Somewhat Magic

Maddy Madrigal Mysteries #2

by Debra Castaneda

Maddy Madrigal stands as the last line of defense against a rising tide of paranormal chaos that threatens to take over her neighborhood in the bustling heart of Los Angeles.

An old spell safeguarding her exclusive community is on the brink of collapse, and ravenous, legendary creatures are right outside the gates on the verge of breaking in.

Maddy’s magic isn’t yet strong enough to repair the spell, and the people writing her paychecks demand solutions, fast.
Beasts and bosses aren’t Maddy’s only problem—a greedy developer has his eye on her home, and she suspects someone’s trying to kill her, too.

As creatures breach the gates, Maddy must find a way to tap into her inherited magic and unleash the power she needs to save her community.

Somewhat Magic is the second book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series of urban fantasy books by award-winning author Debra Castaneda.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

About the author

Debra Castaneda is an award-winning author of urban fantasy and dark fiction based on the central coast of California.

Her works include Barely Magic, the first book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series of urban fantasy novels; The Spore Queen, The Devil’s Shallows, The Root Witch, The Copper Man, Circus at Devil’s Landing, and A Dark and Rising Tide, which comprise the Dark Earth Rising series of standalone novels, and The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, an International Latino Book Awards gold medal winner.

Debra loves writing character-driven stories about people who experience scary or magical things, and how they react when confronted with the unexpected. She’s committed to representing Latinas and Latinos in her books.

For inspiration, she draws from her experience as a TV and radio journalist, and as a third-generation Mexican American

Debra now lives on the central coast of California with her husband. She enjoys rediscovering the Mexican dishes of her childhood and texting her two daughters about her latest binge-watch.

~Subscribe to her newsletter for the occasional giveaway and the latest news at www.debracastaneda.com;
~Stay in touch with her at: @castanedawrites on Facebook & @castanedawrites on Instagram .

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat magic indeed

Loving this series! I think the premise is awesome. The whole of LA is overrun by unknown creatures aka entities except for this small enclave. The same place where an Irish witch back in the day tried to drive out all the predominantly Mexican American population. Fast forward to now and that hugely backfiring but still the protections that were cast are failing. Enter Maddy Madrigal formerly Bantacorte. From a long line of brujas she takes a job as head of security in this enclave and that’s when things start falling down.

Background covered here we are in book two. Can I just say first Maddy’s mom has issues. No wonder she rejected all things magical for so long. I’m enjoying the developing bonds and skills of her security force. The team and its members are great backup and background characters. Love Little Lencha and her surprises so much! I’m just really digging these books. Maddy is a great lead she’s confident but not arrogant. And she’s totally relatable with her insecurities and mom issues. The flirtatious relationship with Stu that’s coming along slowly I’m ready to ship it!

So tldr: great world building, fascinating characters and a really intriguing world filled with magic, unexplained creatures and lots of yummy food. I highly recommend it!

[Petra Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess I kept looking up recipes as I read! Cooking is Maddy’s love language as much as protecting humans from the beasties that would do them harm is.

I’ve read through to book three now, and am thoroughly enjoying this series.

Urban fantasy with a novice bruja who is discovering her own powers. Maddy catches entities (cryptids, mostly), first for the LAPD, then for a private enclave that has unique beasties she has never encountered before.

All the good things:
::cultural richness (food, cures, magic, and cryptids of Mexico)
::suspense
::family, both found and biological
::latent powers
::older protagonists (in their 40s)
::interesting side characters
::I love the importance of historical study and research.

[Satviki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat Magic is book full of culture and magic, with a wonderful FMC and delightful world building. I loved the periodic references to mexican food, and the descriptions for foods like sugar skulls and tamales were so delicious! I also loved that one festival-it was such a creative way to represent Chavez Ravine's culture/community. The magic was imaginative, the pouches being particularly interesting. The FMC, Maddy, was wonderful as always. She managed to be strong but not like a Mary Sue, and she was not afraid to rely on others! Her devotion to her team was lovely, and so was their loyalty to her. However, no matter how wonderful the magic, culture, and the FMC was/were, the best part of the book was the world building. We got to see new types of entities, new people, and gained new things to consider. More color was added to the world outside Chavez Ravine in a way that was not uninteresting. I also really enjoyed getting to see the complicated relationship between Maddy and her Mother in more detail! There is/are definitely something(s) to unwrap there. The ending was also well done, managing to neatly wrap up the story while leaving room for the next book. Now, one might be wondering why I only gave this book four stars despite all this praise. I enjoyed the book, but the pacing felt a bit slow at times. I tend to be a bit of a stickler for pacing, so that bit of slowness was a bit off putting.

Somewhat Magic is still an amazing book, worth a read for fans of books based off real cultures and filled with realistic characters!

Thank you to the author and Booksirens for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for a review! All opinions expressed are my own.

[Deborah Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the Maddy Madrigal Mystery series. My introduction to the author was via the first book in the series, Barely Magic. That was a fun twist on contemporary paranormal fiction that drew from the rich mexican history.

I got to know about Chávez Ravine by reading this series. I enjoyed the last book and I enjoyed this one just as much. I loved seeing Maddy growing into her abilities and allowing people to help her. I loved to see the evolution of her relationship with Stu and Clare as well. There were only very few dull moments for me but this was an overall engaging read.

It was so interesting to see the layers of Hernan's personality and a little glimpse of who he was beyond thr cranky exterior. I also got to understand more about the relationship between Maddy and her mother and the exact way her mother attracted entities. I really like that this book is set in our modern world and how the paranormal meshes nicely with it. Every single character was well written and they came alive in such a lovely way.

Also, the little recipes in the book? Chef's kiss 😉. Makes we want to eat more Mexican delicacies. The ending of the book leaves you curious enough for the next book but not unsatisfied. I received an ARC and this review is voluntary. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Kcaroth1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat Magic by Debra Castaneda takes place just a few weeks after the first book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series ends. Maddy is trying to further establish her place in the Chavez Ravine communities, develop her magic, and figure out what her cat wants.
I enjoyed the first in the series so much that I started reading this immediately after. So glad I did! I liked the new staff members that Maddy hires (how much in HOA fees is the neighborhood charging?!), and the festival was a fun focus. The throughline about what is going on with the development/developer next door, as well as the ever encroaching monsters and entities keeps the plot moving along quickly.
Maddy is becoming surer of herself but still faces some difficulties feeling comfortable with her relationships, especially with her mother. Very relatable. The other great thing in this series is the food descriptions. Never have I wanted tamales, conchas, and arroz con pollo more!
One thing that I didn’t like as much in this book is that there is a development with Maddy’s magical abilities that doesn’t feel entirely earned yet. There still isn’t quite enough backstory with how magic works in her world. The overall idea is there, it just needs some fleshing out.
There is a great set up at the end for the next book, and I am eagerly awaiting it!
Thanks to BookSirens and Shadow Canyon Press for the eARC.

[Katja 🇧🇪 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this 2nd book of Maddy Madrigal’s Mystery series, Maddy will be challenged in more ways than one! Some mysterious things are happening in her neighborhood, things beyond her control! Even while she is developing more and more her brujería, Maddy will have to stand her ground and fight like she never did before.

I think this second book was awesome! There are some great plot twists in there and seeing how Maddy is becoming and embracing more and more her legacy, is just amazing. I just love the down to earth magic, and how well the story and the characters are well developed and relatable!

For me reading this great series, gives a well deserved break, brings a smile on your face and just makes you hope and wish many more books will follow with Maddy Madrigal in it! The only little warning is that if you are like me, you will have to find yourself a good Mexican restaurant that can serve all the delicious food you’ll read about in this series! Or better, make them yourself, because I sure started to want to eat all that goodness!

Do I recommend this book and series? Absolutamente que si!

In all disclosure, I received this copy for free, and as always I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Tracy Kaufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I enjoyed the first book so much I immediately signed up this one. This series keeps getting better. I enjoy how the author has done such a good job of keeping the magic almost realistic. The rich history of this place is done expertly. The characters are interesting; I have found characters I was not sure I like I now get a kick out of. The different foods Maddy and her friends creates make me so hungry every darn time. I do want a bit more of a fleshing out of Maddy's magic and how/where it comes from. Maddy is smart and yet still has hang ups from her childhood. Something that makes her very relatable to us all. I wish there was a 1/2 star. There are a couple of things that are bugging me for some reason. One is her ability to do magic the other is her relationship with Stu needs a bit more attention. I love a slow burn; but this needs a bit more speed. I don't know why it is bugging me so much. No, matter, I will be in line for the next book as soon as it is released. This series has a lot more stories to tell, and I am looking forward to each and everyone.

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the gated community of Chavez Ravine suddenly under attack from supernatural entities, Madeline "Maddy" Madrigal must dip into her rich heritage to shore up the failing spell that had kept the neighbourhood safe for many years.

This is the second book in the Maddy Madrigal series and builds upon the themes from the inaugural story. Whereas Maddy was uncertain and hesitant about her paranormal talents in the initial work, she's now beginning to embrace her strengths and work with them instead of against them, all while battling her usual adversaries - human and monster, alike. I raved about how amazing Maddy was in my first book review, which goes doubly here. I would love her as a friend in real life; strong and dependable, yet warm and funny. And, as a narrator, she's brilliant in her sarcastic commentary.

Rich with cultural texture and gorgeous food descriptions, I cannot recommend this series highly enough. Such a well-written book!

Thank you to Debra Castaneda and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat Magic is a great second installment with plenty of action!

Somewhat Magic is a great addition to the Maddy Madrigal Mystery series. I really enjoyed the expanding list of characters and the overall character and storyline development in the series so far! I love that Maddy is embracing her inner Bruja and making strides in that directions. I also love the slow burn natural progression of her relationship with Stu. That like any normal relationship with those who have been hurt before have reservations and insecurities and it’s refreshing to see them acknowledging these flaws and moving past them. And Sam I love that cat and his origin story and entrenchment in Maddy’s life is a never ceasing source of amusement for me. I also love this quick and almost ceaselessly smooth team transformation of Maddy’s staff as they work diligently to keep their community safe from from pretty unusual circumstances and situations that have had them scrambling for both answers and solutions. I can’t wait to see more from this series it’s definitely a fun read. I highly recommend it you want some light fun monster hunting with a day of made family.

[Marie A · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second book of the Maddy Madrigal’s mystery series, Maddy certainly has her hands full and it seems like she has more than one mystery to solve.

All the characters we know and love from the first book are in this one as well as a few familiar characters that have put Maddy’s diplomacy skills to work in the past.

Maddy is learning to love her family home more each day and loves that she has friends to share food and laughs with.

She is still working on her brujería, but like some of us, has confidence issues and a case of imposter syndrome.

Then of course there is the glowing pottery that was gifted to her and the cat, Sam, who will let everyone love on him except Maddy but will definitely let her know when there is trouble brewing or anything else she needs to be aware of.

Just so you know, there are some storylines that are wrapped up in this book BUT it also ends on a cliffhanger. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for book three.

All that being said, if you enjoyed the first book in this series, I definitely recommend this one. I would like to thank Booksirens for an advanced reader copy, but all opinions are my own.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Again very enjoyable book! I'm really liking this series so far. Maddy is building her skills as head of security in a swanky neighborhood fighting the supernatural entities that pop up. She faces challenges not just supernaturally, but politically from the governing board, not to mention her personal issues with her blossoming romance and her complex relationship with her mom. Maddy is also trying to work on her own magic, with no one to guide her besides maybe her ancestors' spirits? Altogether, she's got a lot to balance, and is working hard to fit everything on her plate.

Maddy is a delightful main character, competent, imperfect and relatable. She has parent struggles, relationship struggles, and is just trying to keep everyone safe from both human and supernatural forces. I'm really enjoying her growth and learning. The pacing of the story is good, quick and breezy but with enough tension to make the stakes interesting. I also like the characters that we're introduced to, and look forward to learning more about them. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Drew Moyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5

Debra's new Maddy Madrigal series has been an absolute blast to read. The second book, Somewhat Magic, picks up not long after the first one. Maddy is now doing her best to learn how to harness her magic while dealing with the entities that have now started appearing in Chavez Ravine.

The characters, setting, and creatures are very well crafted. The town of Chavez Ravine is bursting with such rich detail, you would think it's a real place. And this book doesn't disappoint when it comes to the creatures. There are tons of them! Goblins, ghost, chupacabras, you name it! If you enjoy creature features with a dash of magic, this book and this series are for you.

Dare I say, this one is even better than the first. I can't wait to see where this series goes. Do your self a favor and pick this one up when it releases!

I was provided a free advanced copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Maddy proves she is a bruja no one should mess with. She was able to handle the newer entities with more cognizance with ease and came up with new ways to attack the entities. Some of these entities were downright horrible. I really understood her anxiety about dealing with her mother. I have had no contact with my mother for 25 yrs so I cannot imagine trying to have a civil conversation with her. Maddy handles her meeting with her mother in a very respectful manner but put boundaries as well. I was surprised how she acted towards Stu, he had no idea the disconnect between Maddy and her mom. They both handled the situation poorly but I was glad it solved itself in a slightly humorous way. I loved all the cultural food sharing. I love Mexican food and found myself wanting the foods mentioned. Maddy is becoming a very capable person when dealing with life’s various problems and I cannot wait for the next book and what Maddy meant about the ‘dark feeling’ she had.

[Vix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series - it's a nice touch that the symbol for each chapter is on the covers too (I missed that on the first book).

I'm really enjoying Maddy’s magical development and love how Sam is guiding her and admonishing her too. I'm learning all sorts of things as well as getting hungrier wanted to sample all the food Maddy cooks - I want a recipe book at the end.

The change in entities was interesting and I felt there were more vicious varieties in this one. I liked how her team is slowly bonding and forming a formidable unit.

I wondered on the culprit and guessed right, Maddy needs to improve those gut feelings of hers. There's still something slightly off about Stu, whether I'm just guarded for Maddy, I'm not sure - but I do love Clare.

Overall, the series is developing nicely and I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Paula Sahraoui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat Magic is the second book in the Maddy Madrigal series and honestly is so much fun to read! These books have it all, warmth, suspense, romance and a hysterical magical cat. I highly recommend this series if you like books that feel like a hug.

This one picks up soon after the first book, Barely Magic ends. In the community of Chavez Ravine dangerous entities are breaking through and can't be easily stopped. They need more than extra man power they need magic.
Great characters and some nice twists and developments make this an extremely fast read. This series leaves you wanting more and hungry. Think tamales, burritos ...

I received an advance review copy this review is my honest opinion.

[Leslie Earnest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series, and I loved it just as much as the first! Entities are popping up inside of Chavez Ravine, and they are even more dangerous than typical entities. Maddy must learn to harness her magic and embrace her brujeria legacy to protect the community. Full of magic, monsters, Mexican culture and food, with a badass FMC, interesting characters, and some amazing world-building! I really enjoyed this story! I can't wait to follow more of Maddy's story as she becomes an even more powerful bruja and solves the mysteries and dangers that Chavez Ravine faces!
Thank you to the author for this free copy in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4.5⭐️

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat Magic, by Debra Castaneda, is the second book in the Maddy Madrigal Mystery series. After getting settled into her new home and job in Chavez Ravine, Maddy finds herself faced with new challenges and even more monsters. Chavez Ravine has never had entities, but now the community may be in jeopardy. As Maddy juggles new staff, a new relationship, and new, more dangerous entities, she also has to figure out who may want her out of the picture.

I’m absolutely loving this new series from Debra. Maddy is fierce, strong, but still completely relatable. The history and practice of brujería is fascinating and the monsters are spooky and dangerous. These books are best enjoyed with your favorite Mexican cuisine, as the descriptions of the delicious food will leave you hungry.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the new Maddy Madrigal series, and while you don't have to read them back to back, I would. Why miss out on an amazing series?
Maddy Madrigal is an amazing character! The book flows smoothly and keeps you interested throughout. This includes conflict, mysteries, and creatures - all things that make a fantastic read! I didn't want the book to end! Maddy is learning about her own history and her family while struggling to keep her community safe. Add in the creatures flooding in - one hot mess is incoming! It's fabulous, and the foods she makes sound incredible!
Debra Castaneda writes amazing books, and I encourage ya'll to check them out!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and this series continues to be a delight. Maddy continues to worry about the protection spell over her community especially when entities start appearing where they shouldn’t. Poor Maddy is thrown into the fire when everything seems to start to happen at once, including seeming to get more magic for herself. I just love her, Stu, Jo, and all of the other characters. Add in a terrific plot, great writing, and hints of what’s coming next, this book (and the previous one) is a great way to spend an evening. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Somewhat Magic' jumps straight into the action after 'Barely Magic'. We follow Maddy as she navigates the increasing paranormal activity in her community and juggles new relationships with her new interest in her own paranormal abilities.

The storyline is tight, the action intense and the characters are great fun. While there are many authors that explore paranormal mystery, I love how Castaneda weaves her own magic and infuses this series with real history and culture. We need a Maddy Madrigal Recipe book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps Debra Castaneda has me under a spell, but I truly look forward to reading each installment of this series as she puts them out!! This second installment in the Maddy Madrigal series did not disappoint! 🙌

In Somewhat Magic, we pick up where Barely Magic left off. As entities start popping up within Chavez Ravine, we see Maddy expand her team and further develop her magic! And the ending has me once again dying for the next installment! Definitely recommend to lovers of cozy mysteries and the paranormal! 👏

Thank you Debra Castaneda for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

[Carrol Chap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddy is back in book 2 and I couldn’t be more excited!!!!! She’s been developing her inherited brujeria magic and just in time because there are more monsters and a crooked developer with his eyes on her land! The monsters are getting closer now and actually able to cross into the neighborhood Maddy lives in and protects. She’s got to work harder than ever and possibly even bringing her famous mom into the mix for help, which she had hoped to avoid at all costs!
The wonderful Mexican dishes, friendships, and beautiful colors of the cottage pull it all together! Very well developed characters that I absolutely can’t wait to meet up with again in the next book!!!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving the Maddy Madrigal books so far! Somewhat Magic is a great follow-up to the first book in the series, filled with absolutely wonderful characters and a great storyline. I love the focus on Mexican food and culture. It gives a unique tone to the books that is extremely welcome and makes them stand out (and may inspire a few dinner ideas). If you enjoy magic, monsters, and a strong female main character, I highly recommend this book. For the best experience, start with the first book in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ali W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat Magic is the second book in the Maddy Madrigal series by Debra Castaneda. We carry on from the first book, Maddy is still head of security at Chevaz Ravine and is still trying to win over certain residents of the community. Her security team is growing, new entities are appearing and Maddy’s magic is growing.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it was just as enjoyable and fun to read which kept me entertained from start to finish. I’m looking forward to reading book 3, which is next on my list.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

still issues

This book had the same issues as book one, particularly with time inconsistency. At one point I wondered if the chapters were out of order, it was that out of whack.

The plot again, was interesting but predictable and I found Maddy to be kind of oblivious to the obvious. She also came off as much younger than her 40yo self in this book and that’s not exactly an improvement.

I still think there needs to be a glossary or on page translations for the less common Spanish phrases, there was more of that but not enough. Even the Mexican dishes could’ve done with better explanations or more explanation.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy, supernatural aspects, magic and creatures with evil intentions. It took our heroine a minute to figure out who was unleashing all the evil, but her sleuthing skills are top notch. All of Debra's books the I've read are real treasures for the mind , like she herself is. She's crafty, resourceful, and always cooking something that makes me drool!!. A detective with magic who can cook win win! I never did figure out whodunit, but I enjoyed it all the same. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hit! I love this series only two books in. I hope there are a lot more coming. In this one, Maddy is hit from all sides from everything you can imagine. I love the richness of description throughout the book. Also, it's realistic in the specter of family issues, re: Maddy and her mom. I would like to see a little more about the magic but otherwise I have found a great series to read over and over. This one will definitely stay on my bookshelf!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read I am learning so much about the Mexican culture. Great world building and wonderful characters. The little hiccup with the slow romance, the tension between mother and daughter and the respect of the workers and community add greatly to the read. Look forward to seeing where it all goes in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maggie Fornaciari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Maddy Madrigal series, and I loved it just as much as the first. It grabbed me from the first page and held me captive until I finished it. Maddy's really coming into her own as a witch. When entities start arriving at Chavez Ravine, she has to learn quickly how to cast a protection spell around it. Her skills are improving, and things are going better, but what's coming next? We'll have to wait for Book 3 to find out.

[Geraldine Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intriguing story which reminded me a bit of Star Trek on steroids, but instead of alien civilisations hoping to communicate, we get a fascinating collection of different monsters.

As the threat grows, so do Maddy's powers.

This story really drew me in and I can't wait to read the next instalment.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.