OMEGA MORALES AND THE CURSE OF EL CUCUY

Omega Morales grapples with her budding magical talents against the backdrop of Día de los Muertos and the mysterious disappearances of local children in this sequel to Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza (2022).

Omega is an empath, just like most of the rest of her family, but while they can feel and even influence the emotions of other humans, Omega can also tap into the emotions of supernatural beings. This gift is powerful in ways that feel both exciting and scary. When children begin to go missing during Día de los Muertos festivities, many in town blame Omega and her family. Though Omega is not culpable, she does feel somehow tied to what is happening and to the ultimate outcome. She seems to be a magnet for monsters in the way that ofrendas draw the spirits of loved ones who have passed. To find the lost children and heal the brokenness that has created the boogeyman El Cucuy, Omega must tackle her own fears of what it means to be a monster. Abuela’s insistence on finding a “fix” to “save” Omega, while Omega herself wishes to explore the full range of her magical abilities, may especially resonate with LGBTQ+, disabled, and neurodivergent readers. Though the final confrontation with El Cucuy feels a bit perfunctory and unresolved, the cliffhanger ending will leave Omega’s fans thirsty for the next installment in her saga.

Creepy folklore and a quest to find one’s true identity unite in this spooky page-turner.