"Bones at the Crossroads" tells the "Bones at the Crossroads" tells the story of Malik, a Black boy coming of age under the heavy weight of responsibility. As a college student, he juggles life and lectures while also caring for his young friend Tay and grappling with the choices of his family. Caught between a desire for freedom and the need to hold his new found family together, Malik embodies the struggles many young Black boys face: expected to be strong and responsible before they’re truly ready. The gentle approach to sexuality was perfect didnt feel rushed it flowed well in the story. When he enters Caiman's magical world filled with secrets his mother never meant for him to uncover, it becomes more than just an escape; it’s a journey with the harsh realities he endures. Perfect follow up to Blood at the root. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to receive and read this advanced copy for review all opinions are my own.

A Southern Gothic Spell That Had Me Hooked

Whew. Bones at the Crossroads snatched my attention and refused to let go. From page one, LaDarrion Williams does what he does—drops us right back into the heat, the hoodoo, and the heartbeat of Caiman University. Malik Baron is back, and he didn’t come to play. After the heart-wrenching end of Blood at the Root, I practically ran to dive into this sequel. And it did not disappoint. Malik is growing—still grieving, still haunted—but there’s a quiet strength about him now. His bond with Dominique felt fresh and grounded, never forced. And their Homecoming Royalty moment? Beautifully done. The vibe was very “Black excellence meets spiritual warfare.” Speaking of vibes—this book oozes them. The HBCU setting was so vivid, I could hear the drumline, taste the hot sauce, and smell the fresh-pressed curls on the yard. The magic? Rooted and real. The danger? Thick and looming. Watching Malik wrestle with the truth about his mother while trying to stay ten toes down? Absolutely gutting. And the new characters? Loved. The way Williams braids folklore into the narrative like stories passed down in whispers—brilliant. The gumbo is simmering, the spirits are watching, and the crossroads are waiting. Sure, I wanted a bit more magic in some moments, and yes, the middle took its time—but when the story lands, it lands. That cliffhanger? I gasped. Again. This man really knows how to keep us on edge. To sum it up: I laughed. I mourned. I devoured every word like a plate of red beans and rice on a Sunday. If this series isn’t on your radar yet, you’re sleeping. I’m already lighting candles for book three. LaDarrion, we need you to cook faster.

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read Bones at the Crossroads in exchange for my honest review.

Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams was action packed and the plot keeps readers guessing until the very end.
The characters here are absolutely incredible.
I enjoyed the adventure, black culture, stronger magic, and themes of friendship and found family.

In Bones at the Crossroads, we are back with Malik as he is taken on a journey of who he is and who he can trust. Not everyone is who he thought they were and his mother is actually alive when he thought she was dead.

4/5⭐️

The first act had a bit of a slow start. It started to pick up around halfway in the second act. The last 30% alone gave me whiplash! So much kept happening that I didn’t know which way to look

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations about being queer in America and predominantly black spaces. Seeing Malik, D Low, and Savon navigate their feelings and conversations made me shed a few tears.

Cannot wait to see how this story continues!!

The author writes a note that he wanted to write a fantasy book starring a person like himself. To be able for other young Black men to be able to see themselves on the cover of a fantasy. But not only does he want to write about a Black young man being in a magical school but for the young man to be very normal. For him to make mistakes and be able to grow. Not to be perfect or to be the one sacrificed as so often happens if a Black young man shows up in a book. Well, he delivers.

But you also need for the story to be entertaining and there to be other great multi-faceted characters if you want people to read it. Well, he delivers there too. It has a fascinating magic system based on traditional Black practices, heart, romance, betrayal, action, and friendship. There was a really tender moment between the main character and a new romance that could be considered chessey but I thought it was just how young romance can be without all the cynicism that we see today. Yet with the characters still be very much of the here and now.

While I didn't read the first in the series, I could still understand this one and I will be sure to read the 1st book soon. Definitely something that should be added to your to-be-read list.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved loved LOVEDDDD this story! I was such a fan of BATR that I read it three times and I promise this will be the same way. This was easy to read, none of the Gen-Z lingo felt forced, LaDarrion dropped so many gems of wisdom and really made this story blackity-black in the most positive way. There were so many things that I liked about this story, with a few dislikes as well, and my main one being Chancellor Taron Bonclair’s Mama, Evil Angela Bassett herself, Madam Empress Bonclair. I can’t stand that lady, but I’m hlad she kept her same energy through the story with her growing disdain for Malik. I was NOT surprised at all by Taron being his father, and I was glad when he finally stood up to his Mama about Malik being his son. I have mixed feelings about Alexis, but I’m glad Malik has Dom. Originally I didn’t know if I could trust her or Tituba because it seems like so many people have played in his face throughout this journey. I’m glad that hasn’t been the case with both of them. Love Ms. Faye, the librarian. Savon and D-Low’s relationship was my favorite. I wish they had their own side story with a close up of how that’s going and D-Low diving more into his complicated relationship with his family. There was so much that I enjoyed, and I have so many questions about where we go from here. I can’t wait for book 3. 👏🏾

Bones at the Crossroads picks up right after Blood at the Root, so definitely read that one first if you’re diving in!

The HBCU x magical vibes are still strong, and I appreciated how some critiques from book one were addressed this time around. That said, this one felt a little like a setup for a bigger story—filler-ish in spots—but I’m still curious about where things go next (especially if we’re getting a book three 👀).

Malik’s character growth stood out, and the worldbuilding continues to give. It wasn’t perfect, but I enjoyed it overall and would still recommend the series

Thank you @NetGalley & @randomhousekids for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was great. When I finished "Blood at the Root," I more or less made a wishlist for what I'd like to see in this book, and I felt like Williams addressed most of my issues with the first novel. (To be clear, I did enjoy book one, but I think it had some issues.)

If you're reading this review, I presume you've read "Blood at the Root," so let me give a couple of comparisons first:

1. "Bones at the Crossroads" is much darker than book 1, IMO, in terms of the amount of violence and death. It's not extreme for the genre, which I would call late YA, but the gloves are off and the stakes are high here.

2. Williams really rolled back the amount of in-narration AAVE. For me, that's neither here nor there, but some people felt strongly about it, so I think it's worth noting. There is still a lot of "NOOOO!!!" etc. with extra letters and punctuation, and I remain mildly frustrated by that editorial choice, though not to the point where it impacted my review.

3. Some people got real mad about how Malik treated Alexis is book 1, and I think they were right to feel that way. In this book, Malik's anger and messiness are address (though not resolved) and I think it's worth following his emotional journey through this book, because that choice was deliberate on Williams's part.

In general, Williams's prose really matured here---many scenes in book 1 felt rushed, and Williams spends SO MUCH MORE time on worldbuilding and the magic system, which was quite muddy in the first book. There's a lot of fairly on-the-nose commentary about queer and trans identities in the Black community, which for me was a plus, let's talk about it more... also, am I an idiot, how did I not clock the earlier references to the House of Transcendence? More of the side characters get more fleshed out, I understood people's goals better in this book, and overall I think Williams's talent is growing, so I'm excited to see what he does with this series and in future works.

Other little things I really enjoyed:
- subtle humor than made me snort-laugh multiple times
- the scathing things the characters have to say about Miller's "The Crucible" (so accurate)
- the quote "Mercury is retrograding the hell outta me right now."

Williams opens the book with some notes on the adultification of Black boys and youths. Malik is messy, he makes mistakes, he has a lot of anger and a lot of trauma. He's surrounded by adults who have failed him, and it's understandably hard for him to trust people and manage his emotions. Spoiler: he goes to therapy! And while this book does include racial trauma (though apparently it was marketed otherwise), this second installment focuses more on the the trauma of having parents who continually put their desires before your needs. BIG. OOF.

There were some parts where I was confused why things were happening (the answer was often "for plot reasons") and the end drove me a little bit nuts because there was a big problem and Malik took, like, a full day of procrastination time to resolve his love triangle when TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE. But overall, I thought this book was stronger and more thoroughly developed than the first book, and I will most definitely be back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. My review is my own and being left voluntarily.

4.25/5 Stars

Bones at the Crossroads is the second book in the Blood at the Roots trilogy and it blew me away! We return to Caiman University shortly after the events at the end of book one. While everyone else is getting ready for new classes, parties, and rushing fraternities and sororities, Malik is still reeling from everything that happened that summer. He’s dealing with loss and betrayal, but those in power tell him he can’t let anyone know the truth about what happened. The story follows him as he learns even more about his past and his magic, trying to be a normal college student while also worrying about the threat of the Bokors.

I love everything about this series. This book continued the amazing storytelling of the first, with a gripping plot and amazing character development. Malik is a teen boy with trauma who is just trying to live life. I love how therapy is brought into this story and the insight we get into different characters experience with that. Williams also incorporated religion into the magic system of this world and I really liked how it was woven into the history and casting along with other Black and African magic.

The characters’ relationships in this book are what makes it one of my favorite series! I love all the friendships and how real they are. Williams isn’t afraid to throw in some tension and drama to show these kids working and growing through the termoil. I LOVED the Malik and Dom storyline and how much respect was given to that playing out. They showed so much maturity and growth for 17 year olds and I cannot wait to see what happens next with them. There is also family drama, generational trauma, and so much more to explore with all these characters!

C UUU!!! How can I enroll?
I love LaDarrion's writing. It just feels comfortable to me.
I like how he continues to bring Black folklore into the story.
I like how he touches topics that are brushed aside in the Black community- homophobia, mental health, etc.
I can't wait to send this to my God kids.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 38% (at the start of chapter 17). I'm still giving it two stars (rounded up from 1.5)

I was so excited for this book! I loved Blood at the Root and the characters we met in it! I couldn't wait to see how they'd grow, and specifically how the author LaDarrion would grow as he honed his craft for blending brilliant cinematic establishing shots with the close inner turmoil of a boy trying to find his place in a new world. Instead, I got something that felt like it still needed several more passes from an editor and full rewrite to bring the storytelling into one consistent voice.

At nearly 40% in, the biggest issues with this book were plot progression and repetition. The first book ended with a huge battle that confirmed once and for all the big bad Bokors truly were back to steal the lives and magick of young people. The start of this book... opens up with them still being a boogeyman myth? We're right back where we spent the majority of the first book, with only Malik and friends knowing about the Bokors while the rest of the campus and their families wait passively to be picked off by them? And then when both the Bokors and the existence of magick is revealed in a large scale attack, the only consequences are? No more homecoming? The students are more upset about the cancelled social plans than the attack, and the administration of the school is more concerned with punishing the students for defending themselves. This is the central plot of the book and the narrative seems almost allergic to interacting with it, to the point that it'll muddy the waters of character motivations just to give Malik some manufactured conflict. As if there isn't plenty to choose from!

The reposition though, oh good lord. The only things Malik ever thought about was wanting to find his evil mom and not being allowed to tell anyone about his evil mom. Every time he talked to someone outside his key friend group, he would remind us that he isn't allowed to tell them The Truth. I think this might have been done ad nauseam to remind us of the stakes of the plot, but it only really served so show just how very little we were actually interacting with that plot. There were even whole decisions and contemplation around that decision that Malik just... kept having! How many times did he decide to join that club? Too many. Worse, there were SEVERAL moments when the same information would be relayed both through character dialogue and in Malik's internal thoughts, such as when Professor Atwell tells the class about their sister school and Malik immediately "remembers" that the name sounds familiar because Taron told him about it before. Sometimes, there's even inconsistency in the repetition, such as when Malik tells us a campus wide email was sent out notifying the students of something and then Savon on the very next page said they heard the information through a rumor.

There's more I could say about the shallow depictions and use of magick, despite the emphasis on magick being a sacred gift from the ancestors. Or about how despite Malik attending a magic school, we never actually see him taught magick (even a moment that is expressly stated as being a divination lesson only involved viewing an old memory and reading a book). Or the inconsistency of Malik telling us in chapter one that the scroll has helped him figure out his magick better, only for us to see him repeatedly struggle to use it. Or how the cop character from the last book, who could surely be an asset to the investigation into finding his mom, was suddenly sidelined without any real reason. But since I didn't complete the book to see how these story lines pan out, I can't disparage them too much.

I was so excited for this book, but I've just been let down. I'm not sure how the editing became so lack luster so fast after an otherwise brilliant debut, but it's incredibly disheartening.

I loved the first book and felt the sequel was even better - the world building and magic system really came together for me in this one, and the characters are all so enjoyable. The stakes are higher and the pacing is great. Need more!

I love this world and enjoy the world building that was expanded on in this novel. I really enjoy learning more about the family and the interconnectedness of the magic/lore/history. I think this book took longer than the first to pull me in, but the depth added to the characters was absolutely worth it. Ultimately, I am locked in and excited for where these books go. I am super appreciative of the representation LaDarrion includes in his novels and am super grateful to the author and publisher for the advanced copy!

A great follow up. Heavy on black culture and melanin magic! There's family, friendship, danger and mega adventure. I stayed up all night finishing this book and it was well worth it. It was great visiting Caiman U again.

Bones at the Crossroads offers a richly imagined magical-HBCU experience, blending ancestral lore, college life, and personal growth in a sequel that many found more immersive and emotionally impactful than the first installment. While Malik’s character development and the found‑family dynamics deepen this world beautifully, some readers noted that pacing falters and the world‑building and magic felt underdeveloped in places. The writing can feel dense, repetitive, and occasionally convoluted, which detracts from the momentum. Yet the novel resonates with powerful themes of grief, identity, and resilience—rooted in Black and queer representation—that give it real emotional weight. Despite its flaws, this is a compelling and heartfelt continuation that will leave readers eager for the next installment.

I am leaving my honest opinion voluntarily.

I must say, I enjoyed this installment so much more than the first book. The world-building remains top-tier, but in Bones at the Crossroads, we see a deeper maturity in Malik and gain a more intimate understanding of the family conflict that shapes him. The folklore was rich and seamlessly woven in, and every character felt necessary and well-developed. Reading this, I felt like a student on the yard at Caimian University—each scene played out vividly in my mind. With the right director, this story has serious potential to be an incredible movie.

The pacing of the book was perfect, and the soft love triangle was genuinely sweet. I especially appreciated the maturity of Dom as she gave Malik the space to navigate his relationship with Alexis. The storyline felt organic, age-appropriate, and beautifully messy in a way that rings true to real life. It’s timid, complicated, and emotionally thick—from a voice we don’t often hear: the young Black man.

This book doesn’t shy away from hard truths. It provides us with a bird’s-eye view of what happens when parents make poor decisions and how children bear the consequences. We witness the effort to break generational curses in real time.

While the first book was a bit of a challenge for me due to its heavy use of slang, this one struck a more mature tone. Although some of that slang remains, it’s used more sparingly and with greater meaning. Overall, this was a powerful, emotional, and deeply engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's | Labyrinth Road, and LaDarrion Williams for the advance reader’s copy of Bones at the Crossroads. This was an easy 5-star read for me.

When I say I love this series!! The representation is incredible! It’s not just a teenage romance about kids not knowing how to express themselves. This series deals with mental health, grief, depression, social norms, family dynamics and so much more! I felt for Malik and his friends on so many levels throughout both books. I just want to hug him and tell him everything is going to be alright.

Bones at the Crossroads was a great follow up and I cannot wait for more from LaDarrion Williams. At sometimes I felt like it was a bit long but overall it is a fantastic book that I know my students will love. I will certainly be picking up a copy for my classroom to go with book 1. Thank you!

For the writing, I gave that a 6 out of 10. The writing was, unfortunately, extremely inconsistent in its quality. There were a number of typos and spelling errors. Many of the dialogue indicators were missing or in the wrong places, so we’d get lost within the sentence for whether or not someone was still speaking. Additionally, we have specific instances where we are told one thing but then later it’s something else. When homecoming is cancelled, it’s first noted that the students found out via email but later in the page, Savon says they found out through rumor. During specific scenes, it’s stated they are in the yard but in the next paragraph, the characters are leaving the living room. When did we get in the living room? One less important but funny item a friend pointed out is that, when we meet John Henry, he’s not wearing clothes, but we’re never told later if he ever ends up putting clothes on. I could pass the typos off as being an ARC and perhaps they were fixed in the printed version, but I do expect better editing for the inconsistencies from such a large publisher.

For the plot, I gave that a 6 out of 10. The plot was incredibly slow with little substance. I would be fine with a slow plot if we could say we were learning the greater details of the magic system or uncovering more of the mystery of his mom, but we don’t get any of that. The plot is overtaken by homecoming, for the most part. Other than giving Malik a normal college experience, it did nothing to further the plot. I would have been fine with the homecoming stuff if there were other things happening alongside it, but there weren’t. At the end, everything comes to a head with Malik on trial for something he didn’t do. The trial plot point made no sense to begin with, but towards the end of it, it’s pretty clear Malik will be absolved. Rather than waiting it out and then leaving Caiman, he decides to make a huge spectacle and it seems like a forced plot point to show Malik as being overpowered.

For the characters, I gave that a 6 out of 10. Malik has always been a complex and flawed character, but he seems to have regressed from book one. Any development he had seems to have been swept away. One could argue that, because he finally started going to therapy in this book, it makes sense he would regress a bit. I agree that regressing does happen. However, he mentions therapy twice and then it’s never brought up again.
Leading up to the homecoming event, he specifically states that he isn’t really interested in participating but wants to support Savon and D Low to be the first queer royals. But the minute Malik is nominated, he betrays his friends and decides that he does actually want to participate because he should get to experience these things. As someone who has done a lot of soul searching and reliving things I didn’t get to do as a kid, that shouldn’t come at the expense of your friends. Malik knew how important this was to Savon and the queer community he is a supposed an ally of and he chose to put himself first anyway. They do end up reconciling, but that entire plot point was dragged out for so long.
That seemed to be the main theme of the book. Malik consistently was selfish but all the characters constantly kept staying by his side and forgiving him. Malik doesn’t seem to suffer real consequences for his actions.
Additionally, when we run into his mom again, there seems to be an underlying theme of “family is family no matter what they’ve done,” and I cannot agree with that. Malik’s mom, despite the plot twist at the end, was terrible and it doesn’t mean she should automatically be forgiven. Same with his dad. His dad knew where he was the entire time and never even tried to get him out of terrible situations.
Just because they are your blood does not mean they deserve your forgiveness.
We also know Malik has enough trauma but now we’re adding more labels that don’t actually apply to him. When his parents are arguing, he says it’s exhausting to parent your parents. As someone who actually did have to parent their parents throughout childhood, this is not the same. His parents were not in his life the entire time. He had to parent himself, which is its own issue. He did not parent his parents.
Later, when Malik is trying to understand his mom, she says that a lot of her issues stem from the trauma of being a first born daughter. Malik’s mom is an only child. This is not the same experience as a first born daughter. We also never learn what that trauma really looked like other than having to live up to the expectations of being in a prominent family. While that is its own issue, we seem to be throwing around trauma for the sake of character depth.

For the world-building, I gave that a 6 out of 10. We never expanded on how the magic system worked at all. We could get away with the mechanics being vague in book 1 because Malik didn’t understand it. Now, we’re in book 2 at a magical university, so it’s expected that we would learn the mechanics in more detail but we don’t. We know the magic comes from the ancestors but we never learn what makes Malik more powerful than other people. We never learn what other spells are so special within the Scroll of Idan. Malik somehow gains more control but he also still loses control when it’s plot specific.

Overall, I gave this 3 stars. It was incredibly disappointing in comparison to book 1.