Honestly, I requested this book before I had a chance to read book Blood at the Root (BatR). I heard about the hype and controversy around this series, so I decided to give it a try for my own perspective.

I have a VERY detailed rant of BatR on my Fable, so I won’t do that detailed of a review for this one. After hating BatR, I decided to give BatC a shot because some of the ARC reviews say that it’s better than BatR. I do think it’s the absolute tiniest bit better, but I found myself being very bored with this story. My main criticism is that it completely erases the levity of book one, and it’s entirely too long for it not have told us much. This book felt very much like a filler, and I believe the series could’ve easily been a duopoly for the lack of depth that happened in this story.

The writing style does have less pop culture references, and I appreciate the in text translations and context that were the opposite of BatR. The World Building is still severely lacking for me, and there were so many gaps in development and issues with continuity from BatR which was only a month away. The characters also seemed to regress for the sake of “development.”

In conclusion, do not read this series. The writing is dense, repetitive, and nonsensical, and many sentences will leave you sitting there scratching your head in confusion.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Baaayyyybayyyyy. This book had me in a CHOKEHOLD.
LaDarrion Williams really said “you gon’ feel every word” and I did. Bones at the Crossroads gave everything it needed to give and then some.

First of all, I love me some Malik. He’s messy, emotional, powerful, soft—but never weak. The way he’s trying to figure himself out, protect his people, and still be a young Black man navigating college and magic?? Whew. That’s a lot, and it’s so real. I saw pieces of myself in his struggle and his growth.

And let’s talk about Caiman University. A magical HBCU?? That setting alone makes me wanna enroll TODAY. The vibes, the spells, the secret societies, the HOME-COMING?! Chile, I felt like I was there.

The family drama had me clutching my pearls. The new characters? Delicious. The twists?? I was flipping pages like I was getting paid for it. And the ending? Nah, LaDarrion... why would you do us like that? I need book three YESSSTERRRDAAAYY

Also can we give flowers for the way this book touches on Black mental health, queer identity, grief, and healing? It’s so layered and heartfelt, but still fun and magical.

Anyway, if you love books that make you feel seen, books that mix Black culture with fantasy in a way that’s rich and intentional, books that leave you SHOOK and spiritually fed—read this.

This series is for US. And I’m gonna keep screaming about it until the whole world listens. Period.

Loved this book just as much as the first! The black boy magic is 🤌🏼 And that ending? I know book 2 isn’t officially out yet, but I need book 3 immediately!

This was a great sequel. I am so invested in this story now I never want it to end. I enjoy the nuance of the characters, and the very real issues they deal with inside of all the not real issues of the supernatural. I would recommend it to a lot of different readers.

DNF at 36%. More of a “mood” issue, but I really struggled to get into this. As much as I liked the first book and continue to enjoy the way this develops on concepts established in the first book, I’m just not feeling the pacing in particular.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams

I devoured this sequel. Picking up right after Blood at the Root, this book had me emotionally hooked from page one. Malik? That boy deserves peace, love, a nap, and maybe a spa day because he has been through it. 😭

This book does such a phenomenal job blending powerful themes into its narrative:
🖤 The pressure Black men face to “act right” or “act white”
🏳️‍🌈 The layered experiences of being queer and Black—including homophobia within the Black community
🧠 Grief, healing, and the mental health of Black men

And the queer representation?? Absolutely beautiful. It wasn’t tokenized or thrown in—it was nuanced, tender, and real.

My one complaint? I wanted more magic. I’m so fascinated by root and I just want to fall even deeper into that world.

AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT CHAPTER 42?! Those three twists/info drops had me yelling “WHAT?!” out loud with my jaw on the FLOOR. I wasn’t ready. I still might not be ready. 😱

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the ARC.
Bones at the Crossroads releases July 29, 2025—do yourself a favor and grab this one.

First, a recap of Blood at the Root, the first book in this series: Malik is an orphan; his mother died when he was 7, and he doesn't know who his father is. For the last 10 years, he's been shuffled from orphanage to foster home to foster home, with no roots and no family other than a 12 year-old foster brother he had to leave behind when he was moved to another foster home and his foster brother Taye was left behind with their abusive foster father. There's a lot of sadness and grief in Malik's life, and this novel shows a side of life that many people have no experience with, and which may seem unreal. Malik has a clear voice that reflects his life and his culture, and his use of language may be unfamiliar to some; there is slang that is not always clear from context, as well as references to pop culture that may not be familiar to all readers, which can make the story hard to follow in some places.

Bones at the Crossroads picks up where Blood at the Root leaves off. Malik is entering his second semester at Caiman University, a college for students with magical potential - and not just any college, but an HBCU (historically Black college or university), full of young adults like Malik, learning not just the usual college subjects, but a variety of magical skills and applications, as well as learning about their cultural history. Having started during the summer session, the fall session is the first regular session Malik has attended, but as during the summer session, something is very wrong at Caiman University. Students are going missing, and Malik's mother - very much not dead, despite what he believed until summer session - is leading the effort to break down the magical wards that protect the campus, for reasons of her own. This effort requires a magical scroll, which she can't find, but which, unknown to her, Malik received from his grandmother during the previous volume, and he very much fears she will try to kill him to obtain it.

Malik must deal with finding his mother alive and apparently trying to kill him, while also dealing with the usual difficulties of attending college, both academic and social. Then there are the family problems; his adoptive younger brother Taye, his long-lost and previously unknown uncle John Henry (yes, *that* John Henry), and, amidst finding out who his father is, and why his father never came to save him all the time he spent in foster care.

This is a stronger novel than the first one, and I look forward to the next one. Due to violence and social themes, this novel is recommended for high school and adult readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We pick up right where we left off at the end of *Blood at the Roots*. This story was okay. I feel like LaDarrion does a good job of incorporating history lessons and social commentary on topics in Black history and culture, but at times, it felt like too much information. I still wish we could explore more of the magical aspects of the HBCU and the magical elements in general. Often, it felt like Caiman was just a regular school with a student population that happened to be magical. I hope that book three provides less focus on the lessons and more on the magic and the story. While the reveal was definitely predictable, I was still shocked by it. Overall, Malik's growth as a person between the first and second books is really good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Hauntingly Beautiful Tapestry of Legacy and Magic

Bones at the Crossroads is one of those rare books that seeps into your bones and stays with you long after you turn the final page. LaDarrion Williams has crafted a story that feels both timeless and timely—a Southern Gothic tale brimming with folklore, ancestral memory, and a magic that feels deeply rooted in the land and its people.

The characters are so vivid they feel like family. I found myself completely invested in their secrets, burdens, and quiet moments of hope. Williams’s writing is lyrical without ever feeling overwrought—he knows exactly when to let the story breathe and when to break your heart wide open.

What I love most is how this novel honors the complexity of Black Southern identity and the weight of generational pain, while also celebrating resilience, love, and the power of reclaiming one’s story. It’s unflinching but never hopeless—dark yet full of light in the way only true Southern Gothic can be.

I closed this book feeling both haunted and seen. If you’re looking for a read that blends magical realism, historical echoes, and an unforgettable sense of place, *Bones at the Crossroads* is an absolute gem. LaDarrion Williams is a voice we desperately need right now—this novel proves he’s one to watch.

Because some of the most powerful magic is knowing who you are.

Malik is back and just trying to breathe. It’s homecoming season at Caiman University, and while most students are picking majors and finding their rhythm, Malik is still carrying the weight of the summer that changed everything:
💥 heartbreak,
💔 betrayal,
🌪 and the discovery that his long-lost mother may be his biggest threat.

This sequel dives deeper into legacy, lineage, grief, and growth. And still, Malik is so human through it all. Awkward. Brave. Angry. Hopeful. Not fully in control of his powers, or his pain but trying anyway. And that’s what makes him one of the most important Black fantasy leads I’ve ever read.

Expect:
🔮 secret societies & ancestral magic
🕯️ complex family dynamics
🏛️ magical campus drama
💘 unexpected romance (slow, soft, earned)
🖤 and a main character who refuses to be boxed in

This series doesn’t just sprinkle in representation it’s rooted in it. Deeply Black. Deeply magical. And Malik? He’s not a trope. He’s a whole boy. Messy. Magical. Deserving. And watching him try to claim his place in a world that doubts him while learning to trust others, and himself is everything.

This book is for the ones who:
🌿 grew up not seeing themselves in fantasy
🌑 carry both power and pain
🔥 want stories that reflect where we come from and where we’re going

Bones at the Crossroads is bold, layered, and full of heart. The magic is dope. The tension is real. The message is clear: Black boys belong in fantasy—as heroes, legends, and more. Comes out July 29th!! It’s almost here.

#BonesAtTheCrossroads #BlackBoyMagic #ContemporaryFantasy #BlackFantasyMatters #AncestralPower #HiddenMagic #CaimanUniversity #FantasyWithHeart #MagicalBlackLead #OwnVoicesFantasy #BookstagramReads

It is finally time for Malik to start his freshman year of college. After the trials endured during the summer session, he is hoping for just a normal experience. Since he is attending Caiman University, an HBCU for magical students, that will not be possible. At first, he just wanted to find his mother, but now that he has learned she is a greater danger to him than those he thought were his enemies, he doesn’t know whom he can trust.

Bones at the Crossroads is the second book in the Blood at the Root series. The story picks up shortly after the conclusion of the first book, weaving together magic and mundane life. I enjoyed the magical component and the aspects where the main character learns more about who he wants to become, but some of the day-to-day portions of the story just slowed everything down. Readers must read the first book to enjoy this continuation.

Bones at the Crossroads is a powerful and immersive sequel that pulls you right back into the magical world of CAIMAN U, where fantasy meets real-life struggles in the most compelling way. Picking up right after Blood at the Root, we follow Malik’s journey as he navigates the complexities of college life while confronting a dangerous threat tied deeply to his family’s past.

What truly stood out to me was how LaDarrion Williams balances the magical with the very human—Malik is not your typical flawless “chosen one.” He’s messy, vulnerable, and learning through his mistakes, which makes him incredibly relatable. The story gives space to important conversations about mental health and the pressures faced by young Black men, all woven into a fast-paced narrative that kept me hooked until the very last page.

The friendships in this book felt authentic and heartfelt; Malik’s friend group is a source of strength and warmth amidst the chaos. And Taye’s character growth added an extra layer of tenderness that made me want to reach through the pages and give him a big hug.

This book is more than fantasy—it’s a story about family, identity, and resilience, and it’s one I wish had been around when I was younger. Whether you’re a fantasy fan or new to the genre, Bones at the Crossroads is a must-read that turns expectations on their head and delivers a rich, emotional experience.

interesting setting with some cool vibes. it's definitely a great followup to the first book and the drama is there. i also love the loa discussion. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

It’s homecoming at Caiman U! Malik and his friends are preparing for royals and trying to be normal college students. Well as normal as you can be at a magical university but there’s a war coming and Malik will have some choices to make. After losing a couple people that were near and dear to him he’s back on campus trying to get back Into the swing of things while dealing with the grief of those losses among other things. This story had a lot of twist and turns. It gave hbcu vibes and great representation. The writing had me on edge, really feeling like I was in the middle of the scenes. The words really come to life. Can’t wait for book 3!

Absolutely loved the 1st book and cant wait to see how the story develops. Will definitely be buying a copy for my shelves

The book was Great. I love how intense this book was compared to the first one. Maliks Growth Throughout this book is amazing. He continues to finds his magical abilities which I loved throughout this book. The twist in this book that LaDarrion gives us is amazing. I can go on and on about this book i loved it i cant wait to see what happens next

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoy that the book gives a Black Hogwarts vibe. Without giving to much away we see how the children are now managing their powers while still dealing with the Bokors. We see Malik grow into his power and deal with the reality of what happened to his family and how important he is to the fabric of Caiman. This is a must read!! I can’t wait for book three to come out.

It is homecoming and Malik’s second year at Caiman after a quick first year. Malik is interested in just becoming a normal (well as normal as you can get at a magical college) college student. It will also be his first since the lost of his grandmother and his Uncle he has never met has shown up and he is looking for something. But Malik still isn’t sure about his place in the magical world, and things are moving fast around him.
This book is really good might even be better than the first. There is still no end to the action and suspense in this book. The characters, even the new ones fir very well and the story line is great. It is a great book that should keep most every readers attention, and hey you might even find that bedtime is well past when you put it down.

Thank you Random House Children's and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars,.

Well!

Bones at the Crossroads, though picking up where Blood at the Root left off, certainly doesn't live in the first book's shadow. Here, it's very clear that LaDarrion Williams has taken a lot of critique to heart and grown as a writer.

There are many, many positives in this book. Without spoiling key parts of the story, Caiman U has grown to be more than a set piece and feels like a living institution, a cast of relevant background characters make the world feel full, and more importantly, Malik has grown in to a character that I am proud to present to Black boys and have them take likeness after.

Most importantly, this book touches on topics such as homophobia in the Black community, cycles of violence within family structures, and therapy as a successful measure of growth. Few YA books lay out these themes unabashedly.

Lastly, Dom > Alexis.

Absolutely loved! I have been so excited for this series since I stumbled upon the authors tiktok. And its amazing! Each book makes you want another. I love the characters and the growth you can see happening from book one to book 2. I love just the entire idea of the book and I could not put it down