YA Spotlight (4/3/23)

We hope you’re in the mood for romantasy today, because we have two great YA titles that combine magic, love stories, and adventure!

BLOOD DEBTS BY TERRY J. BENTON-WALKER

2 starred reviews!

“Steeped in spiritual lore that takes cues from the rich cultural history of the Black diaspora, Walker paints an evocative picture of an enchanted New Orleans as earthly as it is divine. Walker effectively parallels contemporary politics with heady alternate magical history to create a layered world that is more than the sum of its mercurial characters and its many moving parts.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Writing from multiple perspectives with trauma-informed care, Benton-Walker develops each character with emotional complexity…Social themes, including cultural appropriation of sacred practices, racism, mental illness, sex work, sexuality, and consent, adeptly intertwine with the story’s conflict.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

DIVINE RIVALS BY REBECCA ROSS

“Ross…[utilizes] inventive worldbuilding, nuanced characterizations, and prose by turns dreamy and atmospherically tense. The result is an ardent romance and a harrowing exploration of war’s horrors and heartbreaks.”–Publishers Weekly

BLOOD DEBTS by Terry J. Benton-Walker; 9781250825926; 4/4/23
DIVINE RIVALS by Rebecca Ross; 9781250857439; 4/4/23