Blood at the Root Audiobook By LaDarrion Williams cover art

Blood at the Root

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Blood at the Root

By: LaDarrion Williams
Narrated by: Jalyn Hall, LaDarrion Williams
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About this listen

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A COSMOPOLITAN BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR

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.

©2024 LaDarrion Williams (P)2024 Listening Library
Best of 2024 Contemporary Editors Select Fantasy Science Fiction & Fantasy Heartfelt
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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

Editorial Review

A new magical legend unfolds
I’ve been anticipating playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, and author LaDarrion Williams’s first novel for months. This fantasy series opener takes us on a journey following teenager Malik, who is searching for his true identity while reconciling with his past, which includes a magical lineage. In Blood at the Root, Black characters take center stage in a genre that has room to grow in terms of representation and inclusion, which is very exciting to me. I can’t wait to discover the magical HBCU his mother attended, meet all of the characters he encounters, and get lost in what is sure to be one of my favorite listens of the summer. —Kelley S., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Blood at the Root

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Captivating Storyline Engaging Plot Twists Excellent Narration Rich World-building Immersive Sound Effects
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CAN WE TAAAAALK FOR A MINUTE

Come get these flowers ova HEAAAA NAH.
YESSSSS! This is what I’ve been needing! The performance was AMAZING and so comforting… the writing, so relatable … I felt it in my soul and actually felt like I was in the story observing EVERYTHING. Feeling EVERYTHING. Talking to my audiobook, laughing with my audiobook, feeling the pains and joys of the characters.

This was definitely worth the wait. I just…. I needed this and it came at the right time.

Thank you so much for the adventure. Can’t wait to read more.

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Need Book 2 like YESTERDAY.

I loved this story. All my life I’ve wanted to see myself in magical characters. This was beautifully written. I was two pages in and I was already feeling some kind of way. Keep going, LaDarrion.

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Good Shit Fam

I love fantasy books, it's the only genre I listen to. I'm happy to have a book with a black MC based in the real-ish world. The author and narrator did a beautiful job. Being named Ashton, I felt extra special with the books dedication.

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Beautifully Magical

This book was excellently written and ‘narrated’! I will be sure to spread the word! The beauty of our ancestral magic and mix of the African cultures was amazing! Can’t wait for the next book!

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Excellent performance

Jayln Halls narration is spectacular. I want more and look forward to what the author does next.

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I loved it

It was very relatable. The references were relevant and I was invested the whole time. I loved it!

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Make This Book Into Movie!!!!

I DO NOT read fiction!! A friend was reading this book and was raving about it. We have similar tastes and I decided to purchase the book. I was engrossed in the storyline. It has history, current events, magic, spirituality, romance, and action all in one book. Someone likened it to Black Harry Potter. I’ was never into Harry Potter, but this is “Black Boy Magic”. I loved it and finished it in less than a week.

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This book was EVERYTHING!!!

The emotional intelligence, nurturing, love are ALL things black boys and men NEED! And this book gives you a story of a black boy becoming a man and gaining all of those things through his heritage and culture. What a LOVE story to black men and ALL the power they possess! When the next book comes I will be ready!!!

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Love it

I loved this book. it took me home to Louisiana and honestly gave meaning to all the superstition and incorrect thoughts of voodoo and hoodoo. I realy hope this becomes a series of books and doesn't end here.

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Story and performance 10/10

Wow! If the first novel released by Williams is this good, just imagine how goof the rest will be! There will be more, won't there? (stares with sad puppy dog eyes and a pouty lip)

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