Hello my wonderful Ink Drinkers, and welcome to my leg of the tour for Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker. This tour is hosted by Hear Our Voices Tours, and I was given a physical copy of this book to review.
Synopsis
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.
Review
Ok y’all. Let me preface this by saying: I was hesitant to go into this book. I’m from New Orleans. Born and bread, that place is ingrained into my soul. So when I see books that say they surround the “culture” I kinda give them the side eye.
But, I was hasty in my pre-judgment of this book. In this book, I felt seen, down to my very being. This book, this 400-ish YA novel broke down inter generational trauma, racial violence ingrained homophobia, community suppression – and brought it down to a level that we as adults can’t sometimes break down to our own children. Also, while that’s going on, we have a storyline of self- acceptance, stepping into one’s own power, and the building of their own reliable community.
Blood Debts has sparked all those old questions I used to ask as a child and used to get shot down for: why is this done this way? How does this benefit me? Why am I bowing down to him? Why am I, the woman of the house, doing so damn much more, yet suffering so much more? Why have we not reclaimed our history, our power, our magic back?
Oh yeah. I felt seen. I was brought back home, not the same time period. But I was home. Very well Mr. Benton. I salut you. 4.5/5 stars
Pisces: The Book Lover 