In Person Book Club Meeting: "Blood at the Root" by LaDarrion Williams

Greetings Mocha Girls,

I hope this message finds everyone well, enjoying the warm weather, and happily reading.

Our May 2025 monthly book selection is "Blood at the Root" by LaDarrion Williams

We will meet on the second Saturday of June at The Hidden Tea Room in Lodi. There is limited space for this meeting, so if you RSVP to attend and realize you can't make it, please cancel your RSVP ASAP! Remember, if you don't finish the book, you are still welcome, so come anyway! I hope to see you all soon.

Warmly,
Mocha Girl Tye

R.S.V.P. Etiquette:
Please make sure to RSVP to an event or book club meeting ONLY if you are going. Do not RSVP if you are thinking about going or would like to go. Thanks in advance and I can't wait to see you all!

About the Book:

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.

About the Author:

LaDarrion Williams is a Los Angeles-based playwright, filmmaker, author, and screenwriter whose goal is to cultivate a new era of Black fantasy, providing space and agency for Black characters and stories in a new, fresh and fantastical way. He is currently a resident playwright/co-creator of The Black Creators Collective, where his play UMOJA made its West Coast premiere in January 2022 and produced North Hollywood’s first Black playwrights festival at the Waco Theater Center. Blood at the Root is his first novel. His viral and award-winning short film based on the same concept, is currently on YouTube and Amazon Prime.