Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 28/04/2023
Published by: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: B0BM9TJQ96
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.
Writing:
The fascinating world is packed with a rich magic system and history. This information is gradually given across the story making the world-building easy to follow and take in. I also enjoyed the multiple points of view (POVs) as they allow for a slightly broader scope, but some add little to the story.
Jealousy makes people say cruel things sometimes
Storyline:
With the intriguing author’s note at the start, I was disappointed by the little exploration of the themes raised in this story. Complex themes such as racism, loss, and anxiety are told and not shown, leaving the story focused on the family and personal drama that unfolds. Still, this drama kept the storyline entertaining, along with some good twists and an enjoyable mystery.
Main characters:
I was drawn to Clement’s character because of his open personality and love of books. His character is also given some depth through his struggles with abandonment and anxiety; however, little is done to help him heal from these. In comparison, I struggled to connect with Cristine’s character due to her closed-off personality and the growing resentment in her narrative.
Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.
Secondary characters:
Driving the family drama and mystery aspects are numerous characters that pop in and out of the story. Sadly, most of these were unmemorable, and I disliked that several characters quickly resort to violence. Frankly, Valentina’s character is the only one who stood out to me because we are given her point of view, and she is given some complexity through the toxic family dynamics she experiences.
Romance:
The contrast between Cristine and Clement is also reflected in their relationships – Cristine’s crashes and burns while Clement’s is too intense too quickly. Although there are some cute moments, I struggled to connect with both relationships as a lot is told and not shown.
Narration & Audio:
Narrators Bahni Turpin, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Torian Brackett, and Zeno Robinson brilliantly bring this story to life with skilfully vocal changes that capture the emotions and personalities of the characters. I especially loved that the gender of the narrator is matched with the viewpoint character. I also enjoyed the jazz music occasionally played during transitions and thought this was a great touch.
Overall, ‘Blood Debts’ is an entertaining debut, but I wanted more from the numerous themes raised. Still, I enjoyed the mystery aspect and would love to see how the characters and world are further developed in the next book. For another character-driven Young Adult story that explores race and identity, I would recommend The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed.
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