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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Potions and Margaritas by Maria Vermisoglou is part of the Cursed Girl universe and Liquor Shop series. Eclipse is a magical place where everyone can feel at home and it serves the best margaritas in town. Soon the sanctuary they all hold dear is threatened when the owner - who is supposed to be immortal - is found dead. A monster lurks around them and has a dastardly plan to set an apocalypse in motion. Cal was a normal bartender working at Eclipse when the owner’s death threw her into this magical world. She soon learns that her friends have their own supernatural secrets, even the charming Fino who spends as much time flirting with her as he does enjoying his drink. This comes with the discovery of her powers which may be the key they need to stop the apocalypse. That is if she can learn to master them in time.
The setting of Eclipse is a crucial component of the story as the characters and Cal’s perspective are primarily derived from this location. The community atmosphere of the bar is established first with hints at its strangeness, seen in Cal’s opinion about the different customers she encounters. The majority of the characters are customers or workers at the bar with several that stay largely in the background; however, each has its unique quirky characteristics that draw out different parts of the world. These include a bouncer who can see into your soul, moving tattoos with personalities, and dragon shifters. Meena is a favorite character who always shines with each moment and has an upbeat disposition that makes her instantly likable. Another notable character is Fino who is a flirty presence that makes Cal smile and with whom she shares dazzling chemistry. The different drinks help bridge the gap between the bar and the supernatural such as red wine that uses a spell to mask that it is blood and magical margaritas. Maria Vermisoglou approaches magic with a unique take to provide a lighthearted tone to the story and create a genuine sense of fun that makes you want to be part of the world. Every moment in Potions and Margaritas is never boring with delightful shenanigans, charming characters, and enchanting magic.
