e-Audio, 14:54:40
Narrated by: Jalyn Hall & LaDarrion Williams
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Published by: Books on Tape (Labyrinth Road)
Read from: April 30- May 8, 2024
Blood at the Root, #1
Source: PRH App (I received a copy of this e-audiobook from the publisher and the app in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Violence, Grief, Abandonment, Violence, Racism, Racial Slurs, Sexism, Child Abuse, Child Death, Death of a Parent
For Readers Interested In: Fantasy, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Magic, Magic School, Own Voices, Own, YAA 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 with the emotional power of Legendborn and the redefined ancestral magic of Lovecraft Country .
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 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 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.
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I heard about this book I marked it down as one of my most anticipated. I have been waiting on pins and needles since I read them. And let me tell you IT DELIVERT. I really, really liked this and I am LOVING the way y’all showed up and showed out for the author! Now, let’s give more Black authors the same love.
Even though I did love this, I did have some problems with it. Like the editing…. My goodness this was entirely too long. It seemed like every time something was solved and it could be over, something else happened and there was more. It was longer than that run on sentence lol It really took me out of the story. I had to take breaks from it every few days because it just was taking too long. And it was weird because it started out good. But it just got bad as it went on.
The other thing about this I didn’t like was the writing style? Or the editing again, I’m not sure which it was. When he said it was like HP if he went to an HBCU, he wasn’t lying. This was literally like HP but Black. Everything that HP did, it also happened in this book too. I wouldn’t have a problem with this, BUT, I have also read HP and it was just too similar for me? Sometimes it’s ok, but when its as similar as it was? And for something I don’t actually care for anymore….. Well you get the picture.
I also was hella confused too. The author kept saying it wasn’t filled with trauma, but in the very beginning he steals a car and goes to get his brother from the foster care family that harms him and used to harm the MC. Is that not considered trauma??? What more does it need? And like, spoiler, but his mama is also gone. And he thinks she’s dead, but she’s actually not and is actually helping the villain? HOW IS THAT NOT TRAUMA? Is there another definition out there or something?
And the way the main character was so wishy washy annoyed me. He kept saying he had no one. Which I could see and understand. He grew up in a foster family. But then he kept fucking saying he didn’t learn none of this magic stuff, that everyone who knew it didn’t help him. And then when they tried, he still didn’t trust them. And then when things happened the way they did, he tried to be like “See I trusted y’all and y’all did me like this!” But he didn’t acutally like trust them at all? It wasn’t believeable.
And the way he kept his grandma at a distance and acted like he didn’t like her, all while she still was helping him and taking care of him, but then he was so distraught when what happened to her happened?! Bruh if you’re going to say you don’t care and then actually act like you don’t care, I need you to have at least some internal thoughts that make it seem like you like her. The entire book he acted all tough and like he didn’t need anyone and that’s all fine, but don’t act like you’re distraught when something happens to them!
However, I don’t think it was all bad. There were some really good things about this. I loved all the haints and the hoodoo that was in this. And I loved the way there was so much BLACKNESS! There are NO stories like this out there and this one is a pleasure to have as the first. I LOVED seeing this Black man as the main character in a fantasy novel. I still remember how I felt when I read Tomi Adeymi’s novel, Children of Blood and Bone, and I loved it. I imagine this is going to have the same effect on Black boy/theys everywhere and I love this for them. I hope to see them sharing this more and more.
I do think there’s going to be people out there who love this more than me tho. I can see this winning a lot of awards next season. If it doesn’t WIN, it will definitely be in the running. And I really, really hope that it wins something. It deserves its flowers, its best seller listings, and it’s medals! AND IT’S MOVIE! Don’t think I didn’t tell them that it’s already becoming a movie too! Maybe. They should have asked when he asked them lol
This book IS the start to a bomb series tho, I can feel it. Hopefully the kinks that were in this first one will be gone from the next few. (Because there’s more than one right?!) We shall see. And I can’t wait for them to come out. This series is definitely going to be a wild ride!
Overall, I give this
