An Arcane Inheritance completely swept me away. From the very first chapter, I felt like I’d been dropped into a world humming with ancient magic, whispered secrets, and power that feels just a little dangerous — the best kind.

Our heroine is the perfect blend of vulnerable and fierce. Watching her discover the truth about her lineage, her magic, and the legacy she never asked for felt raw and real. I loved how her growth wasn’t neat — it was messy, emotional, and full of moments where she had to decide who she wanted to become rather than who the world expected her to be. That hit deep.

And the romance?? Slow-burn with tension so thick you can feel it coil between scenes. Protective energy, reluctant alliance, sparks every time they clash — my absolute weakness. Their chemistry felt earned, and I was rooting for them from the moment they locked eyes.

The writing is lush without being heavy, and the atmosphere is chef’s kiss — gothic edges, magical ruins, family secrets, and that delicious sense that something powerful is waking just beneath the surface.

This book gave me:
✨ inherited magic & dangerous family secrets
✨ a strong-willed heroine stepping into her power
✨ slow-burn enemies-to-something-more
✨ rich world-building with a slightly haunted edge
✨ found family threads woven in beautifully

I’m genuinely obsessed. If you love romantasy that feels both cozy and dark at the same time — like curling up with a candle while the storm rages outside — this one needs to be on your list. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this world

A thrilling dark academia that kept me up past my bedtime :) I adore the main character Ellory, and her dynamic with her rival Hudson is so well developed (and left me teary-eyed at the end). If you love dark academia (especially low fantasy stories set in a very grounded world, like me), then this is not to be missed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An Arcane Inheritance is a beautifully written dark academia novel full of gothic atmosphere, immersive prose, and intense mystery. I loved the story’s focus on themes of race, power, and privilege, infused with the author’s own experiences as a Jamaican-American. I was immediately hooked and could not put this one down!

The plot and pacing are a bit of a slowburn, but every sentence is an intentional clue. I constantly felt like I was wading through water or walking through a dense fog, with every page turned. Ellory’s confusion was my confusion. Every secret and reveal felt hard earned. I was fully immersed in the mystery of Ellory’s memories and magic.

I loved the richly fleshed out history of Warren University and the interludes between large scenes. The characters were all extremely well developed and I loved learning more about each of them. The plot comes to a head around the 70% mark when everything starts to come together - the secrets unravel and every piece of the plot begins to tie together.

This story is perfect for lovers of the dark academia genre where systemic institutions of power and privilege are questioned and dismantled. It’s an emotional story of legacy and sacrifice, with all the mystery and twists to keep you engaged and guessing. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is EVERYTHING!!! Gosh I was already a fan of Kamilah before, but this book solidified them as a must-buy author for me. An Arcane Inheritance is a lush, atmospheric, stunning story & I can’t wait to see what Kamilah does next!

Dark Academia, Enemies to Lovers, Magic and Mystery... every single thing I was promised was delivered.

I fell in love with Ellory. Her passion, her strenght, her energy. And I was hooked from the first moment with they way she relates to others. Her intelligence especially was such a great addition to the pages. I loved seeing her train of thought and how she weaved her knowledge or lack thereof to manage getting to her goal.

And the paranormal aspect of the book was the perfect mix of mystique and spooky. It had me on the edge of my seat while also unwilling to put down the book. The references to real life people and places, the simple ways in which it related to the real world... perfection.

The story follows Ellory in her pursue of higher education while balancing work and taking care of her aunt. We then meet Hudson Graves (cool surname, btw) who is her academic rival. As a part of the Elite students, Hudson is everuthing Ellory isn't. They end up in a truce when things turn for the mysterious and spooky, with Ellory forgetting and remembering things, even some Hudson doesn't.

The mysterious turns to paranormal, and sometimes to scary in this amazing work of fiction where nothing is as simple as it seems and no one can be trusted. It seems not even Ellory.

I absolutely loved this book. The ambiance, the references, the spooky. The way racial commentary was included in a way that broadcasts micro (and macro) agressions of the everyday, and how difficult it is to decide on how to act upon them. The cut-throath nature of University, mixed with the need for networking, all wrapped up in a gorgeous weaving of paranormal events that created this unforgettable novel.

I've already told everyone I know about this book, and I will make sure to do so again and again until they've all read it.

This ambitious and wonderfully written novel gave me some Ninth House vibes, but with an appreciated BIPOC point of view. Ellory Morgan is a freshman scholarship recipient at Warren University, an Ivy League in Connecticut with its own secret and mysterious society. I was immediately pulled in by the characters and especially connected with Ellory's warmth and humor as she delves deeper and deeper into the school's shadowy goings on with foe-turned-friend (and maybe more), Hudson Graves. I also really appreciated that both the story and the actual writing were a joy to read,

This is a fantastic dark academia novel and exactly the type of story I'm looking for in that genre. The build-up was a little slow burn, but when you are really engaged with the story, I think that's a plus. I'm definitely going to keep my eye on what Kamilah Cole writes next. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read what turned out to be one of favorite books of 2025!