A Curse of Mayhem

Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions #2

by Sunayna Prasad

Librarian note: An older edition of this ASIN can be found here: 15-Jul-2019.

History, like magic, has a habit of repeating itselfIt’s been six months since thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy left magic behind for good. Or so she thought…

Then the enchanted objects that protected her disappear. Now a skeleton named Errol has cursed her with magical powers that keep getting her in trouble. Suddenly strange things are happening with disastrous effects, and if Alyssa can’t remove the magic, she will lose everything she holds dear.

In order to get rid of her unwanted wizardry, Alyssa will have to boost her bravery and confidence and determine who Errol really is. But every time Alyssa uses an enchantment, Errol is one step closer to getting his flesh back and becoming alive, and he will do anything to achieve his goals…even if it means destroying Alyssa’s happiness.

Originally published in 2016 as “Wizardry Goes Wild” and “The Unruly Curse” in 2019, “A Curse of Mayhem” is book two in the exciting and suspenseful “Magical Missions” series.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction

173 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2016

About the author

Sunayna Prasad has been writing stories for over several years, starting at the age of six. Now in her 20's, she is done with college and will continue to write for children. Aside from that, Sunayna also likes to cook, watch movies, and draw. She lives on Long Island, New York, with her family.

Reviews

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Iread and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Curse of Mayhem(aka The Unruly Curse)
Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions: Book 2
By: Sunayna Prasad


REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
The Curse of Mayhem follows six months after The Frights of Fiji. Alyssa, age thirteen, is done with magic. On the plus side, she no longer resides with evil Master Beau, rather with someone much nicer, Alex. Then, magic suddenly reappears in Alyssa's life, along with a new villain. A skeleton named Errol has cursed Alyssa with troublesome magic that messes up her newly ordered life. Why? Errol wants something, and he is using Alyssa as a means to an end. Every time she uses magic, Errol is one step closer to the goal. Alyssa has to somehow cast away this mischievous magic before it's too late, and she realizes that she must figure out who Errol really is. Alyssa has much at stake, and only through her own perseverance, determination and courage can she save the life she now has. Just like the first book, this is a great read for middle graders. It is filled with adventure, humor, fun and lessons about this and that along the way. Children of the appropriate age group will enjoy this unique magical world. Pick up a copy to share today!

*Note: If you search on Goodreads, this book is titled The Unruly Curse rather than The Curse of Mayhem.*

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK 

In A Curse of Mayhem we meet Alyssa from book one, the young girl that had magical powers that really didn’t  want them. Alyssa is now living in a new town, and she keeps things in her room that will keep the magic away from her but she awakes one morning to find a Welcome back to Magic sign and her things all gone. Join Alyssa and the rest of the gang on another coming of age journey that will keep you on your toes until the end.

Author Sunayna Prasad writes another intriguing and interesting story in the second book of this series. And as with The Frights of Fiji, I was impressed at the fine writing of this young lady. She has changed my mind about a genre I normally would not have read, and I have actually enjoyed these first two book in the Series. I found these characters interesting and really like the way each played out the story. The author deals with some pretty heavy issues many young people deal with today. One thing I can relate to so much is public speaking, I remember many years ago when in school, I hated getting up in front of class for anything, especially reading something. I had so many issues with doing this. And these many years later, I still struggle with this same issue, though it is a bit better. It’s funny how something can trigger those long ago memories.

This is written mostly for teenagers, it deals with wizardry, which I certainly don’t believe in but did enjoy the writing. I encourage you to check this one out for your child if this is what they enjoy reading.

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two starts with character introductions…lots of characters. Once the story settles into a rhythm, it becomes easier to read.

I don’t believe you would need to read book one first, but it would definitely be helpful to have that basis for the battles with Master Beau.

Alyssa is dealing with self-confidence issues, so I’m sure many tweens can relate to her problems. The story is a wholesome, coming-of-age tale that should appeal to the middle-grade reader.

There are subtle hints to past relationships that could factor into future books in the series for the slightly older reader.

The author does seem quite tuned into the early teen mentality, making her series a fun, light-hearted read.

[Achu VR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyssa McCarthy and her magic again and we can say this one is the best. I received the books thru Goodreads Giveaway and completed the same on the same day.Over all the book is written with a superb flow and easy to read. This book speaks about how Alyssa has established her life with her godfather Alex. She wakes up suddenly with magical powers but the only problem is she is not able to control them. A great story well written. The writers imagination is well appreciated.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun and lighthearted. I love how knowledge is power here.

The story is a continuation from the first. Alyssa is now with her godfather Alex and they are going day to day discovering themselves and one another. Alex is a great guy his support and faith in Alyssa is awesome. It helps show her that there is always someone in her corner no matter what. the other ones are her friends. They stick by her and help her become more confident and gain courage. They are there through thick and thin. It’s a great way to show how friends are a part of us and help us to become who we are meant to be. They make us comfortable to be ourselves.

the story is one of a Errol the skeleton who is lonely and so he goes after what he wants the most to be human so he can have life once more. To do this he does some not great things and one is giving Alyssa magic. The problem is that there are consequences and in this case the magic is wild and out of control. So is Errol. He wants something so much he loses sight of things and does some crazy things. This is that story of how Alyssa and her friends and Alex fight Errol and Alyssa gains a sense of strength and sees what love and friendship is. She sees that she is not alone and that she never will be. This is done in a entertaining, sweet and crazy way. We are never bored and always wondering what magic animal or what the magic will do next. Watching Alyssa overcome her fears and see how powerful knowledge can be is awesome. And the little dalliance she has is adorable. A great addition to the series that is fun , sweet and entertaining.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Curse of Mayhem is the second book of the series of Alyssa McCarthy Magical Missions. It is good. I seem to start up once again with Alyssa doing magic. How does she get this magic of hers? This seems interesting that she doing this and her ordinary person.

Do we find that there this person named Errol? Does Alyssa need to do somethings to defeat Errol? What they are you find out as she struggles to control her magic. It seems that she gets herself into trouble. Will her mentors be able to help or even Simon?

This book for me was slow going. It was adventures, but not as exciting as the first book. It is good with is as it is funny with animals that show up out of nowhere. Will Alyssa be able to save her loved ones and her friends?

If you are looking for a good book for your child or children this is good for them. As it teaches confidence in a person, responsibility. This is shown throughout the book. Not all at the same time. It has some fantasy to it. Good for fantasy fans and lovers of fantasy.

[Wendy Unsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alyssa is back for another adventure in a world where magic exists and she is cursed with it. The curse is that she is unable to control her magical abilities and is soon in trouble wherever she goes.
I read the first book in this series and my feelings for this book are much the same. The author has a lovely and vivid imagination. Her young protagonist faces strange creatures and other perils while trying to maintain a very ordinary school life with the usual issues; friends, home life, deadlines and tests and this mix should appeal to young readers.
However there are issues of sentence structure and use of some words that did detract severely from the overall enjoyment of the book for me. It might be especially diffficult for younger readers who need and deserve the flow of good prose. With thorough edits this book might well be a hit with young teenagers.

[cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 3 stars
Critical Rating: 2 stars
Review coming soon! :-)

[LittlePiscesReading]

Despite his deeds, I can’t help but love Errol. While I love a villain you can unabashedly cheer against he’s a sympathetic character and I immensely appreciate that we get chapters from him. His desperation and the fear he feels are so well drawn. He’s by far some of the best character work in the series yet. But he isn’t the only improvement in that regard. Alyssa and her godfather, Alex, have some lovely moments together. This is likely because as a sequel it doesn’t need to dedicate as much time to setting up the world but it’s great to see nonetheless.

I do miss her friends from the first book though. She has new friends now and I did come to like them. I was a little disappointed by the lack of the girls from the first book but ultimately it’s for the best.

The premise is interesting. Alyssa is much more involved in the plot this time around, and actively making decisions. And I do not understand them. Not only hers either. We’ve known for so long that magic should be kept secret despite all of the blabbing she did. It’s worse than ever here. Her godfather forces her to admit magic in front of his partygoers. But she herself is so blasé about telling everyone and risks endangering the people around her happily. There are not-infrequent mentions of the magic police and given all the spying on people that goes on in these books I’m genuinely surprised that she hasn’t been thrown in jail yet because it’s so brazen from so early on. There’s still so much talk of bureaucracy that it feels like the world building can’t really be trusted.

A Curse of Mayhem leans much more into the mundane here. There’s no great adventure section and I do think it’s the stronger for it. This isn’t that kind of book but it frustrating then that it waffles between its own stakes. I get why Alyssa was torn between caution and spending time with her friends but for her godfather to put his foot down because of her inability to control her powers, and once she loses control again – proving his fears true – suddenly caves and let her do what she wants….

I’ll fully admit that I’m too chronically ill to take the justifications and choices of its characters seriously. The reckless endangerment of her classmates and her forced attendance just seem contrived to me. But I do know that attendance to the detriment of children is something that people will do. I just couldn’t take it seriously.

As an exploration of growth through a fantasy concept, I think this book is good. It’s much more focused on what it wants to say and happen than the first – much as I liked the wildness of its magic’s permutations. The emotions of its characters really shine in places and make it a stronger and better book overall. Not only that but the prose flows much more naturalistically and some characters I could differentiate purely by the way they spoke. It wrapped up pretty neatly so I am intrigued by there being a third book at all but I look forward to it.

Thanks to iReadBookTours and Sunayna Prasad. I leave this review voluntarily.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Scary skeletons, ghosts, reptiles, magical creatures, and incredible powers made “A Curse of Mayhem” very entertaining to read!

Right from the first page, the author does a great job of setting the pace for the story. Alyssa cannot control her powers once the objects that protected her disappear, and you wonder how she will survive school and her friends. Some memorable moments were when she creates a bee in class, loses control at the party, or fights the scarpies.

I liked Alyssa more in this story because of her struggles. No matter how hard she tries to control her powers, she is not able to. I also liked how the author balances the adventure with her regular life. The first book was high on action and adventure, with a lot going on. But this book was lovely and subdued, and I felt like I got to know Alyssa better. I enjoyed her conversations with Sydney, Lily, and Krystal and how she wants to improve her public speaking skills.

The realistic relationship that Alyssa shared with Alex and thought the author portrayed them wonderfully was adorable. I also thought Errol was a much better villain than Master Beau. Errol is sly and calculated, and you don’t know what he will do next. I thought Errol, Luis, and Mr. Wagner were more calculating than Master Beau, Clarissa, and David. Similar to the previous story, the author builds the suspense to a gripping climax.

However, the only downside to the tale is I wish few characters from the first book made a guest appearance. There is hardly any mention of them in the story.

Overall, “A Curse of Mayhem” is an excellent continuation to “The Frights of Fiji,” and, in some ways, I enjoyed it more than the first book.

[Bonnie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the series immediately delves into the action. Alyssa wakes up to find that a skeleton has placed a curse on her. She spontaneously performs magic. Worse yet, most people believe her witchcraft to be her fault. The book takes an interesting spin on other wizardly books. Instead of only focusing on only life or death situations, Alyssa has other problems as well. Problems that perhaps any student can relate to: feeling isolated, being blamed for something that isn't her fault, suspension, expulsion and bad grades.

There's plenty of drama to be had. Alyssa lives with her godfather, Alex. Mr. Wagner, a man who works with magic, warns her that if she cannot control her powers, he would have to take her away from her guardian. Alyssa's relationship with Alex is very sweet. So it's one of the worst things that could happen to her. This book is not short on conflicts.

Of course, there is life or death situations as well. Alyssa is frequently in danger. Her friends also get attacked.

The moral of the story is the importance of confidence in the face of adversity. A friend by the name of Simon gives Alyssa a skill-o-meter that can measure her confidence. Alyssa knows that confidence can keep her in control of the curse. But she struggles every step of the way. How can someone think positively and remain confident when everything is against them?

The characters are interesting, the creatures imaginative, and the tension constantly rising. You'll never get bored with this one. The thing I loved most about this book was how people reacted to the magic. It was so nonchalant that it was almost comical. When the teacher saw a small shark suddenly attack his students, his only reaction was flunking Alyssa on her assignment. This kind of reaction sort of reminds me of Miyuzaki films, where people see something abnormal and then have a very subdued reaction. They'll look at it like they think it's kind of odd, but they won't put too much thought into how it happened. It's great when you want to give a sense of wonder in the world. People are accustomed to strange things happening in their world. And I think this nonchalant attitude is a good thing. It lets the story focus on the magic, instead of people trying to understand the magic.

I haven't enjoyed a novella this much in a long time. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy.

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Curse of Mayhem was a wonderful next book in the Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions series! This is a middle-grade fantasy story filled with magic and adventure!

The story begins six months after the end of the first book, The Frights of Fiji. 13-year-old Alyssa is living with Alex, someone who supports her and believes in her, which is such a nice change from her uncle in book 1. She has put magic behind her…or so she thought. But then, she is cursed by a skeleton named Errol. The curse causes mayhem in Alyssa’s life.

Errol’s curse gives Alyssa magic that is out of control. It causes all kinds of problems that give the book an exciting sense of adventure. Alyssa, ultimately, must defeat Errol to overcome her curse, but can she do it?

I found this book to be a little slower than the first book in the series. I think that while it was still exciting, it just wasn’t as fast-paced. I liked the curse that is put on Alyssa. I felt that it gave her an interesting problem to solve. She couldn’t ignore magic, it was a part of her, and it was interesting to see how she solved her issue.

I really enjoyed the story’s focus on healthy, loving relationships and support of those you love. I think that it offers a great message for young readers. I did find some editing errors, and I think this could be an issue for children that are still learning to understand a book’s plot and characters, but overall, it’s a good premise and was a joy to read.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend A Curse of Mayhem for middle-grade readers that enjoy exciting fantasy adventures. I would suggest reading the first book in this series, The Frights of Fiji before reading this so that you understand the magical world and get to know the characters.

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

My full review will be on my blog on 5/20/20. All of my children's book reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-chi...

[Moná · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the adventures continue long after big changes that happened in one’s life. Many of us try to start their lives over because their old life wasn’t cutting it. Moving, changing your environment, making new friends, getting a new job, etc. are just some of the things that can make life seem different. Oddly enough, the past always has a funny way of showing face and haunting you, despite all the steps you took to rid yourself of it. One of the worst things to experience is having others consider you as some form of trouble, simply because you’re the new person to the area. How can you fix damages that are assumed caused by you, even though you’re actually the victim?

In “Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions: Wizardry Goes Wild,” author Sunayna Prasad leads her readers back into the world of Alyssa as she’s living a new life with her godfather, Alex Kress because no other family can be responsible for her at this time. Alex has been the best legal guardian she could have and Alyssa does her best to remain the best goddaughter possible. Magical incidences started occurring and have made Alyssa out to be dangerous. Master Beau’s soul is now in possession of this wizard named Errol, who casts a spell on Alyssa to use her in a way that would make him human again. It’s a truly unfortunate of events, as these magical powers can’t be controlled by Alyssa and anytime something magical happens, she is instantly labeled as the culprit. Understanding the misunderstandings, she’s experiencing, she is building her confidence and bravery to take back her life.

I enjoyed reading the second book by this author because her writing style is unique, providing more direct descriptions of each scenario. I sometimes find myself reading as if it’s a screenplay or something similar. I recommend everyone who began reading the first book to read this one too, so you can keep up with Alyssa and her life.

[Kameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars: I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

Since my (pre-teen) daughter gave me such valuable feedback regarding The Frights of Fiji, I enlisted her again in the review for A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions, Book 2).



Cover: She thought the winged person was creepy and didn’t understand who it was supposed to be since she didn’t recall a flying kid in the story. The birdman didn’t bother her; in fact, she thought he looked comical.

Plot: We both agreed there were plot holes again. We didn’t understand how Alex, the godfather, forgot about magic and Alyssa’s kidnapping.
We weren’t sure how mortals could be so confused magic exists when there is a magical zoo in Nebraska.


Characters: She liked the winged unicorn-zebra, and so did I.



Extras: We both agreed the community service hours for students are a good idea. It teaches young people to take care of our world, and it’s important to take care of your community/people. However, realistically, I don’t think many schools will make it a requirement for school. Maybe for a class, though.

While there were some hits and misses in this story, it was more enjoyable than The Frights of Fiji. It did represent how I believe a person would react to unwanted powers and the lack of control over them.

On a final note: My daughter said the ending was “Ahhh, so sweet.” She’s right; it was adorable.

(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)

[Billy Fetzner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding Brilliance

I have just emerged from the enchanting world of 'A Curse of Mayhem,' the second installment in Sunayna Prasad's captivating series, Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions. To say that I'm spellbound by this book would be an understatement. Prasad masterfully weaves a tale of magic, courage, and self-discovery that kept me eagerly turning the pages from start to finish. Alyssa McCarthy's journey is a symphony of emotions, blending the familiar struggles of adolescence with the extraordinary challenges of navigating a magical world. What struck me most is Prasad's ability to breathe life into Alyssa, making her not just a character in a fantasy novel but a relatable and authentic protagonist who grapples with real-life issues amidst magical mayhem.

I was immediately drawn to the unique blend of modern fantasy and original ideas presented in 'A Curse of Mayhem.' The contemporary elements seamlessly woven into the paranormal world-building create a refreshing and immersive experience. The lilac-colored smoke, the mysterious disappearance of enchanted objects, and the unexpected manifestation of magical powers had me hooked from the very beginning. Prasad's vivid descriptions and attention to detail brought these magical elements to life, painting a picture so vivid that I could almost see the rainbow-colored, bouncy ball Alyssa accidentally conjured.

'A Curse of Mayhem' is a delightful and imaginative journey that seamlessly blends the ordinary with the extraordinary. Sunayna Prasad has crafted a tale that not only entertains but also imparts valuable lessons about confidence, bravery, and the importance of staying true to oneself. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers who enjoy highly imaginative, fast-paced, and engaging stories with a strong female protagonist. Whether you're a fan of Harry Potter, Paranorman, or Frozen, this magical adventure is bound to leave you enchanted.

[Ezela Tagliente · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Alyssa McCarthy! Although I had not read the first book in the series, it was clear to see in Book 2 that magic and wizardry were frustrating to have as a teenage girl in a normal world. The support systems and special schools one might find in other fantasy worlds is notably absent here and helps the reader understand how misunderstood Alyssa feels. I agree with the other reviews on this book that the writing style occasionally feels forced, with a few unnecessary descriptors and adjectives that the audience can do without. It’s apparent that once the author evolves Alyssa’s story into young adulthood, her writing style and abilities will improve.

As for the story, some things go unexplained and some feel disjointed, but overall the book is generally easy to follow. For those who really enjoy the recent wizards and magic trends, this is a promising story with new creatures and concepts. I think the general premise about improving your confidence and bravery to cope with life situations is a great message for young readers. I thought it was clever for the author to provide Alyssa with the skillometer to measure her skills in parallel with a difficult speaking project to serve as a non-magic example of the new skills in use. The author continued to use effective methods of running magical and normal teenage experiences in parallel. Frustrations with learning about magic and defeating her foes is intermingled with teenage angst about school work, responsibilities, and relationships with Alex, her godfather, and Zachary, a crush. The combinations help to keep Alyssa relatable and the story grounded.

Overall, I’d be interested to follow the series in the future to see how Alyssa and the author tackle their respective journeys.

[L Powers (Bookish_Mum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, so this is book two in the Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions series, and it's giving serious déjà vu vibes from the first book. Just when Alyssa thought she was done with magic, life comes knocking with a plot twist.

Six months after thinking she'd left the magical world behind, her protective enchanted objects mysteriously vanish. Enter Errol - a literal skeleton who curses her with magical powers that keep causing chaos. And we're talking serious trouble here. These powers are so out of control that Alyssa might lose everything she cares about if she can't figure out how to get rid of them.

Her mission? She's gotta find her courage, dig into who Errol really is, and somehow shut down these wild magical abilities. But here's the kicker - every time Alyssa uses magic, Errol gets closer to becoming flesh and blood again. And this guy is not playing nice. He'll basically do anything to achieve his goals, even if it means totally wrecking Alyssa's life.

My take? I'm still on the fence with this series. The author, Prasad, has created this interesting world, and you can tell there's real effort here. It's definitely aimed at younger readers, which means the writing style isn't super complex, but sometimes I feel it might still be a bit lacking and clunky. Nothing a good edit wouldn’t fix.

Is it perfect? Nah. There's more "telling" than "showing", and yeah, there are some plot holes. But here's the thing - for its target audience, it works. It's got potential. The story might not be winning literary awards, but it's got good bones and could totally hook younger fantasy fans.

Overall, if you're looking for a light, quick imaginative read for a middle-grade audience, this might just hit the spot.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome back, magic… and mayhem!

Just when Alyssa McCarthy thought she’d said goodbye to her magical misadventures, A Curse of Mayhem proves that magic isn’t ready to say goodbye to her.

Six months after leaving magic behind, thirteen-year-old Alyssa’s life is, once again, thrown into magical chaos, this time courtesy of a skeleton named Errol, who curses her with powers that bring more trouble than triumphs.

From exploding school projects to unexpected magical mishaps, Alyssa’s newfound “gifts” are putting her at odds with everyone around her. If she can’t lift the curse, everything she cares about could go up in (literal) smoke. Errol, though, has his own sinister goal: with every spell Alyssa casts, he inches closer to becoming fully alive again. The problem? He doesn’t care what—or who—he has to destroy to get there.

Prasad serves up a fresh, fast paced sequel that’s equal parts humour, suspense, and magical mayhem. Alyssa’s journey toward self-confidence and courage adds a layer of heart to the story, making her not just a young wizard-in-training, but a relatable teen facing real challenges (with a lot more spells and skeletons than most of us have to deal with).

This is the kind of magical middle-grade read that keeps you turning pages long past bedtime. With a spooky villain, unpredictable enchantments, and a dash of teenage angst, A Curse of Mayhem is a whirlwind ride perfect for young fantasy fans. Alyssa may want magic out of her life, but im thrilled it’s here to stay! 🌟🪄💀

If you love stories filled with magical mishaps, sinister skeletons, and a courageous heroine, add A Curse of Mayhem to your TBR!

[Marilyn Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in Sunayna Prasad's Alyssa McCarthy's fantasy series finds Alyssa living with her godfather in a new city with new friends. There is no travel to magical places this time, the story line stays mostly near home. Again someone from the magical world wishes her harm to gain something for themselves. This time it involves magic coming through her with little control which causes her extreme trouble, especially at school where she faces expulsion unless she can find a way to stop it.

In book 2, Prasad again offers the things young readers will love - magic, magicians, a parallel world where they reside that the world doesn't know about, a teen being drawn into situations outside her control, adults that are inflexible and don't believe her and, in the end, she comes out on top. And, like in the Frights of Fiji, the story line could use some fine-tuning. Everything included is not purposeful to the story, such as when she comments that her original friends were in a car accident so she had to make new ones. I assumed there was a plot driven reason why this was shared and it would become clear when I read. Not really. BUT, there was less of this and more focus on the plot this time around.

I think younger readers - advanced pre-tween and tween - will enjoy this book, especially the magic and the way she portrays Alyssa's interactions with adults. I look forward to seeing more of Prasad's work as she grows and matures as a writer.

[Ahlam Abdullatif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adventure for Alyssa McCarthy, and the best yet. Wizardry Goes Wild is a following of how Alyssa has established her life with her godfather Alex. She's made close friends who she confines in, starts a new school, and keeps a close bond with her godfather.
Everything seems to be going great for her after living a very hard life; from her parents death, to living with her strict uncle, and finally, being hunted down by an evil wizard. Until suddenly she wakes up one day to find herself with magical powers, and what's worse is she's unable to control them. She has no power of these powers purposely given to her so she may fail.
This was a great and fun story to read. I felt it was much more relatable than the first tale. You see how Alyssa struggles with keeping friends and dealing with explaining to her teachers why these ubsurd things are happening to her. She gets in a lot of trouble, and none of it seems to be her fault, something no one is understanding.
The author does a great job writing exciting adventures for young children. She knows how to make the characters relatable in a way that attracts young readers. Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions is Definitely a great series of books for kids.

[Stephanie Ward]

Alyssa McCarthy finds herself living with her godfather and navigating a whole new environment -- new house, new school, new friends. The last thing she wants is magic shooting out of her hands in class, at parties or during cheerleading practice. But that's exactly what happens. Try as she may, Alyssa can't seem to control the magic and as a result, gets in trouble at every turn. Truly, a curse of mayhem.

Meanwhile, the evil wizard Errol, now only a skeleton, converses with the soul of Master Beau to get back his flesh and find Alyssa. Using an invisibility cloak, Errol moves through society, stealing what he needs to become whole again and promising Alyssa communication with her dead parents if she helps him. But news of an exhumed grave set Alyssa in a whole new direction with a dark mystery to solve.

In the second book of Sunayna Prasad's Magic Missions series, enchanted technology and wild wizardry, flying monkeys and winged unicorn zebras, come together to create a surreal world surrounding Alyssa McCartney. This time with even more eccentric results. Her loyal friends stand by her side, even when inflatable snakes come alive and human-headed dinosaurs appear without warning. But with the wizard police under a sleeping spell, no one can help Alyssa, except herself.

[Nicola Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the series. There was enough revealed in this book ready for the third. I still think so highly of Alyssa with her constant determination and bravery. 100% still agree it’s definitely a fantasy series for the younger pre teens, I still found myself slightly comparing to Harry Potter which frustrated me.

However I absolutely loved seeing Alyssa still grow within this series. The magic isn’t what you expect it to be in this read it’s almost building up the story line for the third book. I felt more of a connection within this book, I felt Alyssas struggles of what she wants from her magic.

The book is extremely well written, the story flows continuously throughout and it isn’t left on too much of a cliff hanger. I’m intrigued to know what way the story will go in the third book. It’s especially easy to pick up from where the first book ended. The chapters aren’t too big either making it easy to stop and start as you please.

The author has done an outstanding job at this series for the younger generation and I hope that it becomes more well known and successful. The only thing I’d probably recommend on changing is the covers of the book. I feel as though they don’t give full value to the story which is a bit of a let down.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story for preteen girls. Not only does is have supernatural aspects to keep the reader engaged but it also has an underlying lesson about confidence and bravery and being your own hero. I will admit I did not immediately fall in love with the main character. At first I found her whiny. However I had to remind myself this is a juvenile book and the character is targeted towards that audience. Once the story got going and the main character began to find herself however she became a character I actually did like and enjoy reading about. I began rooting her and wanted her to overcome her obstacles. The story line is a great coming of age type tale of this young lady who never asked for these powers, yet has to learn to deal with them the best she can. She is helped along the way by her group of friends, godfather and magic mentor. That being said about the story itself I did not enjoy the repetitive use of the word respire nor the numerous typos which made the book choppy to read. With a decent edit on the writing aspect I believe this would be a very good book for preteens who may also struggle with confidence to read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Curse of Mayhem continues Sunayna Prasad’s series, Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions. I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Frights of Fiji, but I enjoyed this one so much more. Since it is part of a series, I believe it would be best to start with one book one. I am so glad I did so. This is one of those stories I do not want to miss out on anything that had in a previous book.
Once again, readers catch up with Alyssa and go on quite the journey in A Curse of Mayhem. Like in The Frights of Fiji, there is a fair share of adventure, action and magic. I think Alyssa is a role model for younger readers. She is admirable with her strength, determination, bravery and courage. I loved there were a few twists and turns that I could not have predicted. It was entertaining trying to figure out where she would end up and what she would encounter next. There are a couple of lessons that I loved to learn within the pages and it was such a great and quick page turner.
I am giving A Curse of Mayhem a very well deserved five stars. I would love for there to be a third installment from the Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions to release in the near future. I believe many younger readers who enjoy fantasy will enjoy reading this one. In my opinion, it is one not one to be missed and a must read.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in the series, so I decided to read the rest and tell y'all what I liked about the books. This is the second book in the series, and you should definitely read the first book and get caught up with Alyssa and the crew.
This book begins with Alyssa settling into her life with Alex her new legal guardian and godfather. She is living with him in her new house and she is home alone and something happens that she thinks wizards are back in her life. She is learning that she may have a surprise in her life and is trying to get help from Simon and Alex. And there is a party that she needs to attend all at the same time!
As with the last book, the author does a great job keeping the readers engaged in the story about Alyssa and her godfather. There is a lot of fast pacing in this book and that keeps the readers engaged. The characters continue to be well written in this book too and we learn a little more about Alex and also more about Alyssa and her journey and who Errol actually is!
I loved the ending, and I am excited to read the next book in the series to see where Alyssa is headed to next and what happens with Zachary!

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this very special love for children’s books. I guess, it’s because I love finding books that I see as ones that might spark the life-long passion for reading in little humans. I’m always on the lookout (should it be renamed to… a bookout?) for the latest gateway book that might grab a reluctant reader and pull them into the crazy world of book addicts. And today, I feel like I might have come across another one of those books. Or, more than that. Three books. A trilogy.

The perfect middle-grade read, a chapter book set, I’d say its target audience is girls who feel like they want more friends, more fun, more excitement, and more genuine connection in their lives – and, honestly, that’s most of the girls out there. That’s most of everyone if you think back to what your childhood was, right?

The books, all of the trilogy, have it all, and above everything – magic. Show me a girl who doesn’t love magic or at least reading, dreaming about it! I know, right? We have all been there.

Each book is under 200 pages long, and – verified by a 12yr old reader – a fun thing to read on weekends.

[Aparna Preethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Curse of Mayhem by Sunayna Prasad is the second book in Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions Book series. This book premises a young girl with magical abilities that she wants desperately to get rid of. Being an adolescent is hard enough without standing out in a certain way. This is an innovative tale of ‘mistaken magic’ with the main character, and how she problem solved to overcome a variety of hurdles. Interlaced with an intriguing story of ‘accidental powers’, the reader can relate to this middle school-aged girl as one follows the myriad of emotions of her experience

The author pictures an intriguing plot, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s a profusion of well-illustrated scenes that makes the readers feel like they are the characters of the story. Sometimes, the portrayal of the characters may seem a bit lost. But the flow keeps the readers engaged. The author's unadorned writing style accommodates more character discourse than scene descriptions.

Overall, a good read for teenagers. A recommended one.

[Wendy Beckman · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA Witchcraft and Magic

"A Curse of Mayhem" is the second book in Sunayna Prasad's Alyssa McCarthy Magical Missions series. Because I hadn't read the first book, I was a little confused at first. Alyssa's parents died, as did her aunt, so she lives with Alex, her godfather and guardian.

The setting is in a context that magic is known to exist, but its use is frowned upon — especially by kids. So Alyssa finds herself in a sticky situation when she performs magic accidentally. Even when she doesn't do it she is blamed for it. Good thing Alex is understanding and she has great friends.

In this story, an evil entity is using her for his own goals. She is the one being punished however.

The writing propels the story forward. Some paragraphs got bogged down in a dump of exposition, however, some of which seemed unnecessary.

I recommend this book for tweens and young teens who like fantasy.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 picks up right where book 1 ended with Alyssa. She has magic and isn’t wanting it. In this book I feel like the author dealt with some heavier topics and did a good job working through them. There are a lot of characters in this book and at times it was hard to keep track, but they all worked well and added to the story nicely. I loved that this book, just like book 1, was full of adventure. The author sure paints a wonderful magical world, and it is great. I think that this book appeals to a little older audience than the first but is still geared towards those in the middle grade realm, maybe about 10-12. This book also focuses on friendship which I think is great.

This series is perfect for middle grade fantasy readers and those that enjoy them. I think that this is a series that needs to be read in order. If you love magic, fantasy, and adventure, you need to check this one out.

[Sachin Karnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

""A Curse of Mayhem," the second book in the series, brings back Alyssa McCarthy for more magical mishaps and adventures. Now thirteen years old, Alyssa finds herself caught in a web of magical chaos when a mischievous skeleton named Errol curses her with uncontrollable magic.

This book stands out for its blend of humor and suspense, as Alyssa's unpredictable powers lead her into both hilarious and dangerous situations. Prasad skillfully depicts the struggles of adolescence through Alyssa's experiences, making the story relatable for young readers.

The central theme revolves around learning to control one's abilities and emotions, offering valuable lessons in responsibility and self-discipline. Parents will appreciate this book not only for its entertainment value but also for its enriching content, which encourages children to understand and manage their own challenges. The engaging narrative ensures that readers remain captivated from beginning to end.