The Wizard of Dark Street by Shawn Thomas Odyssey

12 year old Oona is destined for the position of Wizard's Apprentice since she is a rare Natural Magician.  But all she wants to do is start her own detective agency.  When the current Wizard, also Oona's uncle, is stabbed with a magic knife, it's up to Oona to figure out who purported the crime.  

"Indeed, Deacon," she said.  "Nothing like a bit of spying to put one in the right mood."  ARC p. 75

This was a great mix of fantasy and mystery so it combined two of my favorite genres.  Oona is a girl detective and those are the best kind.  She is smart, witty, clever and loyal to her uncle.  She is also filled with a deep sadness after the death of her mother and sister and a fear of her own magic because of their deaths.  It adds some depth to Oona's story which otherwise might have been too formulaic.  I also loved Oona's talking encyclopedia raven, Deacon, and their relationship with each other and how he aids her in sleuthing and acts as her friend and companion.

The world that Odyssey has built is very well thought.  Dark Street is the last of the faerie paths, now closed off to the Faerie world and only available to our world for a minute each night at midnight.  It makes the inhabitants of Dark Street very unique.   Still it is a pretty normal place to them.  But it is a world unto itself.  I liked how the magic of the place flavored the book, but wasn't the point of the book.  I loved how really this is, at heart, a mystery, just dressed in fantasy clothes.

Sent by publisher for review