An Arcane Inheritance

by Kamilah Cole

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can't convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Horror, Mystery, Adult, Thriller, Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

Expected publication December 30, 2025

About the author

Kamilah Cole is a national bestselling author who has been nominated for a Lodestar Award, a Lambda Award, and a Dragon Award. Jamaican-born and American-raised, she works in publishing by day and by night she writes like she’s running out of time. In the past, she’s also worked as a journalist and at a hotel, two jobs that give you amazing stories to tell at parties. You know, if she went to parties.

A graduate of New York University, Kamilah is currently based in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early Spongebob Squarepants episodes, or crying her way through Zuko’s redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who offers me a dark academia, twisty mystery laced with paranormal events and my all-time favorite romance trope—enemies to lovers—has my full attention and immediate celebration mode activated!

This one is a heady mix: think A Deadly Education meets Katabasis, draped in Tim Burton’s Wednesday aesthetic (minus the outsiders, plus the wealthy elite), with a dash of a certain famous Christopher Nolan film’s energy. I can’t tell you which Nolan movie—it’s tied to the book’s biggest twist—but trust me, when you hit that final third, you’ll know exactly what I mean. The atmosphere is dark, tense, and deliciously intriguing, the storytelling a slow burn that still manages to pull you under almost immediately.

At first, we follow Ellory Morgan—a scholarship student, mostly solitary except for her loyal friends Tai and Cody—returning to Warren Academy after three years away caring for her ailing aunt. She’s immediately confronted by her academic arch-nemesis, Hudson Graves: rich, intimidating, maddeningly smart, and infuriating from their very first encounter. Life on campus unfolds with vivid details—her run-ins with her selfish roommate Stasie, her ambition to join the school newspaper (against her aunt’s wishes), and eerie flashes of déjà vu that make her question reality. She remembers places, events, even Hudson’s exact coffee order, despite never having learned it.

The turning point comes when she attends an exclusive dinner party as Hudson’s plus one—a chance to mingle with academic power players. But a strange reflection in the mirror and an unsettling handwriting discovery in a book confirm her suspicions: the bizarre events aren’t in her imagination. They’re real. And the only person who can help her? Hudson Graves.

Reluctant alliances form, complicated by her dating his ex-roommate Liam, and the mystery deepens. Eight student deaths have haunted Warren Academy over the years, and Ellory begins to suspect the anomalies she’s facing are connected. Solving this puzzle might be the only way to save herself—and those she loves—from a deadly fate.

I’ll be honest—the first half is a slow build, with the real fireworks arriving in the second half. But once the pace kicks in, the story takes wild, unexpected turns that hit you in the face and pull the rug out from under you. It’s twisty, surprising, and brilliantly wrapped up in a finale that left me both satisfied and impressed. I’m glad I kept reading—because when it finally takes off, it’s mind-blowing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this smart and gripping dark academia fantasy’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving it 3.5 stars but that will change I'm almost sure, just give me the time to reread and I will bump it up to 5. I'll explain, don't worry.
It began a little slower than what I expected, the fact that I was confused for most of the first 20% didn't help. Then until I wanna say 50-55% I wasn't on board for it, a lot of it flew over my head I was truly not interested, I believe most of it is because this has magic and I didn't know what to do with that information. So before you start it maybe read the blurb? Or a review? Just don't go in blind but with high expectations for something this isn't(I'm an idiot, I know). But then it got GREAT, I'm talking new favorite book levels of great, a new level of dark academia great(and if you know me you know I don't joke about dark academia, it's my favorite thing). And then those last 15%? I couldn't look away, I'm out even sure I blinked.
This was genre defying, it has great writing and lovable(and hateable too!) characters. The plot is wild, and that's why I'm desperate to reread and fully grasp it.
We follow Ellory as she is admitted to this really exclusive, strange school and weird things start to happen. The ending will leave you shocked, just trust me.
This is one of those books you will remember your reaction, even if you forget the plot. I know I'm not explaining it at all but that's just because I need everyone to read it.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss for the ARC.

[Mika · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

An Arcane Inheritance is a dark academia novel about Ellory and Hudson as they dive into the hidden world of secret societies at Warren University. The book is full of paranormal elements, like eerie rituals and conversations with ghosts, all wrapped up in the study of witchcraft and dark magic. With classes in occult studies, alchemy, and dark arts, the university is a place where forbidden knowledge comes at a price. As Ellory and Hudson dig deeper into the school’s secrets, a romance begins to bloom and the truth about Warren University might be even darker than they ever imagined.

The Review

• Doesn't feel original
> nothing new to the dark academia genre
> tone, themes and overall impression was that it was like any other dark academia book with nothing new to add like a new perspective, theme or idea

• Focused way too much on the romance
> all the mysterious tone from the blurb was barely there as the story was much more focused on the romance than it was advertised to be
> the romance felt extremely boring and like nothing special. It read like any other enemies to lovers romance (it was quite a cliché). I felt that this one felt a bit out of place sometimes though

Example 1: (since it's an unpublished copy of the book I will just state the scene than actually quoting it)
Ellory walks into the library (which by the way was named after the male lead) and Hudson tells her to study. Ellory then asks him why he would tell her as he wouldn't have something to gloat about and he simply just replies that he doesn't want to be better than her 'cause he is obviously better than her.

Example 2: The nickname for Hudson given by Ellory is ‘Encyclopedia Brown’.

• Pacing lacked a lot
> Took way longer than needed to actually get into the story
> there was no build-up or the like, so there wasn't really a reason to make the start so slow, which made it tiresome
> way too repetitive instead of focusing on new aspects to make the plot advance
> the ending didn't feel redeeming to the slow start
> story picks up at 33% (or 62%, depending on what one considers exciting enough to keep reading)

• Characters were all flat and read like most characters in other books
> I couldn't connect to any of them as they either acted cocky (Hudson Graves), were just a stereotypical female protagonist (Ellory Morgan) or anything else that felt like I wasn't able to love them as they had nothing unique to offer

• Advertised as new adult but reads like young adult
> These characters never behaved like they were starting to work in the work force in a couple of years, they acted like they were still in highschool

• The magic was never real magic
> while this book was supposed to have fantasy element like magic it was never really explained how it works. There was no system behind it, it just simply existed for the sake of it.
> 'cause of this, the atmosphere I usually love when reading or watching dark academia was failing too. The atmosphere might felt like dark academia at the start but left pretty soon as the focus was way too much on the romance than anything else
> it's paranormal magic. At first it sounds like something new to the dark academia genre, but there are in facts books and even a couple of tv shows that feature this. I definitely liked Sabrina and Wednesday more than Ellory as they had a real personality unlike Ellory who read like the standard female lead in a romance story

Final thoughts

I expected to read something new and fresh of the dark academia genre but instead it was a let-down. Not even a single aspect felt original which was really disappointing as I craved another dark academia read but not one that felt like a different one I already read where the characters had more personality and the beginning didn't start so slow.

If you never or just barely consumed anything by the dark academia genre you might like this one, especially if you like it if romance is in the focus as well as paranormal magic.

I personally wouldn't recommend this to anyone who already read and/or watched lots of dark academia like me as An Arcane Inheritance has nothing new to offer to the genre. It reads like a mash-up of many other media that has the dark academia atmosphere as well as themes centering around it. Unless, you aren't looking for something new, but just want to read something that is dark academia you might like this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy of An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole.

StoryGraph review


Started the book: 18. September 2025
Finished the book: 18. September 2025
Wrote the review: 18. September 2025

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

An Arcane Inheritance is the kind of slow-burn, paranormal mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. The writing is atmospheric and gripping, with lovely prose, perfectly suiting the modern, dark academia setting.

The story follows Ellory Morgan, our 21 year old freshman in her first year at Warren University, a mysterious and haunted Ivy League school. Even though it’s Ellory’s first year on campus, she’s overwhelmed by an intense sense of déjà vu and the feeling that she’s been here before. When Ellory suspects that magic may be at play, she partners with her academic rival, Hudson Graves, to uncover the truth; but to understand the present, they must first unravel secrets of the past. As the story progresses and the suspense builds, Ellory discovers the deception goes deeper than she could have ever imagined, making it impossible to know who to trust.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for dark academia lovers and those looking for BIPOC representation in the fantasy genre. While I found the plot and mystery to be interesting, it was slow-moving and began to drag a bit in the middle. The story doesn’t fully take off until around the 80% mark, but when it does, it’s unputdownable.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Kamilah Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi everyone! An Arcane Inheritance is my Adult debut, and, as always, I am very proud of it. As early copies begin to make their way into the world, I hope you resonate with the story of Ellory Morgan, Hudson Graves, and the dangers and mysteries that unfold around them at Warren University.

This is a dark academia fantasy with horror, thriller, and romance elements, and it tackles the subject of the American Dream and higher education from the perspective of a first generation Jamaican-American immigrant. It also has college shenanigans, steamy kisses, and a queer cast.

All of that said, please read responsibly. You can find the content warnings below.

-racism, classicism, elitism (all challenged)
-allusions to death, corpses, burials
-anxiety and panic attacks (POV)
-closed-­door sexual content
-violence
-attempted murder
-body horror

Thank you for your interest in my book <3

[meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an arc in exchange for a honest review.

this was... something else honestly. maybe better words for it at some point as i'm always going back and changing my reviews the longer i think about a book — especially if it sticks with me.

i was struggling through this book at certain points, the writing was hard along with the world-building — but that's the point of this novel. you do not understand the entire plot until the end. you have bits and pieces to tie it together, but you do not have the full story until you finish.

i did consider dnf'ing at different times due to the choices that were made by the fmc and how chaotic and erratic she was, to then some parts felt like they dragged or certain chapters did not even make sense. i at first thought Liam was such a pointless character and could not understand his placement until it JUST MADE SENSE.

i definitely will tell anyone — it's good, it's a rough read but it's good.

[Page Powars · Rating 5 out of 5]

REMEMBER to read this book because it will change ur life

[shreya‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆‎ ‎ ‎ semi ia‎‎ ‎ ‎ ⑅‎ ‎ ‎ ֺ]

I GOT THE ARC AND IVE READ A LITTLE AND ITS SOOOO GOOD SO FAR

[Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the writing and the overall storytelling.

But here comes the “but”:
The story felt more like YA than New Adult to me, which I usually don’t enjoy. Because of this, I had a hard time connecting with the characters, especially the MFC.

The slow plot didn’t help either, and I would have loved to dive deeper into the mysteries of a fantasy world rather than the details of a college curriculum.

Overall, I truly think this book will find its place among YA readers and those who enjoy a well-written slow burn.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much happened, and also somehow not much at all.

An Arcane Inheritance promised all my favorite things - dark academia, secret societies, magic. And it delivered on all these things too, but really late, and each one was kind of weak. By the time the plot picked up in the back half, I was struggling to stay invested. It also sometimes reads like a fanfiction - no hate on that, just an observation.

Overall, this was fine and a good fall read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. 3/5

[BJ Lillis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Right now, the top review for my personal favorite romance of 2025 is a miserly two lines for two stars. I hope this review doesn’t get anywhere close to the top of the book page (feel free to skip the like)—but the point is, different people like different books. And honestly, the fact that I made it to the end at all, despite immediate misgivings, is a point in this book’s favor.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a sentence like: “He smelled like bergamot and shea butter, sharp citrus and smoky earth, like the cinnamon of his drink and the dew of the early morning,” (subject to change, since I read an arc, but honestly I had my pick of examples here). Sure, I might roll my eyes, but I’m not going to let a couple dewy metaphors slow me down, and clearly plenty of readers enjoy this kind of thing. For me, the problem isn’t what this kind of language does, but what it doesn’t do. Smelling like earl grey isn’t a character trait, and in the end, no one in this novel but Ellory felt at all real to me.

In much the same way, beneath its unnerving surface, Warren University didn’t feel like a real college, enchanted or otherwise. The pieces didn’t add up. To take one very minor example, Warren was founded in 1954—it comes up multiple times—but the novel doesn’t seem to have any particular idea about why that might matter, what it might actually mean for an institution to have been founded in the mid-20th century, as opposed to, say, 1760, or 1890. I never really bought into Warren as an elite American university, just as I never really bought into Stasie as the naive, entitled roommate, or Hudson as an actual sexy asshole.

There’s a solid story here—the last third really does pick up—along with some genuinely atmospheric writing and undeniably powerful themes. But at least for me, there were too many little moments, details, observations, lines, reactions that either rang false, or else didn’t really ring at all.

[Liselle Sambury · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning meditation about what it means to belong within institutions built on foundations of exclusion. An Arcane Inheritance blends the occult and dark academia in a riveting narrative while also questioning what it means to be remembered—and who is or isn’t given that privilege.

[rosie (jason todd's version)]

⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ pre-read:

WOOOO i just got accepted for this one on Netgalley!! thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and Sourcebooks, Inc for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

An Arcane Inheritance releases on December 30th!

[Mariana ✨]

"a dark academia thriller, where a college freshman is haunted by a sense of dejá vu that turns deadly when she finds a message scrawled on her skin written in her own hand that simply says REMEMBER."

HELLO?? THAT SOUNDS SO COOL??!!!?!

[Amanda at Bookish Brews]

adding a speculative dark academia thriller with a Black protagonist on the day the supreme court overturns affirmative action programs at UNC and harvard? you better believe it

[Heathers_readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearing dark academia I was already hooked, but for me it was when somebody compared the aesthetic to tim burtons Wednesday.. you can BET I’m gonna read it 😂😂

I definitely enjoyed the mystery and the intrigue. It was fun to slip into this world and get lost in the heavy vibes.

The pacing could have been quicker in the first half however I was enjoying the main character and didn’t mind too much. The second half packs a punch so when you arrive there, expect not to want to put the book down until you reach the end.

This one is for the exclusive, the elite and the dark side of their world. I thoroughly enjoyed the read!

Thank you to poisoned pen press for the gifted copy!

Publishes: Dec 30th

[tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Ellory Morgan receives a serendipitous scholarship to Warren University following a string of failed financial aid applications, it feels like her future is finally taking flight - that is, of course, before her arrival on campus onsets a series of strange, unexplainable experiences. Before long, it becomes clear that buried deep beneath Warren University’s opulent facade lies a sinister history, and that dark forces are conspiring to keep the truth hidden at any cost. Desperate for answers, Ellory turns to Hudson Graves, her surefooted academic nemesis, to aid in her quest for the truth before she becomes yet another casualty effaced from Warren’s history.

I’ll start with what was done well: An Arcane Inheritance hits all the right atmospheric notes - it is dark, unsettling, and delivers on creating a deep sense of foreboding that carries through to the finale. After all, we have an enigmatic secret society running afoul, a school with a stormy history of mysterious deaths, and concerted efforts made by powerful people to conceal any wrongdoing from those who get too close to the truth. Needless to say, our FMC is clearly not destined to have a peaceful school year.

The central mystery was interesting, but I don’t think we needed 400+ pages worth of buildup to arrive at the conclusion. The abundance of lead-up and exposition was likely intended to build suspense and tension, but instead had the effect of making the story circuitous and repetitive. I’m not entirely sure the payoff was worth the ride, but your mileage may vary.

Overall, I’d give this one a 3/5.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

An Arcane Inheritance has some really great and cool ideas, but it just didn’t really work for me. The romance really bogs down the plot and is a very unconvincing “enemies” to lovers: they just bicker and then they’re touching hands longingly at 22%.

Ellory, a Jamaican-American woman, earns a full-ride scholarship to Warren University, an Ivy League school in Connecticut when she discovers that parts of her memory are being lost and it all leads back to the shadowy founders of the school.

There were some interesting themes, like colonialism, sexism, classism, but I felt it was all quite surface-level. Again, I think the romance got in the way here. Hudson, our romantic interest, is Black but also a very rich kid and a member of the “elite”, something that never seems to bother Ellory after the first few chapters. I would’ve liked more complexity surrounding their relationship and how their backgrounds work together.

Overall an interesting read with some really cool ideas that I liked, but didn’t love. Such is life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC! Releases 30th December, 2025!

[jenny reads a lot]

Dark academia with a university that is "built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way."

GET ON MY KINDLE RIGHT NOW!

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[Sandra's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨️ARC REVIEW ✨️
Arcane Inheritance is a dark academia fantasy that follows a freshman student named Ellory at Warren University, which was built on bones and forbidden magic. It has a really slow build at the beginning, and all the twists, actions, and magic with romance all seem to happen at the epic ending. I enjoyed the secret society mystery of solving the past with her partner Hudson Graves to save herself and her friends from a deadly fate. It's a very unique story! If you like Dark Academia, this was a good read, just slow beginning!
Thank you, Netgalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.

[zara · Rating 2 out of 5]

shit so fucking boring that i read this to get sleepy when i was insomniac

[Ashley Colina · Rating 3 out of 5]

UPDATE
I originally gave this book a 4 star without a written review but after sitting on it awhile and finally coming around to write it out, I'm changing it to a 3. I just don't think I would re-read this book and that is usually my deciding factor for 4 & 5 stars.
An Arcane Inheritance is a good book, don't get my wrong but It reminded me of a mystery novel with some magic thrown in. The ending was a bit of a thrill ride and that kept me hooked enough to prob want to read the second book.

- Good book
- Would I read it again?: No
- Spice: 0.5

Received an ARC of An Arcane Inheritance, thank you so much Kamilah Cole! Excited to dive in!

[Medollga · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd like to begin this review by expressing gratitude to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

Sadly, after reading 'An Arcane Inheritance' up to the 40% mark, more specifically chapter 16, I'm DNFing this book, because of the following:

- the flowery, over-descriptive writing, filled with metaphors. This was a huge plus at the beginning of the story, where the author's descriptions helped me to imagine the university setting, this whole new world, and the atmosphere. However, later on, it became too much, only slowing down the plot's progression and serving as unnecessary filler. This especially concerns the numerous descriptions of the clothes and shoes of the characters. I don't need to know all the little details of what every character is wearing every time they appear in the scene. How many times do you need to mention the type of sweaters or shirts the hero is wearing? Is it really that important that one guy is wearing tennis shoes, the other - combat boots, while the third guy has hightops on? Why do I need the information that a secondary character has a specific type of piercing? It was so unnecessary, especially when the descriptions appeared NOT AS SOON AS the character came on page, but in the middle of a conversation, in-between an interesting plot development.

- the lack of dialogue. If you were to combine the actual amount of dialogue the characters had with each other, I don't think you could even fill a chapter. There would be one line of dialogue, followed by tons of descriptions, and then the heroine's inner monologues. The dynamic of a real-life conversation was lost. There were instances where the hero and the heroine were spending time together, and instead of SHOWING us what they talked about, the author simply TOLD us they talked about X, Y, and Z, and the hero showed real interest in the heroine. SHOW IT TO US! Convince us they have chemistry!

- "Hudson Graves". The number of times the heroine said his full name in her inner monologues was criminal. Please, please, please edit it out! This doesn't sound cute, or mysterious, or clever. It baffled me why this was used so often. There was nothing special about the hero at that point (perhaps there would be later, I don't know) to elicit such a strong reaction from the heroine. She was going on about the "mystery of Hudson Graves", but we weren't shown anything mysterious about him. He had the personality of a brick. Their academic rivalry started off-page, was never shown, and the author only told us about... Plus, I find it hard to believe that a heroine, as hardworking and busy with studies and work, made this "rivalry" with Hudson her entire personality, when they only had ONE CLASS TOGETHER!

- The classism critique felt too on the nose and lacked subtlety: on one hand, the heroine wants to study at the most exclusive and expensive Ivy League school in the country, deciding against community college or other less prestigious schools. On the other hand, she openly judges them for owning a car or a couple of suits. This isn't even that extravagant of a purchase! She is either incredibly naive or combative for the sake of being combative.

Even though a lot of things didn't work for me here, I'd like to point out a few positive moments:
+ The cover for the book is incredible! It looks interesting, fresh, and very appropriate to the genre.
+ The author has a strength in worldbuilding, and her descriptions transport the reader to the world.
+ I loved how seamlessly and without much ado the sexual orientations and gender identities were presented on page. It felt very believable and resembled actual life.

[BookForAHeart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obsessed with this Darkly Gorgeous Academia Fantasy! 🖤🔮

Seriously, if you're looking for a book to completely devour under a cozy blanket, this is it! An Arcane Inheritance is the perfectly twisted, modern dark academia fantasy we've been waiting for. It’s got all the spooky history, forbidden magic, and intense chemistry you could ever want! 📚✨

Warren University isn't your typical Ivy League—it's got centuries of secrets hidden beneath that pristine ivy, all tied to forbidden magic and a truly terrifying secret society. When Ellory Morgan arrives for her freshman year, you can immediately feel that something is off. She has this intense, chilling sense of déjà vu, like she’s walked these shadowy paths before. It gets more sinister by the day! Can we say, immediate tension? 😨

Ellory is such a determined, smart heroine, and you are immediately rooting for her to figure out what is actually going on. But here’s where things get swoon-worthy: she needs the help of the mysterious, brooding legacy student, Hudson Graves, to unlock memories of a past that someone—or something—is desperately trying to erase. The forced proximity, the secrets, the sheer intensity between them? Obsessed! 🔥🥵

This book is a delicious combination of dark magic, high-stakes history, and truly captivating romance. It's giving us the best parts of Babel meets the desperate fight for survival from A Deadly Education. Prepare to lose sleep because you won't be able to put this down! This book belongs on your shelf. 👑🔑

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank-you to NetGalley, Kamilah Cole and Sourcebooks for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have things I loved about this book and I have things that gave me pause about this book. In the end, it's a solid 4 stars.

Ellory wins a scholarship to Warren University and as her semester rolls on, things are not as they seem. What follows is a dark academic mystery where answers only lead to more questions.

Cole definitely nailed the dark academia piece. I felt all the creepy vibes as Ellory pieces together that things were not as they seemed. The university setting felt spot on for a Connecticut college in the fall. I loved the mysterious events that kept leading to more questions and the quest to find the answers. Ellory is an FMC we root for throughout the book.

It felt that things were a little drawn out in places. There were events that took place that I had hoped for our MCs to dive into a little deeper, but then they weren't revisited which was a bit disappointing. It felt like there was a bit too much focus on building the mystery, but this was unnecessary because that piece was already achieved.

All in all, it was a great ride. If you like dark academia, hidden magical societies, institution corruption, and unsuspecting hero--this book is definitely for you!

[Tereza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of An Arcane Inheritance. All opinions are my own.

Well, where do I even begin? There’s a very thin line between a well-meant critique and one that might come across as harsh or misinterpreted, so I’ll try to be as diplomatic as I can. However, as you can probably tell, this wasn’t a new favorite for me.

Let’s start with the positives: the writing style. It’s lovely — the prose flows nicely, and even though the story is interwoven with magical elements, it doesn’t feel chaotic. I also appreciated the diverse representation throughout the book. It’s clear how important that aspect was to the author, and it added a rich, cultural layer to the story.

On the other hand, the plot felt a bit scattered. I found myself frustrated at times, especially with Ellory and some of her actions, which didn’t always make sense to me — though that could very well be due to my own misinterpretation of certain events. Some of the narrative choices slowed the pacing down quite a bit. I don’t usually read Dark Academia, but I do enjoy stories with whimsical, dark, gothic, and melancholic tones — unfortunately, this one didn’t deliver on the level I was hoping for.

I may revisit this review once I’ve had more time to sort through my thoughts, but for now, I just didn’t connect with this one as much as I’d hoped.

Overall rating: 2 stars

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of An Arcane Inheritance! ✨

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 for goodreads!

As a huge fan of Cole's Divine Traitors duology, this was a highly anticipated read for me and I was over the moon when I was gifted this free copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. An Arcane Inheritance ultimately fell a bit short of what I think was Cole's best work in So Let Them Burn but was still an intriguing and well done novel.

This book bills itself as a dark academic adult debut for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education. Written by YA-centric Jamaican-American author Kamilah Cole, the description caught my attention immediately because I'm a real lover of the genre. It posits Ellory, a black scholarship student, as the foil to Hudson Graves, her academic nemesis and rival who just so happens to belong to the family whose names are on all the buildings around campus at Warren University. Warren is one of those fancy New England Ivies where all the students are white, wealthy, and walk through life with an air of privilege and confidence. Ellory carries the weight of her future - and her family - on her back as she attempts to succeed and thrive at a place that is hostile to her very presence. Complicating her already hectic schedule of ensuring good grades, a proud family, a healthy aunt, and money in the bank from her campus job are attacks of some form of dark magic that seem to be targeting Ellory, and her desire to unravel the conspiracy behind what's happening to her.

What I really liked:
🗡️ Cole excels at writing rich, complex characters, and this book was no exception. Unlike some books where you feel like the diversity reads as performative, Ellory and her fellow students are fully realized, complicated individuals. Ellory, in particular, beautifully exemplifies the depth of the immigrant experience, especially being the "scholarship kid." Her struggles and successes are chronicled in a believable and thoughtful way. I enjoy reading Cole's characters interact with each other and the world around them, and being in Ellory's head was enlightening and engaging throughout.
🗡️ The big reveal was well executed and even though I thought I had perhaps an inkling of where the story was going, it was a truly explosive moment in the lives of Ellory, Hudson, and those around them. It caught me off guard in a positive way. I would honestly love for this book to be the first novel in a duology - I would happily read a part two to Ellory's story. I appreciated the open-ended ending that gave just enough to a reader to be satisfied while avoiding the pressure to wrap things up perfectly with a bow.
🗡️ The romances were fun and flirty and felt very real to a college student experience. The relationships were messy and the love triangle was triangle-ing.
🗡️ I appreciated how Cole tackled the issues of racism and privilege at a school like Warren. From micro-aggressions and assumptions to blatant discrimination and hateful remarks, I think this book does an admirable job chronicling the unique struggles faced by international students and those with dark skin. Books like this are an important part of shaping this genre away from white-only protagonists and making it more reflective of the student body.

What I struggled with:
🗡️ For a dark academia fantasy, I was looking for more tension everywhere - in the magic system, in the relationships, in the reveal... I struggled with pacing in places; the novel felt fairly slow and the big reveal didn't come until nearly the end, so it was difficult to stay engaged through the somewhat clunky world-building. While I'm always hesitant to compare novels to each other, the description makes fairly bold claims in terms of the type of book we should expect to read. For me, it didn't quite reach the same level as some of the other top dark academias that have been published in recent years.
🗡️ Though this is an adult debut, the book still felt a bit YA. In itself, this isn't necessarily a bad thing - just that at times it felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Cole's strength is clearly writing coming of age stories and there's nothing about this particular novel that needs to fit into the adult category. I (personally) would have preferred she continue to write from her strengths.
🗡️ When the big reveals happened towards the end of the novel, some of these elements unraveled too quickly and deserved some more care and time. There were scenes that I had to re-read in an attempt to ensure I understood where Cole was leading us.

Writ large, I think this was an admirable adult debut for Cole, though I think her earlier YA series was much stronger across the board. This book had trouble keeping my attention through the first half and had some pacing struggles until we escalated to the big reveal. That being said, the characters here were rich and complex, and I would definitely read a part two if the author ever wanted to write it.

I will continue to encourage people to read Kamilah Cole's novels and she's an auto-read author for me - I look forward to seeing what she does next and will be rooting for her from my little corner of the internet!

[maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Arcane Inheritance is an adult fantasy dark academia book that makes you confront the elitism of higher education as a system, the exploitation of power by the few, all the while blending together a compelling story of old magic and power.

Ellory Morgan was always been determined to prove her place at one of the top universities in the country, Warren, and to live up to the hopes and expectations of her parents back in Jamaica. However, when she finds herself in increasingly strange occurrences happening on campus, she reluctantly finds herself turning to her academic rival, Hudson Graves, for help. Together they unmask a dark and dangerous secret that haunts the very foundation of Warren University.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and really appreciated Cole’s critiques and commentary on class, race and power in elite institutions that is unfortunately very much real (and something I too have experienced during my own time in these spaces) I love dark academia books precisely because of how they directly confront these issues that exist higher education and the systems that uphold it. The only thing about this book that unfortunately didn’t make it an instant 5 star read for me was the pacing. Everything seems to happen in the last 15% of the book, which left me kind of wishing we got a more balanced pacing throughout the middle because I would have loved some more explanation and exploration of the magic system and world that Cole created here.

Overall, I really loved this one and the academic-rivals-to-lovers dynamic was so well done here (the building tension between Ellory and Hudson??? I am so here for it!) and definitely eager to check out more from the author.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Milda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The dark academia vibes in this story really worked for me — the moody atmosphere, the unsettling tension, and that sense that something just isn’t right. I was interested from the start, especially once the bigger threads of the mystery began to take shape. I also couldn’t help making predictions early on (maybe it’s my paranoid personality 😅), and the tone reminded me a bit of my experience reading Grave Matter — minus the creepy fungus, of course.

But after the big reveal, the pacing shifted dramatically. Everything suddenly happened very quickly, almost rushed, which made the latter portion feel less impactful than the buildup promised. Even though I remained somewhat invested, the plot felt predictable in a way that left me wanting deeper twists or more lingering tension.

Would I recommend it?
Yes, if you enjoy dark academia, eerie secrets, and atmospheric magic — just be prepared for a finale that moves faster than expected and may not fully stick the landing.

#AnArcaneInheritance #NetGalley

[Eden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Cole’s writing, and her previous duology was a hit, so I am devastated that this story didn’t work for me. There was simultaneously too much and not enough going on. We have witches and disappearances and murder and newspaper writing and law classes and coffeeshop work and investigating with our enemy and parties and dating and a mean roommate and friends and some romance and memory loss and NONE OF IT WAS FLESHED OUT WELL. She’d float the idea of joining the newspaper, join, and then all of a sudden her piece is being printed in the newspaper. She’d learn a teeny tiny bit about magic and then be confident in using it. I needed to see the process of a lot of this story, but it wasn’t included. However, there were great characters and great lines. I will be checking out whatever Cole writes next; this one didn’t work for me.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.