Bones at the Crossroads

Blood at the Root #2

by LaDarrion Williams

In the sequel to the explosive, instant New York Times bestseller Blood at the Root, Malik returns to Caiman University, the HBCU for the young, Black, and magical, only to find new dangers and new secrets.

It's his freshman year at Caiman University, and all 17-year-old Malik wants to do is be a normal college student. Go to parties, choose a major, talk to girls, and learn some new magic. 

But instead, he's reeling from a summer of discovery, loss and betrayal, and still uncovering the truth about his powers and his legacy as the descendant of a powerful magical lineage. The family he only just discovered is already fractured beyond repair, and the mother he thought he knew—and risked everything to find—might be the biggest danger to the new life he's building. Malik is trying to find his footing in a world threatened by intertribal tension and the rising power of the Bokors. But how he can he use his power to protect a world he's not sure he'll ever fully belong to...

In a wholly unique and electric saga of magic, heritage, and community, Malik confronts the dark cracks of the magical world, and the darkness in himself.  Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Audiobook, Magic, Queer, LGBT, Science Fiction Fantasy

544 pages, Hardcover

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

Hailing 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.

Reviews

[Crowinator · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a much stronger book than the first one. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. More to come.

[Bethanie Free · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks you to NetGalley, Random House, and the incomparable LaDarrion Williams for this ARC copy in return for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Malik finds himself back at Caiman University expected to go about his every day life pretending as if his true love didn’t betray him, his mama didn’t come back from the dead, and the magical community isn’t on the brink of war. Feeling helpless and hopeless the best Malik can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst while still trying to maintain the life he deserves of your average and every day magical 17 year old. Thankfully he has the celebrations of homecoming and the prospect of a new love to keep him grounded. Just when he feels like normalcy might have seeped in, his worst nightmare strikes on what should have been the best night of his life and his world is swept into upheaval again. But can Malik take all of the healing and work he has done and create a better outcome than those that made the mistakes before him?

I have never been so excited for an ARC read in my life! BatR was one of my top reads of 2024! As someone from the suburbs of Birmingham the content resonated with me far before I even read a word in it. We have so many fantastic artists in Alabama and it is so refreshing to see one get the attention they deserve. Then BatC hit me with the queer acceptance in a community that is resistant to change.

LaDarrion Williams has a way of introducing polarizing topics of conversation in such a story telling way that makes it impossible not to side with him. He shows you the good, bad, and ugly of every situation because he writes these topics in the stories to set up a better support system than what black individuals have previously had. He shows the back and forth of a young black man choosing to heal in therapy over toxic masculinity. He shows you the resilience of a black queer person choosing to be loud and heard instead of quiet and walked over. He shows you a friend group who choose to continually uplift each other in support and hold each other accountable instead of being hateful of success and encouraging bad decisions because it is the easy way.

He doesn’t just talk to young black people about breaking generational curses, he shows them how to do it. And he does it in such a way that it doesn’t feel preachy and flows effortlessly into the story. He speaks to these kids on their level, because he speaks from experience and it is such an incredible thing to witness.

Now let’s talk storyline!

I was utterly obsessed with this book from the beginning. And when they got into the Homecoming portion? I got so excited. Homecoming football games are HUGE in the south and are entire affairs, To see that translated into the magick community was so much fun.

I love Williams combinational use of all different kinds of ancestral magick. Instead of focusing on just one type he chose to incorporate all of them in a very cohesive way that allows each type its time to shine. We as readers get to learn about all types of Black and African magic beliefs.

The characters are absolutely incredible. Not only do we get to see exponential growth in Malik, but each character learns their own lessons and has their own “fixing” to do on issues. Except D-Low who is a precious angel and deserves everything good in this world. Also Taye, my sweet angel baby.

I love love LOVED Malik and Dom’s relationship. So many mistakes were made and so many opportunities for it to go wrong but they always found themselves back together. I loved the focus on the music and I discovered so many incredible songs. And her playing a song every time he smiled? Ugh, dead. Dom is just so precious and I love her and Malik so much.

Now, Mr. Williams. We gotta talk about that ending. Because how DARE you leave me on that! Where is the last book? I need it right now but I’m also not ready for it to be over!

[Ms. Woc Reader]

Bones at the Crossroads upped the ante when it came to a lot of things. We get even deeper into the magic as we learn more about Malik's family as well as a secret society his mother had gotten involved in during her time at Caiman. We get a lot more backstory for the faculty which only enriched the story. Queer representation gets an even larger presence as Homecoming curt nominations turn into a competition among the crew. There are some uncomfortable but much needed conversations had. Though at times it towed the line of being a little bit preachy. There's a lot of emphasis on Malik having a normal college life despite the abnormal situation.

There was a lot packed into the pages but it kept a steady pace. Readers get to see how much Malik has grown from book one to now and the continued work he's doing. This was a very solid follow up.

Full review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly enjoyable but overly long. This book is definitely a second book in a series. A lot of it felt like filler. I did enjoy getting to know Malik's friend group better but the actual plot progression doesn't start until the last 150 pages.

Over all I enjoy this book and I'm excited to continue the series.

[Lit_Vibrations · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A war is coming to Caiman University and there will be blood to pay.”

Special thanks to the author & @penguinrandomhouse #LabyrinthRoad for my gifted copy‼️

Centered around Black experiences it feels so good to be back at Caiman University the magical HBCU for young, Black Conjurers. This book was everything and to know we’re getting a book 3 I’m so here for it!!! I love LaDarrion’s writing because it’s so Black and relatable. If we had a magical HBCU in modern times this book is exactly how I would want it to be. Not gonna lie I can’t wait for this to release on audio because I knoooooow it’s gonna be fire. If you listened to book 1 then you know exactly why I can’t wait.

Now what can I say about this book without spoiling it for anyone . . . . It’s still giving Black boy magic, we have a new love interest, some new friends, of course there’s family drama, an ancient magical society, uncovered secrets (ish got real), a little forgiveness, and some legendary family ties. Act 3 did it for me! My only downside was some of the lingo used and a few situations kind of felt random. But other than that the author delivered in every aspect. The character development was AMAZING you can see the growth in Malik and the depth the author put into the other characters.

The book was simply perfection it’s filled with Black culture, adventure, danger, stronger magic, and poignant themes of friendship and found family. I highly recommend ya’ll pre-order this one ASAP‼️ The book ends on a cliffhanger which has me super excited for the next book. I know for a fact readers are gonna love this even if you’re not into fantasy.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️

[Myles Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down for the life of me… Bones at the Crossroads is LIKE THAT!
I am so happy to be back with these characters and Caiman U. Seeing Malik’s growth from book one to book two is absolutely awesome. He’s continuing to find himself and truly hone in to his magical abilities which is so dope. The twists and turns that the author throws at you in mind boggling but still finds a way to keep you wanting to read and know more. I don’t want to give too much away but what LaDarrion Williams has created especially for our culture is truly amazing and it’s a book that I truly feel connected to. This series is so so good and I highly recommend that you pick it up🔥

[Electra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love it as much as I loved the first one, but I didn't. I basically could have done without the entire second act. It slowed down the entire story, didn't contribute anything to move the plot forward and just several hundred pages of a heavy handed message.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well...I have complicated thoughts on finishing this, but I'll go with my honest gut. 3 stars.

We'll talk about it closer to the release date.

I can give y'all non-spoilery thoughts as a teaser. I was going through most of the book right at 3.5 stars. Malik had a lot of moments of character growth. (A good thing for me.)

Big detractor was the pacing, though. Other things too, but that was thing that made me say "Okay, that's an issue."

[Kara Cecchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bones at the Crossroads is a hauntingly beautiful story that speaks to the soul of what it means to come of age as a Black boy carrying more than his share of the world.

A story of legacy, but also a story of choice. Of what we do with the wounds we inherit. Of how we learn to become more than what the world has asked us to be. Malik’s story is a reminder that even when we are handed broken things—broken families, broken histories, broken dreams—we can still create something powerful from the pieces. This book will stay with you. In your bones. In the questions it asks. In the ache it names. And in the way it offers magic, not as a fantasy, but as a path to healing.

LaDarrion Williams writes with lyrical honesty, weaving in therapy as a vital tool for healing, especially in the Black community, and including queer Black characters whose presence is essential, not peripheral. This is a story about carrying too much too young, but also about reclaiming joy, voice, and identity.

Perfect for fans of Tracy Deonn and Tomi Adeyemi, Bones at the Crossroads is a necessary addition to the YA canon, where Black boys are allowed to be tender, magical, and whole.

4.5 stars. Big thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's, & LaDarrion Williams for this advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review. Already pre-ordered a finished copy!

[Stacey Labissiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams was an absolute masterpiece, and experiencing it as both an eBook and audiobook made it even better. The narration by Jalyn was phenomenal, he breathed so much life into Malik, capturing his personality, vulnerability, and growth perfectly. Every scene felt richer because of the way Jalyn delivered Malik’s voice, making me feel like I was right there alongside him.

One of the strongest aspects of this book was the depth of character development. Malik’s journey felt authentic and layered, showing real growth as he navigated challenges, unlearned harmful mindsets, and embraced a more open and compassionate worldview. I especially appreciated how this story tackled negative stigmas within the Black community around mental health and the LGBTQIA+ community, openly addressing how certain toxic behaviors keep us divided. Those themes hit close to home and had me reflecting deeply on my own therapy journey, particularly the work of forgiving and understanding my parents. This book wasn’t just a story; it was an emotional mirror.

And honestly? The criticism I’ve seen about this book makes me roll my eyes. Some readers claim the dialogue between the college-aged characters “doesn’t sound realistic” because there’s too much slang, or that it feels “forced.” I couldn’t disagree more. If you’ve spent time around young Black college students, especially in Southern or urban settings, you know this dialogue is authentic, it’s how we talk, how we connect, and how we express culture.

The same goes for the people criticizing Malik’s character, saying he feels “forced.” Malik is literally an 18-year-old boy trying to figure out who he is, learning and unlearning in real time. Of course he’s going to stumble, say the wrong thing, and reflect the biases he was raised with, that’s what makes his growth so believable. To strip that away would be to strip away realism.

Bones at the Crossroads tugged at my heartstrings, challenged me to think, and made me feel deeply seen. Between LaDarrion Williams’ powerful storytelling and Jalyn’s spot-on narration, this was a 5-star experience through and through.

[Ricky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back we go to Caiman U for more magic, mayhem, and murder…and thankfully this, unlike way too many second books in YA fantasy, is NOT a duology conclusion, because that ending demands resolution expeditiously. This book picks up in the new fall semester at Caiman, with Malik reeling from a metric ton of betrayals, quickly figuring out that those in authority don’t have his best interests at heart (or anyone else’s but their own)…and yet, he’s also able to cement his friendships with the likes of Elijah, Savon, and D Low (the latter two seeking to make history as Caiman’s first ever Queer Homecoming Royals, upending decades of homophobic practice), and he’s finding himself drawn to a new love interest, Dom, who seems like the perfect lady for him…but then, so did Alexis, and look what happened there, eh? All I can say is that Williams is nothing if not a dramatic storyteller, and after all the twists and turns of this book, it may take more than one new novel to wrap it all up. But I’ll be ready to read all those books when they come.

[Tina Sale · Rating 4 out of 5]

LADARRION!!!! I HAVE SOME WORDS FOR YOU FRIEND. I can’t wait til the next book. Hope to meet you again and talk about this book cause holy shit!!!!!

[Spectacular · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was def better than the second one as you can see the author’s attention to detail of describing events. It’s a plenty to read a book that reflects the color of my skin and turns it into HBCU with magical powers. I look forward to the next installment, don’t rush them out and build you audience

[Jay Guillory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 Stars

Bones at the Crossroads is the second book in the Blood at the Roots trilogy and it blew me away! We return to Caiman University shortly after the events at the end of book one. While everyone else is getting ready for new classes, parties, and rushing fraternities and sororities, Malik is still reeling from everything that happened that summer. He’s dealing with loss and betrayal, but those in power tell him he can’t let anyone know the truth about what happened. The story follows him as he learns even more about his past and his magic, trying to be a normal college student while also worrying about the threat of the Bokors.

I love everything about this series. This book continued the amazing storytelling of the first, with a gripping plot and amazing character development. Malik is a teen boy with trauma who is just trying to live life. I love how therapy is brought into this story and the insight we get into different characters experience with that. Williams also incorporated religion into the magic system of this world and I really liked how it was woven into the history and casting along with other Black and African magic.

The characters’ relationships in this book are what makes it one of my favorite series! I love all the friendships and how real they are. Williams isn’t afraid to throw in some tension and drama to show these kids working and growing through the termoil. I LOVED the Malik and Dom storyline and how much respect was given to that playing out. They showed so much maturity and growth for 17 year olds and I cannot wait to see what happens next with them. There is also family drama, generational trauma, and so much more to explore with all these characters!

I am a HUGE fan of the audiobook narrator, Jalyn Hall. He embodies the character of Malik so well and really elevates the story to new levels. The audio also incorporates some sound effects for the magic that really make it an experience. I highly recommend listening on audio if you have the chance! It is one of my favorite audios!

LaDarrion is making a stop on his release tour at my local bookstore this Friday, and I cannot wait to meet him and hear him talk all about Malik and Caiman U! His author’s notes are so impactful, so I am really excited to hear him speak on his writing process and creating this story.

Thank you Random House Children's and PRH Audio for early copies of the book.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

“Sometimes I feel like I don’t even know how to smile. Things have been going so wrong for so long; I’m just trying to keep my head above water.“
-Bones at the Crossroads

To start there were sections I absolutely loved, the first 1/3 was perfect, picking up right after we left off, in the midst of turmoil and the heartbreak for our young protagonist Malik Baron. However in the second third the pacing slowed way down, and we got very caught up in the drama of homecoming which is all well and good except that there was this huge chaotic mess going on and it felt like a strange priority to spend so much time on, plus this created a bunch of drama between characters who were supposed to be friends and actually seemed to take away from the pro-queer message. The shift in focus once again happens in the last third and the pacing speeds up throwing our focus back on the main conflict, while also raising so many questions about samedi and Brigette and how they could have corrected some of the situation. As well as a new character in John Henry being introduced but not made a major player. Malik throws more than one tantrum which I had to remind myself he’s only 17, but for someone whose trying so hard to do right it felt like he was very impulsive at times leading to unnecessary shifts in dynamics.

I really loved where this story started and was headed, but was left with far more questions about why the character did things, not necessarily ones that have answers either.

I think the last 10% had a redemption that I believe will continue into the next book. But I just felt like there was a good percentage in the middle where I didn’t know why I was fighting for the protagonist anymore. As well as starting to unravel some of the magical rules.

In the authors note their is a reminder that black buys are magic too, and this idea about queer black men, and softness being allowed even though it’s hard is interwoven into the characters, I wanted to see that represented more rather than becoming a point of tension between our found family.

The main reason I had to come down from 4 stars was these pacing issues, and the shift in focus on character arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC, these are my honest opinions.

[Julia Pika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

A great sequel! I really like that it picks up where the first book left off--with all the drama and discovery of magic continuing. Malik is a great young protagonist that struggles with the family drama and his magic manifesting in ways he can't control.

I like how LaDarrion fleshes out the side characters--even Malik's friends. One of them ranted at Malik which was fair but damn, I was really rooting for both of them in the argument. They were both right and wrong. I won't spoil but it was a pretty cool dramatic moment and both friends came out all the stronger for it.

My favorite part is Malik getting a therapist! I don't think I've seen that in a YA book recently--usually too much drama happens and they genuinely have no time for self-reflection, but I"m glad LaDarrion had Malik start therapy (dude REALLY needs it poor kid has been through too much!!) and I felt like it enriched the story more.

Usually I hate love triangles but honestly LaDarrion did a great job handling it and it felt messy and oh so real on everyone's part. Neither girl was sidelined and both had time to flesh themselves out beyond just being "Malik's boyfriend" or something stupid like that. LaDarrion knew what he was doing and crafted it well--so props to him for that. :)

The magic continues to be badass and I love learning more about the history behind it and meeting more magical characters!

Can't wait for the next book!!

[Donnakay'sBookWorld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC. I will be annotating a physical copy of the novel.

This was an amazing follow-up in the Blood at the Root series and I'm very excited to continue reading. At first, the story felt a little slow and we became reacclimated with the characters and how they moved forward after the explosive end of book 1. I enjoyed being in Malik's head and watching him adjust to having more family than he previously realized and learning how to be a kid. I also enjoyed seeing him process the deep losses of love and family. Malik is not afraid to feel or express his feelings, whether it's joy, anger, or grief, and this was so refreshing to see a black boy in a fantasy world, be his full unapologetic self.

Though the main plot line is continued from the previous installment, this world of the magical college is further expanded and only adds to the experience of reading this story. While the world is being set ablaze, Malik is still a student, he's still a teenager with friends and the nuances that come with those relationships, he's still navigating young love, and learning how to manage all the responsibilities that have been placed on his shoulders because of his lineage. I will say, there were some points of the story where I felt so tired for Malik. I kept wanting him to catch a break and not always feel like he didn't belong or was an outsider in one way or another. I just want him to be happy and have joy without it being snatched from him in ways that always make him question his values as a person or his status with others.

ps. That miserable witch (she does not deserve the title of Empress) can eat 10 rocks.

[Onehellofalady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Randomhouse children and Ledarion Willams for this ARC. This book at me at the Authors note. The first line in the book was one that really touched me at the time. Malik is still trying to figure things out with his new magic that he’s inherited from mama Aya so he takes on a new training. I enjoyed the inclusion in this story for Malik’s friend D-low and Savion. While reading this books I saw a lot of real life issues incorporated into the story that many people face today. The action scenes were good, the emotional scenes were good as well. Although Act 2 was a little slow for me I still enjoyed Homecoming and all that went on. Act 3 is where the magic happend for me! Decision’s were made, truth’s came out, things were exposed and people were annihilated. Great book over all it wrapped up a lot of loose ends from Blood at the root and I appreciate that.

[DonyeHazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

He tore me apart and put me back together with this one!!
Strong black male lead. This is something I absolutely hate how hard it is to find stories like this that show black men in a more positive light. Omg the therapy sessions! So needed!

The actual HBCU life! The homecoming drama. Even though this part of the book did feel unnecessarily long and a little slow for sure! I do feel like it was put/kept in there just to show the HCBU life and how everyone has many different things and reasons to fight for. So I ok it but it did drag at some parts because of it.

The family torn in every which way. I do believe this book set up the next one well with John Henry and his descendant… I’m hoping he’ll be in the next one more.

I love these books. I understand how some people are uncomfortable with the type of AAVE that is used, however that is not an issue for me at all. I think this is a regional thing. It’s speaks very close to how we speak back at home and doesn’t feel forced to me… plus we have ti remember it is a YA book.

I really did enjoy myself reading through this book though. Actually upset I have a whole nother year for the conclusion. Mr Williams has done for me again! It was a roller coaster ride. I already can’t wait to reread both books right before the next one comes out next year! Might have to take some time off like a cruise or something away from people so I can go through all of the appropriate emotions! 😂

[♡*WithLove, Reesie*♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐
This book is like when Issa Rae was at an awards show and said she was rooting for everybody Black. This book is filled with Black history, Black culture, Black idioms, Black folklore, Black artists, Black love, Black joy, Black health, Black Pride, ...etc everybody Black!! Unapologetically Black!👏🏾😊

And I think it is BEAUTIFUL!👏🏾👏🏾

I really enjoyed the first book. This book, the second book, has a little bit of second book syndrome. Majority of the book feels like it's slowly building up for the ending and book 3, which makes the book feel slow or unnecessarily long. Malik has a lot of internal conflict and dialogue that seem repetitive at times (but I get it, he's going through a lot. And our minds do obsess over things when stressed). There are action fighting scenes and lots of great clever magic work being done that held my interest and kept me reading but we also get a lot more day to day activities and the life of college students.

The end, or last 3rd of the book, was very well done and the slow build up paid off. There was a pivotal scene where I was pissed off at a few people only to turn around and be pissed off at the other people 😄 Everybody had me stressed!!😆

This series still reminds me of the TV show All-American with Malik being Spencer. I liked that. There's also some romance that I thought was super sweet that had me smiling hard.

It feel like this series would be great for reluctant teen readers.

I hate to start comparing books, especially without explaining in detail why I'm comparing, but some parts, plot points, and personal struggles of this book reminds me of the Harry Potter series (in a good way and not enough to distract). This series also feels in the same vein as Tracy Deonn's Legendborn series. Both series, you really get into the minds of Black youth who are trying to navigate academia, family, grief, magic, friendship, and their hero journey. I think young reader (especially Black readers) would easily be able to identify with these characters, their struggles and their fight for agency and joy. 

I do believe anyone can read this and still enjoy the reading experience and learn from it. 

I would read again. I will read book 3. I do recommend. 

***I listened to this complimentary audiobook through the Audiobook Listening Copy Program (ALC) from @Libro.fm and this book's publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group.

[Unam · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh dear... Not a great sequel

No much of a plot, mostly vibes and random conversations and random magic ( at least no cell phone teleportation this time around), and more vibes.
Now you would think that it at least peaks at the end, nope, it just drags on with even more random events, people, locations, magic, and conversations...
For vibes, narration, conversations, audiobook, black men in group therapy rep, black man in therapy, astounding.
For story, magic, lore, plot, character development, suspense, mystery, fantasy, structure, pacing, engagement, abysmal.
The 2 stars are the 2 serviceable Swahili spells dropped in there even though they didn't conjugate the verbs or use prepositions to make it make more sense, but you got the message regardless and that is commendable.

[Carson Shanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

G** D*** I didn't think the second book would beat the first but I'm blown away, the complexity of Malik and his story is captivating and addictive. That cliff hanger though...I cannot WAIT for the next book.

[Tangi Trussell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good sequel. I love the audiobook. We did get some resolutions & questions answered. The ending confused me, but also has me anticipating the next book.
I did receive an e-ARC courtesy of NetGalley (:

[A.Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

No cliff hanger a few plot twist and better than HP!! I love how he tapped into our culture from angles and sugar coated nothing it was all in the raw!! Black culture, black love, black unity!!!

[Listen2Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a million times better than the first book especially since we actually respect women and queer folk this time :D

After reading the first book (Blood at the Root) I immediately noticed the blatant misogyny and queerphobia. Examples include the MC, Malik, slut-shaming his love interest for daring to have a male friend (while Malik is allowed to have wandering eyes and ogle other girls) and Malik acting like men being in relationships with other men is the craziest thing he's ever seen.

However, this book seemed to accomplish what I think the author *THOUGHT* he was doing in book one which is creating characters that are flawed but still redeemable. Where in BATR, Malik never faces any consequences for his actions, in Bones at the Crossroads he is finally confronted on his blatant ignorance. It is these consequences that allow him to grow as a character and actually make him likable.

*****SPOILERS BELOW - ANALYZING HOW THIS BOOK IMPROVED*********

In this book, Malik's relationship with his new love interest, Dom, is so much more convincing than his relationship with Alexis. In BATR Malik had nothing short of a possessive obsession over a girl that he only knew for A COUPLE OF MONTHS when he was SEVEN YEARS OLD. Despite the fact that he never has an official relationship with Alexis, he makes demands of her regarding her friendship with Donya and single handedly turns an independent, young activist into a submissive supporting character.

BUT his relationship with Dom this time around is significantly better. They start off as friends and Malik actually takes it slow, making an EFFORT to get to know her. It's only when they are being emotionally vulnerable and getting to know each other that Malik starts growing feelings. THEN, even when he KNOWS he likes her, he stops himself from kissing her or otherwise acting on his feelings because he knows he still has a messy situation with Alexis. HE SHOWS EMPATHY and maturity by not only taking Dom's feelings into consideration but also being honest with her.

Even when he makes mistakes, Malik acknowledges them and *GOES TO THERAPY* to learn how to be better not only as an individual but also as a partner.

It's the same with his queerphobia. When Malik is running against his friend Savon (They/Them), he doesn't initially understand the privilege he has a straight cis man. While he loves and respects Savon, he still hurts them with his words and actions. But when he's called out, he is forced to reflect on everything he's done and actively tries to make amends. Malik doesn't become the perfect ally overnight but there are clear signs that he is actively trying to be better.

WHERE IN BLOOD AT THE ROOT, Malik just hurts others left and right without any regard for how his actions affect other people, in this book, Malik is someone who is simply misguided. Yes, he makes mistakes and yes he can occasionally be ignorant, but we see him genuinely trying to learn to be better.

With that being said the world building is still not great.

A lot of the questions from BATR are never answered like how separate the magic and non-magic worlds are, what determines if someone has magic, etc. Overall the world is just too big and too vague. The fact that spells can be cast in either Swahili, Creole, Latin, Spanish, THROUGH BIBLE VERSES, or without words at all is very confusing. I understand trying to capture multiple cultures across the globe but there's not a lot of effort to really build out the foundation of this world. It seems moreso included as like "look we referenced X culture" instead of actually taking the time to flesh it out and genuinely think about how to incorporate these cultures in a way that makes sense.

Even though I like Malik as a person now he's also EXTREMELY OP. The whole premise of this series is that he's going to Caiman to learn to use magic but even in BATR he is absolutely annihilating his professors and ancient beings. In this book he literally gets a spear to the chest, a MORTAL WOUND, and *INSTANTLY* heals himself. He also BRINGS SOMEONE BACK TO LIFE after TITUBA, AKA the strongest conjurer of all time couldn't do it. I think the book would be much more engaging if he actually struggled. Funny enough the magic is kind of the worst part of this series since it's simplistic, overused, and overall just not very interesting. Magic is mainly used to make things float in midair when they don't need to, teleport, run at superspeed (so are they vampires, superheroes, or wizards??? like I'm confused), or to make overcomplicated mood rings.

The best part of this book is the commentary on mental health, privilege, and relationships so honestly if it wasn't a fantasy book I think it would actually be a five star read.

Minus Malik trying to kiss Dom's corpse I think this was actually pretty enjoyable :D

Full review video is on my channel:

https://youtu.be/N9CCOgyaqgk?si=r6BDq...

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great. When I finished "Blood at the Root," I more or less made a wishlist for what I'd like to see in this book, and I felt like Williams addressed most of my issues with the first novel. (To be clear, I did enjoy book one, but I think it had some issues.)

If you're reading this review, I presume you've read "Blood at the Root," so let me give a couple of comparisons first:

1. "Bones at the Crossroads" is much darker than book 1, IMO, in terms of the amount of violence and death. It's not extreme for the genre, which I would call late YA, but the gloves are off and the stakes are high here.

2. Williams really rolled back the amount of in-narration AAVE. For me, that's neither here nor there, but some people felt strongly about it, so I think it's worth noting. There is still a lot of "NOOOO!!!" etc. with extra letters and punctuation, and I remain mildly frustrated by that editorial choice, though not to the point where it impacted my review.

3. Some people got real mad about how Malik treated Alexis is book 1, and I think they were right to feel that way. In this book, Malik's anger and messiness are address (though not resolved) and I think it's worth following his emotional journey through this book, because that choice was deliberate on Williams's part.

In general, Williams's prose really matured here---many scenes in book 1 felt rushed, and Williams spends SO MUCH MORE time on worldbuilding and the magic system, which was quite muddy in the first book. There's a lot of fairly on-the-nose commentary about queer and trans identities in the Black community, which for me was a plus, let's talk about it more... also, am I an idiot, how did I not clock the earlier references to the House of Transcendence? More of the side characters get more fleshed out, I understood people's goals better in this book, and overall I think Williams's talent is growing, so I'm excited to see what he does with this series and in future works.

Other little things I really enjoyed:
- subtle humor than made me snort-laugh multiple times
- the scathing things the characters have to say about Miller's "The Crucible" (so accurate)
- the quote "Mercury is retrograding the hell outta me right now."

Williams opens the book with some notes on the adultification of Black boys and youths. Malik is messy, he makes mistakes, he has a lot of anger and a lot of trauma. He's surrounded by adults who have failed him, and it's understandably hard for him to trust people and manage his emotions. Spoiler: he goes to therapy! And while this book does include racial trauma (though apparently it was marketed otherwise), this second installment focuses more on the the trauma of having parents who continually put their desires before your needs. BIG. OOF.

There were some parts where I was confused why things were happening (the answer was often "for plot reasons") and the end drove me a little bit nuts because there was a big problem and Malik took, like, a full day of procrastination time to resolve his love triangle when TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE. But overall, I thought this book was stronger and more thoroughly developed than the first book, and I will most definitely be back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. My review is my own and being left voluntarily.

[Karen Cohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[readandtellwithshantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bones at the Crossroads
LaDarrion Williams

Whew!

Malik’s life has evolved in such a short amount of time. I’m still scarred from book one. I’m so sad that Mama Aya is really gone. Although her physical presence is no more, the embodiment of who she was is felt in the covering she has left behind.

A lot of answers were provided in book two. Although this is true, even more drama is unearth in his current semester. It’s almost impossible for me to make this review without revealing some things, but I’ll keep the spoilers, if any, inconsequential.

I love the relationship that is being cultivated with Malik and Dominique. Alexis really broke Malik‘s heart. As he tries to nurse that heartache, he’s still able to find the value in who Dominique is. The trust they foster is exactly what he needs in his life.

While he has to combat the normal exhaustion of being a college student. He also has to deal with the impending threat that his mother is. He is forced to conceal so much in efforts to protect the façade that the university is safe.

Malik is anchored in his desire to stop his mother. She is stronger than ever before. She has made too many promises that unfortunately, she can’t adhere to. Those broken promises have cost her dearly and continue to drive a wedge between her and Malik.

I respect the fact the Malik took therapy seriously. In this world of mystical beings who can have anything with the snap of their fingers therapy is marked as a pivotal resource in helping him unpack all of the built-up frustration. It’s something he desperately needed.

After giving myself time to ruminate on what I read, I’ve come to the conclusion that I have no idea what to expect for book three. But one things for sure, there will be some form of reckoning. Hopefully, this reckoning will usher in not only the conjurors, but the other magical beings that live in the shadows of that world.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s.

** I did purchase the audio to heighten my experience. Don’t overthink it. Buy it.

#readandtellwithshantel #LaDarrionWilliams #BonesattheCrossroads

[Destini_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood at the Root was an instant 5-star read for me, and Bones at the Crossroads took EVERYTHING I loved and turned it all the way up. I absolutely ate this book up—finished it in no time and was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Year 2 at Caiman University? Say less. Just go ahead and enroll me, because this magikal HBCU has me in a full-blown book hangover.

Malik’s growth in this sequel is so powerful as he continues to navigate grief, legacy, and his place in the magical world tied to his ancestry. But what really stood out to me in this book was getting to learn more about two new intriguing characters, Dominique and Tituba. Tituba was first introduced near the end of BATR and boyyy--did they get the spotlight they deserved. Their backstories added depth, heart, and a whole new layer of complexity to the story. I loved how their journeys intertwined with Malik’s and added richness to the found family dynamic that makes this series so special.

And listen—I was quietly holding out hope we might see Mama Aya again… but I’ll let you read to find out if that wish comes true 👀.

The worldbuilding has leveled up since BATR. It’s more immersive, more emotional, and even more magical. Ladarrion Williams’ writing is sharp, vivid, and soulful. He blends ancestral magic, HBCU culture, queer identity, and family legacy into a story that feels fresh, urgent, and full of heart.

In this book, you can expect:
✨ A magikal HBCU setting
🕯️ Ancestral magic rooted in Black history
💔 Grief, healing, and identity
👊🏾 Found family bonds
🧬 Deep family secrets and legacy
🌈 LGBTQ+ representation woven into the story

Bones at the Crossroads is everything I hoped it would be and more. Malik’s journey continues to inspire, and I’m fully invested in whatever comes next. If you haven’t started this series yet, grab Blood at the Root and get ready—you’re in for something powerful. See y'all at the crossroads (cue Bone Thugs & Harmony).

Thanks to Random House Children's, Labyrinth Road, and NetGalley for the ARC.