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Blood at the Root
A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical . Enroll in this fresh fantasy debut with the emotional power of Legendborn and the redefined ancestral magic of Lovecraft Country .
Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.
At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself— one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.
In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what's left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.
Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.
At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself— one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.
In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what's left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
About the author
LaDarrion Williams
3 books369 followersHailing from the small town of Helena, Alabama, LaDarrion Williams is a self-taught playwright, filmmaker, author, and screenwriter whose goal is to cultivate a new era of Black fantasy, providing space and agency for Black characters and stories in a new, fresh, and fantastical way. As a playwright, his first play Katrina won first place at the Alabama State Thespian Conference. Black Creek Risin’ was a part of the Great Plains Theatre Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. His play, Coco Queens, was invited to participate in the 2019 Sundance Institute’s Playwriting Intensive and will be receiving its World Premiere at Playhouse on the Square in July 2024. His plays also received semi-finalist recognition from the Eugene O’Neill National Playwriting Conference. He is a 2x finalist for the National Black Theatre I AM SOUL Playwriting Fellowship, David Ross Fetzer Foundation for Emerging Artist Theatre Grant, and the American Blues 2023 Blue Ink Award. He is also an alum of the Echo Theatre Playwrights Lab and the Boise Contemporary Theater BIPOC Playwrights Festival. His Jeff Award nominated play Boulevard of Bold Dreams (a story about Hattie McDaniel’s historic Oscar win) was a part of the New Works Festival at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica, California. It received a world premiere production at the TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago and an East Coast Premiere at Greater Boston Stage Company in March 2023. It was a part of the Orlando Shakes Theater Signature Series in Fall 2023 and will be produced at subsequent theaters nationwide in 2024-2025. In his filmmaking bag, LaDarrion has curated three short films on YouTube. And as a debut author, his Young Adult Blood at the Root was acquired in a competitive auction from Labyrinth Road, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and will debut in Summer of 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
June 20, 2024
“I restore goodness in you”
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January 17, 2024I will eat up ANY fantasy book with a POC 🖤🤎
The character is also from Helena, AL which is 5 minutes away from me 😊 super excited for this release !!
The character is also from Helena, AL which is 5 minutes away from me 😊 super excited for this release !!
January 10, 2024
So Blood at the Root was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases.
Malik is a teenage boy who has really been through it. He's 17, emancipated and ready to take on the world. But where he decides to start is by rescuing his foster brother Taye from their abusive foster parents. But his plans to rescue Taye go awry and he ends up meeting a mysterious man who reveals to him that he has a grandmother who is out there looking for him. Malik finds himself in New Orleans being pulled into a world full of magic and secrets. And it seems the key to unveiling the truth about his mother is attending a magical university for Black students.
This book was action packed and the plot keeps readers guessing until the very end. Malik has a strong voice and distinct personality and I appreciated that he and his supporting cast felt imperfect. Young people don't speak the same way those of us who are older do. Sometimes they say things that can be offensive and it's not from a place of malice. I thought that was captured well here.
Were some of the references a little too millennial and at times a little much? Yes, but that improved as the book went on and the story started to unfold. Once we get more into campus life and classes the book really shines. Sometimes fantasy books set at schools tend to stray away from having the teens attend classes but this one does a great job showcasing life at this school as Malik is training.
Now to say this is a book without trauma would be inaccurate. Malik has undergone and still undergoes a lot. But what made this book stand out to me compared to many other YA fantasies by Black authors that I've read was the authentic voice and constant centering of Black characters. There were no prominent white characters taking up space here. There was no token white bestie who said all the right things. While some of their problems do stem from hundred's of years of racism and mistreatment it never felt like whiteness was centered here. The messages here felt like they were for Black readers to appreciate and celebrate their history rather than for white people to see their humanity. There were a lot of little touches where I can tell the author put a lot of thought into building this world.
And I'm interested in seeing how things continue with the revelations we had at the end.
I received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
See longer review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
Malik is a teenage boy who has really been through it. He's 17, emancipated and ready to take on the world. But where he decides to start is by rescuing his foster brother Taye from their abusive foster parents. But his plans to rescue Taye go awry and he ends up meeting a mysterious man who reveals to him that he has a grandmother who is out there looking for him. Malik finds himself in New Orleans being pulled into a world full of magic and secrets. And it seems the key to unveiling the truth about his mother is attending a magical university for Black students.
This book was action packed and the plot keeps readers guessing until the very end. Malik has a strong voice and distinct personality and I appreciated that he and his supporting cast felt imperfect. Young people don't speak the same way those of us who are older do. Sometimes they say things that can be offensive and it's not from a place of malice. I thought that was captured well here.
Were some of the references a little too millennial and at times a little much? Yes, but that improved as the book went on and the story started to unfold. Once we get more into campus life and classes the book really shines. Sometimes fantasy books set at schools tend to stray away from having the teens attend classes but this one does a great job showcasing life at this school as Malik is training.
Now to say this is a book without trauma would be inaccurate. Malik has undergone and still undergoes a lot. But what made this book stand out to me compared to many other YA fantasies by Black authors that I've read was the authentic voice and constant centering of Black characters. There were no prominent white characters taking up space here. There was no token white bestie who said all the right things. While some of their problems do stem from hundred's of years of racism and mistreatment it never felt like whiteness was centered here. The messages here felt like they were for Black readers to appreciate and celebrate their history rather than for white people to see their humanity. There were a lot of little touches where I can tell the author put a lot of thought into building this world.
And I'm interested in seeing how things continue with the revelations we had at the end.
I received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
See longer review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
June 2, 2024
First let me say, I've been looking forward to this book. I've heard so much about it and the author has been on my FYP for months. In addition, I am Haitian, so I was very proud and happy to read aspects of my culture being represented. The premise of the book was also very interesting, an HBCU for magic practitioners! A black Harry Potter, a book about black boy joy! No racial trauma! I couldn't wait. You can't imagine my disappointment.
There were so many things that pulled me out of the story that I don't know where to start. I guess we can start with the book being marketed as "no trauma", and black boy joy," There is nothing joyful about Malik. The book literally starts with trauma.
Let's deal with the language. This book read like a white person wrote it. A white person who thought they were speaking "black". I expected to read "jive turkey" at some point. It was that bad. So many "ain't, finna, fasho!" etc it was ridiculous! The way words were continually being dragged out "cuuute, gooood, dayuuuum" I HAAAATED it. No one talks like that. Then Mama Aya would say "baybeh" in one place, then back to saying "baby" which is it?
Now let's talk about the kreyol. I am a native speaker and my feelings were hurt. The way the language was spoken in the book, it was clear the author didn't check with a native speaker. The words were translated word for word, and any linguist will tell you that is not always the best way. I was so disappointed.
Here's the thing, this story has potential. I LOVE the premise and I BELIEVE in the author's talent. This story could be so good, a rewrite and a better editor will save it. An editor who takes more time to research the culture that is being represented. Someone who respects the culture. Because it felt like cosplay to me. The author did not display a love or respect for the folklore he is borrowing from. I hate the fact that I couldn't love the book, but I felt so insulted, I simply couldn't go on. If a re-write is done, I would absolutely love to read the final version, but I'm sure at this point, it wouldn't be possible. Sadly this book will not have done much to provide the diaspora with a story that I think they are ready and asking for.
There were so many things that pulled me out of the story that I don't know where to start. I guess we can start with the book being marketed as "no trauma", and black boy joy," There is nothing joyful about Malik. The book literally starts with trauma.
Let's deal with the language. This book read like a white person wrote it. A white person who thought they were speaking "black". I expected to read "jive turkey" at some point. It was that bad. So many "ain't, finna, fasho!" etc it was ridiculous! The way words were continually being dragged out "cuuute, gooood, dayuuuum" I HAAAATED it. No one talks like that. Then Mama Aya would say "baybeh" in one place, then back to saying "baby" which is it?
Now let's talk about the kreyol. I am a native speaker and my feelings were hurt. The way the language was spoken in the book, it was clear the author didn't check with a native speaker. The words were translated word for word, and any linguist will tell you that is not always the best way. I was so disappointed.
Here's the thing, this story has potential. I LOVE the premise and I BELIEVE in the author's talent. This story could be so good, a rewrite and a better editor will save it. An editor who takes more time to research the culture that is being represented. Someone who respects the culture. Because it felt like cosplay to me. The author did not display a love or respect for the folklore he is borrowing from. I hate the fact that I couldn't love the book, but I felt so insulted, I simply couldn't go on. If a re-write is done, I would absolutely love to read the final version, but I'm sure at this point, it wouldn't be possible. Sadly this book will not have done much to provide the diaspora with a story that I think they are ready and asking for.
June 22, 2024
1/5 stars. Yes spoilers. This review focuses on misogynoir. Content warning for mentions of SA towards the end (I will add an extra warning in bold).
This book has a decent premise but is riddled with flaws that frankly should've been handled in the first rounds of editing. Normally in a review I would focus on the bad pacing, nonsensical magic system, sloppy worldbuilding, or clumsy plot. I would also focus on the fact that, as someone not that far away from undergrad and who interacts with college students quite a lot at my job, I can already tell that many of the constant pop culture references – of which there are so many, though they lessen throughout the book – are already outdated. I could also point out, as some reviews already have, that this book was marketed as a book free from black trauma and yet quite literally began with a personal tragedy and was then followed up with institutional racism in the US foster system. I might still write about some of that, but later. What I want to talk about right now though is the way this book treats black women.
I am not black. But even I know there is not any conceivable version of black boy joy that necessitates misogynoir. Basically every woman in this story is either an elderly woman who bursts out into church psalms or, more frequently, an oversexualized baddie who exists only as set dressing. That's not even getting into the fact that the main female character (aside from the MC's grandma) literally gives up activism because of a man. Before I get into Alexis, I'm just going to drop some quotes below:
I'll just stop there because you get the idea.
Even more frustrating than the above passages though is the way the narrative and Malik, the main character, treats Alexis. It is quite literally said in the text that Malik and Alexis knew each other for less than a year when they were both in the foster system as children. This was ten years ago. Yet because they had this allegedly special connection – again, for a maximum of six months, back when they were seven – he meets her and automatically behaves as if he has some romantic claim over her. When he gets mad at her he immediately accuses her of having sex with another man. He does this twice.
The first time, Alexis is literally grieving the death and SA of a 16 year old girl (we'll get into that in a minute).
The second, Alexis is mad at him for getting into a fight that almost burned down the building.
And then, when they make up, not only does Alexis apologize to him, Malik then brings up whether she has a relationship with another man AGAIN.
To be clear, this behavior would not be ok even if Malik was her boyfriend or her husband. But the fact that he behaves this way when they literally JUST met again for the first time in ten years adds another layer of what the fuck. It's one thing for a character to feel jealous. It's a whole other thing to have the MC of your book treat their love interest this way and them still end up together as if it's all ok.
Further, Alexis is introduced as this huge student activist whose adoptive parents were very much involved in social justice movements. However, from the moment she meets Malik and especially after they become a couple she all but abandons her activism to comfort him and prop him up. Because that's her purpose as a woman. Not to mention Malik literally repeats Alexis' arguments at a meeting he goes to with the heads of the clans. Because of course he's the one who needs to have a voice in that room, not the character that we have been told is this activist. No, Alexis must focus her energies on Malik. The one scene where we see Malik supporting Alexis is when she reads him a poem about black girl magic in one scene towards the end of the book, and then swiftly after that it's revealed she's been in cahoots with the villains of the book this whole time. Because of course she was, and of course her activism can remain as poorly thought out and discarded as the rest of her.
Content warning for SA mention:
Oh and let's not forget how the story decided to tell us that one of the black girls that was kidnapped – because there are children being kidnapped, though it plays way less of a role in the plot than you would think – was sexually assaulted and trafficked before being murdered. Why did this happen to her? Literally have no idea. Did this play a major part in the plot or have anything to do with the other missing kids? Nope! The girl didn't even have magic, which is what the other children were being kidnapped for allegedly (again, the plot is a whole other discussion I do not have the energy to get into). This girl was just SA'd for shock value, I guess. And the only person who cared about her was Alexis, who then Malik treats as crazy because she decided to curse the men who did that to her with her magic. Because of course she's crazy for that.
End of SA mention.
In short: there are so many technical flaws that should've been addressed far before this went to print. Many could be forgiven for this being a debut author, though not all. But there is no amount of describing black women's hair as crowns – I'll let someone more qualified comment on that – that can make up for the astounding amount of misogynoir in the text. I do not look forward to future installments.
Here are three YA and some adult fantasy books I recommend you pick up instead of this one:
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko is a stunning YA fantasy with incredible worldbuilding, a unique magic system, and delves into a great conversation about family and mother-daughter relationships. It's my gold standard for YA.
This Ravenous Fate by Haley Dennings comes out later this year and is an ambitious, fresh, and sapphic YA paranormal fantasy about two former friends-turned-enemies and vampires set during the Harlem Renaissance. It's set to come out later this year but I read an eARC in May 2024 and love this addition to YA.
The Name Bearer by Natalia Hernandez is a solid YA fantasy set in magical Latin America that has incredibly rich worldbuilding and has a fantastic focus on women's friendships. It's a bit of a slower read but I really enjoyed it and look forward to the third book in the series.
I think I've reached the age where I just don't read as much YA anymore. But if you want to dive into great adult fantasy I recommend Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter (fantasy), The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin (sci-fi/fantasy), The Blood Trials by NE Davenport (sci-fi/fantasy), and Forging a Nightmare by Patricia Jackson (urban fantasy).
This book has a decent premise but is riddled with flaws that frankly should've been handled in the first rounds of editing. Normally in a review I would focus on the bad pacing, nonsensical magic system, sloppy worldbuilding, or clumsy plot. I would also focus on the fact that, as someone not that far away from undergrad and who interacts with college students quite a lot at my job, I can already tell that many of the constant pop culture references – of which there are so many, though they lessen throughout the book – are already outdated. I could also point out, as some reviews already have, that this book was marketed as a book free from black trauma and yet quite literally began with a personal tragedy and was then followed up with institutional racism in the US foster system. I might still write about some of that, but later. What I want to talk about right now though is the way this book treats black women.
I am not black. But even I know there is not any conceivable version of black boy joy that necessitates misogynoir. Basically every woman in this story is either an elderly woman who bursts out into church psalms or, more frequently, an oversexualized baddie who exists only as set dressing. That's not even getting into the fact that the main female character (aside from the MC's grandma) literally gives up activism because of a man. Before I get into Alexis, I'm just going to drop some quotes below:
1. All of this reminds me of when Ms. Pauline would catch the Holy Ghost in the middle of church, and her whole body would fall on the ground, shaking. Her wig would fall off, making all of us almost piss on ourselves, laughing.
2. On my right, a couple of baddies strut by, looking me up and down, smiling. I nod a wadup, trying hard not to look at them jeans, hugging them in all the right places. They giggle and press on.
3. A few giggling girls pass us with glazing adoration in their eyes. They all say in unison like they're in an episode of The Parkers. "Heyyyy, Professor Kumale." [...] They giggle and bobble their heads even more and bound outside the door.
4. One girl catches my attention. She blows on her pencil all seductively, and I swear to God, it writes the words without her even holding it.
5. Alexis comes out looking like a whoooollle brown-skinned Cinderella with her yellow see-through bikini dress that hugs every curve. Lawd ham mercy. When her full lips curl into that beautiful smile, it's making me clutch onto the art of being a gentleman for, like, five seconds. "Daaaayyyum...," I whisper, noticing her thigh slipping out. [...] It takes everything in me not to be a creep, because I just stare at her.
6. A group of scantily clad hotties flutter around the dance floor like moths under a streetlamp. They twerk them goodies while the music pulsates. Dipping through the room is a dude [...] chasing after a baddie, serenading her with drunken compliments.
7. [...] everybody in the house goes ham, throwing that ass with supernatural speed on the down beat. A couple of dudes straggle behind, being blessed by this one girl while she speed-twerks on them.
8. Even some girl comes up to me and starts twerking on me. Her booty going berserk, causing my world to go upside down. Even my teammates hold me back while homegirl go ham on me.
I'll just stop there because you get the idea.
Even more frustrating than the above passages though is the way the narrative and Malik, the main character, treats Alexis. It is quite literally said in the text that Malik and Alexis knew each other for less than a year when they were both in the foster system as children. This was ten years ago. Yet because they had this allegedly special connection – again, for a maximum of six months, back when they were seven – he meets her and automatically behaves as if he has some romantic claim over her. When he gets mad at her he immediately accuses her of having sex with another man. He does this twice.
The first time, Alexis is literally grieving the death and SA of a 16 year old girl (we'll get into that in a minute).
"It may not bring her back, but with our magic, we can prevent another Black woman or man from being murdered." [Alexis] clocks me shaking my head. "I knew you wouldn't understand. The only person who understands me is Donja..."
"Wow. So, you and the n–– definitely fucking."
The second, Alexis is mad at him for getting into a fight that almost burned down the building.
She shakes her head. "You're doing the most right now."
"I'm doing the most right now? Really? Well, ain't that the pot calling the kettle black. You know what, how you gon' take up for him, knowing what he did? I'm your friend way before you known that n––. What, y'all smashing or something?"
And then, when they make up, not only does Alexis apologize to him, Malik then brings up whether she has a relationship with another man AGAIN.
I immediately soften. "You sure nothing is going on with you two?"
"This is my last time even giving attention to this, okay? So, here it goes. No, we are not. [...]"
It takes everything in me to put the green-eyed monster away.
To be clear, this behavior would not be ok even if Malik was her boyfriend or her husband. But the fact that he behaves this way when they literally JUST met again for the first time in ten years adds another layer of what the fuck. It's one thing for a character to feel jealous. It's a whole other thing to have the MC of your book treat their love interest this way and them still end up together as if it's all ok.
Further, Alexis is introduced as this huge student activist whose adoptive parents were very much involved in social justice movements. However, from the moment she meets Malik and especially after they become a couple she all but abandons her activism to comfort him and prop him up. Because that's her purpose as a woman. Not to mention Malik literally repeats Alexis' arguments at a meeting he goes to with the heads of the clans. Because of course he's the one who needs to have a voice in that room, not the character that we have been told is this activist. No, Alexis must focus her energies on Malik. The one scene where we see Malik supporting Alexis is when she reads him a poem about black girl magic in one scene towards the end of the book, and then swiftly after that it's revealed she's been in cahoots with the villains of the book this whole time. Because of course she was, and of course her activism can remain as poorly thought out and discarded as the rest of her.
Content warning for SA mention:
Oh and let's not forget how the story decided to tell us that one of the black girls that was kidnapped – because there are children being kidnapped, though it plays way less of a role in the plot than you would think – was sexually assaulted and trafficked before being murdered. Why did this happen to her? Literally have no idea. Did this play a major part in the plot or have anything to do with the other missing kids? Nope! The girl didn't even have magic, which is what the other children were being kidnapped for allegedly (again, the plot is a whole other discussion I do not have the energy to get into). This girl was just SA'd for shock value, I guess. And the only person who cared about her was Alexis, who then Malik treats as crazy because she decided to curse the men who did that to her with her magic. Because of course she's crazy for that.
End of SA mention.
In short: there are so many technical flaws that should've been addressed far before this went to print. Many could be forgiven for this being a debut author, though not all. But there is no amount of describing black women's hair as crowns – I'll let someone more qualified comment on that – that can make up for the astounding amount of misogynoir in the text. I do not look forward to future installments.
Here are three YA and some adult fantasy books I recommend you pick up instead of this one:
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko is a stunning YA fantasy with incredible worldbuilding, a unique magic system, and delves into a great conversation about family and mother-daughter relationships. It's my gold standard for YA.
This Ravenous Fate by Haley Dennings comes out later this year and is an ambitious, fresh, and sapphic YA paranormal fantasy about two former friends-turned-enemies and vampires set during the Harlem Renaissance. It's set to come out later this year but I read an eARC in May 2024 and love this addition to YA.
The Name Bearer by Natalia Hernandez is a solid YA fantasy set in magical Latin America that has incredibly rich worldbuilding and has a fantastic focus on women's friendships. It's a bit of a slower read but I really enjoyed it and look forward to the third book in the series.
I think I've reached the age where I just don't read as much YA anymore. But if you want to dive into great adult fantasy I recommend Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter (fantasy), The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin (sci-fi/fantasy), The Blood Trials by NE Davenport (sci-fi/fantasy), and Forging a Nightmare by Patricia Jackson (urban fantasy).
June 22, 2024
Complete misogynoiristic, homophobic/transphobic, and overall antiblack horseshit. The author is a fan of The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and Harry Potter and it shows (and I mean this in the most negative sense possible). This review is not going to be nice or respectful bc this author doesn’t deserve respect, and I will be writing my main issues in bullet points bc there is literally so many things wrong wit this book it’s too much to name and I have trouble articulating my thoughts and I want to get them out as quickly as possible.
Edit: I also deeply resent the fact that the MC name is Malik and after having read this garbage I feel as though I deserve financial compensation for my name being used in such a manner. Pay up LaDarrion.
TW: for mentions of SA, human trafficking, misogynoir, and transphobia/homophobia
-This YA book participates in the adultification of Black children (something that people use to justify their murder/SA/imprisonment/etc.). It’s so disgusting that despite being set in college the characters are all children that are being written as if they are adults.
-Directly plays into propaganda that demonizes Haitian people despite the preaching on and on in the story about how white people are so antiblack for demonizing Black spirituality/magic.
-Incredible reductive, preachy, and repetitive as if the target audience are Woke™️ white people and not the Black people that want to be represented in fantasy settings.
-NONE of the dialogue reads as if an actual Black person is speaking. There are Black characters of different ethnicities in this book and they all speak like a white person typing into ChatGPT. AAVE/Ebonics has different dialects across the Black American diaspora, Black people from New York and Baltimore and Mississippi and Alabama do not speak the exact same and that Black person from whatever unspecified island in ch.11 is definitely NOT about to speak in butchered AAVE and call people “heffas”. Every Black person speaks like an antiblack caricature.
-Every Black woman or girl is written as either a jezebel or a mammy and it don’t matter how many times you describe them as a goddess or their hair as crowns, they’re still written abysmally and treated with disrespect.
-The SA and murder of Katia Washington is violent and unnecessary. The author has a tweet where he says and I quote “Often times Black boys don’t always get to be the main character in YA fantasy books. They’re either killed off or relegated to the side to help the white main character’s story forward. Not Malik.” And then proceeds to do the exact same thing with every Black woman or girl in this story. Why did you go out of your way to tell us that this girl was not only murdered but also sex trafficked? Why was that necessary? What did it add to the plot or story? On top of all that the MC’s response to his supposed love interest being rightfully upset about this Black CHILD’s murder was incredibly abusive, misogynistic, and overall disrespectful. In the middle of a discussion about Katia, the MC proceeds to get angry over Alexis allegedly sleeping with another boy (mind you these characters are children and they only just met again after 10 years). And we’re supposed to like and root for this character. And the fact that Alexis is demonized for hexing the rapists responsible is an extra layer of bullshit added to this garbage. There was no talk of any justice for Katia her death was used as a weak plot device to prop up the MC.
-The MC is a sack of shit. You can have flawed and even unlikeable characters in your story, but the MC isn’t even a well written flawed character he’s just an asshole that I guess we were supposed to like? His first meeting with Savon he misgenders them. He’s homophobic to D Low (I won’t even begin to get into how biphobic/homophobic it is to essentially name a queer boy Down Low it’s like something Tyler Perry would write as a homophobic joke but this author is deadass) and it’s so wild to me how in a fantasy setting this gay author not only decided that homophobia/transphobia exists but the MC should also participate in it. And he treats Alexis like his property-I mean girlfriend (despite them having only known each other for a few months 10 years ago when they were 6-7) constantly getting unreasonably upset at the idea of her being sexually and/or romantically involved with another boy. He’s overall a shit person and honestly doesn’t get even a little better the entire book.
In conclusion do not read this book. Not just because of the misogynoir or the homophobia but because it just fuckin sucks. If I could give this book negative stars I would. The writing is dense, repetitive, and nonsensical and many sentences will leave you sitting there scratching your head in confusion. He stole a lot of shit from different antiblack media he likes and didn’t even have the talent to make it better or even cohesive. I will never pick up another book from this author and genuinely think he needs to be banned from writing. I actually think somebody need to hack into his computer and delete the draft of the second book (and any other writing project he has currently) and make him an account on Indeed.com bc he needs to find a new profession.
Also LaDarrion please don’t ever compare yourself to Zora Neal Hurston again, it’s embarrassing to yourself and disrespectful to her. You’re not her, you’ll never be her, and your desperate clambering for validation is pathetic.
Edit: I also deeply resent the fact that the MC name is Malik and after having read this garbage I feel as though I deserve financial compensation for my name being used in such a manner. Pay up LaDarrion.
TW: for mentions of SA, human trafficking, misogynoir, and transphobia/homophobia
-This YA book participates in the adultification of Black children (something that people use to justify their murder/SA/imprisonment/etc.). It’s so disgusting that despite being set in college the characters are all children that are being written as if they are adults.
-Directly plays into propaganda that demonizes Haitian people despite the preaching on and on in the story about how white people are so antiblack for demonizing Black spirituality/magic.
-Incredible reductive, preachy, and repetitive as if the target audience are Woke™️ white people and not the Black people that want to be represented in fantasy settings.
-NONE of the dialogue reads as if an actual Black person is speaking. There are Black characters of different ethnicities in this book and they all speak like a white person typing into ChatGPT. AAVE/Ebonics has different dialects across the Black American diaspora, Black people from New York and Baltimore and Mississippi and Alabama do not speak the exact same and that Black person from whatever unspecified island in ch.11 is definitely NOT about to speak in butchered AAVE and call people “heffas”. Every Black person speaks like an antiblack caricature.
-Every Black woman or girl is written as either a jezebel or a mammy and it don’t matter how many times you describe them as a goddess or their hair as crowns, they’re still written abysmally and treated with disrespect.
-The SA and murder of Katia Washington is violent and unnecessary. The author has a tweet where he says and I quote “Often times Black boys don’t always get to be the main character in YA fantasy books. They’re either killed off or relegated to the side to help the white main character’s story forward. Not Malik.” And then proceeds to do the exact same thing with every Black woman or girl in this story. Why did you go out of your way to tell us that this girl was not only murdered but also sex trafficked? Why was that necessary? What did it add to the plot or story? On top of all that the MC’s response to his supposed love interest being rightfully upset about this Black CHILD’s murder was incredibly abusive, misogynistic, and overall disrespectful. In the middle of a discussion about Katia, the MC proceeds to get angry over Alexis allegedly sleeping with another boy (mind you these characters are children and they only just met again after 10 years). And we’re supposed to like and root for this character. And the fact that Alexis is demonized for hexing the rapists responsible is an extra layer of bullshit added to this garbage. There was no talk of any justice for Katia her death was used as a weak plot device to prop up the MC.
-The MC is a sack of shit. You can have flawed and even unlikeable characters in your story, but the MC isn’t even a well written flawed character he’s just an asshole that I guess we were supposed to like? His first meeting with Savon he misgenders them. He’s homophobic to D Low (I won’t even begin to get into how biphobic/homophobic it is to essentially name a queer boy Down Low it’s like something Tyler Perry would write as a homophobic joke but this author is deadass) and it’s so wild to me how in a fantasy setting this gay author not only decided that homophobia/transphobia exists but the MC should also participate in it. And he treats Alexis like his property-I mean girlfriend (despite them having only known each other for a few months 10 years ago when they were 6-7) constantly getting unreasonably upset at the idea of her being sexually and/or romantically involved with another boy. He’s overall a shit person and honestly doesn’t get even a little better the entire book.
In conclusion do not read this book. Not just because of the misogynoir or the homophobia but because it just fuckin sucks. If I could give this book negative stars I would. The writing is dense, repetitive, and nonsensical and many sentences will leave you sitting there scratching your head in confusion. He stole a lot of shit from different antiblack media he likes and didn’t even have the talent to make it better or even cohesive. I will never pick up another book from this author and genuinely think he needs to be banned from writing. I actually think somebody need to hack into his computer and delete the draft of the second book (and any other writing project he has currently) and make him an account on Indeed.com bc he needs to find a new profession.
Also LaDarrion please don’t ever compare yourself to Zora Neal Hurston again, it’s embarrassing to yourself and disrespectful to her. You’re not her, you’ll never be her, and your desperate clambering for validation is pathetic.
June 7, 2024
Thank you netgalley and random house for the arc.
I loved the cover and what the book seemed to be about.
At 63% in the book i decided to DNF. I was really hoping to love and enjoy this book. It started falling flat and cringy to me. I was truly holding on but nothing made me want to finish it. Every time you turned around it felt like the author was trying to throw all the black pop culture references they could. I strongly dislike that. It’s like trying to prove you’re black and comes off trying too hard to fit in. Or like a non black person wrote the book.
Then the use of AAVE in conversations just seemed to be forced. Like yet again trying to prove you’re black or a non black person wrote it. Malik dealing with trauma out the gate and not seeing any black boy joy by the time i stopped reading. Also Malik acting as if Alexis is supposed to be his is crazy.
I think going back to the drawing board is best. Getting a better editing team or something because these things plus other stuff should’ve been picked up on.
Read if you want.
I loved the cover and what the book seemed to be about.
At 63% in the book i decided to DNF. I was really hoping to love and enjoy this book. It started falling flat and cringy to me. I was truly holding on but nothing made me want to finish it. Every time you turned around it felt like the author was trying to throw all the black pop culture references they could. I strongly dislike that. It’s like trying to prove you’re black and comes off trying too hard to fit in. Or like a non black person wrote the book.
Then the use of AAVE in conversations just seemed to be forced. Like yet again trying to prove you’re black or a non black person wrote it. Malik dealing with trauma out the gate and not seeing any black boy joy by the time i stopped reading. Also Malik acting as if Alexis is supposed to be his is crazy.
I think going back to the drawing board is best. Getting a better editing team or something because these things plus other stuff should’ve been picked up on.
Read if you want.
June 16, 2023
Just saw on TikTok! Can’t wait for this to be released.
June 25, 2024
**TRIGGER WARNING: Family death, foster care system, mentions of assault, racial tension**
This is one of my favorite reads of 2024. When I heard others describe it as Harry Potter at a magical HBCU, I agreed.
This book is what everyone thought The American Society of Magical Negros was going to be.
I have seen in some reviews people complain about the language used in the book. However, as someone who coaches high school track and field at a predominantly black POC school and is the oldest sibling to a 19-year-old, the dialogue is what I loved about the story because it felt genuine. That is precisely how 17-19-year-olds talk.
My one critique of the book would be the lack of translation for the Kreyol. I am not complaining about translation because I'm Haitian American and grew up speaking Kreyol, so I was good there. Still, for those who do not know the language, the lack of translation could be bothersome to a reader because they may not be able to pick up on what is going on, but also having my Haitian culture presented in a light that was not simply a voodoo witch doctor. But it showed that my people have a vast and rich history. Also, not villainizing faith practices that are not Christianity.
Some also complained about Malik's lacking maturity. But, again, as mentioned, Malik is 17, and he hit as much maturation as we should expect from a teenage boy his age. Too many black stories, both fictional and nonfictional, have the black and minority kids having to handle excessive burdens and age faster than they need or should have to because of the trauma they had to endure, and I like that this writer didn't play Trauma Olympics with Malik. Malik did have traumas to face, but it was nothing along the lines of racism and police brutality. This was the typical traumas that many main characters of fantasy stories face. So, while blackness was celebrated, racial trauma was not at the forefront of this story, and I loved that.
**EDIT**
I would recommend reading this book while following along with the audiobook. The narrator does a great job of giving the appropriate inflections needed for the dialogue. Also, I see in some reviews folks talk about misogyny and misgendering. But in the story, Malik points out his ignorance in certain situations and says he needs to do better. I think some people who left negative reviews of this book were nitpicking to the point that the review doesn't feel genuine and more like a personal attack on the author.
This is one of my favorite reads of 2024. When I heard others describe it as Harry Potter at a magical HBCU, I agreed.
This book is what everyone thought The American Society of Magical Negros was going to be.
I have seen in some reviews people complain about the language used in the book. However, as someone who coaches high school track and field at a predominantly black POC school and is the oldest sibling to a 19-year-old, the dialogue is what I loved about the story because it felt genuine. That is precisely how 17-19-year-olds talk.
My one critique of the book would be the lack of translation for the Kreyol. I am not complaining about translation because I'm Haitian American and grew up speaking Kreyol, so I was good there. Still, for those who do not know the language, the lack of translation could be bothersome to a reader because they may not be able to pick up on what is going on, but also having my Haitian culture presented in a light that was not simply a voodoo witch doctor. But it showed that my people have a vast and rich history. Also, not villainizing faith practices that are not Christianity.
Some also complained about Malik's lacking maturity. But, again, as mentioned, Malik is 17, and he hit as much maturation as we should expect from a teenage boy his age. Too many black stories, both fictional and nonfictional, have the black and minority kids having to handle excessive burdens and age faster than they need or should have to because of the trauma they had to endure, and I like that this writer didn't play Trauma Olympics with Malik. Malik did have traumas to face, but it was nothing along the lines of racism and police brutality. This was the typical traumas that many main characters of fantasy stories face. So, while blackness was celebrated, racial trauma was not at the forefront of this story, and I loved that.
**EDIT**
I would recommend reading this book while following along with the audiobook. The narrator does a great job of giving the appropriate inflections needed for the dialogue. Also, I see in some reviews folks talk about misogyny and misgendering. But in the story, Malik points out his ignorance in certain situations and says he needs to do better. I think some people who left negative reviews of this book were nitpicking to the point that the review doesn't feel genuine and more like a personal attack on the author.
November 26, 2023
Thanks to Random House Children’s & Labyrinth Road for this digital ARC from NetGalley.
Blood Root is the Black fantasy novel many people needed growing up. I loved the representation of a black boy from the South as the main character, and the ties between voodoo & ancestral magic & Black History/inventions. Uncle Samedi ‘s character was amazing. The Black culture references was great to see. Ok, so now to the explanation of the rating.
The long lost grandmother was my favorite character, but disappointingly, many of the other women and girls in this book (including the love interest) were not fully developed characters to me. The love interest, Alexis is feels seen as nothing more than a love interest and an activist - and the main character always has his eye on her beauty, yet the love story seems no more than a first crush and trauma bond.
This book feels filled with trauma, from losing a parent, navigating the foster system, suddenly being in a university basically on his own, interactions with the police and more. His foster brother get to relax some, um when does he? Dude cannot catch a break! I was exhausted for the main character.
I wish that the book had more black boy joy and more HBCU traditions. I saw aspects of world building that approached a magical HBCU - but didn’t quite make it there. Additionally, the pop culture references were a lot and distracting in a way I’m not sure younger generations would relate to. To me, this book is written choppy and was difficult to read at times.
Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me, but it could definitely be for someone else. Looking forward to the release next year and hoping that others will have a different experience.
Blood Root is the Black fantasy novel many people needed growing up. I loved the representation of a black boy from the South as the main character, and the ties between voodoo & ancestral magic & Black History/inventions. Uncle Samedi ‘s character was amazing. The Black culture references was great to see. Ok, so now to the explanation of the rating.
The long lost grandmother was my favorite character, but disappointingly, many of the other women and girls in this book (including the love interest) were not fully developed characters to me. The love interest, Alexis is feels seen as nothing more than a love interest and an activist - and the main character always has his eye on her beauty, yet the love story seems no more than a first crush and trauma bond.
This book feels filled with trauma, from losing a parent, navigating the foster system, suddenly being in a university basically on his own, interactions with the police and more. His foster brother get to relax some, um when does he? Dude cannot catch a break! I was exhausted for the main character.
I wish that the book had more black boy joy and more HBCU traditions. I saw aspects of world building that approached a magical HBCU - but didn’t quite make it there. Additionally, the pop culture references were a lot and distracting in a way I’m not sure younger generations would relate to. To me, this book is written choppy and was difficult to read at times.
Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me, but it could definitely be for someone else. Looking forward to the release next year and hoping that others will have a different experience.
June 26, 2024
THIS HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME MY FAVORITE FANTASY OF THE YEAR (as of June 2024)! (and there's good competition). 6 STARS for me with an introductory series!
Where do I begin? Do I begin as a black girl from Birmingham, Al reading about a black boy from Helena, AL and all the references to my city, my alma mater (Auburn University - WAR EAGLE!), landmarks and reminders of summer *swoon*
Do I begin with the completely tabbed up physical copy I have full of AAVE and black southern slang that felt like I was talking to a REAL COUSIN? (Seriously, my book is bleeding with tabs full of "lol" and "and I know that's right!" moments)
Do I begin with the amazing accompanying audio performance? Filled with actual sound effects that had my heart racing and feeling like I was in the actual moment being teleported or blown around in the wind?
How about the nostalgia and feeling I got when discussing the overall college experience coupled with (as someone who went to a PWI) an even closer look into HBCU life.
THEN YOU GONE SLIP IN SOME POETRY TO OUR BLACK QUEENS?! ALL. THE YESES.
This fired on ALL CYLINDERS for me and it honestly would have been biased for me right off the bat based on the setting, alone -- but then when you get into the ~actual storyline~ Malik Baron held his own!
An orphan with a chip on his shoulder ever since he lost his mother at the age of 7 when magical powers appeared. Now 17, he finds out there's an entire world of Black Magical Beings (including, but not limited to *conjurers, fairies, shape shifters, and cross road spirits*). There's even a school dedicated to the CULTIVATION OF *BLACK MAGIC* AND by black, we're not talking what the white washed and redirected public would think. We're talking black as in *MELANATED*.
*A BLACK HOGWARTS, YALL!!*
In the last decade or so, there has definitely been a beautiful renaissance of burgeoning black magical worlds -- filling in the gaps we were left with in my (millennial) youth. So I'm not going to say this book is the first to give what we were missing in the HP Universe (and the problematic author who wrote them) but it is by far the one that I personally resonate with the most.
Does it end with a few questions? Yes. Without giving any spoilers. I wanna know WHO IS DA PAPPY?! LOL And I definitely want to see where this is going with Alexis... but understanding that this is just book 1 in what is meant to be an entire series. I am completely satisfied with the ground work laid here.
I loved Uncle Sam. Mama Aya melted me. Malik has some growth to do but he's a 17 year old boy (let’s start there, I think so many people expected this CHILD to be fully woke and correct every step of the way… he’s literally a minor) who may very well have just become the most magical black boy in the Bayou! I'm exited to see where he goes!
Additional Themes: African Spirituality, Enslavement (chattel slavery), LGBTQ friendly
*** EDIT: After going back and reading some of 1 star reviews here I think it’s important to say that all the people who had a problem with the AAVE being used in the way it was seem to be more concerned on how NON people of color would perceive this book. As someone who is from exactly where the character is from… I can confirm… we talk EXACTLY like that. If you have a problem with the dialect, you simply haven’t been around enough people from the Deep South.
Those who get it, got it… those who don’t… won’t.
Where do I begin? Do I begin as a black girl from Birmingham, Al reading about a black boy from Helena, AL and all the references to my city, my alma mater (Auburn University - WAR EAGLE!), landmarks and reminders of summer *swoon*
Do I begin with the completely tabbed up physical copy I have full of AAVE and black southern slang that felt like I was talking to a REAL COUSIN? (Seriously, my book is bleeding with tabs full of "lol" and "and I know that's right!" moments)
Do I begin with the amazing accompanying audio performance? Filled with actual sound effects that had my heart racing and feeling like I was in the actual moment being teleported or blown around in the wind?
How about the nostalgia and feeling I got when discussing the overall college experience coupled with (as someone who went to a PWI) an even closer look into HBCU life.
THEN YOU GONE SLIP IN SOME POETRY TO OUR BLACK QUEENS?! ALL. THE YESES.
This fired on ALL CYLINDERS for me and it honestly would have been biased for me right off the bat based on the setting, alone -- but then when you get into the ~actual storyline~ Malik Baron held his own!
An orphan with a chip on his shoulder ever since he lost his mother at the age of 7 when magical powers appeared. Now 17, he finds out there's an entire world of Black Magical Beings (including, but not limited to *conjurers, fairies, shape shifters, and cross road spirits*). There's even a school dedicated to the CULTIVATION OF *BLACK MAGIC* AND by black, we're not talking what the white washed and redirected public would think. We're talking black as in *MELANATED*.
*A BLACK HOGWARTS, YALL!!*
In the last decade or so, there has definitely been a beautiful renaissance of burgeoning black magical worlds -- filling in the gaps we were left with in my (millennial) youth. So I'm not going to say this book is the first to give what we were missing in the HP Universe (and the problematic author who wrote them) but it is by far the one that I personally resonate with the most.
Does it end with a few questions? Yes. Without giving any spoilers. I wanna know WHO IS DA PAPPY?! LOL And I definitely want to see where this is going with Alexis... but understanding that this is just book 1 in what is meant to be an entire series. I am completely satisfied with the ground work laid here.
I loved Uncle Sam. Mama Aya melted me. Malik has some growth to do but he's a 17 year old boy (let’s start there, I think so many people expected this CHILD to be fully woke and correct every step of the way… he’s literally a minor) who may very well have just become the most magical black boy in the Bayou! I'm exited to see where he goes!
Additional Themes: African Spirituality, Enslavement (chattel slavery), LGBTQ friendly
*** EDIT: After going back and reading some of 1 star reviews here I think it’s important to say that all the people who had a problem with the AAVE being used in the way it was seem to be more concerned on how NON people of color would perceive this book. As someone who is from exactly where the character is from… I can confirm… we talk EXACTLY like that. If you have a problem with the dialect, you simply haven’t been around enough people from the Deep South.
Those who get it, got it… those who don’t… won’t.
July 20, 2024
It’s not often that I rate books this low. I really REALLY tried giving this a chance because I admired the author for his creative efforts and the book sounded exciting. But it seems like we can’t get Magical Black People right as Black people.
I couldn’t make it to page 100. Really, I was mentally checked out by chapter 3. It tries much too hard to be Black, so much so that it feels like a white person wrote it. It doesn’t get any better when Malik actually gets to the university, when it throws a barrage of Black media references in your face in case you forgot that the Black book with Black characters is Black. It’s one thing to display Black Pride. There’s nothing wrong with that. But this book shoves it down your throat from page 1, and it gets progressively more aggressive to the point that you forget what the book is even about.
On top of that, the author advertises the book as being for Black people without Black trauma. However, it immediately starts with Black trauma with Malik living in the ghetto and living the stereotypical troubled Black boy life, which was already a red flag for me by chapter 1. I didn’t get this far, but apparently there are bits of homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny further in the story as well, along with some depictions of Hoodou being downright offensive, despite the author’s research.
Some of the dialogue was hard to read as well, as it kept switching between slang and standard English, which made Malik’s voice kind of confusing. I’ve read Black books that use slang and AAVE, but this wasn’t a case where it was executed properly. And some of the more modern slang in the dialogue felt very forced and didn’t flow right at all.
I’ve seen some people describe the book as if JK Rowling tried to write Black people or if Tyler Perry wrote a book. As much as it pains me to say it, those descriptions are pretty spot on. This is the second piece of mainstream Black magical media we have for 2023/2024 (the last one being The American Society of Magical Negroes) and we fell flat once again. Unfortunately, I do not recommend this one.
I couldn’t make it to page 100. Really, I was mentally checked out by chapter 3. It tries much too hard to be Black, so much so that it feels like a white person wrote it. It doesn’t get any better when Malik actually gets to the university, when it throws a barrage of Black media references in your face in case you forgot that the Black book with Black characters is Black. It’s one thing to display Black Pride. There’s nothing wrong with that. But this book shoves it down your throat from page 1, and it gets progressively more aggressive to the point that you forget what the book is even about.
On top of that, the author advertises the book as being for Black people without Black trauma. However, it immediately starts with Black trauma with Malik living in the ghetto and living the stereotypical troubled Black boy life, which was already a red flag for me by chapter 1. I didn’t get this far, but apparently there are bits of homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny further in the story as well, along with some depictions of Hoodou being downright offensive, despite the author’s research.
Some of the dialogue was hard to read as well, as it kept switching between slang and standard English, which made Malik’s voice kind of confusing. I’ve read Black books that use slang and AAVE, but this wasn’t a case where it was executed properly. And some of the more modern slang in the dialogue felt very forced and didn’t flow right at all.
I’ve seen some people describe the book as if JK Rowling tried to write Black people or if Tyler Perry wrote a book. As much as it pains me to say it, those descriptions are pretty spot on. This is the second piece of mainstream Black magical media we have for 2023/2024 (the last one being The American Society of Magical Negroes) and we fell flat once again. Unfortunately, I do not recommend this one.
April 1, 2024
*review based on an arc*
This is a book takes place in a magic university (not high school!) for Black students and faculty. That said, the two weakest points in the story, for me, were the magic system and the school setting. As far as magic goes, there appear to be no rules. Most of the magic seems to consist of flipping cars over or using the powers of your mind to break someone else's bones and twist them up like a pretzel. But anybody could do it: first-years, seniors, teachers. Main character Malik can call down a storm, his uncle has death magic, and his grandmother can turn shadows into fierce animals that attack at her command, but everybody else does the same things: flip cars, choke people from a distance, break bones with their minds, and just shoot magical energy at each other. I don't know that I've seen a magical system so underdeveloped. I guess the sky was the limit, but it was just chaos to me.
There were some things about the school that were really well done. My favorite part is when the main character steals something from a special collection at the library, which has special wards in place. The dorms are described in great detail. I feel like I have actually sat in the chancellor's office. The students all share an app, which wasn't a thing back when I was in college but probably actually is now, and that's a good idea for sharing news. But other than that, I believe we only attend two classes with Malik, when he is brand new at the school and doesn't know anything about anything. I feel like the reader missed out on a lot of the college experience that we could have been shown. There are some "magic duels" on campus but again, the magic system is so random, it was just people throwing magic energy at each other and I wasn't really invested in the outcomes of those battles. At least when the bad guys attacked, they flung cars. lol
Okay, those are my only real complaints. As for the rest, the plot of this book was really cool! There were a lot of twists at the end I didn't see coming. (And one that was a little too obvious, but it's fine. You still feel the impact.) It was complex without being convoluted.
Main character Malik rescues his adopted brother Taye from abusive foster parents using his powers, then they go on the run. Their escape plan is complicated when Taye has a diabetic episode, having forgotten his medication at the foster home, then a stranger appears (favorite character alert!!!) to show Malik that he has the power to heal, not just harm. And he guides the boys on their journey to Malik's long-lost grandmother and the secret college for conjurers.
Malik has plenty of challenges ahead of him. He's met family he didn't know he had, navigating a new school, trying to figure out if his childhood crush still feels the same. There's a faction of evil spellcasters kidnapping and killing students from the university, and he's finding out more about the mother he never knew than bargained for.
There are a lot of characters in this book and they're very entertaining. Uncle Samedi is my favorite. To me he was just so unique and interesting. He's more of a necromancer than the general run-of-the-mill mages in the book. He didn't seem quite human. I liked the students and faculty at the school a lot. They gave the book some flavor and sometimes even comic relief. I felt like there was a good balance of queer content, too. And it keeps you guessing the way some characters seem to walk a fine line between "good guy" and "bad guy," like the school chancellor, another of my faves.
I'd be glad to read more in this series, but hope some of the kinks will be worked out in the future. And in case you're interested, there is a 30-minute indie short-film based on the book that you can watch for free on YouTube. Just search the book's title and you can find it.
This is a book takes place in a magic university (not high school!) for Black students and faculty. That said, the two weakest points in the story, for me, were the magic system and the school setting. As far as magic goes, there appear to be no rules. Most of the magic seems to consist of flipping cars over or using the powers of your mind to break someone else's bones and twist them up like a pretzel. But anybody could do it: first-years, seniors, teachers. Main character Malik can call down a storm, his uncle has death magic, and his grandmother can turn shadows into fierce animals that attack at her command, but everybody else does the same things: flip cars, choke people from a distance, break bones with their minds, and just shoot magical energy at each other. I don't know that I've seen a magical system so underdeveloped. I guess the sky was the limit, but it was just chaos to me.
There were some things about the school that were really well done. My favorite part is when the main character steals something from a special collection at the library, which has special wards in place. The dorms are described in great detail. I feel like I have actually sat in the chancellor's office. The students all share an app, which wasn't a thing back when I was in college but probably actually is now, and that's a good idea for sharing news. But other than that, I believe we only attend two classes with Malik, when he is brand new at the school and doesn't know anything about anything. I feel like the reader missed out on a lot of the college experience that we could have been shown. There are some "magic duels" on campus but again, the magic system is so random, it was just people throwing magic energy at each other and I wasn't really invested in the outcomes of those battles. At least when the bad guys attacked, they flung cars. lol
Okay, those are my only real complaints. As for the rest, the plot of this book was really cool! There were a lot of twists at the end I didn't see coming. (And one that was a little too obvious, but it's fine. You still feel the impact.) It was complex without being convoluted.
Main character Malik rescues his adopted brother Taye from abusive foster parents using his powers, then they go on the run. Their escape plan is complicated when Taye has a diabetic episode, having forgotten his medication at the foster home, then a stranger appears (favorite character alert!!!) to show Malik that he has the power to heal, not just harm. And he guides the boys on their journey to Malik's long-lost grandmother and the secret college for conjurers.
Malik has plenty of challenges ahead of him. He's met family he didn't know he had, navigating a new school, trying to figure out if his childhood crush still feels the same. There's a faction of evil spellcasters kidnapping and killing students from the university, and he's finding out more about the mother he never knew than bargained for.
There are a lot of characters in this book and they're very entertaining. Uncle Samedi is my favorite. To me he was just so unique and interesting. He's more of a necromancer than the general run-of-the-mill mages in the book. He didn't seem quite human. I liked the students and faculty at the school a lot. They gave the book some flavor and sometimes even comic relief. I felt like there was a good balance of queer content, too. And it keeps you guessing the way some characters seem to walk a fine line between "good guy" and "bad guy," like the school chancellor, another of my faves.
I'd be glad to read more in this series, but hope some of the kinks will be worked out in the future. And in case you're interested, there is a 30-minute indie short-film based on the book that you can watch for free on YouTube. Just search the book's title and you can find it.
July 23, 2024
This is a YA book about a magical Black HBCU, I loved the idea but think the execution was flawed. The book is way too long, and slow, and I felt like most of the twists were just there to twist, but didn't move the plot forward. It was hard to follow and I never really cared about the characters, I also struggled to keep them all straight. The book has potential and the author has a great imagination, but the editor needed to be considerably more rigorous with this story.
July 5, 2024
Blood at the Root was absolutely amazing.
I haven’t read fantasy fr since Harry Potter in high school & let me tell you this EATS way more & I’m standing on that. The culture of Louisiana, (my home) the Creole French, HBCU representation, BLACK Magic 🪄WE LOVE TO SEE IT !!
Maliks story grabbed me in from the beginning. A tragic event during childhood changed everything for him. The writing of the magic & action was done so well Omg. I don’t even wanna tell too much because I want you to read it. The plot twist @ the end I really didn’t see coming fr. My heart ached so bad. Pls just Move it up on your TBR. This is such a great introduction to fantasy.
Where is part two? I need that STAT Mr. LaDarrion 😩
I haven’t read fantasy fr since Harry Potter in high school & let me tell you this EATS way more & I’m standing on that. The culture of Louisiana, (my home) the Creole French, HBCU representation, BLACK Magic 🪄WE LOVE TO SEE IT !!
Maliks story grabbed me in from the beginning. A tragic event during childhood changed everything for him. The writing of the magic & action was done so well Omg. I don’t even wanna tell too much because I want you to read it. The plot twist @ the end I really didn’t see coming fr. My heart ached so bad. Pls just Move it up on your TBR. This is such a great introduction to fantasy.
Where is part two? I need that STAT Mr. LaDarrion 😩
May 31, 2024
Welcome to the Blackgical Revolution . . .
Whhhhhy was this book so good though? The representation was everything it’s definitely giving Black boy magic. I mean if all fantasy books came like this I would devour them every time‼️ We get so much from this one a magical HBCU, generational trauma, betrayal from both family and friends, new found community, brotherly love, feuding covens, magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.
Living most of his life being blamed but also blaming himself for the disappearance/death of his mother Malik was left to look after himself. For years he tried to forget about his magic and not show anyone because when he thought about it all it brought him was pain. Now, that he’s of age he’s finally ready to start a new life for him and his foster brother Taye. In an attempt to rescue his brother connections to a long-lost grandmother are revealed to Malik which will result in him attending the same magical university his mother had. While at Caiman University Malik’s future will open up to more than he could have imagined. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution.
This is a book I highly recommend for anyone interested in reading fantasy. The magic will keep you engaged, the action will keep you on edge, but the hidden secrets and past trauma will keep you invested. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Loved the cover so much I had to purchase a copy. Special thanks to the author, @penguinrandomhouse #LabyrinthRoad, & @libro.fm for my advanced listening copy‼️
Whhhhhy was this book so good though? The representation was everything it’s definitely giving Black boy magic. I mean if all fantasy books came like this I would devour them every time‼️ We get so much from this one a magical HBCU, generational trauma, betrayal from both family and friends, new found community, brotherly love, feuding covens, magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.
Living most of his life being blamed but also blaming himself for the disappearance/death of his mother Malik was left to look after himself. For years he tried to forget about his magic and not show anyone because when he thought about it all it brought him was pain. Now, that he’s of age he’s finally ready to start a new life for him and his foster brother Taye. In an attempt to rescue his brother connections to a long-lost grandmother are revealed to Malik which will result in him attending the same magical university his mother had. While at Caiman University Malik’s future will open up to more than he could have imagined. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution.
This is a book I highly recommend for anyone interested in reading fantasy. The magic will keep you engaged, the action will keep you on edge, but the hidden secrets and past trauma will keep you invested. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Loved the cover so much I had to purchase a copy. Special thanks to the author, @penguinrandomhouse #LabyrinthRoad, & @libro.fm for my advanced listening copy‼️
May 7, 2024
Blood At The Root literally had me held against my will for days, the post book hangover was real. The best thing about this book was the culture, representation, and the way the author didn’t lose his voice in the process. As a Social Worker, I was especially interested in seeing how Malik, a young black male who ended up in the system, would respond to his adversities. And I think the author did that part of the story justice. Malik was strong willed, protective, but also cautious with the way he moved. Without giving anything away, I was blown away with the complexity of the story, the vivid and intricate details, and the plot twists and suspense - it all came together beautifully. I can wholeheartedly say this was one of my favorite reads this year. I am packing up and headed to Caiman University, I just want to experience the richness of the campus and see the student life. I cannot wait for my hardcover to come in the mail!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc copy.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc copy.
June 26, 2024
Initial reaction: 4-4.5 stars. There's many layers to Blood at the Root that I really enjoyed, writing, character attention and detail, magic system and display. I'm still thinking about certain aspects of it long after reading it, though there are some aspects that I'm critical of that can be seen as flaws of the main character, not the narrative itself.
Full review:
All right, everyone. I'm ready to dive into this one because this book has been on my radar for a long time, was a highly anticipated read for me, AND I got it as a galley from NetGalley, so of course I knew that I would read it. (Albeit much later than than release.) I think getting to it later had me tempering my expectations of it as a YA Urban Fantasy/Fantasy with contemporary leanings, a magical HBCU with classes on said magic, with a Black boy as the main character and focus POV while on the run from his past. All of that sounded great to me, and for the most part - it delivered on those promises.
Note well: I am NOT an expert on the Yoruba, Orisha, and practices of Vodou. I think there are other reviewers who are far better equipped than me to tackle on how well this book treats those portrayals, although I'll say that it's lightly incorporated in the practices, spells, and overarching worldbuilding of this story. There are some books that I've read where I've been informed that the portrayals are not good (i.e. Skin of the Sea, that's a book I have yet to finish). I can however speak specifically to some of the critiques made on the content for portrayal of story. We'll get to that soon.
"Blood at the Root" is the first book of a series centered around 17-year old Malik. Ten years before, Malik witnessed the traumatic vanishing of his mother during the Fourth of July celebration in his home of Alabama. Ever since that night, Malik has felt his powers were cursed and that he was blamed/the cause of that traumatic event. But at 17, he hatches a plan to get himself and his foster brother Taye out of an abusive home life to go to California, make a new start. I think it's not a stretch to say that throughout this story, Malik is a very flawed character and his background is quite the traumatic one, especially coming from the foster care system. But it's told on his own terms, in his identity as a Black teen. I think that's important to establish in contrast to many narratives that frame it from a non-marginalized lens. Malik is messy, he makes mistakes/bad decisions. You get that from point one in the book. But you also understand his desperation in getting himself and Taye to a better life, even with limited resources at his hands and a power he doesn't understand. Even further, he sometimes takes that power too far in his desperation/anger.
Malik and Taye end up in a precarious situation that almost gets them caught. They are helped by a stranger while also getting an invitation to meet with Malik's long lost grandmother (Mama Aya), who runs a magical HBCU. Caiman University, which just so happens to be the same university Malik's mother attended. Mama Aya reveals that she and her daughter had a massive falling out, but that hadn't stopped her from trying to find Malik. She pulls some strings to get Malik enrolled in Caiman University, to better hone his magic and provide a space for him to live/be. Malik is conflicted about this (of course), but it's hard to refuse when it not only gives him a space to better wield his magic, provide a stable home for Taye, and help him find the pieces of his mother's past and what led to the events of his mother's disappearance. Being on campus also reunites him with another familiar face - the girl he was in love with back when he was in foster care - Alexis.
I think it's important to say that Malik is a very well crafted flawed character that's willing to learn though reluctant to trust. You see that in several examples as you follow Malik's adjustment to University life. You can tell that his worldview is sheltered/limited to an extent. Regarding some of the reader comments/feedback about a character being misgendered in here - I saw that was quickly corrected and illustrated as a learning experience for Malik as he gets to know his gay, bisexual, and non-binary peers, and there are several examples where the community is featured on page in an inclusive manner. Could this have been showcased better? I think so, but I can't speak to it because I'm not from the LGBTQ+ community, so I think it's worth listening to those who are of that spectrum of identity in terms of what could be done better. You don't have to show someone of different identity being disrespected in order to acknowledge the respectful way to see/address someone. That's important to note when we're talking about positive representation of inclusive communities. I thought it was nice to be able to see, for example, a space where Malik hears from a Black man who acknowledges his bisexuality and how that's erased in the community, in which Malik goes up to him after the talk and thanks him. (Of course that happens just before a very harrowing scene which is residing in my mind, rent free, but I'll talk about that later in this review.)
What I can speak to is some claims of of misogyny and misogynoir in here which...yeah, we need to talk about it. All, this book is filled with very flawed, messy, dramatic characters. These are teens/young adults in college. Also adults participating in power plays that often result in manipulative tactics to hide the secrets they have to keep. You learn of multiple betrayals happening among the cast at the drop of a hat - Malik learns this many times the hard way. Writing flawed Black women and girls in a narrative is not misogynoir. Nor is writing/expressing attraction towards/for those characters misogyny, such as observing some girls twerking at a college party. Not by itself. Depends on how that's done and there's a line to it. Nor is calling attention to Black girls who go missing or are harmed misogynoir, I understood what this book was doing with that and I'm like "Okay, you're hitting on so many different things that the community cares about/is intimate with the Black experience. I get it." Sometimes it felt like it could be a bit ambitious to take on all of that with everything going on in the narrative, but in the narrative, it made sense.
Like I understood, realistically, Malik's perspective as a straight Black teen having these first time experiences - his desires, his thoughts, really the narrative collectively does a good job of getting into his head through his ups and downs. He's a well-rounded character, if flawed. There was probably only one major point where I got VERY annoyed by Malik in terms of how he treats Alexis. It's clear he likes her - he's liked her since they met at the orphanage when they were younger kids and he says this. But when it comes to how he treats her when she potentially likes another guy, ehhh. I wanted to collect him and say "That's none of your doggone business whether she's sleeping or not sleeping with someone else, leave her alone, mind your business." And I don't doubt other readers reading those scenes would agree. Thankfully Alexis collects him on page in very similar form to what my internal thoughts were about it. And Malik is self-aware to state on page more than a few times how he screwed up with her. It's realistic teen relationship drama, and showcases both characters being in their own heads and flawed, while also playing it out on page. It is not the same as, say, Becca Fitzpatrick's YA novel "Hush, Hush" where Patch continuously crosses Nora's boundaries, stalks and antagonizes her to reckless abandon, and it being seen as desirable in text. I think it's worth noting the nuance, dynamics, and being transparent about it, but I understand that even with that note, people aren't going to like how that plays out.
What I really liked about this novel was being able to see Malik interact with a wide cast of characters, experiment with his magic, experiencing the emotional ups and downs on each revelation he makes about his mother's past and the people around her. And the fight scenes/scenes of peril in this book are wicked good, along with the vivid writing. I genuinely feared for Malik during multiple points in this book he gets on the other end of terrible magic and betrayals. I mentioned one of the scenes where Malik gets attacked right after a lecture - that scene stayed with me and I was wondering, right along with the other cast of characters, whether he was going to make it out of that okay.
There are moments of Black Boy joy in this book, where you see Malik being able to have fun with and see his foster brother, quiet moments where he spends with Mama Aya, and getting to know his professors and peers. And even further, feeling like he gets to know his community and come to terms with his sense of identity, a feeling of being home. However, you also get the weight of what costs magic has, the levels of tension, peril, and betrayal that Malik ultimately has to contend with, the history he witnesses and how that's tied to him, and how he has to navigate that. I usually say the best stories are those that not only have a wide range of narrative tones and emotional experiences for the characters within, but also allow me to really delve into who they are, even if I don't always like what they do. That's how I felt about "Blood at the Root" - I felt like I went on a whole journey reading this narrative. And it makes me want to know/experience more of it, even with some pretty heavy occurrences/losses for the characters within.
I liked the journey, and for my first experience with LaDarrion Williams's work, it was an intriguing one. I'm hoping to dive more into the author's work and more of this series in the future to see where it goes. Overall, despite some bumps in the road, I liked "Blood at the Root." Really, really worth it if you can get the audiobook narration for this story - it has sound effects, and is well in character voice for Malik being narrated by Jalyn Hall (who has a nice singing voice, I might add).
Overall score: 4/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher. Also listened to the audiobook narration, which I purchased for myself.
Full review:
All right, everyone. I'm ready to dive into this one because this book has been on my radar for a long time, was a highly anticipated read for me, AND I got it as a galley from NetGalley, so of course I knew that I would read it. (Albeit much later than than release.) I think getting to it later had me tempering my expectations of it as a YA Urban Fantasy/Fantasy with contemporary leanings, a magical HBCU with classes on said magic, with a Black boy as the main character and focus POV while on the run from his past. All of that sounded great to me, and for the most part - it delivered on those promises.
Note well: I am NOT an expert on the Yoruba, Orisha, and practices of Vodou. I think there are other reviewers who are far better equipped than me to tackle on how well this book treats those portrayals, although I'll say that it's lightly incorporated in the practices, spells, and overarching worldbuilding of this story. There are some books that I've read where I've been informed that the portrayals are not good (i.e. Skin of the Sea, that's a book I have yet to finish). I can however speak specifically to some of the critiques made on the content for portrayal of story. We'll get to that soon.
"Blood at the Root" is the first book of a series centered around 17-year old Malik. Ten years before, Malik witnessed the traumatic vanishing of his mother during the Fourth of July celebration in his home of Alabama. Ever since that night, Malik has felt his powers were cursed and that he was blamed/the cause of that traumatic event. But at 17, he hatches a plan to get himself and his foster brother Taye out of an abusive home life to go to California, make a new start. I think it's not a stretch to say that throughout this story, Malik is a very flawed character and his background is quite the traumatic one, especially coming from the foster care system. But it's told on his own terms, in his identity as a Black teen. I think that's important to establish in contrast to many narratives that frame it from a non-marginalized lens. Malik is messy, he makes mistakes/bad decisions. You get that from point one in the book. But you also understand his desperation in getting himself and Taye to a better life, even with limited resources at his hands and a power he doesn't understand. Even further, he sometimes takes that power too far in his desperation/anger.
Malik and Taye end up in a precarious situation that almost gets them caught. They are helped by a stranger while also getting an invitation to meet with Malik's long lost grandmother (Mama Aya), who runs a magical HBCU. Caiman University, which just so happens to be the same university Malik's mother attended. Mama Aya reveals that she and her daughter had a massive falling out, but that hadn't stopped her from trying to find Malik. She pulls some strings to get Malik enrolled in Caiman University, to better hone his magic and provide a space for him to live/be. Malik is conflicted about this (of course), but it's hard to refuse when it not only gives him a space to better wield his magic, provide a stable home for Taye, and help him find the pieces of his mother's past and what led to the events of his mother's disappearance. Being on campus also reunites him with another familiar face - the girl he was in love with back when he was in foster care - Alexis.
I think it's important to say that Malik is a very well crafted flawed character that's willing to learn though reluctant to trust. You see that in several examples as you follow Malik's adjustment to University life. You can tell that his worldview is sheltered/limited to an extent. Regarding some of the reader comments/feedback about a character being misgendered in here - I saw that was quickly corrected and illustrated as a learning experience for Malik as he gets to know his gay, bisexual, and non-binary peers, and there are several examples where the community is featured on page in an inclusive manner. Could this have been showcased better? I think so, but I can't speak to it because I'm not from the LGBTQ+ community, so I think it's worth listening to those who are of that spectrum of identity in terms of what could be done better. You don't have to show someone of different identity being disrespected in order to acknowledge the respectful way to see/address someone. That's important to note when we're talking about positive representation of inclusive communities. I thought it was nice to be able to see, for example, a space where Malik hears from a Black man who acknowledges his bisexuality and how that's erased in the community, in which Malik goes up to him after the talk and thanks him. (Of course that happens just before a very harrowing scene which is residing in my mind, rent free, but I'll talk about that later in this review.)
What I can speak to is some claims of of misogyny and misogynoir in here which...yeah, we need to talk about it. All, this book is filled with very flawed, messy, dramatic characters. These are teens/young adults in college. Also adults participating in power plays that often result in manipulative tactics to hide the secrets they have to keep. You learn of multiple betrayals happening among the cast at the drop of a hat - Malik learns this many times the hard way. Writing flawed Black women and girls in a narrative is not misogynoir. Nor is writing/expressing attraction towards/for those characters misogyny, such as observing some girls twerking at a college party. Not by itself. Depends on how that's done and there's a line to it. Nor is calling attention to Black girls who go missing or are harmed misogynoir, I understood what this book was doing with that and I'm like "Okay, you're hitting on so many different things that the community cares about/is intimate with the Black experience. I get it." Sometimes it felt like it could be a bit ambitious to take on all of that with everything going on in the narrative, but in the narrative, it made sense.
Like I understood, realistically, Malik's perspective as a straight Black teen having these first time experiences - his desires, his thoughts, really the narrative collectively does a good job of getting into his head through his ups and downs. He's a well-rounded character, if flawed. There was probably only one major point where I got VERY annoyed by Malik in terms of how he treats Alexis. It's clear he likes her - he's liked her since they met at the orphanage when they were younger kids and he says this. But when it comes to how he treats her when she potentially likes another guy, ehhh. I wanted to collect him and say "That's none of your doggone business whether she's sleeping or not sleeping with someone else, leave her alone, mind your business." And I don't doubt other readers reading those scenes would agree. Thankfully Alexis collects him on page in very similar form to what my internal thoughts were about it. And Malik is self-aware to state on page more than a few times how he screwed up with her. It's realistic teen relationship drama, and showcases both characters being in their own heads and flawed, while also playing it out on page. It is not the same as, say, Becca Fitzpatrick's YA novel "Hush, Hush" where Patch continuously crosses Nora's boundaries, stalks and antagonizes her to reckless abandon, and it being seen as desirable in text. I think it's worth noting the nuance, dynamics, and being transparent about it, but I understand that even with that note, people aren't going to like how that plays out.
What I really liked about this novel was being able to see Malik interact with a wide cast of characters, experiment with his magic, experiencing the emotional ups and downs on each revelation he makes about his mother's past and the people around her. And the fight scenes/scenes of peril in this book are wicked good, along with the vivid writing. I genuinely feared for Malik during multiple points in this book he gets on the other end of terrible magic and betrayals. I mentioned one of the scenes where Malik gets attacked right after a lecture - that scene stayed with me and I was wondering, right along with the other cast of characters, whether he was going to make it out of that okay.
There are moments of Black Boy joy in this book, where you see Malik being able to have fun with and see his foster brother, quiet moments where he spends with Mama Aya, and getting to know his professors and peers. And even further, feeling like he gets to know his community and come to terms with his sense of identity, a feeling of being home. However, you also get the weight of what costs magic has, the levels of tension, peril, and betrayal that Malik ultimately has to contend with, the history he witnesses and how that's tied to him, and how he has to navigate that. I usually say the best stories are those that not only have a wide range of narrative tones and emotional experiences for the characters within, but also allow me to really delve into who they are, even if I don't always like what they do. That's how I felt about "Blood at the Root" - I felt like I went on a whole journey reading this narrative. And it makes me want to know/experience more of it, even with some pretty heavy occurrences/losses for the characters within.
I liked the journey, and for my first experience with LaDarrion Williams's work, it was an intriguing one. I'm hoping to dive more into the author's work and more of this series in the future to see where it goes. Overall, despite some bumps in the road, I liked "Blood at the Root." Really, really worth it if you can get the audiobook narration for this story - it has sound effects, and is well in character voice for Malik being narrated by Jalyn Hall (who has a nice singing voice, I might add).
Overall score: 4/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher. Also listened to the audiobook narration, which I purchased for myself.
February 21, 2024
Thank you netgalley for this ARC this one was one of my most hyped books of this year and i am so glad i got the chance to read it... Before my review i need to say YALL NEED TO READ THIS ONE. This book was so good what really sucked me in was Baron samedi, Brigette, And of course mama aya. Malik was such a great lead in this novel and the amount of storylines and twist and turns this book had was everything.. The HBCIU with MAGIC? This novel had such great magic elements and the magic scenes were EPIC you just didnt know what someone was going to do even the side characters were so lovable and i love that each person had such great personality and villains of course. I dont want to say too much about the storylines becuase i dont want to spoil for anyone so i wont go too much in detail.. Following a situation that happens when Malik is a young boy regarding magic and then he decides its time to get away from the people who are not good for him and bringing Taye along with him he sees someone that happens to give him a piece of information making him start to learn more about himself and join an HBCIU and meets alot of interesting people there.. people who have super strong magic and he learns alot about his history and why he has the magic he has etc.. This novel had so many beautiful moments and the writing was super detailed and amazing. My favorite part of this novel was the memory aspect and the details in these memories. Im telling yall if you love YA and fantasy this novel is for you. I NEED MORE! Also lets talk about how beautiful this cover is with all the blue ugh i just cant say anything negative about this perfect novel. STRONG 5 ⭐️ LaDarrion be so proud of you this novel it was EPIC.
July 18, 2024
Y’all give this book a lot of harsh criticism without seeing it for what it really is. It’s a book about a young black boy who deals with trauma the best way he knows how. And overcomes the bs. Please. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because we never got an answer about the dad situation.
May 20, 2024
OMFG!!! 😭👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Dare I say this is the best fantasy of 2024!? Bc I loved everything about it. It was so fucking good and left me w so many chills. I’m just in awe fr. I can’t wait for this sequel to come out 😭
Read
March 13, 2024LaDarrion gave us a story so heavily steeped in Black culture. I mean if it was tea, that tea bag sat in that water for 10 years and you forgot what color the water was to begin with because the hue at the end was so deeply rich. I absolutely loved how he wrote in his authentic voice and infused the story with references that many of us in the Black community are very familiar with. The AAVE…it just read so natural to me. Like I was listening to a friend talk and I applaud LaDarrion for making the decision to fully lean into AAVE and the publisher for not watering it down.
I also really enjoyed the writing. It’s very sensory and detailed in a way that I could see the scenes playing out in my mind and I felt like I was put into Malik’s shoes; making the movements he made and feeling what he felt. This story is a great foundation to be adapted to screen. I really hope we get to see this story on screen one day.
Overall, I enjoyed the mystery of the plot. I was fully invested in finding out about Malik’s mother and following his journey of discovery. The beginning 25% and ending 25% had me fully engaged. I do think some of the primary focus was lost in the middle at times. I still really enjoyed because of the secrets, lies, betrayals, and revelations. Towards the end when secrets really start coming to the light, I was literally screaming.
Can’t wait for book 2.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eARC.
I also really enjoyed the writing. It’s very sensory and detailed in a way that I could see the scenes playing out in my mind and I felt like I was put into Malik’s shoes; making the movements he made and feeling what he felt. This story is a great foundation to be adapted to screen. I really hope we get to see this story on screen one day.
Overall, I enjoyed the mystery of the plot. I was fully invested in finding out about Malik’s mother and following his journey of discovery. The beginning 25% and ending 25% had me fully engaged. I do think some of the primary focus was lost in the middle at times. I still really enjoyed because of the secrets, lies, betrayals, and revelations. Towards the end when secrets really start coming to the light, I was literally screaming.
Can’t wait for book 2.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eARC.
December 27, 2023
Some of the book's greatest hits, "...I'm ret to go","Ahhhh sookie sookie,", "BFFR", & "...bruh, you hella corny". This book is a mixture between, Stomp the Yard, Wakanda Forever, & Harry Potter(if they all were black). The story takes place in the south with a young, hard shelled, young man named Malik who is just trying to find his place. After losing his mother ten years ago and discovering his magic, he seeks answers. So off to Caiman University! Some pros...the world building and the ancestry of the characters were excellent to read. I loved all the past and current connections in the story. I did also love the fight scenes. Now some cons...you can tell a millennial wrote this. I found myself turned off and distracted by some of the speech in the book, some I included at the beginning of this review. My advice to the author is to take down some of that because it got in the way of the storytelling, especially when all these older adults were around. Also, the levels of betrayal in the story seemed too predictable. Overall, I finished it in two days on my Kindle and I would read the sequel.
April 24, 2024
I LOVED this! Ate this right on up. A fantasy with a magical HBCU, yea this kept me thoroughly entertained. This book took you from the past to the present. It follows a traumatic situation that happened to Malik when he was a little boy that results in him being an orphan. When he gets older, he decides to start a new life with a brother he meet in a group home. This journey leads him to meet his biological family, getting admitted into this magical HBCU , and uncovering the truth to what really happened on the traumatic night that changed his life. This book was so unapologetically black. It was black boy joy, vulnerability, and coming of age. I just know the author gotta be working on the next installment and I hope for a speedy delivery on the next part because I need more!!! I need to know what happened to grandma Aya’s sibling, what was his mama’s reason for her decisions, who is Malik’s daddy, and I’d love to get to know more of Taye’s story. Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC!
May 30, 2024
Harry Potter but make the characters unapologetically black!! I Will say, I wanted to thoroughly enjoy myself and love this way more than I did, but it seemed slow in some parts and the book didn’t need to be as long as it was. I loved how the magic was tied the ancestors and the twists and turns your own family will take you through! How this story ended, I believe there will be another book or two following? I’m sure I’ll follow up to see how to story concludes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Want to read
December 15, 2023This cover?? This blurb?? I am so excited!
June 20, 2024
This would’ve been a whole lot better without so many pop culture references. But overall I enjoyed it.
June 13, 2024
After getting like 80% through I thought for sure this was self-published, and not exactly in a bad way, it just felt so unedited. To my shock this is from Random House? Like what? There were times a character would suddenly be outside in the yard when they were just in the kitchen (they did not teleport--which I have my issues with) or one of the kids near the end of the book is said to be wearing their uniform, but nowhere else was it mentioned they even have one. This passage especially jolt me out of the story:
(Spoilers btw)
"Taye falls to the ground, writhing in pain.
"Stop!!! Fuckin' stop!"
Professor Kumale's eyes shift to me, and a twisted grin decorates his face. "If you do not want him to kill Taye, take me to the Scroll of Idan."
"I don't know where that shit is!" Taye falls to the ground, writhing in pain. "Fuckin' stop!"
Exactly how it was written. There are so many flaws in this small chunk, it was wild, like did no one look over this before it went out? And this wasn't the only place this happened.
Editing aside I found the world building really strange? Like there was no rules except for when they had to be prevented from doing something. They would flail their hands around and boom magically whatever they wanted to appear, to do, spell, hex, it was there. Sometimes they say words. And the teleporting. Constant teleporting.
Which is part of my other complaint about this book. I'm not sure what the age is intended here. It reads middle school, but the characters are in "college", they have sex (ohmygoshhhh the sex scene, kill me---okay that was mean xD but like the romance itself-----I'm gonna be here all day).
The writing itself made it read so young because it would put in things like "AH!!! Sssss!" Like oh he's in pain I see. Or "Donja looks soooooo scared" not dialogue, just a comment in the prose. Or "Taye!!!!!!!!" I screamed for him." like I got that buddy by the amount of exclamation points you used. And my other saved one "I reach my hand into the hole in the wall, pulling back a...a scroll of paper?!" Like it just comes across so young and then it doesn't help he's doing a report on the Louisiana Purchase and playing dodgeball. Like huh? And the constant bam teleport! contributed to the young feeling in a way I can't fully explain.
The romance too was very pls stop, she does not like you like that. And then suddenly she does. Oh wait it was a trap! Oh but it's fine because we still like her?
Oh yeah and then his bizarre reactions whenever anyone around was gay. Like he had never heard it before. And then we get his friend's coming out story but no we don't, we're told we heard it and his response is 'wooow me being a straight man I could never imagine such a thing but so proud of him' which I don't know, was such a strange thing to put in.
That aside I feel like there is a good story here. I just think the writing is lacking. And it can't decide what age its for (does not help that the author compares it to Percy Jackson and Harry Potter which are for younger kids). But the story itself is there and I hope with the second one it can be a bit more substantive on what it is.
There were moments were I was like ohmygosh I can feel how special this would be to be reading and see yourself in the story. And I loved the relationship between the brothers. I feel like if this author keeps going their stories will only get better.
(Spoilers btw)
"Taye falls to the ground, writhing in pain.
"Stop!!! Fuckin' stop!"
Professor Kumale's eyes shift to me, and a twisted grin decorates his face. "If you do not want him to kill Taye, take me to the Scroll of Idan."
"I don't know where that shit is!" Taye falls to the ground, writhing in pain. "Fuckin' stop!"
Exactly how it was written. There are so many flaws in this small chunk, it was wild, like did no one look over this before it went out? And this wasn't the only place this happened.
Editing aside I found the world building really strange? Like there was no rules except for when they had to be prevented from doing something. They would flail their hands around and boom magically whatever they wanted to appear, to do, spell, hex, it was there. Sometimes they say words. And the teleporting. Constant teleporting.
Which is part of my other complaint about this book. I'm not sure what the age is intended here. It reads middle school, but the characters are in "college", they have sex (ohmygoshhhh the sex scene, kill me---okay that was mean xD but like the romance itself-----I'm gonna be here all day).
The writing itself made it read so young because it would put in things like "AH!!! Sssss!" Like oh he's in pain I see. Or "Donja looks soooooo scared" not dialogue, just a comment in the prose. Or "Taye!!!!!!!!" I screamed for him." like I got that buddy by the amount of exclamation points you used. And my other saved one "I reach my hand into the hole in the wall, pulling back a...a scroll of paper?!" Like it just comes across so young and then it doesn't help he's doing a report on the Louisiana Purchase and playing dodgeball. Like huh? And the constant bam teleport! contributed to the young feeling in a way I can't fully explain.
The romance too was very pls stop, she does not like you like that. And then suddenly she does. Oh wait it was a trap! Oh but it's fine because we still like her?
Oh yeah and then his bizarre reactions whenever anyone around was gay. Like he had never heard it before. And then we get his friend's coming out story but no we don't, we're told we heard it and his response is 'wooow me being a straight man I could never imagine such a thing but so proud of him' which I don't know, was such a strange thing to put in.
That aside I feel like there is a good story here. I just think the writing is lacking. And it can't decide what age its for (does not help that the author compares it to Percy Jackson and Harry Potter which are for younger kids). But the story itself is there and I hope with the second one it can be a bit more substantive on what it is.
There were moments were I was like ohmygosh I can feel how special this would be to be reading and see yourself in the story. And I loved the relationship between the brothers. I feel like if this author keeps going their stories will only get better.
Read
May 14, 20244.5 rounded up
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May 17, 2024
Lord, where do I begin? Let me just say I’ve read plenty fantasy, YA books from Black authors.
In the beginning it’s clear that AAVE is used. I speak AAVE but I prefer not to see it written in the literature I consume. So this is a me problem. I pushed past this for the story but it was tiresome. This book reads like urban fiction (which I gave up when I was like 19-20) that kind of feels like a crossover to another genre for people who only read urban fiction. Also, there’s internet/social media lingo. Examples: bruuuuuh, naaaaaah, gooooodt (yes they are written just like this) oh, and someone gets yeeted 😵💫. Again, a me problem. I did try the audio version and it helped a bunch. I have to give kudos to the voice actor Jalyn Emil Hall. He was really great! And I did like the sound effects.
The first 3rd of the book was a constant reminder that this is a Black story. There’s so many Black references to the point it’s irritating, and it is very distracting from what’s actually going on in the story.
The book is advertised as Black boy joy. I’m still looking for the joy. Main character Malik, suffers the entire book.
The actual storyline was decent. Some moments I was honestly into it, until some off the wall thing was said. There’s a fight going on and they’re using magic and everything is reaching a climax and you’re visualizing everything happening AND THEN someone gets yeeted across the field? Moment ruined. Or some villain rises from beneath the surface of the water like a light-skinned Superman? Come on! Be for real.
The love story? Didn’t care for it. I did like the other friend characters.
The cluster of random twists at the end were kind of predictably out of left field.
Overall, this was a tedious read. I’m sure I’m not the intended audience. It’s set up for a sequel, but this is where I get off the train.
In the beginning it’s clear that AAVE is used. I speak AAVE but I prefer not to see it written in the literature I consume. So this is a me problem. I pushed past this for the story but it was tiresome. This book reads like urban fiction (which I gave up when I was like 19-20) that kind of feels like a crossover to another genre for people who only read urban fiction. Also, there’s internet/social media lingo. Examples: bruuuuuh, naaaaaah, gooooodt (yes they are written just like this) oh, and someone gets yeeted 😵💫. Again, a me problem. I did try the audio version and it helped a bunch. I have to give kudos to the voice actor Jalyn Emil Hall. He was really great! And I did like the sound effects.
The first 3rd of the book was a constant reminder that this is a Black story. There’s so many Black references to the point it’s irritating, and it is very distracting from what’s actually going on in the story.
The book is advertised as Black boy joy. I’m still looking for the joy. Main character Malik, suffers the entire book.
The actual storyline was decent. Some moments I was honestly into it, until some off the wall thing was said. There’s a fight going on and they’re using magic and everything is reaching a climax and you’re visualizing everything happening AND THEN someone gets yeeted across the field? Moment ruined. Or some villain rises from beneath the surface of the water like a light-skinned Superman? Come on! Be for real.
The love story? Didn’t care for it. I did like the other friend characters.
The cluster of random twists at the end were kind of predictably out of left field.
Overall, this was a tedious read. I’m sure I’m not the intended audience. It’s set up for a sequel, but this is where I get off the train.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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