e-ALC, 04:10:34
Narrated by: Lee Osorio
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Read from: August 17-18, 2026
The Curse of Doll Island, #2
Source: Libro FM (I also received an ARC copy of this from the author. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Monster
For Readers of: Audio, Contemporary, Horror, Sparkly Covers, Middle Grade, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, ThrillersDiego and his friends must face the legendary Mexican boogeyman, El Cucuy, in this fast-paced, action-packed middle grade horror that’s Rick Riordan meets R. L. Stine, the sequel to Lost on Doll Island.
Stay awake. Stay alive.
After going head-to-head with a demonic doll, life for Diego now is surprisingly good. He’s settled into Mexico City, he’s joining clubs at school, and he, Jandro, and Itzel are tighter than ever. Better yet, he hasn’t dreamt of one doll since he left La Isla de las Muñecas. Though Tomas remains under Itzel’s watchful eye, “living” in her house, things finally feel normal for the three amigos.
Until kids start mysteriously falling asleep…and never waking up.
When Diego hears rumors of a boogeyman with the power to enter children’s dreams and steal their souls, he knows there’s a connection between the sleeping illness that has fallen over his school and this monster.
But beware of El Cucuy, because once you enter his domain of dreams, he’ll do everything in his power to make sure that you don’t…wake…up.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was fun! I knew it would be after the first one tho. I had never heard of Doll Island, but I did know about El Cucuy… And that made me even more excited for this. And it was everything that I needed.
Ok so the best part of this was the writing style. The minute you open the book you’re in action. It’s like everything that happened in the first book was last week and then things started immediately. And this time the kids are falling asleep, but the sleep is so deep they’re falling into comas. It really was crazy. If you don’t know, El Cucuy is a “shadowy monster that is believe to devour or kidnap kids who don’t listen.” In this one, El Cucuy is entering their dreams and trying to steal their souls. And yes, it’s as creepy as it sounds lol I couldn’t stop listening to it.
The only thing I think I would have changed, was the fact that there was no re-intro to the series. Like they mention the doll from the first one and there is some talk about the Island, but it’s like a few sentences and there’s not really a lot of into there. I don’t remember everything, so it was touch and go there trying to remember what happened lol I had to go and get my copy of Book 1 and read the last chapter. I can only imagine those who don’t have it for that small re-read.
This was so good. Definitely creepy. Both were so good. I really think this is where kiddos should go once they have gobbled up all the Goosbumps lol I hope there’s more where this came from! Definitely going to add this to my list, Folklore Reimagined. I hope y’all pick both of them up for the start of Scary Season!
Overall, I give this
