Part of Blood at the Root, book 3
First published 2026
Malik Baron returns to Caiman University for a semester that will test everything he has learned about magic, family, and survival. The evil spirit Marinette still possesses his mother, and her influence spreads despite Malik's previous attempts to contain her. The Bokors remain free, fracturing the magical community beyond repair. Malik finally connects with his father's side of the family, the Bonclairs, but their authority faces serious challenges. He must choose which family claims his allegiance. The stakes extend beyond Caiman's survival to the very magic flowing through Malik's bloodline. As the trilogy reaches its climax, Malik draws on ancestral power and the support of those he loves most. He fights for something the world tells him a Black boy cannot have: a story that ends in happiness and triumph.
Genres: african-american, coming-of-age, fantasy, young-adult, dark-fantasy, urban-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, empowering, intense, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, climactic-trilogy-finale, family-conflict, found-family
Setting: Caiman University
528 pages · Paperback · Labyrinth Road
Content warnings: death, violence