Blood at the Root

By: LaDarrion Williams

Narrated by: Jalyn Hall, LaDarrion Williams

Length: 14 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical. Enroll in this fresh fantasy debut unlike anything you've seen before.

Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.

At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself—one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. 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. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at Caiman: feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.

In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what's left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.

©2024 LaDarrion Williams (P)2024 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“A buzzy debut about the adventures of a runaway teen who finds himself at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical, Blood at the Root is a story of community and legacy that’s clearly aiming to do something very different in this genre space.”—Paste Magazine

“This story offers a fresh take on familiar YA fantasy tropes, like a secret magical school and a long-lost grandmother.”—BuzzFeed

“Exuberant contemporary fantasy series opener....a serpentine, high-intensity celebration of Black culture, history, and power."—Publishers Weekly

Harry Who??? Is all I gotta say. No shade. no tea.

Loved the influence of historical reference, the embrace of black culture in so many facets, and the subtle challenge to do your own research. Digging into the complicated relationships sons have with their moms, wow. I hate to wait 5 years for the sequel. so I hope you're already writing.

Outstanding Performance by Narrator

Gratitude for this amazing work of art with heroes that look and sound like me. Thank you to the author, and thank you to the narrator for understanding the assignment and putting your whole heart into it.

This isn't just entertaining, in "low-key / high-key" inspiring.

The whole concept

stolen innocence and they way u put in the things black boys don’t hear a lot is really healing to hear and to experience the the things I’ve thought and daydream reading as kid is great. Please continue I haven’t stop talking about this book since I started it

Speechless

I’m so happy that I decided to purchase the audio version rather than the actual book. In which I will still purchase the actual book to add to my book collection. This book was more than I anticipated. The narrator did a great job with reading this book. I’m from Alabama and have been waiting for this book to come out for months and it was worth the wait. In the first 6 chapters the author took me back to my childhood. A lot of the things he described in his neighborhood growing up were some of the exact same things I experienced. Those chapters brought back so many memories good and bad, but it also helped me heal some of those memories. Im not a big book reader, so I’ve never understood when people would say that they’ve cried while reading a book. Well the child in me cried tears of happiness and healing while reading this book. I know some people may read my review and say this woman got some issues or something crying over this book. But if you grew up in Alabama you would understand. A lot of those town mentioned in the book were apart of my childhood memories. I cannot wait for the next series to come out! Well done Author!👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Great 1st book in a Series

Black boy hurt, pain, first love. Young adult growing pains, betrayal & reveals. Trust or not to trust that is the constant question in Malik's life. Come join him on beginning his journey of self-discovery of who & what he is.

This was an enjoyable first book in a series about a young adult black boy who has had a lot of pain in his young life. The pain starts when he witnesses his mother's death & begins a tumultuous life in foster care.

When he connects with the grandmother that he didn't know existed, Malik reconnects with a childhood crush at a magical school. This university will help him to harness his powers & discover whose he is, what he is, and why he is so important.

This is a fast-paced book with a lot going on. I enjoyed it & am looking forward to the next book.

Captivating! Loved everything about it..except the fact that we have to wait for the next one.

I love this book! It was better than Harry Potter( coming from a Harry Potter fan). I would love to see this in a well made movie. Please publish the next book ASAP! This is a must read!

Excellent!

Emotional, intriguing and irresistible magical world.
A beautiful story that I hope is an epic saga!

Amazing story!

First off I preordered a physical copy of this book for my son. YA right up his alley…. Lots of cussing. So nope not for him. But what little I read before had me getting the audiobook so I could read while at work and see this world that Williams wrote and omg what a ride! This book is so real and painted this magnificent picture in my mind. I look forward to seeing how this characters grow and 10/10 would read anything Williams writes in the future!

what I didn't know I Needed

I Loved this book. Thank you so much for this book. when I say I need book two We Need Book two. 💜💜💜

Loved the readers tone

No dislikes , this book was perfect and I loved it. Well
Done. Looking for more