An Arcane Inheritance (Deluxe Edition) by Kamilah Cole - ISBN: 9781464216909
Paperback
Ivy League secrets, forbidden magic, and a past that haunts.

An Arcane Inheritance (Deluxe Edition)

$36.64

  • Paperback

    432 pages

  • Release Date

    25 February 2026

Check Delivery Options

Summary

A modern-day dark academia speculative fantasy with a romantic twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education as well as current-day romantasy.

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 s…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781464216909
ISBN-10:1464216908
Author:Kamilah Cole
Publisher:Sourcebooks, Inc
Imprint:Poisoned Pen Press
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:432
Release Date:25 February 2026
Weight:436g
Dimensions:49mm x 397mm x 234mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

Elle The Best Fantasy and Science-Fiction Books of 2025:

PEOPLE’s Best Books of December 2025

Parade 25 Best Book Releases of December, According to Librarians

SheReads Most Anticipated SFF Fall 2025

Autostraddle Our Most Anticipated Queer Books for December 2025

Book Riot The Best New Book Releases of December

“An elite school, spellbinding magic, sinister danger…this riveting tale by Kamilah Cole has all this and more.”–Women’s World“Everything you could want in a dark academia book: spooky vibes, magic, a touch of romance.”–Minnesota Star Tribune“Fans of Babel and A Deadly Education will love this contemporary dark academic fantasy with a twist.”–BookTrib“This dark academia fantasy full of occult rituals, generational trauma and a rivals-to-lovers romance…Put this one on your ‘to read’ list.”–The New York Times“This lush dark academia romantasy treads the hallowed halls of Warren University, a magical Ivy League school with an occult history.”–People“This supernatural slow burner offers diverse characters, and with its beautiful cover and printed edges, it’s a stunner.”–Ms. MagazineGet Out meets The Matrix in this solid excursion into dark academia from Cole.”–Publishers Weekly“Cole’s YA fanbase will be clamoring for this new-adult work, especially those who appreciate her fantastical world-building and knack for turning fantasy tropes on their head.”–Booklist“Smart, well-plotted, challenging, and often funny, An Arcane Inheritance is an irresistible story of ghosts, magic, and education combined to great, and horrific, effect.”–Shelf Awareness“Cole makes her confident new-adult debut with the dark academia fantasy, which takes a few pages from Inception, The Conjuring, and more.”–Elle

An Arcane Inheritance is a subversive and thrilling dark academia novel, rife with mind-bending mystery. Kamilah Cole is a master of atmosphere and her lush prose completely transported me.” – Alexis Henderson, author of An Academy for Liars

“An intriguing, atmospheric puzzle box of a novel that is both an alluring romantic thriller and an incisive takedown of all that haunts our most hallowed halls.” – Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

“Academic rivals to lovers at its absolute best, this twisty dark academia is a must read! Kamilah Cole has become an instant one-click author for me!” – Katee Robert, NYT and USA TODAY Bestselling Author

An Arcane Inheritance reads like a stunning fever dream. With sizzling tension between academic rivals, chilling twists you won’t see coming, and a narrative that seeks to dismantle privilege and those who abuse their power, this dark academia fantasy truly sets the standard for its genre. A must-read.” – Pascale Lacelle, New York Times bestselling author of Curious Tides

“Intriguing, skillful, and an interrogative mirror to ghosts that haunt–An Arcane Inheritance uncovers the dirty underbelly of academic institutions through a thrilling and propulsive mystery. This is dark academia at its finest.” – Maddie Martinez, author of The Maiden and Her Monster

“Old-world glamour meets the underbelly of modern academia in this ivy-wrought thriller about the magic and brutality of memory. Cole’s voice is deft and elegant as fountain pen, sharp enough to draw blood.” – S.T. Gibson, #1 Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Dowry of Blood, An Education in Malice, and The Summoner’s Circle

“A stunning meditation about what it means to belong within institutions built on foundations of exclusion. An Arcane Inheritance blends the occult and dark academia in a riveting narrative while also questioning what it means to be remembered–and who is or isn’t given that privilege.” – Liselle Sambury, author of Blood Like Magic and Delicious Monsters“A tautly paced, keenly observed thriller, set against an atmospherically rendered backdrop where questions of privilege and wealth haunt the narrative just as much as the literal ghosts. This is everything I adore in a dark academia book.” – Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning“As twisting as it is relentless, Cole weaves a tale of power and sacrifice, ripping apart the ivory facade to reveal the rot that lies at the heart of our most honored institutions. A tour-de-force that centers the academia in dark academia, An Arcane Inheritance is a must-read!” – K. M. Enright, Sunday Times bestselling author of Mistress of Lies“Kamilah Cole’s foray into the world of dark academia is nothing short of masterful. From the very first page, readers are transported into an academic hellscape that is as outwardly alluring as it is deadly. Ellory Morgan’s story is infused with a growing tension that kept me turning the pages well after midnight, and Cole does a remarkable job of peeling back the layers of glossy varnish and ivy-clad brick to expose the rot beneath. Romantic and meaningful and at times downright bone-chilling, An Arcane Inheritance is the sort of story that reminds us that all power comes with a cost.” – Kelly Andrew, New York Times bestselling author of Your Blood, My Bones and The Gravewood“Unforgettable and unputdownable, An Arcane Inheritance is a visceral dream of a novel that will haunt you even in the daylight hours. Kamilah Cole has woven a genre-defining triumph.” – Chelsea Abdullah, award-winning author of The Stardust Thief and The Ashfire King

“A twisted, propulsive, and utterly captivating dark academia with magic and madness at its core, AN ARCANE INHERITANCE draws readers into its spell before asking readers to consider who pays the true price of power–and what it means to refuse to let the powerful win.” – Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins on Their Bones

About The Author

Kamilah Cole

Kamilah Cole is the bestselling author of So Let Them Burn and This Ends in Embers. A graduate of New York University, Kamilah is 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.

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.