Bones at the Crossroads

In the highly anticipated 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, deeper secrets, and an even greater test of who he wants to become.

It’s Homecoming season at Caiman University, and all 17-year-old Malik Baron wants is to be a regular college student—or as regular as you can get at a magical HBCU for young, Black Conjurers. He’s ready for parties, new friendships, picking a major, and maybe even romance. But instead, he’s reeling from a summer of revelations, heartbreak, and betrayal, still grappling with the truth about his powers—and his legacy.

The family he only just discovered is already fractured, and a newly arrived relative brings more questions than answers. The mother he risked everything to find may be the biggest threat to the life he’s trying to build. To protect his community, Malik joins an elite secret society with roots in ancient magic.

His journey will take him deeper into his own heritage and the history of the magical world, while drawing him closer to a classmate whose friendship—and maybe more—could change everything. But how can Malik wield powers he still can’t fully control to defend a world he isn’t sure will ever truly accept him? And as danger mounts, will he find the strength to confront the cracks spreading through magical society—and the ones threatening to break him from within?