A review by lit_vibrations
Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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‼️