Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Blood at the Root is the first volume of a YA fantasy/wizardy series by LaDarrion Williams. Released 7th May 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Labyrinth Road imprint (YA/Children's), it's 432 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in second quarter 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

There are so few books written with a strong, well rounded, positively rendered, three dimensional person of color in the MC role that it's refreshing, (and sadly often remarkable) when it happens. It's especially notable when YA novels feature young men in a not-primarily-romantic role, and this one has both, and is quite readable and engaging in addition.

There's a thread of unresolved mystery from the past, a solid setup, an appealing MC, a HBCU school setting (for magical types), however, the book has been marketed as racial trauma free, and that's not accurate, there is a fair bit of open reality-driven racist commentary/judgement (well deserved) on the foster care system as it's implemented in the USA (sadly). There's also a *lot* of racist(ish?) misogynoir which made me wince (women are represented as either oversexed or elderly, and there's a lot of twerking going on).

Other readers have commented on the jargon/Creole language. Although not competent to comment on the accuracy, it's certainly noticeable and prevalent.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 14 hours and 54 minutes and is capably read by Jalyn Hall. He has a well rounded pleasantly modulated voice and is easy to listen to. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Three and a half stars. It would make a good choice for fans of dark academia, YA fantasy, or a good buddy read. It's potentially a bit edgy for public school library acquisition (given the challenges happening across the USA), but should be fine for public library acquisition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Dear @itsladarrion You have gathered me tuhday!
My heart is absolutely full, not only as an avid reader myself but also as a ELA teacher

I am singing your praise right now!!

This book is such a prestigious piece of literature that every single person needs, especially for our black and brown kids so that they can see that they are magical too!!

I am truly fascinated, and you are truly honored for giving us this piece of work!!

You have gifted the Culture !!!

Thank you So much for sharing your magic with us!!

#turnthepagetours #ladarrionwilliams #prh #ttpt
#bloodattheroot

Blood at the Root is a strong debut novel from LaDarrion Williams. This is a fun read with a complex story, unexpected twists, and deep historical culture. The main character, Malik, wields enormous power, but without knowing how to harness it, conflict ensures. Reminiscent of Harry Potter, Malik finds himself at a magical school, but it is an entirely fresh take. While lengthy and bit slow to start, the final act was powerful and I can’t wait to read the next book.

Trigger Warnings: Family death, foster care system, mentions of assault

Ten years ago, Malik’s life changed forever when his mother mysteriously vanished into green smoke and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Now at seventeen, Malik’s kept his powers hidden, focusing on looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. However, after a daring act to rescue Taye, Malik’s found an unexpected connection to his magical ties and to a hidden magical university his mother attended.

At Caiman University, a door opens for a future Malik never could have envisioned for himself - one with magic, and one that includes Alexis, his first love. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes cracks in the magical community - feuding covens, magical politics, forbidden knowledge, and buried mysteries. While digging, Malik also discovers the reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution.

I actually found this book through LaDarrion Willam’s TikTok, right as he was getting ready to publish it - I’ve only just now been able to read and review it. I knew I was going to like this novel, but I didn’t think I would love it as much as I did. This book is action packed and will keep readers turning page after page with anticipation as to what’s to come.

I both read and listened to the audiobook and I would highly recommend giving the audiobook a listen to, because Jalyn Hall does a phenomenal job at the dictation and appropriate inflections needed for the dialogue to feel genuine. There were also a few sound effects and music that played along with it and gave it a nice atmosphere.

Overall, a wonderful POC magical YA novel written in a world that Malik is still learning about (so readers can too). I’m definitely keeping my eyes out for the second book in the series.

*Thank you Labyrinth Road and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Williams' fantasy novel is a wonderful read! I loved the world building and character development. He has set up an amazing series and I am looking forward to the next book already.

Ladarrion Williams crafts a breathtaking story with Blood at the Root, blending magic, history, and a pulse-pounding mystery. When we meet Malik, he’s not your typical teenager. Haunted by his mother’s disappearance and hiding powers he barely understands, he’s just trying to survive with his younger foster brother, Taye. But a single act of courage shatters his quiet life, revealing a lost heritage and a powerful connection to his grandmother, a legendary conjurer.

I LOVED this book so much. I saw it compared to Legend born quite a bit and I think that's a fair comparison. I really enjoyed it and I am really looking forward to more from this author. I always love seeing Black storytellers tell stories in which we are the main characters and the chosen ones for once and that was definitely the case here. I loved this book and I'm so happy it exists

I was intrigued by the concept of Black boys having magic in a world that tells them they're just the supporting character, but ultimately I was disappointed by this book. I love diverse fantasy and I pretty much grab most fantasy with a diverse cast but this book was a little too derivative of Harry Potter for me, complete with a Chosen One who grew up as an orphan who learns his magical powers late.

It basically read like Harry Potter centering Blackness at a magical HBCU. And the magic was built on generational trauma in a story that starts with the main character, Malik, abandoned by his magical family for the last 10 years, bouncing through the foster system after his mother dies in a horrific accident when he was seven and everyone believes he killed her. He kidnaps his little foster brother to run away from abuse when the story opens. The story is sold as the usual Black boys don't die at the end tale, but there was a ton of trauma and death in this story, even though the MC stays with us.

Then he finds out he has a famous magical grandmother and enrolls at Caiman University, where he's reunited with another magical Black girl whom he knew for six months when they were seven at an orphanage. He hopes to find answers about his mother at college, who may still be alive and went down a dark path in her youth.

I enjoyed the academic, magical school portions of the world; it does a good job of showing college life, parties and attending classes, and I appreciated the clever CaimanTea social media app. The magic system rooted in ancestral power was intriguing.

And I could forgive Malik for some of his shallowness and rudeness because he is a 17-year-old boy who's been through a lot and has no reason to trust anyone and the audience for this book is 17-year-old Black boys. I may be in a phase of being off YA for awhile, some of the themes are just too young for me. I appreciate YA when the themes are universal.

There was a bit of biphobia when a bi boy was referred to as being "sexually fluid" and there was a nod to including queer characters, but these characters often seemed one-dimensional and only men and amabs were queer; women were all straight and sexually objectified "baddies". Alexis, the love interest, had an uneven character development and I didn't feel the chemistry between the two; Malik acted like he owned her because they had a special connection when they were seven and didn't speak for 10 years. It felt like Alexis was just stringing him along and Malik didn't know her as an adult or respect her activism.

The writing style was also hard to read because a lot of the book was written in AAVE and not just in dialogue; for me I think it would have worked better as an audio book. It was also just too long and I ended up speed-reading the last half.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I cried. Malik’s heartbreak in the end over his mother had me in tears. I loved the setting of this, incredibly immersive.

Thank you for the chance to read and review but after further consideration, I don’t think that this is the right book for me at this time.

This book fills a much-needed gap in the literature. Magical stories have existed in all religions, and I found this take on the "Magical School" refreshing. Making the school and HBCU provided the perfect vehicle for making magic non-Eurocentrically-American, and it gives all the Black traditions a place in the conversation. Not every spell has to be cast in Latin, and wands aren't serious.

Malik's journey is scary and fun. His love for his brother transcends blood ties, and his stumbles at making friends, and at romance feel authentic. I wonder at the YA rating for a college-age character, but I have my suspicions about how that happened.

There are some clunky scenes with some of the young people, but overall, I love the representation. This generations gets it! Not all of the characters feel real, and I will need to see more of Malik's mother's backstory to truly understand her motivations. I look forward to the next installment!

Absolutely loved this cover! And a heard this is a series so I have more to look forward to. Had to buy a physical copy to add to my library.

This was a fresh new book about a young man who finds out there is a whole magical world he knows nothing about. Malik spent most of the book unravelling the secrets of his life. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I really loved it.

🌟🌟🌟🌟½

*Blood at the Root* by LaDarrion Williams is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that delves deep into themes of identity, community, and the impact of systemic injustice. Williams’ writing is both lyrical and incisive, drawing readers into a world that is rich with emotion and urgency.

The characters are vividly portrayed, each navigating their own struggles and triumphs in a society that often feels unforgiving. Williams captures their complexities beautifully, making it easy to empathize with their journeys. The narrative is filled with moments of raw honesty, prompting readers to reflect on their own perceptions and biases.

The pacing is generally strong, though there are moments where the narrative could have benefitted from a bit more focus on certain subplots. However, the overall impact of the story more than compensates for this, as Williams masterfully weaves together personal and political narratives.

The book’s exploration of heritage and resilience is both timely and timeless, making it a must-read for anyone interested in social justice and the power of storytelling. *Blood at the Root* is an unforgettable debut that will resonate with readers long after they turn the last page.

Highly recommended!

fun fantasy with cool ideas and strong motifs. would recommend this wry and insightful take on fantasy academia

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, 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.

This was an interesting story and I appreciate it for what it is and for what the author was trying to do with it. There were sone things I didn’t like but overall it was a good read and I’m looking forward to continuing on in the series to see what comes next for Malik.

This was a great read with a magical school that still teaches math and English. The main focus is on the POC characters and their deep connection to their ancestors. I definitely enjoyed it and found it to be informative as well.

I’m not understanding the hype surrounding this book. It was written as a manual for non-poc people into our culture as presented by media. The writing was elementary at best. I won’t be picking up another thing by this author and shocked it was even published.