by: Kamilah Cole
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Release Date: December 30, 2025
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.
Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.
Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an Ivy League school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.
Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can't convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.
After struggling for years to make ends meet and slowly taking online classes when she can afford it, getting a full scholarship to the Ivy League college of Warren University in Connecticut out of nowhere seems like a godsend. However, the dream soon turns dark. Behind Warren’s ivory columns and charming landscape hides something no one likes to talk about. For decades, students of color have simply disappeared with no one looking for them or seeming to care. Ellory finds herself drawn to looking into what happened to the missing students.
Soon, Ellory finds herself being plagued by nightmares and moments of deja vu, which seem impossible. While at the same time, she is inexplicably drawn to Hudson Graves, her academic rival, and an overall broody and standoffish legacy student. With a leap of faith, Ellory confides in Hudson. The two set out to learn more about unexplained magic and The Lost Eight (the name given to the missing students). However, someone doesn’t want them to look or ask questions, and soon, they are in a race against time to get answers and stay alive.
I loved An Arcane Inheritance. I wanted to read the story for the magical aspect. I was surprised by the mystery aspect of the book, and I found myself even more invested in seeing where the story would take me. This book was so well written. I especially loved the twist Kamilah wrote.
At its foundation, An Arcane Inheritance deals with veiled racism and classism. There's dark magic and an enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance. An Arcane Inheritance gives off a light, less intense horror vibe. Some descriptions and events lean towards slightly scary imagery, but nothing a non-horror fan would have an issue with.
The book’s takeaway for me is that it resonates in today’s world and society. It shows that you shouldn't be afraid to follow your dreams, and that having courage and determination can truly change the world.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“If you keep playing with fire, sooner or later you’re going to get burned.”
“Just because you can do it yourself doesn’t mean you should have to.”
**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. I also personally purchased the deluxe paperback.**
Rating: 5
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A graduate of New York University, Kamilah is currently based in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early SpongeBob SquarePants episodes, or crying her way through Zuko’s redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Places to find Kamilah Cole:
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