When Alyssa McCarthy defeated Master Beau, she thought wizardry was out of her life for good. But when a literal skeleton places a curse on her, Alyssa must face up to brand new demons and a few old foes. Alyssa's curse gives her the power of magic, which she will never be able to control. Soon, her magic is wreaking havoc at home and in school, threatening everyone around her. To get rid of the curse, Alyssa must use bravery and confidence and go up against forces beyond her power. If she doesn't, she risks hurting those she loves, or worse—getting taken away from her home and locked up for her sorcery.

Alyssa's world is one where magic practitioners live side-by-side with regular humans. Magic is regulated by the police, causing additional pressure for Alyssa to rid herself of her curse. Prasad weaves magic and technology together in a believable way, dreaming up magic phone apps and online wizarding resources. The book shines in its use of sensory descriptions, easily placing the reader in Alyssa's shoes. Dialogue, on the other hand, is flat and does little to push the story along. Alyssa is painted as a typical thirteen-year-old girl whose biggest concern is to survive her class presentation and fit in with her friends. As a result, she handles her predicament with more annoyance than the expected anger or fear. This is the second book in Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions, and it does a fine job as a stand-alone young adult novel. It also leaves the doors open for a potential continuations: Can Alyssa finally breathe easy, or will wizardry find a way to seep back into her life?

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