The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury

The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury

The rundown: Orphaned Eve runs away from the orphanage, only to be caught by the creepy and mysterious Pumpkin King, who decides to adopt her. Now hailing as the Pumpkin Princess, Eve arrives at the mysterious town of Hallowell, where ghouls roam the town and the undead never sleep. Eve, being the only human in the town has to convince everyone why she’s the perfect candidate as the Pumpkin Princess while getting used to her new role: as daughter.


The review: This is an early edition of the book. It won’t be available to the public until September 3, 2024. The book gives the classic Disney Channel movie Halloweentown a scarier yet wholesome vibe. The main character, Eve, is a courageous young girl being adopted by a night terror, the Pumpkin King. It was beautiful to see the mystery of the town, Hallowell, through Eve’s eyes. A vampire that doesn’t drink blood, troublesome werewolves, witches who struggle with magic, and ghosts that turn into a banshee or a poltergeist makes anyone question if they want to visit the town, especially on Halloween night! Eve’s wild adventures in her new town will keep the reader guessing until the very end of what she and her friends will get into next! Also, the bond between Eve and her adopted dad, the Pumpkin King, is sugary sweet (perfect with Halloween candy!). I’m excited to revisit Hallowell!


Goes well with: The Wizards of Once: Never and Forever by Cressida Cowell, The Beast, the Queen, and the Lost Knight by Alexandria Rogers, and What Happens After Midnight by K.L. Walther