Unearthly Magik (Black Cauldron Detective Agency Book 1) by Matilda Reyes – Review by Ayla Phipps

Unearthly Magik by Matilda Reyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have ever read by Matilda Reyes, her ability to create relatable characters is inspiring. I found myself relating to Ava, Nadia, Lucas and even Max several times throughout the book. While the book is based in Manhattan, New York, the author not only brings in true locations but also creates an entire supernatural underworld that in some aspect’s mirrors that of the real world above.

We first meet Ava on a job for a long-time family friend, she shows off some of her elemental talents while still being a relatable person, her desire to get greasy food or get a little payback on a talkative target. You quickly learn how desired Ava’s detective agency is needed, not just for finding lost items but also lost magical pets. Black Cauldron Detective Agency is owned by Ava and her best friends and partners, Nadia and Lucas. After a 36-hour job Ava and her partners receive a mysterious email for a meeting, only the curiosity quickly vanishes when it is discovered to be Ava’s ex-boss and nemesis Edward Tasis. The powerful Lauret Grimoire has been stolen from what was believed to be a secure and well-guarded vault, the item holds knowledge about creatures and clans, unknown details about their weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and is powerful enough to take out the Archmage herself. When asked what resources they will have available they aren’t given a list or a name but a person, Max, he is to work with them on the case. Within 12 hours the group finds themselves in a supernatural nightclub called the Little Devils. Max has been interested in a possible source but never had a “date” for her to steal him away from, he asks Ava to help him get her attention by kissing him. Only what was supposed to be a vengeful kiss turns into something more intense that neither of them expected but that they both avoid talking about later. Once the ruse has been successful Ava goes off to find another source, only this time it ends up being werewolf who after a flirty dance tells Ava he finds her scent drives him insane. The events keep coming until 12 hours have passed and Ava is exhausted but never is able to sleep more than 2 or 3 hours at a time due to the strange case Tasis dropped on her. With every new tip the more the pieces refuse to fit together to make sense. Will the group ever find out who took the Lauret Grimoire, or will this be the job that slips through their fingers? Will Ava and Max ever figure out what that kiss meant?

While I am ultimately in love with the characters and even the world that Matilda Reyes created in Unearthly Magik, I struggled with all the Spanish and Spanglish conversations. On most occasions there was no clues to what was said in Spanish, even when one sentence would be half English half Spanish, I had to use google translate consistently throughout the book in order to fully understand conversations. While this one issue was troublesome it will not stop me from anxiously awaiting the second book in the Black Cauldron Detective Agency series, Scorching Magik is due February 1st, 2023, and is from Nadia’s perspective.

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