul who just wants to belong again.

Cristina harbors a secret that’s slowly tearing her apart. She’s very skilled with magic and conjuring, but has shunned it out of guilt. Like her brother, she hardly feels comfortable in her own skin anymore. Cris is determined to figure out who tried to kill her mother and what really happened all those years ago.

The chaos of their lives has driven these once-close siblings apart and has caused them to lose who they are. After the awfulness of the last year or so, having to now make sense of the tragedy that befell Cris and Clem’s family proves very daunting. But the alternative would be to lose even more than they already have.

There are many moving pieces to this maddening murder mystery. Every lead is steeped in secrecy and grief and could likely lead to more death, which ramps up the tension. Characters are confronted by hard truths that prompt them to right wrongs, seek justice/revenge, redeem their honor/name, and reclaim their sense of self.

The magic system was great and well thought out. New Orleans was the perfect setting and young adults the perfect perspective for this story to be told through. And that ending - just wow!

"Blood Debts" was good but at times overwhelming. Overall, a strong debut.

CW: racism, anxiety disorder, bullying, car accidents, homophobia, past opioid overdose, past public lynching, sexual assault, loss of bodily autonomy, attempted murder, mental illness, toxic parents, death of a parent, trauma

Thanks again Tor Teen and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

Justice will reign.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and Tor Books for the #gifted ALC/ARC of BLOOD DEBTS!

When TJ Klune posts about how amazing a book is, you obviously run to @Netgalley to request an ARC which is exactly what I did for BLOOD DEBTS!

Like many other reviewers, after looking at the cover I thought this book was set in historical New Orleans. But it’s actually a present day, urban fantasy book. And I think that the present day setting for this story about generational magic and trauma was the perfect choice to tell this story.

The setting of New Orleans was so perfect for a 30 year mystery surrounded by magic. And I found the different magical systems fascinating. The author really nailed the racial tensions and political machinations in this book and it feels like he left it open for a sequel which I will definitely be reading.

I listened to the audiobook for this one and it was fantastic with a full cast. The narrators’ voices and inflection just added that extra layer to make this listening experience fabulous. Some other reviewers complained that the writing was really young and petty… ummm this is a YA book. The characters are teenagers. Teenagers are whiny and petty! It would be weird if they were written so that they weren’t!

If you’re a fan of YA books with mystery and magic or books with meaningful discussions about racial justice and generational trauma, do not miss out on this one!

BLOOD DEBTS comes out on April 4, 2023.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4877643425
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqnrEi8J7SN/

The facts are that we've always been interested in the ways people have brought African based practices to the forefront. There are different types and creolizations of these traditions and in this book it is called Gen Magic.

The main characters in this story are a part of the Gen Magic tradition that has more than a little to do with ancestral reverence. In this story we see that when we let people from outside into our traditions things can go awry. Clem and Cris along with the rest of their family end up having to take back their birthrights from those that were allowed to learn their traditions, but craved power. We love that Clem and Cris being twins is very important as it is in many traditions and it plays a part in why Eshu needs both of them to be on the same page.

As we read through this book some of the elements felt familiar. They resembled the traditions that we have been taught and we appreciate the touch of familiarity. In full, Blood Debts definitely gave us a lot in the African tradition department and we're looking forward to the sequel. We also cannot wait for people to read it so we can talk about it.

There was so much about this book that I liked. It had the potential to be a new favorite, but things didn't quite come together in a way that made me love this one. The writing was good overall, and I think it set the ambience for the setting quite well. The dialogue and the internal monologues brought the characters to life in a way that felt realistic and consistent with my own experience of New Orleans, which was a treat to read. The story structure, however, was a bit all over the place. There were random additions of new POVs all throughout the book, and some of them felt more than a little pointless. It was almost as if the author didn't trust his ability to make the reader understand the motivation of the villains. So, he added POVs from them all to make sure we got it. It felt choppy, unnecessary, and more than a little lazy.

I enjoyed the New Orleans setting, but I wish there had been more of it. I just didn't really feel totally transported to the city, but I cannot quite put my finger on why. The magic was super interesting, and I loved getting to learn more about it and the minor gods and ancestors. However, I didn't completely buy into the power structure of the magical community. It seemed a bit nonsensical. All of the roles had hereditary succession until it became inconvenient, which wouldn't have bothered me if the story hadn't placed such emphasis on the characters being motivated by their birthright to rule. I also found it strange that these few families ruled over the entire magical community of the U.S., seemingly without any other input from members in different areas. The world-building, in general, could have used a bit more polishing, but I did like a lot of what was presented.

The story itself was also a bit all over the place. I enjoyed each story thread, for the most part, but it almost seemed like the author didn't really know what he wanted this book to be. The family drama was engaging, and trying to figure out all the secrets of this family was a fun time. The murder mystery was okay, but it was honestly my least favorite part of this book because it didn't really feel like a mystery. The characters suspected who did it from pretty early on, and the rest of that plot line was focused on gathering evidence and getting revenge. I kept waiting for some big twist in the case, but I never really got it. Finally, there was the necromancy part of the story, which was my favorite. I wish it had been more of a focus, but I got the sense that we'll see way more of it in the next book. There were a lot of elements like that in this story, actually. It had so many hanging threads to set up future stories that they seemed to overpower the narrative of this one at times.

The main characters were the twins Cris and Clem. Cris felt like she got more time in this book than anyone else, which was one of my problems with it. I just didn't like her that much. I understood her motivations and felt sorry for the trauma she endured, but I never really connected with her, possibly because she was the lead on my least favorite part of the story, the murder mystery. She was constantly feeling sorry for herself and was steeped in guilt, grief, and rage, which hardened her into someone I really wouldn't want to meet. Clem, on the other hand, was one of my favorite characters. He had so much anxiety and a horrible abandonment complex. I just wanted to hug him. His relationship with Yves was cute, but it was super insta and felt rushed. It also seemed a bit inconsistent with his character for him to get that close to someone so quick, especially when it came at the expense of helping his family at times. His story has the most potential for the future, in my opinion, and is the only reason I'm interested in reading a sequel.

The diversity and thematic content in this story were really good. It had great queer rep and included characters from so many different backgrounds. It tackled racism, homophobia, and intergenerational trauma in a way that was powerful yet also entertaining. The book was not subtle. So, if you are looking for something with a bit of nuance, this is not the story for you, but the social commentary did feel organic to the story while also saying some important things about our own world. The story also left me contemplating the blurry line between justice and revenge. Personally, I think the decisions of the characters tipped over that line, but I also understand why they took the actions they did. Regardless, it was an interesting thing to think about and apply to some of the problems we face as a society.

Overall, this was a decent introduction to a new urban fantasy series that has the potential to become a favorite. I wish the plot had been a little tighter and the world-building a bit more developed, but I still enjoyed my time with this one. I'll be reading the sequel when it comes out because I NEED to know what happens with Clem. Therefore, I rate this one 3.5 out of 5 stars.

✨🖤 Blood Debts ARC Review 🖤✨

Thank you so much to Terry J. Benton-Walker and netGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

Blood Debts is a paranormal YA novel set in New Orleans. Clem and Cris are twins who come from a family of magicians. After losing their father after a spell went awry, now their mother is deteriorating with no explanation & Clem and Cris are determined to save her. But when they find a hex doll in her room and they realize some of their own possessions are missing, they realize their mother is being targeted, and they might be next

This book was definitely an interesting read and had a lot of things going on. There were a few mysteries uncovered throughout the book and it was interesting to see how the characters adapted along the way. While I did enjoy the characters and the story, I sometimes felt like there was a lot going on and I had a hard time keeping up - but that’s a “me” issue and not a book issue.

Overall this was a solid three star read for me. Super cool world building, a magic system with voodoo vibes and lots of family drama. There were some romantic subplots and a small spicy scene - so one flame for spice

If you like books with dark magical mysteries that span generations, strong characters and interesting family dynamics, then definitely pick this one up!

I want to start this review by saying this is not a Young Adult book. I do not know who decided to classify it as such, but parents and sheltered children will be shocked to read this one. I'm not into listing content warnings because I think they are the biggest spoiler alert, and not many people know how to use them correctly, but let's say it's rated Mature Audiences. You have been warned. Can we New Adult this book, please?!

THIS. BOOK. WAS. A. RIDE. This was all the Sugar Honey Ice Tea I needed to jumpstart my excitement. The story started with a bang, the readers got to learn a magical system, and we got to follow along the mystery and revenge plot of those who chose to do evil.

The highlight of my good time was the drama. The theatrics make you think you're sitting at the Thanksgiving table next to your shit-talking auntie, going at it with everybody who wants smoke. My only upset with this book is that it ended on a cliffhanger.

I think my experience with this book comes down to unmet expectations. Based on the cover and synopsis, I thought this book was going to be a deep dive into old New Orleans magic. I was surprised when I realized it was contemporary. I probably would not have requested this ARC if I had a better picture of the content.

In terms of things I enjoyed, I loved the way that anxiety had a presence in the story and there was a positive representation of mental illness. I appreciated that Terry J. Benton-Walker normalized anxiety and going to therapy.

The magic system was confusing. I felt that more time could have been spent exploring the magic and where it comes from. I honestly could have done without some of the POVs. I guess that comes back to my hope for this book. I wanted to love this book but the pacing issues, unexplained magic, and overabundance of POVs made it difficult to read. I didn't care about Clem or Cris (or any of the other characters honestly). They seemed incredibly immature, even for teenagers.

I think that there will be people that truly love Blood Debts! Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. I enjoy a lot of YA, but this one was maybe too young for me. Younger readers will likely enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to TOR Teen and NetGalley for an ARC of Blood Debts!

Final Rating: 3.5

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, I love the magi and the messages t his book has, and I can tell the author put their heart(and rage) into this book and I love it for those reasons. However, the pacing was off and I found myself just wanting things to get to the point a bit faster. The characters kept going from point A to point B and back and forth, with not a whole lot actually occurring as far as the plot goes, and I feel like more could’ve been accomplished if it was cut down to one trip to get information rather than to a boat and back home to research. Then back to the boat and back to research. I also think that for me and the age I’m at now, this read a title too young for me and I couldn’t get a grasp on how old the characters actually were. I liked how fleshed out the twins were, although I disliked Clem’s POV. The side characters though felt really flat and I couldn’t even tell you the names of all the aunts because some of them don’t actually have anything to do with the story. Finally, this is listed everywhere as a standalone, but it reads like the first in a series and leaves on a cliffhanger and there are so many plot threads that aren’t wrapped up that I ended up pretty frustrated by the end.Although the big climax at the end was pretty satisfying. It’s a book full of contradictions for me, and I’m not sure how I feel overall.

Blood Debts is an interesting story. I love the alternate reality Louisiana. Reading from different characters perspectives helps build the story and leaves you ready to see what happens with the character from the previous chapter. Clem and Christina are typical teenagers who love their family but also think the world revolves around them. The magic system is fresh and uniquely American. I love the humanity of the Gods in the book. The mystery kept me wanting to read and find out who was behind everything. Please tell me our author is busy writing the sequel. I need to know Clems fate. The voice actor for Christina had me thinking of Riley from the Boondocks when she would do Clems part.

So I am not quite sure how I feel about this book. I love the idea of generational magic. I also love the idea that there are different types of magic not just one. As always with magic though working together with all the different styles can be difficult. I also love Christina and Clement as separate individuals and their personalities. Yet something was lacking from this book that really drew me all the way in and kept me engaged. The cliff hanger leaves me wanting to read more, but at the same time I could leave this world and be okay. I do think the story will resonate with some readers but I am not sure I am that reader. I will have to ponder it some more.
Thank you so much to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Intergenerational curses and potential massacres should be enough to keep you interested in this. There are multiple POVs so the pacing can take sometime to get used to, but it's worth it!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy of this book!

Blood debts was a very interesting book. The magic system and racial divide within those systems was a powerful statement. I loved the intricate background and world building that was provided. However, the writing itself felt entirely too young for me. It could be because I’m old? But some of the dialogue was so forced and juvenile that I had a hard time with it. Don’t get me wrong, I’d recommend it to folks but it aged me.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of Blood Debts!
I loved this book and thought it was the perfect mix of magic, fun, and drama, while grounded in a way that I love! Intertwined into a world of fantasy world-building, are the very present realities of systemic racism and family dynamics.
I have seen a lot of reviews mentioning the twins as unlikeable, but I love a messy main character, and they're teens! Be messy my darlings!
I enjoyed reading this as an adult but if I were a teen I can imagine the obsession would have been very real!

Blood Debts was not at all what I had expected when I went into it. It was much darker and devious and I was pleasantly surprised. There was so much scheming for power and not everyone was who they seemed, which made me feel unsure of who to trust. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was behind the curse and who was in league with whom.

I loved the world building and magic system. I think both twins’ characters were well-developed and full of flaws which made me care for them even more.

I also really enjoyed the political aspect the push to control magic users and I am very anxious to see how that plays out in the sequel.

Thank you so much to Tor Teen and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.