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Isle of Ever #2
The Curse Breaker
The game is far from over. In fact, it's only just begun.
Having finally reached the Isle of Ever, Everly "Benny" Benedict thinks she's won the game of clues her ancestor Evelyn Terry set out for her in her will. Only she can't prove it yet—not until her new friends are safe from the curse that has kept them trapped for centuries!
And now there's a new game. It turns out that Evelyn has more secrets in her diary and another task for to find the lost piece of pirate treasure needed to break the curse once and for all. It won't be easy. One of her best friends has betrayed her; the kids from the island are just discovering twenty-first- century life, and a mysterious stranger mentioned in Evelyn's diary has somehow turned up in present-day Greenport.
Benny has to figure it all out in just a few days. If time runs out, someone else can claim the inheritance, and the Isle of Ever will disappear again for another two hundred years!
Having finally reached the Isle of Ever, Everly "Benny" Benedict thinks she's won the game of clues her ancestor Evelyn Terry set out for her in her will. Only she can't prove it yet—not until her new friends are safe from the curse that has kept them trapped for centuries!
And now there's a new game. It turns out that Evelyn has more secrets in her diary and another task for to find the lost piece of pirate treasure needed to break the curse once and for all. It won't be easy. One of her best friends has betrayed her; the kids from the island are just discovering twenty-first- century life, and a mysterious stranger mentioned in Evelyn's diary has somehow turned up in present-day Greenport.
Benny has to figure it all out in just a few days. If time runs out, someone else can claim the inheritance, and the Isle of Ever will disappear again for another two hundred years!
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2026
63 people are currently reading
5026 people want to read
About the author
Jen Calonita
74 books3,787 followersHi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 28, 2026
i have a LOT of things to say about this
rtc
rtc
April 14, 2026
"First let me say, I'm sorry I tricked you. The game is far from over. In fact, it's only just begun."
✏️ Review ✏️
Picking up right where Isle of Ever left off, The Curse Breaker continues this fantasy-style contemporary adventure with new villains, high-stakes action, and brand-new developments that elevate this story's intrigue and mystery. A new game has begun and the characters are racing against another looming deadline to win. But there's more at stake this time around... and a company of sinister villains that will stop at nothing to win the game themselves.
Because it begins right where the first book concluded, the plot of The Curse Breaker already has a running start as it takes off at a brisk pace. Moments of rest and relaxation for the characters (and reader) are far and few between, as solving a new riddle-strewn game with a race against time and cunning enemies ensures excitement and mystery the entire way through the storyline. And unlike its predecessor's plot navigation, The Curse Breaker introduces an interesting second present-day POV into this series.
The construction and development of fantasy elements is a crucial aspect of a contemporary/fantasy tale like the The Curse Breaker. Now, remember that list of underdeveloped fantasy concepts I discussed in my review of Isle of Ever? Well, it's time to go through that list again and see if this sequel has given any solid construction to those elements. I'll list the fantasy item and them give a brief synopsis if this story lends any development to these elements; for a quick visual: "✅" means an element did get further development, "❌" means it didn't. (Items are listed in order of the listing in my review of Isle of Ever).
• ✅❌ Example #1 (The "gift of sight"): So there's just a bit of development with this one: it has now been confirmed that those individuals with the "gift of sight" can see into the future. Wow, profound — that should've been something that was explained in Isle of Ever. 🙄 This knowing-the-future aspect is something that can only be inferred (yes, just inferred) from reading Book One. One needs to wait until reading The Curse Breaker to get solid confirmation of this. And yet the reader still doesn't know how these characters can get this "gift of sight." Arg, frustrating! 😵💫 So this element is still underdeveloped in a key point. Because more information is presented about the "gift of sight" and yet it's still lacking solid construction in some areas, this element gets both a checkmark and an X.
• ❌ Example #2 (The mysterious, disappearing island): I still don't know much about this island, especially about knowing where it came from (although speculating about some of the story's other aspects, my theory is that it's been in its current location since forever — that's just my theory). Pretty much all of the rest of the information presented about this island in The Curse Breaker was already mentioned in the previous book, Isle of Ever.
• ✅❌ Example #3 (The treasure of immortality): I asked questions about this treasure in my review of Isle of Ever, and a few of them got answered! Yay! 🎉 But first, the treasure now has a proper name: Tesouro Eterno, which certainly sounds more refined than saying "the treasure of immortality" all of the time. There's a lot more clarity pertaining to this treasure in The Curse Breaker, especially relating to exactly how one can receive immortality from Tesouro Eterno. Sadly, though, the treasure's origins are still unexplained in this sequel (this aspect could really bring in some intriguing world-building). Like, how did the treasure get cursed in the first place?... This element gets both a checkmark and an X because there is some development concerning the treasure, but the sequel still doesn't address the treasure's origins.
• ✅ Example #4 (Individuals who have obtained immortality can never leave the local Greenport area): Of all the underdeveloped aspects I discussed in my review of Book One, this one gets the most solid and satisfactory explanation. Hurray! :-) Readers finally find out exactly why those individuals are prohibited from leaving the Greenport area. So this element gets a checkmark for sure!
• ❌ Example #5 (Dreams of revelation): I'm thinking that this element was just a one-time random thing thrown into Book One because these dreams of revelation aren't even mentioned once in The Curse Breaker.
Well, The Curse Breaker introduces another crucial fantasy element... that's disappointingly underdeveloped. (I promise I'll try to be brief here. 😉) One of the characters possesses a green emerald ring. When someone happens to kiss this ring and say a specific sentence to it, that person is able to send a message to another character, the ring's original owner. While this form of communication is portrayed as being an important plot point, it needs more of an explanation. How is this form of communication — the spoken message going from the ring to this other character — accomplished? Why is it that this specific green emerald ring has communication capabilities? I had more questions than I got answers for. 🙃 Moving on...
All of the original characters from Book One get varying degrees of development in this sequel. Benny gets the most development due to the discovery of shocking secrets about her past. And the introduction of crafty villains certainly heats up the simmering suspense.
Although it isn't something that stood out to me as impressive, the writing style continues to tell this story in an easy-to-read yet exciting manner. One annoying aspect indirectly pertaining to the writing — it's perhaps more of an editorial oversight — is the noticeable amount of grammatical and punctuation errors. These many errors detracted from the action and flow of the story on many occasions, as I felt more like an editor than a reader too many times. (See Random Comments section below for a list of errata.) Although I didn't mention it all in my review for Isle of Ever, there were several grammatical errors in that book too. Hopefully the next book will be free from these irksome errors.
There is no doubt that The Curse Breaker brought more development to the many fantastical aspects of this series. It does, however, still leave some of these aspects without any solid world-building, including this book's own introduction of another half-baked fantasy object: the green emerald ring. The next book definitely has room for solid construction and developmental growth in many areas. Can the next book get a 4-star review from me? I'm looking forward to finding out.
I must admit that although The Curse Breaker is obviously still breaking ground with this series, it is nonetheless a creative blend of mystery, fantasy, contemporary adventure, and historical fiction....
There's a new game now underway with a party of deceptive enemies working against you. Puzzles, riddles, and clues must be solved, and danger and treachery lurk at every step. The game continues, a deadline approaches. Will you be a winner or a quitter?
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• Most of the plot — it continues this series with more high-stakes adventures, puzzles, clues, and mystery.
• The continued development of the main characters.
• The introduction of more crafty villains.
• The fact that some of the fantasy elements that were underdeveloped in Isle of Ever receive some development in this sequel.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The fact that there are still fantasy elements that are underdeveloped, especially the introduction of yet another underdeveloped item.
• The grammatical and typographical errors — detracts from the story.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who have read and enjoyed reading Isle of Ever, the first book in this series.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3.5/5 [rounded down to 3 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3.5/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👥 Characters: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• Two uses of "a**" ("bada**"), one vain use of God's name, one use of "bloody," and one use of "hell."
— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5
• A relationship involving premarital sex is very vaguely alluded to on a few occasions. No inappropriate details; should be appropriate for a middle grade audience.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content note: One of the characters is briefly mentioned as having premonitions.
• Here is a list of the grammatical and punctuation errors I discovered while reading The Curse Breaker. I would like to send this list to the author and/or publisher, therefore these errors could be corrected in future editions. Page numbers are based on the 2026 hardcover Sourcebooks edition; sic is used to identify grammatical errors when appropriate.
1. "'This is only the second time in my life she's ever she's [sic] brought him up without me asking questions.'" (p. 89)
~ The second contraction for "she has" ("she's") in this sentence is a typographical error. ~
2. "'What are the chances that there is another book is [sic] in this floorboard where we found the first one?'" (p. 111)
~ The second "is" in this sentence is a typographical error.
3. "'I can't believe it.'
'Either [sic] can I.'" (p. 207)
~ The word either in this sentence should actually be neither; the letter n was mistakenly left off. ~
4. "'If the day we got on island was day one, we have less than two weeks to find the missing treasure and break the curse.'" (p. 271)
~ Between the words on and island in the first clause, the article the is erroneously missing. ~
5."'Kimble won't [do that] again.... Will you Kimble?'" (p. 287)
~ There should be a comma placed directly after the word you because a noun of direct address immediately follows. ~
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• "Winners never quit. Quitters never win." (p. 155; italicized in the original)
✏️ Review ✏️
Picking up right where Isle of Ever left off, The Curse Breaker continues this fantasy-style contemporary adventure with new villains, high-stakes action, and brand-new developments that elevate this story's intrigue and mystery. A new game has begun and the characters are racing against another looming deadline to win. But there's more at stake this time around... and a company of sinister villains that will stop at nothing to win the game themselves.
Because it begins right where the first book concluded, the plot of The Curse Breaker already has a running start as it takes off at a brisk pace. Moments of rest and relaxation for the characters (and reader) are far and few between, as solving a new riddle-strewn game with a race against time and cunning enemies ensures excitement and mystery the entire way through the storyline. And unlike its predecessor's plot navigation, The Curse Breaker introduces an interesting second present-day POV into this series.
The construction and development of fantasy elements is a crucial aspect of a contemporary/fantasy tale like the The Curse Breaker. Now, remember that list of underdeveloped fantasy concepts I discussed in my review of Isle of Ever? Well, it's time to go through that list again and see if this sequel has given any solid construction to those elements. I'll list the fantasy item and them give a brief synopsis if this story lends any development to these elements; for a quick visual: "✅" means an element did get further development, "❌" means it didn't. (Items are listed in order of the listing in my review of Isle of Ever).
• ✅❌ Example #1 (The "gift of sight"): So there's just a bit of development with this one: it has now been confirmed that those individuals with the "gift of sight" can see into the future. Wow, profound — that should've been something that was explained in Isle of Ever. 🙄 This knowing-the-future aspect is something that can only be inferred (yes, just inferred) from reading Book One. One needs to wait until reading The Curse Breaker to get solid confirmation of this. And yet the reader still doesn't know how these characters can get this "gift of sight." Arg, frustrating! 😵💫 So this element is still underdeveloped in a key point. Because more information is presented about the "gift of sight" and yet it's still lacking solid construction in some areas, this element gets both a checkmark and an X.
• ❌ Example #2 (The mysterious, disappearing island): I still don't know much about this island, especially about knowing where it came from (although speculating about some of the story's other aspects, my theory is that it's been in its current location since forever — that's just my theory). Pretty much all of the rest of the information presented about this island in The Curse Breaker was already mentioned in the previous book, Isle of Ever.
• ✅❌ Example #3 (The treasure of immortality): I asked questions about this treasure in my review of Isle of Ever, and a few of them got answered! Yay! 🎉 But first, the treasure now has a proper name: Tesouro Eterno, which certainly sounds more refined than saying "the treasure of immortality" all of the time. There's a lot more clarity pertaining to this treasure in The Curse Breaker, especially relating to exactly how one can receive immortality from Tesouro Eterno. Sadly, though, the treasure's origins are still unexplained in this sequel (this aspect could really bring in some intriguing world-building). Like, how did the treasure get cursed in the first place?... This element gets both a checkmark and an X because there is some development concerning the treasure, but the sequel still doesn't address the treasure's origins.
• ✅ Example #4 (Individuals who have obtained immortality can never leave the local Greenport area): Of all the underdeveloped aspects I discussed in my review of Book One, this one gets the most solid and satisfactory explanation. Hurray! :-) Readers finally find out exactly why those individuals are prohibited from leaving the Greenport area. So this element gets a checkmark for sure!
• ❌ Example #5 (Dreams of revelation): I'm thinking that this element was just a one-time random thing thrown into Book One because these dreams of revelation aren't even mentioned once in The Curse Breaker.
Well, The Curse Breaker introduces another crucial fantasy element... that's disappointingly underdeveloped. (I promise I'll try to be brief here. 😉) One of the characters possesses a green emerald ring. When someone happens to kiss this ring and say a specific sentence to it, that person is able to send a message to another character, the ring's original owner. While this form of communication is portrayed as being an important plot point, it needs more of an explanation. How is this form of communication — the spoken message going from the ring to this other character — accomplished? Why is it that this specific green emerald ring has communication capabilities? I had more questions than I got answers for. 🙃 Moving on...
All of the original characters from Book One get varying degrees of development in this sequel. Benny gets the most development due to the discovery of shocking secrets about her past. And the introduction of crafty villains certainly heats up the simmering suspense.
Although it isn't something that stood out to me as impressive, the writing style continues to tell this story in an easy-to-read yet exciting manner. One annoying aspect indirectly pertaining to the writing — it's perhaps more of an editorial oversight — is the noticeable amount of grammatical and punctuation errors. These many errors detracted from the action and flow of the story on many occasions, as I felt more like an editor than a reader too many times. (See Random Comments section below for a list of errata.) Although I didn't mention it all in my review for Isle of Ever, there were several grammatical errors in that book too. Hopefully the next book will be free from these irksome errors.
There is no doubt that The Curse Breaker brought more development to the many fantastical aspects of this series. It does, however, still leave some of these aspects without any solid world-building, including this book's own introduction of another half-baked fantasy object: the green emerald ring. The next book definitely has room for solid construction and developmental growth in many areas. Can the next book get a 4-star review from me? I'm looking forward to finding out.
I must admit that although The Curse Breaker is obviously still breaking ground with this series, it is nonetheless a creative blend of mystery, fantasy, contemporary adventure, and historical fiction....
"This new game is dangerous, and you're not the only one playing it. There are others who know about the island and its treasure, and they will stop at nothing to get ahold of it.
You cannot let that happen."
There's a new game now underway with a party of deceptive enemies working against you. Puzzles, riddles, and clues must be solved, and danger and treachery lurk at every step. The game continues, a deadline approaches. Will you be a winner or a quitter?
"You are my blood, Everly Terry, and Terrys were built to do hard things.... You can do this. You have to do this. We are all counting on you now."
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• Most of the plot — it continues this series with more high-stakes adventures, puzzles, clues, and mystery.
• The continued development of the main characters.
• The introduction of more crafty villains.
• The fact that some of the fantasy elements that were underdeveloped in Isle of Ever receive some development in this sequel.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The fact that there are still fantasy elements that are underdeveloped, especially the introduction of yet another underdeveloped item.
• The grammatical and typographical errors — detracts from the story.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who have read and enjoyed reading Isle of Ever, the first book in this series.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3.5/5 [rounded down to 3 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3.5/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👥 Characters: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• Two uses of "a**" ("bada**"), one vain use of God's name, one use of "bloody," and one use of "hell."
— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5
• A relationship involving premarital sex is very vaguely alluded to on a few occasions. No inappropriate details; should be appropriate for a middle grade audience.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content note: One of the characters is briefly mentioned as having premonitions.
• Here is a list of the grammatical and punctuation errors I discovered while reading The Curse Breaker. I would like to send this list to the author and/or publisher, therefore these errors could be corrected in future editions. Page numbers are based on the 2026 hardcover Sourcebooks edition; sic is used to identify grammatical errors when appropriate.
1. "'This is only the second time in my life she's ever she's [sic] brought him up without me asking questions.'" (p. 89)
~ The second contraction for "she has" ("she's") in this sentence is a typographical error. ~
2. "'What are the chances that there is another book is [sic] in this floorboard where we found the first one?'" (p. 111)
~ The second "is" in this sentence is a typographical error.
3. "'I can't believe it.'
'Either [sic] can I.'" (p. 207)
~ The word either in this sentence should actually be neither; the letter n was mistakenly left off. ~
4. "'If the day we got on island was day one, we have less than two weeks to find the missing treasure and break the curse.'" (p. 271)
~ Between the words on and island in the first clause, the article the is erroneously missing. ~
5."'Kimble won't [do that] again.... Will you Kimble?'" (p. 287)
~ There should be a comma placed directly after the word you because a noun of direct address immediately follows. ~
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• "Winners never quit. Quitters never win." (p. 155; italicized in the original)
March 20, 2026
Oh, no, I am going to have to wait for book three.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
January 30, 2026
Thank you so much for the digital arc of The Curse Breaker. I was excited to read this after the cliffhanger ending in book 1. It was worth the wait. This is a really exciting adventure story with loveable characters. The mfc Benny is a quick witted and fearless girl who with the help of her friends is solving a puzzle to ensure her inheritance. Full of twists and turns and swashbuckling pirates, this is a fast paced story. (Beware there is another cliff hanger!!!! Can’t wait for book 3)
#thecursebreaker #netgalley
#thecursebreaker #netgalley
December 8, 2025
Another book filled with mystery, clues, secrets, suspense, and villainy. But also another brutal cliffhanger! Ready for the 3rd book already!
April 13, 2026
More adventure, backstory, and reveals. Now, just have to wait for another…
January 17, 2026
Wait, there’s going to be a 3rd book?! 😭 what a cliff hanger. I don’t think anything can top the excitement and newness that book 1 brought. Hence, why this is 4 stars. We still get a great extended scavenger hunt and overarching mystery. The new pieces of the puzzle were interesting. I absolutely loved the additional information regarding Kimble’s storyline. As an adult this is very predictable, but juvenile me would be gasping at all the twists and turns that I would be predicting. Overall, a fun read. My kids are going to love this one day! I hope I remember everything by the time book 3 comes around.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2026
So we have the one gal on the island who knows the future, but then keeps everything cryptic enough to not really help. And then we have the great-grandmother who knows that she needs this great-granddaughter to help with this game who then also is a little cryptic.
Not sure why both of those win steaks seem so high would be so cryptic. But as The story goes, she wins. The first game finds the island finds the kids but there's a second game she did not know about that. Now she has to play but finds that she does have a couple more weeks to solve this problem. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll definitely want to keep going. I think children will enjoy it. There isn't really anything too scary outside of some of the ancient characters can be a little mean.
Not sure why both of those win steaks seem so high would be so cryptic. But as The story goes, she wins. The first game finds the island finds the kids but there's a second game she did not know about that. Now she has to play but finds that she does have a couple more weeks to solve this problem. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll definitely want to keep going. I think children will enjoy it. There isn't really anything too scary outside of some of the ancient characters can be a little mean.
May 5, 2026
The Curse Breaker is an interesting second book in this series about kids who have to rescue each other from an island that disappears after each blood moon.
I enjoyed the plot and twists and turns and how the characters worked together to solve riddles and uncover the mystery of the island.
Didn’t know there would be a book 3 too, so I look forward to it.
Recommend for ages 13 or 14+ just based on the cursing that occurs.
Content Guide:
Language: Mild-2 uses of bad*ss
Sexual content: none
Violence/gore: Mild violence-kidnapping, someone tries to strangle a main character
Substance use: none
Prejudices: none
Religious content: prayer and churches are mentioned, and a chapel in a school is visited to find something hidden there
Other: illness, strained relationships with parents/adults
I enjoyed the plot and twists and turns and how the characters worked together to solve riddles and uncover the mystery of the island.
Didn’t know there would be a book 3 too, so I look forward to it.
Recommend for ages 13 or 14+ just based on the cursing that occurs.
Content Guide:
Language: Mild-2 uses of bad*ss
Sexual content: none
Violence/gore: Mild violence-kidnapping, someone tries to strangle a main character
Substance use: none
Prejudices: none
Religious content: prayer and churches are mentioned, and a chapel in a school is visited to find something hidden there
Other: illness, strained relationships with parents/adults
April 15, 2026
Soooo good, soooo hard to put down. Can't WAIT for book 3!!!!
April 16, 2026
I could not put this book down….but really I have to wait for book 3! My anxiety can not
April 5, 2026
What a thrilling sequel! Just when Benny thinks she’s won, the game resets, and the stakes are even higher. The blend of pirate treasure, century-spanning secrets, and a sudden betrayal kept me turning pages. I loved watching the newly freed island kids navigate 21st-century life, and the mysterious stranger from Evelyn’s diary showing up in present-day Greenport is pure genius. With a tight deadline, a curse still looming, and rivals circling the inheritance, the tension never lets up. Perfect for readers who love clever puzzles, found-family drama, and race-against-time adventure. Can’t wait for the next piece of the puzzle!
April 4, 2026
Fantastic addition to the series. But another cliffhanger…. Really. I don’t want to wait another year but here we are.
April 2, 2026
I have really loved this series! I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
March 22, 2026
These books are so much fun!
March 20, 2026
Gah!!! I wish I would have known there was a third book before I started reading this one!!!
March 20, 2026
This story really evolved and I am excited to read the next one! I really enjoyed how fast-paced it was. I definitely hope to continue reading if more books are added to the series!
March 11, 2026
Jen did again with the second book of the Isle Of Ever series. Can’t wait for part 3 to be out!!
April 14, 2026
After discovering that what she thought was the end of the game to win a massive inheritance was just part 1, Everly "Benny" Benedict will have to scramble to solve more clues in time. But it turns out the betrayal by her new friend was just the beginning of the adversaries she'll be up against now.
I didn't enjoy the previous book a whole lot—the story wasn't particularly compelling, fantastical elements were confusing, and I am not a fan of a dead-stop cliffhanger. But I was curious enough to at least read the 2nd book, especially since I wouldn't have to wait very long to do so. Sadly, this book had a lot of the same issues as the previous, not enough answers given, and another cliffhanger. The characters are fairly weak. We've got the girl with future sight who is wise beyond her years, yet annoyingly cryptic to the point of being coy. We've got the mom who is far too happy to let her daughter solve this mystery that could change their lives completely alone, running around in a new town without even checking in, all so the mom can hang out with her newest boyfriend. We've got the kid who has basically just jumped 200 years into the future (to our time) and frankly, I think it was the wrong decision to make him a POV character, because I don't think enough time was really given to him trying to understand this new world.
Some revelations do come out in this book, one of which I guessed way in advance, but I think the clues were intentionally dropped to allow that possibility. I don't know what, if anything, it really means for the characters, though. And the urgency in the first book with the deadline is just wiped away in this book—extended, actually, but it still feels far too much like obvious plot contrivance for my enjoyment. In the end, I have no desire to continue on to the third book. I don't care enough about what happens to the island or anyone who is trapped on/by it to keep reading something that I don't really get any enjoyment out of. However, these books have a lot of 4- and 5-star reviews, so please look into those if the series interests you at all.
Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for providing me a copy of this book to review.
I didn't enjoy the previous book a whole lot—the story wasn't particularly compelling, fantastical elements were confusing, and I am not a fan of a dead-stop cliffhanger. But I was curious enough to at least read the 2nd book, especially since I wouldn't have to wait very long to do so. Sadly, this book had a lot of the same issues as the previous, not enough answers given, and another cliffhanger. The characters are fairly weak. We've got the girl with future sight who is wise beyond her years, yet annoyingly cryptic to the point of being coy. We've got the mom who is far too happy to let her daughter solve this mystery that could change their lives completely alone, running around in a new town without even checking in, all so the mom can hang out with her newest boyfriend. We've got the kid who has basically just jumped 200 years into the future (to our time) and frankly, I think it was the wrong decision to make him a POV character, because I don't think enough time was really given to him trying to understand this new world.
Some revelations do come out in this book, one of which I guessed way in advance, but I think the clues were intentionally dropped to allow that possibility. I don't know what, if anything, it really means for the characters, though. And the urgency in the first book with the deadline is just wiped away in this book—extended, actually, but it still feels far too much like obvious plot contrivance for my enjoyment. In the end, I have no desire to continue on to the third book. I don't care enough about what happens to the island or anyone who is trapped on/by it to keep reading something that I don't really get any enjoyment out of. However, these books have a lot of 4- and 5-star reviews, so please look into those if the series interests you at all.
Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for providing me a copy of this book to review.
September 16, 2025
Continuing the puzzle-solving, time-jumping, villain-filled, Jen Calonita dangles a few answers and many more questions in front of readers as Evelyn from 1825 leads Everly/Benny from 2025 on a quest to restore all the gold coins to a treasure chest to break the immortality curse/blessing for their friends. Yes, there are shades of Pirates of the Caribbean and even a pirate to tie all those similarities together, but there isn’t a Captain Jack Sparrow, a Black Pearl or a Captain Barbossa. Wait, there IS a Sparrow, but she is nothing like the Johnny Dep character.
Book 1 set the stage and left readers hanging and book 2 ends the same cliff-hanger way, but the villains are becoming more clear as Everly/Benny battles against the timetable her many times great grandmother set to find the proof of an island that only appears for 2 weeks every 200 years so she can inherit the estate and vineyard once owned by Evelyn. Family connections also become more solidified and allies begin to coalesce into a team who finds hidden riddles and solves them using their unique talents. While some readers may become frustrated about waiting for book 3, others will anticipate its release and may even reread the first two right before it publishes.
Text for this sequel remains free of profanity, sexual content and any real violence. The matriarch of the wealthy Rudd family plus a mysterious immortal both posture themselves as threatening at times, but neither physically hurts anyone. Target audience: grades 5-8. For readers of older puzzle solving books like the older The Westing Game and the Chasing Vermeer series and the more recent Lemoncello books by Grabenstein and Ponti’s City Spies and Sherlock Society.
Thanks for the print arc, Sourcebooks Kids.
Book 1 set the stage and left readers hanging and book 2 ends the same cliff-hanger way, but the villains are becoming more clear as Everly/Benny battles against the timetable her many times great grandmother set to find the proof of an island that only appears for 2 weeks every 200 years so she can inherit the estate and vineyard once owned by Evelyn. Family connections also become more solidified and allies begin to coalesce into a team who finds hidden riddles and solves them using their unique talents. While some readers may become frustrated about waiting for book 3, others will anticipate its release and may even reread the first two right before it publishes.
Text for this sequel remains free of profanity, sexual content and any real violence. The matriarch of the wealthy Rudd family plus a mysterious immortal both posture themselves as threatening at times, but neither physically hurts anyone. Target audience: grades 5-8. For readers of older puzzle solving books like the older The Westing Game and the Chasing Vermeer series and the more recent Lemoncello books by Grabenstein and Ponti’s City Spies and Sherlock Society.
Thanks for the print arc, Sourcebooks Kids.
April 12, 2026
Pirates and secret, vanishing islands, a 200 yr curse, and treasure. A secret inheritance… what more could you want? This series has everything.
Without giving away too much of the plot, this book picks up RIGHT where the other cliffhanger-ending left off. Benny and her friends are trying to solve the riddles left by her late grandmother in order to claim her inheritance. On her journey, she discovers family secrets and a hidden past. And the impossibility of eternal life. But at what cost?
I originally found this author because she has written some of the Disney Twisted Tales series. I won Isle of Ever (book 1) in a Goodreads contest and devoured it right up. So when this one came out in March, I had my preorder set. I just now got to it after finishing Dungeon Crawler Carl and finished this one in a single day.
It’s suspenseful, lots of action and just a lot of fun reading as this mystery unfolds. It’s clean - no language or spice. Are they predictable? Yeah, but probably not for the middle schoolers. My only complaint is I need book 3 to come out faster! I can’t wait to pass this on to my kiddos.
Without giving away too much of the plot, this book picks up RIGHT where the other cliffhanger-ending left off. Benny and her friends are trying to solve the riddles left by her late grandmother in order to claim her inheritance. On her journey, she discovers family secrets and a hidden past. And the impossibility of eternal life. But at what cost?
I originally found this author because she has written some of the Disney Twisted Tales series. I won Isle of Ever (book 1) in a Goodreads contest and devoured it right up. So when this one came out in March, I had my preorder set. I just now got to it after finishing Dungeon Crawler Carl and finished this one in a single day.
It’s suspenseful, lots of action and just a lot of fun reading as this mystery unfolds. It’s clean - no language or spice. Are they predictable? Yeah, but probably not for the middle schoolers. My only complaint is I need book 3 to come out faster! I can’t wait to pass this on to my kiddos.
March 26, 2026
Thank You Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jen Calonita for the ALC in exchange for an honest review, I realized this was book two after getting this book. Luckily the reads are fast and fun. Packed full of adventure, clues, and likeable characters. The past and present collide in this book. Bringing more of the story together, The cover is so fun and full of clues. Benny is such a strong young kid. I love that we follow her on this adventure to retrieve treasure and all her friends in the midst of evil characters wanting more than Benny can give. Although there are many character (past and present) The story is told so clearly that it was never confusing. The Narrator= Hannah Cabell did a good job and made the audio enjoyable to listen to.
April 22, 2026
I did read this book really quickly because I had to return it to the library, but I think I liked this one better than the first! There aren’t as many riddles (and the ones they do have are solved way too quickly for real life) but the story gets better as more twists and roadblocks come into play. I wasn’t sure how she would keep this going enough to make a 3rd book but now I’m fully invested and excited for the 3rd! I liked the addition of Gil helping them look for clues, it just brought a different dynamic to the group. I’m not sure how I feel about Harris and Ryan being “villains” but I liked Grace coming in and being a true villain that they have to overcome. I do get a little confused with Grace and captain Adrienne Grace and wonder why she chose to have both have the name Grace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 14, 2026
Everly "Benny" Benedict thinks she has won the game and broken the curse, only, the game has really just begun as a new map needs to be located to break the curse once and for all.
What I love about The Curse Breaker is the endearing characters, the well though out mysteries and the always in motion adventure. Jen Calonita is one of my favorite middle grade authors because her world building skills are top tear; I didn't think anything would top Isle of Ever and The Curse Breaker broken the ceiling.
Thank you Sourcebooks Kids for the gifted copy.
What I love about The Curse Breaker is the endearing characters, the well though out mysteries and the always in motion adventure. Jen Calonita is one of my favorite middle grade authors because her world building skills are top tear; I didn't think anything would top Isle of Ever and The Curse Breaker broken the ceiling.
Thank you Sourcebooks Kids for the gifted copy.
April 21, 2026
It was so good!!! It was really unfortunate that it ended in a cliffhanger though.
April 3, 2026
** This book was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley to review.**
The second installment in the Isle of Ever series did not disappoint! After the cliffhanger from the first book, the second book picks up exactly where the first one left off. The tension, intrigue, adventure, and mystery are definitely still very much a part of the story and even ramped up a little to add extra intenseness. This story was so good that I finished it pretty quickly as it completely pulled me. I CAN NOT WAIT for book #3 to come out! This book and series are a must read series for anyone who enjoys reading at all!! Jen Calonita never disappoints! #TheCurseBreaker #NetGalley
The second installment in the Isle of Ever series did not disappoint! After the cliffhanger from the first book, the second book picks up exactly where the first one left off. The tension, intrigue, adventure, and mystery are definitely still very much a part of the story and even ramped up a little to add extra intenseness. This story was so good that I finished it pretty quickly as it completely pulled me. I CAN NOT WAIT for book #3 to come out! This book and series are a must read series for anyone who enjoys reading at all!! Jen Calonita never disappoints! #TheCurseBreaker #NetGalley
April 7, 2026
Review: The Curse Breaker - Jen Calonita (ARC)
"Having finally reached the Isle of Ever, Everly "Benny" Benedict thinks she's won the game of clues her ancestor Evelyn Terry set out for her in her will. Only she can't prove it yet—not until her new friends are safe from the curse that has kept them trapped for centuries! Now there's a new game. It turns out that Evelyn has more secrets in her diary and another task for to find the lost piece of pirate treasure needed to break the curse once and for all. It won't be easy. One of her best friends has betrayed her; the kids from the island are just discovering twenty-first- century life, and a mysterious stranger mentioned in Evelyn's diary has somehow turned up in present-day Greenport. Benny has to figure it all out in just a few days. If time runs out, someone else can claim the inheritance, and the Isle of Ever will disappear again for another two hundred years."
It's a very entertaining story with a solid plot. I loved the obvious personality difference between all the characters. I enjoyed the dynamics and the way author Jen Calonita managed to communicate the intonations through written text. That really is a masterful form of art.
I must admit, I had the ARC audio book. It's a bit easier to get distracted while listening. Yet it wasn't difficult to keep track of the story, even though I might not remember all chapters that well. It's detailed but not all details are essential to keep the plot standing, and I think that's a great plus.
Listening to this also really made me want to get the physical book, including part 1, on my shelves🤭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Having finally reached the Isle of Ever, Everly "Benny" Benedict thinks she's won the game of clues her ancestor Evelyn Terry set out for her in her will. Only she can't prove it yet—not until her new friends are safe from the curse that has kept them trapped for centuries! Now there's a new game. It turns out that Evelyn has more secrets in her diary and another task for to find the lost piece of pirate treasure needed to break the curse once and for all. It won't be easy. One of her best friends has betrayed her; the kids from the island are just discovering twenty-first- century life, and a mysterious stranger mentioned in Evelyn's diary has somehow turned up in present-day Greenport. Benny has to figure it all out in just a few days. If time runs out, someone else can claim the inheritance, and the Isle of Ever will disappear again for another two hundred years."
It's a very entertaining story with a solid plot. I loved the obvious personality difference between all the characters. I enjoyed the dynamics and the way author Jen Calonita managed to communicate the intonations through written text. That really is a masterful form of art.
I must admit, I had the ARC audio book. It's a bit easier to get distracted while listening. Yet it wasn't difficult to keep track of the story, even though I might not remember all chapters that well. It's detailed but not all details are essential to keep the plot standing, and I think that's a great plus.
Listening to this also really made me want to get the physical book, including part 1, on my shelves🤭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 4, 2026
This is such a great series for 9-12 year olds. I just love the adventure and friendship pieces!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In the first book of the Isle of Ever series, twelve-year-old Everly "Benny" Benedict discovers she is heir to a vast fortune. To claim it, she must follow a trail of clues left behind by her grandmother, Evelyn, clues that lead her on a quest to find an island that vanished long ago.
The Curse Breaker opens with a recap of the events that led to Aggy, Gil, Thomas and Laurel's disappearance. For two centuries, they've been trapped on the mysterious island, waiting for the next Blood Orange Moon to reappear. In the present day, Benny believes her quest is complete when she finally reaches the Isle of Ever. But until all of her grandmother's friends can safely break the curse that has held them for centuries, her quest is far from over.
With the help of Evelyn's secret diary, a new set of clues, and her loyal friends, Benny continues her quest to find the missing pieces of pirate treasure needed to break the curse. Their search becomes even more dangerous when a mysterious woman appears, someone determined to find the island and claim the treasure for herself.
The Curse Breaker delivers an exciting blend of mystery and adventure, filled with hidden secrets, ancient treasure, a lost island, and a 200-year-old curse. The twists and turns are engaging, and it's fun to follow the children as they unravel the riddles and clues.
Benny cares deeply about her friends and is determined to complete her grandmother's quest to earn her inheritance. The story alternates between 1825 and 2025, revealing the family's history through Evelyn's letter's, diary entries, journals, and articles. The introduction of a mysterious woman raises the stakes and adds urgency to the quest. Readers hoping for a full resolution will have to wait as the adventure continues in the final book of the series.
Overall, it's another wonderful series from the author of Fairy Tale Reform School, Secrets of My Hollywood Life and the Royal Academy books. A great pick for readers who enjoy puzzle filled adventures in the spirit of The Westing Game.
The Curse Breaker opens with a recap of the events that led to Aggy, Gil, Thomas and Laurel's disappearance. For two centuries, they've been trapped on the mysterious island, waiting for the next Blood Orange Moon to reappear. In the present day, Benny believes her quest is complete when she finally reaches the Isle of Ever. But until all of her grandmother's friends can safely break the curse that has held them for centuries, her quest is far from over.
With the help of Evelyn's secret diary, a new set of clues, and her loyal friends, Benny continues her quest to find the missing pieces of pirate treasure needed to break the curse. Their search becomes even more dangerous when a mysterious woman appears, someone determined to find the island and claim the treasure for herself.
The Curse Breaker delivers an exciting blend of mystery and adventure, filled with hidden secrets, ancient treasure, a lost island, and a 200-year-old curse. The twists and turns are engaging, and it's fun to follow the children as they unravel the riddles and clues.
Benny cares deeply about her friends and is determined to complete her grandmother's quest to earn her inheritance. The story alternates between 1825 and 2025, revealing the family's history through Evelyn's letter's, diary entries, journals, and articles. The introduction of a mysterious woman raises the stakes and adds urgency to the quest. Readers hoping for a full resolution will have to wait as the adventure continues in the final book of the series.
Overall, it's another wonderful series from the author of Fairy Tale Reform School, Secrets of My Hollywood Life and the Royal Academy books. A great pick for readers who enjoy puzzle filled adventures in the spirit of The Westing Game.
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