The story is written with warmth and humour and has plenty of unexpected turns.
Now living in Auckland with her Fijian husband, Tobert, 29, says her first novel has been a long time in the making. "I wanted readers to feel they were in the Pacific so I had to make sure, for instance, that I knew how to weave a mat and cook in the Pacific way." This meant several trips back to the islands.
The Sea on Our Skin follows 16-year-old Amalia Hoko as she marries Ioane Matete, who is much older and a very violent man. A storm brings havoc on her wedding day, killing her mother and leaving her alone to cope with a man who does exactly as he pleases.
Although the people on her island support her they wouldn't dare interfere unless she asked them to.
That is the way of the islanders and Amalia is not about to admit defeat. Instead, she concentrates on trying to be the best wife and mother she possibly can.
Tobert is not afraid to take chances with her writing. She kills off the main character halfway through, which takes the story in an entirely new direction.
"That was never meant to happen," she says.
"At that stage in the story it could have gone either way. I had a soft spot for Amalia, I was comfortable with her." However, Tobert doesn't play it safe with her writing and is not afraid to explore the darker side of human nature.
She says the character Angel was the most interesting to write. Angel is Amalia's first-born and a complex person with many sides to his character.
"While my characters aren't based on anyone in particular, they are made up of people I know or have watched.
"I do a lot of people-watching.
"It's a good way to learn about people. Just watch, listen and learn.
"I steal certain characteristics from one person and some from another person and put them all together to make my characters.
"One of my characters could be made up of 15 or so different people.
"Then while I'm writing and building my characters I also ask myself millions of questions. Why did this happen or should that happen? Sometimes I would have to go back and ground a scene so future scenes flowed on."
Her creative skills and care with her writing shine through in this impressive first novel.
The ending will surprise readers ... happy for some characters, not so for others.
At this stage she has no plans to go back to Amalia's family on the island of Moana. "But never say never," Tobert says.
She is now working on her second book, which she hopes to have published by the end of the year.
I'm sure we will be hearing and reading a lot more about this talented new author.
Title: The Sea on Our Skin
Author: Madeleine Tobert
Publisher: Hachette, $36.99
WIN
We have a copy of The Sea On Our Skin, by Madeleine Tobert (pictured), to give away. To be in with a chance to win send your name and contact details, by April 10, to regionalfeatures@apn.co.nz
