The Frights of Fiji instantly hooks you with the strangeness of Alyssa’s introduction to magic. But quickly devolves into mundanity. The synopsis builds up a genuine threat to Alyssa but magic is used to splash the girls with mud, and spray paint the babysitter’s hair whilst drawing dark circles around her eyes. It doesn’t feel dangerous. It doesn’t feel like there are stakes. The characters taking world altering revelations in stride doesn’t help. 

Moreover why devote the first thirty one pages to running through Alyssa’s babysitters and tutors? I understand the need for certain introductions but the point is belaboured. We don’t need to be led through three rooms of a tutor’s house. It’s hard to try and be invested when the plot is treated like an afterthought to set up. 

Duchamp’s arrival was such a relief. He brought the book to roaring life. And I was so glad to find the edge of sci-fi to the magic was wholeheartedly embraced to an extent that I don’t tend to see. The threat to Alyssa and her loved ones was also the first time that I connected to her as a character. She couldn’t just take it in stride and that humanised her. 

The Fijian islands, I believe, are made up. That lends the fantasy a more adventurous feel and gives the book freedom. There’s so much magic and magical technology here that it really does grab you. Their devices and spells are interesting and make for one of the strongest elements of the book. And it has fun with it! I liked that there files on how to become a dictator using sorcery. I was surprised by how many magical beings there are too and thought their inventiveness was interesting. 

The arrival of the other girls was great. I especially love how focused they became in regards to dealing with Duchamp. One girl even suggested that they inject water into him! They’re so blase about murdering him that it was hard not to get excited too. And I love that Alyssa immediately began thinking ahead to Duchamp’s possible ghost and how she could kill that too. 

At one point there were eight characters to juggle all in one place. And given the length of the book I’m not complaining that the characters were pretty one note. I do think a little more time could have been given to differentiating them. Especially with the one line that hinted a character didn’t have a good memory. Just one line. But it had such implications. Now that we know who they are it’s something the sequels can build upon. 

It does remain a mixed book however. Its ‘no exposure to developed civilizations’ comment about the islands is insulting at the very least and plays into stereotypes and racism. Given how divorced the settings are to the actual Fiji I don’t understand why it was brought in at all. The magic is interesting but there’s no tension. Almost every time a threat or obstacle arises there’s an immediate tool to hand. There’s little wonder in it either because its every function is explained to you as soon as its introduced. The villain’s motivations, backstory and years of scheming, for example, are all told to you by a character before you have the chance to feel like he’s a danger. And before you even meet him. 

The only moment of mystery that’s sustained is the very clear sequel hook. Even though that, too, is revealed before the end. Most of all is how little Alyssa matters. She’s a MacGuffin more than she’s her own character. Most of the book is spent waiting for other people to get things or talk to people. It isn’t until page sixty five that she finally demands inclusion. This book is one hundred and seven pages. A protagonist doesn’t need to be proactive but the story shouldn’t be happening off-page to this extent. 

I do like her relationship with Hailey. And, like I said, there are interesting character moments and a world with a lot to offer. I am looking forward to reading the sequel because I do have a sense of some of the characters now and the world and I want to see them fleshed out. I want to be back in the adventurousness of the islands which is where the book shines best. And I’m eager to see how Alyssa plans to kill Duchamp this time around. 

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