Blood Debts, Terry J. BentonWalker
Blood Debts, Terry J. BentonWalker
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Blood Debts

Author: Terry J. Benton-Walker

Narrator: Bahni Turpin, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Torian Brackett, Zeno Robinson

Unabridged: 14 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/04/2023


Synopsis

This program features multicast narration.

GODS MEDDLE AND MAGIC WILL BETRAY YOU, BUT THIS TIME JUSTICE WILL REIGN.

Terry J. Benton-Walker's contemporary fantasy debut, Blood Debts, is "an extravaganza from start to finish" (Chloe Gong) with powerful magical families, intergenerational curses, and deadly drama in New Orleans.

Most Anticipated from Buzzfeed, BookPage, Nerd Daily, and more. Featured on NPR Weekend Edition Sunday.

“A conjuring of magnificence.” —Nic Stone • “A force.” —Roseanne A. Brown • “An extravaganza.” —Chloe Gong • “Powerful.” —Ayana Gray • “Sings with hope and rage.” —TJ Klune • “An unforgettable thrill ride.” —J. Elle • “Steeped in magic.” —Alexis Henderson • “Crackles with mystery and ferocity.” —Mark Oshiro

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.

On the anniversary of these brutal events, Clement and Cristina Trudeau—the sixteen-year-old twin heirs to the powerful, magical, dethroned family—are mourning their father and caring for their sick mother. Until, by chance, they discover their mother isn’t sick—she’s cursed. Cursed by someone on the very magic council their family used to rule. Someone who will come for them next.

Cristina, once a talented and dedicated practitioner of Generational magic, has given up magic for good. An ancient spell is what killed their father and she was the one who cast it. For Clement, magic is his lifeline. A distraction from his anger and pain. Even better than the random guys he hooks up with.

Cristina and Clement used to be each other’s most trusted confidant and friend, now they barely speak. But if they have any hope of discovering who is coming after their family, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other and their family's magic, all while solving the decades-old murder that sparked the still-rising tensions between the city’s magical and non-magical communities. And if they don't succeed, New Orleans may see another massacre. Or worse.

★ “Riveting and relevant.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

About Terry J. Benton-Walker

TERRY J. BENTON-WALKER grew up in rural Georgia and now lives in Atlanta with his son, where he writes fantasy and horror for adults, young adults, and children. He has an industrial engineering degree from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State. When he’s not writing, he can be found gaming, eating ice cream, or both. Blood Debts is his first novel. Benton-Walker is also the author of Blood Justice for teens, Alex Wise vs. the End of the World for middle-grade readers, and editor and contributor of The White Guy Dies First anthology.


Reviews

Goodreads review by jessica on December 03, 2022

this is totally a “its me, not you” kind of rating. i thought this was a historical fantasy story - i was excited to read about old NOLA and the magic that has always gone along with it. but this actually takes place during todays modern age and is an urban fantasy, which is not the genre for me. had......more

Goodreads review by Chloe on March 21, 2022

Fully charged with magic and mystery. Blood Debts is an extravaganza from start to finish, weaving age-old family history alongside the tender feelings of new love. Terry J. Benton-Walker will have you breathless by the end.......more

Goodreads review by Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) on January 30, 2023

Someone should really turn this into a television series because it would be excellent for that. Blood Debts is the start of a new YA fantasy series set in a magical version of New Orleans. It is a high-drama narrative filled with magic, intergenerational curses, political machinations, and deadly t......more

Goodreads review by JustJJ on November 15, 2023

Blog | Instagram Rating: 3.5 stars Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The gorgeous illustration at the centre of this design nicely portrays the protagonists and hints at the interesting magic system. Even more striking is the large, gothic font used for the book title and to highlight the genre of the story. Wri......more

Goodreads review by Toya (thereadingchemist) on March 29, 2024

Quick thoughts: Wow. Absolutely fucking brilliant. "For every child of color who was denied the justice they deserved. You always matter." With a dedication like this, I just knew that this book was going to rip me apart, and it absolutely did. This is a story that follows the Dupart family, a Black m......more


Quotes

“Riveting and relevant.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred review

“Fully charged with magic and mystery. Blood Debts is an extravaganza from start to finish, weaving age-old family history alongside the tender feelings of new love. Terry J. Benton-Walker will have you breathless by the end.” —Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

"Riveting. Unflinching. Powerful. Truly, a masterful debut." —Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Beasts of Prey

"Blood Debts is a force and Terry J. Benton-Walker is truly an author to watch." —Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times bestselling author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

"Benton-Walker has crafted a narrative that moves as swiftly and, at times, as devastatingly as a forest fire. Blood Debts sings with hope and barely disguised rage. Fantastic from start to finish." —TJ Klune, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea

"Blood Debts is a beguiling family saga, steeped in magic that’s every bit as dark as it is moving." —Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger

"A stunningly complicated, delicious family drama that readers are going to devour. Clem and Cristina are beautifully nuanced, real characters, and the world they’re in crackles with mystery and ferocity. The real magic is this book—don’t let it slip through your fingers." —Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift

"The intricately woven threads of magic, intergenerational trauma, and well-placed social commentary make it impossible to ignore or deny one very simple truth: even those perceived as the-least-of-these are deserving of true justice." —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

"Sharp and searing, Blood Debts is an unforgettable thrill ride bristling with intrigue, magic, and justice. Impossible to put down." —J. Elle, New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Ebony


Awards

  • Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
  • Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year