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 the debut of a fresh fantasy series unlike anything you’ve seen before.

“Brings magical living to an HBCU in an unforgettable young adult adventure.”—People

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.

Bones at the Crossroads

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the sequel to the “unforgettable” (People), New York Times bestselling fantasy debut Blood at the Root, a Black teenager with magical powers returns to Caiman University only to find new dangers and new secrets.

It’s Homecoming season at Caiman University, and all 17-year-old Malik Baron wants to do is be a regular college student…or as regular as he can get at a magical HBCU for young, Black Conjurers. He’s ready to go to parties, hang out with his new friends, choose a major, and talk to girls. Instead, he’s reeling from a summer of revelations, heartbreak and betrayal, and still uncovering the truth about his powers and his legacy.

The family he only just discovered is already fractured beyond repair, and a new relative who shows up on his doorstep brings even more questions. Then there’s the mother he risked everything to find, who might be the biggest threat to the life he’s trying to build. To protect his new community, Malik joins an elite secret society with roots in ancient magic.

His journey takes him even deeper into his own heritage and the history of the magical world, while bringing him closer to a classmate whose friendship might mean something more, if Malik is ready to let her in. But how can he use powers he can’t even control to defend a world he’s not sure will ever fully accept him? And as the pressure and danger builds, will he be able to confront the deepening cracks within the magical society, and those building within himself?

Ashes at the Altar

At a hidden magical HBCU a teen boy must confront evil spirits, family secrets and tested loyalties. In this haunting finale to the New York Times bestselling Blood at the Root trilogy, bloodlines, betrayal, and legacy collide in a battle that may cost everything.

Malik Baron has learned a lot since he first came to Caiman University: History is power. Family is more than just blood. You can’t escape your past. And magic always comes with a price. 

But nothing he’s been taught could have prepared him for what this semester will bring. Even after he risked it all to trap the evil spirit Marinette that has been possessing his mother, her power continues to grow. And with her and the Bokors still at large, the cracks in the magical community have reached a breaking point. Just as Malik begins to get to know his father’s family, the Bonclairs’ power is challenged, leaving him to decide where his loyalties lie. And it’s not just the future of Caiman at stake, but the very magic that runs in his veins. 

In the propulsive and emotional conclusion to this powerful trilogy, the future and the family Malik has fought so hard to build and protect is in greater danger than ever. But with the power of ancestors and the strength of his loved ones behind him, can he fight for what the world has always said is impossible for a Black boy like him—a happy ending?

“This thrilling sequel lives up to its promise….The novel’s smooth integration of action and introspection keep the pages turning, and threads of romance, family, history, and personal integrity come together, well, rather magically. A great pick for fans of magic school stories.” —Common Sense Media

“A story as magically cool as it is emotionally heated.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Williams emphasizes heartfelt messages about the importance of Black men’s mental health and fostering a queer-inclusive community….A cliff-hanger ending ensures that readers will return to Caiman University in a heartbeat.” —Booklist

PRAISE FOR BLOOD AT THE ROOT…

“Brings magical living to an HBCU in an unforgettable young adult adventure”
—People Magazine

“A sweeping debut.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Drawing on African and Caribbean spiritual traditions and Black history for world building, Williams has crafted a highly entertaining adventure centering a well-rounded character with emotional volatility but also a desire for connection and community.”
—Washington Post

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

“A story of community and legacy that’s clearly aiming to do something very different in this genre space.” —Paste Magazine

“Unveils a world for Black boys and girls filled with creativity and magic.” —Ebony

★ “Williams joins Tracy Deonn, Namina Forna, B.B. Alston, and Tomi Adeyemi in envisioning a world where Black youth uncover and harness their magical abilities. Here Williams offers a fresh perspective in Malik. Everything about Malik’s world, from his neighbors to his internal dialogue, to his emotions, hopes, and fears, is written for Black boys, filling a much-needed gap in magical YA. And best of all, Williams’s debut is rooted in Black history, telling the truth through fantasy…A novel long overdue.” —School Library Journal, starred review

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

“Debut author Williams’ impressive world building blends African and Black American history and cultures with a secret society of influential hoodoo and vodun practitioners…This celebration of Black culture will resonate with readers unused to seeing themselves in traditional fantasies.” —Booklist

“The extensive worldbuilding incorporates West African, Caribbean, and Black American history and cultures to explain a magical reality hidden from view and relevant to the Black diaspora and Malik’s family history….A well-thought-out magical world that provocatively centers Black experiences.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Williams offers a strong foundation of world-building in this series debut, blending creative magical pieces with realistic elements of Black history and culture.” —The Bulletin

“A refreshing, thrilling, magical, and all-around good read! Cheering for you, LaDarrion!”
— James Bland (Creator of Daytime Emmy Award-winning drama series “Giants”)

PRAISE FOR BONES AT THE CROSSROADS…