Buy Now
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the sequel to the “unforgettable” (People), New York Times bestselling fantasy debut Blood at the Root, a Black teenager with magical powers returns to Caiman University only to find new dangers and new secrets.
It’s Homecoming season at Caiman University, and all 17-year-old Malik Baron wants to do is be a regular college student…or as regular as he can get at a magical HBCU for young, Black Conjurers. He’s ready to go to parties, hang out with his new friends, choose a major, and talk to girls. Instead, he’s reeling from a summer of revelations, heartbreak and betrayal, and still uncovering the truth about his powers and his legacy.
The family he only just discovered is already fractured beyond repair, and a new relative who shows up on his doorstep brings even more questions. Then there’s the mother he risked everything to find, who might be the biggest threat to the life he’s trying to build. To protect his new community, Malik joins an elite secret society with roots in ancient magic.
His journey takes him even deeper into his own heritage and the history of the magical world, while bringing him closer to a classmate whose friendship might mean something more, if Malik is ready to let her in. But how can he use powers he can’t even control to defend a world he’s not sure will ever fully accept him? And as the pressure and danger builds, will he be able to confront the deepening cracks within the magical society, and those building within himself?
Our Review
Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams
✨ Magical Realism | YA Fantasy | Black Heritage ✨
Homecoming season is in full swing at Caiman University, but for 17-year-old Malik Baron, life is anything but normal. In Bones at the Crossroads, the stunning sequel to Blood at the Root, LaDarrion Williams masterfully blends magical realism with coming-of-age grit, Black ancestral power, and the kind of worldbuilding that leaves you breathless.
Malik just wants to enjoy college life at his magical HBCU — parties, friends, classes, maybe even love. But instead, he's dealing with the emotional wreckage of betrayal, family secrets, and a power he still doesn’t fully understand. When a mysterious relative shows up and Malik’s long-lost mother becomes a looming threat, he finds himself pulled deeper into a centuries-old magical society tasked with defending a world that barely accepts him.
Williams delivers a vivid and immersive tale that is as much about legacy and belonging as it is about conjuring spells and fighting evil. The themes of identity, trust, and cultural memory are explored with nuance and heart. Malik’s emotional journey — from isolation to empowerment — is powerful, raw, and deeply resonant for anyone who's ever felt like they had to earn their place in the world.
The secret society plotline adds intrigue and tension, while the budding romance gives the story a soft warmth that balances the darker truths Malik uncovers. With lyrical writing, sharp dialogue, and unforgettable characters, Bones at the Crossroads is a triumph — and a must-read for fans of Legendborn, The Marvellers, and Lovecraft Country.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This series just keeps getting better — and so does Malik Baron.
Add comment
Comments