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The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night
A spooky yet heartwarming adventure about one girl's journey into the land of the undead, and the unexpected family she finds along the way. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and the hit series Wednesday.
On Halloween, it is always wise to expect the unexpected, but no amount of planning could have prepared Eve for that particular night. Fleeing an unpleasant orphanage, she’s saved by someone who she never believed was real…the fabled Pumpkin King himself.
Throwing caution aside, Eve accepts the offer to become his daughter and is whisked away to the misty Hallowell Valley—home to witches and vampires, ghosts and goblins, and all that go bump in the night. But just when she believes she’s found her place among the undead, a sinister scheme unearths itself, threatening to take everything from Eve unless she can stop it.
From debut author Steven Banbury comes a cozy, magical adventure sure to delight anyone who loves the tricks of Halloween as much as the treats of autumn.
On Halloween, it is always wise to expect the unexpected, but no amount of planning could have prepared Eve for that particular night. Fleeing an unpleasant orphanage, she’s saved by someone who she never believed was real…the fabled Pumpkin King himself.
Throwing caution aside, Eve accepts the offer to become his daughter and is whisked away to the misty Hallowell Valley—home to witches and vampires, ghosts and goblins, and all that go bump in the night. But just when she believes she’s found her place among the undead, a sinister scheme unearths itself, threatening to take everything from Eve unless she can stop it.
From debut author Steven Banbury comes a cozy, magical adventure sure to delight anyone who loves the tricks of Halloween as much as the treats of autumn.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2024
About the author
Steven Banbury
1 book26 followersSteven Banbury grew up surrounded by farmland before eventually moving to a part of California with notably fewer cows. Somewhere along the way he married his legend of a wife, adopted their annoyingly cute dog, and developed a penchant for writing he hasn’t seemed to shake. The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
November 3, 2024
3.0 Stars
This is an interesting middle grade read that would make for a good October read. I expected this one to be more fantastical but the narrative fell a touch flat. I wanted to love but I only liked it. I would still recommend it as a middle grade read Halloween read.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is an interesting middle grade read that would make for a good October read. I expected this one to be more fantastical but the narrative fell a touch flat. I wanted to love but I only liked it. I would still recommend it as a middle grade read Halloween read.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
October 14, 2024
not to be dramatic but I’d die for all of the characters in this book
October 12, 2024
Absolute perfection wrapped up in a cozy, autumnal MG package. Cannot wait for book two!
November 13, 2024
Such a charming autumn read. 4 spooky ⭐️s!
October 9, 2024
Oh my goodness, this was just full of Halloween charm and whimsy! It really did remind me of Nevermoor set in Halloweentown. Loved it! :-) ... An absolute must-read for Halloween season!
June 27, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the advanced copy.
This is one of the most autumnal, Halloween-y, cozy books I've ever read. Like, it is up there with Ray Bradbury's The October Country as being alllll about the F A L L. In capital letters, yes.
Young Eve is an orphan in an undisclosed time period and location (which feels turn of the century New England at times, but there turn of the century England at other times). She is adopted by The Pumpkin King pretty quickly and the story kicks off with Eve's introduction to Hallowell valley and it's various undead inhabitants. This introduction reminded me heavily of the Diagon Alley chapter in the first Harry Potter, with that sense of magical awe and unique setting and unique background characters.
Banbury does great with his world-building. It's familiar but unfamiliar, and it makes sense for its inhabitants. All of the side characters are somehow distinct and interesting in their own right as well, which is another point for Banbury - the main character of Eve, her best friends Lyla and Vlad, and of course The Pumpkin King and Scrags the scarecrow are all the most fleshed out of course, but I am impressed that we get to know the smaller side characters as well. It really makes this world feel robust and real.
I cannot WAIT to read this to my niece and nephew this October. They will be obsessed. I am obsessed. I am hoping this is the start of a Halloween-y series because I want to go back to this world so badly. This would absolutely have been one of my favorite books if I'd read it as a 10 year old!
Reminds me of: The October Country, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Halloween Tree, The Last Unicorn, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By the way, the whole time I was reading this I was picturing adapted in animation, in a style somewhere between Howl's Moving Castle and The Last Unicorn, both of which I was strongly reminded of vibes-wise while reading The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night.
Now, I'm off to build The Pumpkin King's farm in The Sims 4 lol look for it on the gallery soon, I guess! I'll hashtag the lot with the book title #thepumpkinprincess. I'm excited to share this book with everyone and cannot recommend it enough.
Just such a cozy, warm, nice read.
This is one of the most autumnal, Halloween-y, cozy books I've ever read. Like, it is up there with Ray Bradbury's The October Country as being alllll about the F A L L. In capital letters, yes.
Young Eve is an orphan in an undisclosed time period and location (which feels turn of the century New England at times, but there turn of the century England at other times). She is adopted by The Pumpkin King pretty quickly and the story kicks off with Eve's introduction to Hallowell valley and it's various undead inhabitants. This introduction reminded me heavily of the Diagon Alley chapter in the first Harry Potter, with that sense of magical awe and unique setting and unique background characters.
Banbury does great with his world-building. It's familiar but unfamiliar, and it makes sense for its inhabitants. All of the side characters are somehow distinct and interesting in their own right as well, which is another point for Banbury - the main character of Eve, her best friends Lyla and Vlad, and of course The Pumpkin King and Scrags the scarecrow are all the most fleshed out of course, but I am impressed that we get to know the smaller side characters as well. It really makes this world feel robust and real.
I cannot WAIT to read this to my niece and nephew this October. They will be obsessed. I am obsessed. I am hoping this is the start of a Halloween-y series because I want to go back to this world so badly. This would absolutely have been one of my favorite books if I'd read it as a 10 year old!
Reminds me of: The October Country, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Halloween Tree, The Last Unicorn, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By the way, the whole time I was reading this I was picturing adapted in animation, in a style somewhere between Howl's Moving Castle and The Last Unicorn, both of which I was strongly reminded of vibes-wise while reading The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night.
Now, I'm off to build The Pumpkin King's farm in The Sims 4 lol look for it on the gallery soon, I guess! I'll hashtag the lot with the book title #thepumpkinprincess. I'm excited to share this book with everyone and cannot recommend it enough.
Just such a cozy, warm, nice read.
September 21, 2024
What a sweet and heartwarming story of found family, friendship, and overcoming your fears. This is the cozy Halloween read you are looking for 🎃
October 31, 2024
RATING: 4/5⭐️
REVIEW
This book was the perfect Halloween day read. It was so comfy and cozy. The atmosphere was so fun, and I loved meeting all the creatures and characters. I also love a good found family story, and this one did it really well. I hope I can return to Hallowell!
REVIEW
This book was the perfect Halloween day read. It was so comfy and cozy. The atmosphere was so fun, and I loved meeting all the creatures and characters. I also love a good found family story, and this one did it really well. I hope I can return to Hallowell!
August 29, 2024
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and read it with my 6 yo son, who is obsessed with Halloween and all things spooky. While meant for middle schoolers, it was great for my son! He loved the book and looked forward to reading it before bed each night. Witches, vampires, werewolves, magic - it had all of his favorite things but wasn’t graphic or overly scary for his tastes, though he did get really concerned for the main characters at the height of the conflict. I actually found myself reading ahead a few times because I wanted to know what happened and did not want to wait 25 hours to find out.
We highly recommend this and hope there are more Pumpkin Princess books to come!!!
We highly recommend this and hope there are more Pumpkin Princess books to come!!!
August 12, 2024
Oof the fall/Halloween vibes were just what I wanted!! It was giving the comfy vibes of Halloweentown and made me jealous that i couldn’t be in Hallowell Valley! And lol honestly the twist at the end actually surprised me so that’s fun. This is an ARC our bookstore received and it’s for middle schoolers but I feel any age could enjoy this book.
October 30, 2024
I don’t have a single complaint about this book! It was so wholesome, & bittersweet- I honestly didn’t want it to end! This book had me on the edge of my seat, rooting for the main character, & almost in tears. I adored most of the characters- especially Scrags, Peaty, and the Pumpkin King! I liked the twist at the end, it was well executed! Extremely well done writing, and the plot was well thought out! Fantasy meets Halloween Town essentially!
- A girl runs away from an orphanage, after the loss of her parents & after countless adoptions gone wrong. She stumbles upon (the last thing she’d ever expect) a walking Jack-o’-lantern, that refers to himself as the Pumpkin King. He extends an offer to adopt her, and she reluctantly accepts. And what she comes to find- she is welcomed by a magical world of the undead! As the only living being in this universe, can she peacefully coexist with the other creatures?
- A girl runs away from an orphanage, after the loss of her parents & after countless adoptions gone wrong. She stumbles upon (the last thing she’d ever expect) a walking Jack-o’-lantern, that refers to himself as the Pumpkin King. He extends an offer to adopt her, and she reluctantly accepts. And what she comes to find- she is welcomed by a magical world of the undead! As the only living being in this universe, can she peacefully coexist with the other creatures?
September 27, 2024
I usually don't read middle grade but all of the good reviews convinced me. This is such a great, wholesome read for the Fall season. I would LOVE to see a version of this for adults if the author ever decides to do that
September 6, 2024
This book was absolutely charming!! It was a little of Nightmare Before Christmas and any multitude of sad orphans findings new families and I adored every minute of it.
Eve (though she does not get called this at first) is determined to make her escape from the orphanage she was placed at after the death of her parents. She is not sure where she is going to go or what to do when she gets there but she has to get away. Just as she thinks she will be caught for the umpteenth time, she is surprised by a tall talking Jack-O-Lantern who is amused by her lack of fear. He adopts her and takes her back to Hallowell, where he is the Pumpkin King, and she becomes his pumpkin princess.
Hallowell reminds me of Halloweentown from NBC but this author did a lot to make it his own and I appreciated the finer details, especially the bookstore. Watching this little family find its way together, with TPK learning to be a "dad" and Eve learning what it's like to have friends and someone who wants her made my heart squeeze.
This book is not at all scary other than some of the residents of Hallowell might frighten younger readers. By the end I wanted very much to visit this place and meet these lovely characters. I hope perhaps the author may make this the beginning of a series, as I think many more adventures could be had with Eve and her friends in Hallowell.
This is definitely going to be a repeat read.
My thanks to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Eve (though she does not get called this at first) is determined to make her escape from the orphanage she was placed at after the death of her parents. She is not sure where she is going to go or what to do when she gets there but she has to get away. Just as she thinks she will be caught for the umpteenth time, she is surprised by a tall talking Jack-O-Lantern who is amused by her lack of fear. He adopts her and takes her back to Hallowell, where he is the Pumpkin King, and she becomes his pumpkin princess.
Hallowell reminds me of Halloweentown from NBC but this author did a lot to make it his own and I appreciated the finer details, especially the bookstore. Watching this little family find its way together, with TPK learning to be a "dad" and Eve learning what it's like to have friends and someone who wants her made my heart squeeze.
This book is not at all scary other than some of the residents of Hallowell might frighten younger readers. By the end I wanted very much to visit this place and meet these lovely characters. I hope perhaps the author may make this the beginning of a series, as I think many more adventures could be had with Eve and her friends in Hallowell.
This is definitely going to be a repeat read.
My thanks to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
August 31, 2024
crying this was so wholesome and cozy
August 18, 2024
I immediately got weird vibes from this book and couldn’t shake them. The setup doesn’t make any sense. What ruined it for me though was the poor scarecrows that were created by the pumpkin king to essentially be his slaves on his large plantation, and the way they talk seems too alike to the way slaves have been historically portrayed.
November 18, 2024
This was the best middle grade I have ever read.
Loved it to bits! The themes are so gently explored, and the characters and story are in no way lacking.
I can't wait to return to Hallowell for more adventures of the Pumpkin Princess and company! ❤️
Loved it to bits! The themes are so gently explored, and the characters and story are in no way lacking.
I can't wait to return to Hallowell for more adventures of the Pumpkin Princess and company! ❤️
October 8, 2024
4.5★ rounding up because of how damn cozy this was. I absolutely loved the world and the characters, especially the scarecrows and the pumpkin king. found family is one of my absolute favorite tropes! and done so well here. there were also good messages about friendship, community, and overcoming your fears. also, how charming is this cover!! 🖤 🎃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2024
One of the sweetest, most wholesome things I have read in a while.
This book is adorable and PERFECT for October.
It is like Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloweentown mixed together, centered around the theme of found family.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO! Also, I love scrags the Scarecrow.
This book is adorable and PERFECT for October.
It is like Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloweentown mixed together, centered around the theme of found family.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO! Also, I love scrags the Scarecrow.
October 4, 2024
this was so sweet and cozy and a perfect read to start the season. an adorable halloween flavored adoption story
September 11, 2024
(Read the Audiobook version)
I LOVED that it was like a mash up of Nightmare Before Christmas and DCOM Halloweentown. The seasonal vibes were well needed and appreciated. Also set up perfectly to add in a second book if there ever will be one. Narrator did a great job by giving each and every character their own unique voice. Narrator’s performance deserves credit where credit is due. Only cons I have could be completely fixed with a second book. 1. Give more information on the world building (scary areas that were not talked about enough). 2. Tie up the loose ends with characters that were missing at the end of the book. 3. Give more olden day stories of Pumpkin Kings origins. 4. Expand on Eve’s new “situation” at the end of the book. Overall, I absolutely loved it and HOPE that there is a second one in the works. The story, the characters, and the world design is already there, I already have ideas on how to expand to a second book so I hope the author does too.
I LOVED that it was like a mash up of Nightmare Before Christmas and DCOM Halloweentown. The seasonal vibes were well needed and appreciated. Also set up perfectly to add in a second book if there ever will be one. Narrator did a great job by giving each and every character their own unique voice. Narrator’s performance deserves credit where credit is due. Only cons I have could be completely fixed with a second book. 1. Give more information on the world building (scary areas that were not talked about enough). 2. Tie up the loose ends with characters that were missing at the end of the book. 3. Give more olden day stories of Pumpkin Kings origins. 4. Expand on Eve’s new “situation” at the end of the book. Overall, I absolutely loved it and HOPE that there is a second one in the works. The story, the characters, and the world design is already there, I already have ideas on how to expand to a second book so I hope the author does too.
October 8, 2024
As a lover of Harvest Moon and other farming games coupled with the found family and Halloween vibes, this was the perfect read for me. Such a heartwarming story in which Eve is trying to escape her orphanage and runs straight into the Pumpkin King. She isn't scared of the creature with a pumpkin for a head which is how she becomes his adopted daughter in a Halloweentown sort of place. She slowly settles in and makes friends with a very blunt witch and a skittish and inventive vampire. But most of the town is wary of this human when they are all supernatural beings so much so that there is a coup to get her out of the town and remove the Pumpkin King from the council. Although, I didn't feel the suspense within the story as this is more of a slow-paced read with lots of warm, cozy vibes.
One of the sweetest father-daughter relationships I've read in a while. I loved how kind and accepting the Pumpkin King was to his daughter. He would spoil her with an overabundance of blankets and books and would tell anyone off if they said anything rude about her. He even joined in her tradition of Christmas and made her feel special. I also enjoyed Eve learning all about the farm and how certain vegetables needed to be treated before they were planted or removed. I think it added to the quiet and cozy atmosphere of the story. The scarecrows were wonderful too especially Scrags who acted sort of like a mother at times. And then there were her new friends Lyla and Vlad. Lyla was so blunt and I loved that about her. She helped out at the local bookstore begrudgingly and so did Eve although she loved it (I loved all the different types and titles in the bookstore). Vlad has a tough home life and just wants to cook a good meal and work on his inventions. He's sweet but I really want more of him and Lyla's perspectives in the next book.
All in all, this was such a wonderful cozy, and touching read. If you are looking for a slow-paced sweet read this fall look no further than The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night in exchange for an honest review.
One of the sweetest father-daughter relationships I've read in a while. I loved how kind and accepting the Pumpkin King was to his daughter. He would spoil her with an overabundance of blankets and books and would tell anyone off if they said anything rude about her. He even joined in her tradition of Christmas and made her feel special. I also enjoyed Eve learning all about the farm and how certain vegetables needed to be treated before they were planted or removed. I think it added to the quiet and cozy atmosphere of the story. The scarecrows were wonderful too especially Scrags who acted sort of like a mother at times. And then there were her new friends Lyla and Vlad. Lyla was so blunt and I loved that about her. She helped out at the local bookstore begrudgingly and so did Eve although she loved it (I loved all the different types and titles in the bookstore). Vlad has a tough home life and just wants to cook a good meal and work on his inventions. He's sweet but I really want more of him and Lyla's perspectives in the next book.
All in all, this was such a wonderful cozy, and touching read. If you are looking for a slow-paced sweet read this fall look no further than The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2024
This was adorable and atmospheric. For me it was a perfect fall read.
August 16, 2024
The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night felt like a new Halloweentown for middle grade readers! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I liked how the book explored themes of found family, friendship, confronting prejudice, and feeling self-confident. Eve and the Pumpkin King were enjoyable main characters, and I loved how Eve was able to form strong friendships in her new community. I definitely didn't predict the big bad, so that was a surprising plot twist. I think it would've been fun to explore a little more of Hallowell and maybe have included more characters or more time with secondary characters. I think this is a book for middle grade readers to enjoy during Spooky Season, or any time of the year!
October 24, 2024
What this story most strongly reminds me of is a bad fanfiction. Sometimes, fanfic will have a really fantastic premise, but extremely out of character characters, poor pacing, and a really ridiculous plot. Unfortunately, this story is a lot like that. Now, can characters original to a story be out of character? No, but they can still be wildly mischaracterized for the roles they've been given, which is the case here.
We follow an orphan girl who is escaping from her prison-like orphanage (no really, there are guards and watchdogs) and runs into the Pumpkin King. Because she doesn't flinch from the big pumpkin head, he proposes to adopt her and she immediately agrees. Thus begins the saga of Eve, so named by the Pumpkin King for meeting her on Hallow's Eve.
I feel bad for saying this but I feel like this concept would have been really well done in the hands of a stronger writer. The concepts in this book are very fun. I love the Halloween town, the candle-spirit kids, the farm with living fields. But one of the more jarring things about this story is how young the prose feels -- there is no gravitas at all to how the Pumpkin King speaks (a thousands year old creature should not say "Wait, what?"), descriptions are very bland, facts are repeated frequently and we are given a LOT of explanations for things that readers don't normally need explanations for. (An early book example: Eve points out a loophole to a servant. The servant repeats the loophole to the Pumpkin King a whole page later. The prose tells us that the servant is repeating the loophole Eve told him. I know he was, I just read it.) It just doesn't read like middle grade fiction, but perhaps first grade or second grade? It's much more immature than I'd expected.
On a technical note, the writing is also just very poorly edited. Words are repeated often (how many times have I read "grumble"?) Characters rarely say "said" and instead grunt, whine, hum, answer, insist. It's very tiring to read.
Likewise the pacing in this book really does it no favors. The best word to describe most of the events is "unearned". We don't spend any time at the orphanage. Instead, Eve immediately meets the Pumpkin King, who immediately takes her to his home, where his servants and he are immediately devoted to her. There aren't stakes or trials for these rewards. We're told in passing that Eve had a hard time in the orphanage, but I wanted to see that happening and feel the visceral relief of escape with her. The relationship between Eve and the Pumpkin King is likewise quickly devoted, with no conflict at all between them or development of this bond. The servants of the Pumpkin King immediately love and adore Eve the second she shows up, for no reason whatsoever. Eve immediately makes best friends with two children who are not terribly different from any other child, so it's hard for me to understand why Eve was so isolated in the orphanage (a fact repeated to us many, many times).
Which falls into the other big problem with this story: the characters. Despite living in Eve's head for this narrative, I don't really care for her. She doesn't show really any concern for anyone other than herself, we don't see her being kind or brave or thoughtful, nothing that might win us or other characters over. I want to like her but I find her so bland and unrealistic. Even her most interesting feature, having horrific night terrors, is glossed over as something she repressed the hell out of. As a character Eve represses a lot of her feelings, but this is hardly addressed. What could have been excellent character development for Eve is brought up approximately twice in the story and is resolved by the end with little change from Eve.
Likewise, the Pumpkin King is real mess of contradictory characterizations. He's terrifying! But he's awkward and caring. He has a kingly duty to the valley! But he "learned" to stop interfering with ruling. He picks Eve as his successor because she is the first "brave" human to see him, but we don't see any reason why he needs a successor (he's immortal????) or why he wants a family. There really is no motivation for the start of this series other than "a child talked back to me so I took her home" which is a bizarre reason to adopt someone.
The villains in this are also just....bad? The vampires are these one dimension cliches that were pulled from any children's story about bullies. They have literally zero depth and zero reason to hate Eve as much as they do.
I really wanted to like this story but I just feel it's wasted potential. I see in the acknowledgements there were three editors on this project -- too many cooks in the kitchen? Or was it like the group project where everyone was expecting someone else to work on it and so no one did? What the book really needs is a writer's workshop or critique circle to really develop the characters, the plot, the stakes, the pacing. It's a neat idea that is absolutely not publish worthy yet.
There are amazing middle grade/children's literature stories out there. This is unfortunately not one of them. May I point to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairy Land in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente as an example of phenomenal writing and prose for a younger audience. Young readers deserve good stories too!
We follow an orphan girl who is escaping from her prison-like orphanage (no really, there are guards and watchdogs) and runs into the Pumpkin King. Because she doesn't flinch from the big pumpkin head, he proposes to adopt her and she immediately agrees. Thus begins the saga of Eve, so named by the Pumpkin King for meeting her on Hallow's Eve.
I feel bad for saying this but I feel like this concept would have been really well done in the hands of a stronger writer. The concepts in this book are very fun. I love the Halloween town, the candle-spirit kids, the farm with living fields. But one of the more jarring things about this story is how young the prose feels -- there is no gravitas at all to how the Pumpkin King speaks (a thousands year old creature should not say "Wait, what?"), descriptions are very bland, facts are repeated frequently and we are given a LOT of explanations for things that readers don't normally need explanations for. (An early book example: Eve points out a loophole to a servant. The servant repeats the loophole to the Pumpkin King a whole page later. The prose tells us that the servant is repeating the loophole Eve told him. I know he was, I just read it.) It just doesn't read like middle grade fiction, but perhaps first grade or second grade? It's much more immature than I'd expected.
On a technical note, the writing is also just very poorly edited. Words are repeated often (how many times have I read "grumble"?) Characters rarely say "said" and instead grunt, whine, hum, answer, insist. It's very tiring to read.
Likewise the pacing in this book really does it no favors. The best word to describe most of the events is "unearned". We don't spend any time at the orphanage. Instead, Eve immediately meets the Pumpkin King, who immediately takes her to his home, where his servants and he are immediately devoted to her. There aren't stakes or trials for these rewards. We're told in passing that Eve had a hard time in the orphanage, but I wanted to see that happening and feel the visceral relief of escape with her. The relationship between Eve and the Pumpkin King is likewise quickly devoted, with no conflict at all between them or development of this bond. The servants of the Pumpkin King immediately love and adore Eve the second she shows up, for no reason whatsoever. Eve immediately makes best friends with two children who are not terribly different from any other child, so it's hard for me to understand why Eve was so isolated in the orphanage (a fact repeated to us many, many times).
Which falls into the other big problem with this story: the characters. Despite living in Eve's head for this narrative, I don't really care for her. She doesn't show really any concern for anyone other than herself, we don't see her being kind or brave or thoughtful, nothing that might win us or other characters over. I want to like her but I find her so bland and unrealistic. Even her most interesting feature, having horrific night terrors, is glossed over as something she repressed the hell out of. As a character Eve represses a lot of her feelings, but this is hardly addressed. What could have been excellent character development for Eve is brought up approximately twice in the story and is resolved by the end with little change from Eve.
Likewise, the Pumpkin King is real mess of contradictory characterizations. He's terrifying! But he's awkward and caring. He has a kingly duty to the valley! But he "learned" to stop interfering with ruling. He picks Eve as his successor because she is the first "brave" human to see him, but we don't see any reason why he needs a successor (he's immortal????) or why he wants a family. There really is no motivation for the start of this series other than "a child talked back to me so I took her home" which is a bizarre reason to adopt someone.
The villains in this are also just....bad? The vampires are these one dimension cliches that were pulled from any children's story about bullies. They have literally zero depth and zero reason to hate Eve as much as they do.
I really wanted to like this story but I just feel it's wasted potential. I see in the acknowledgements there were three editors on this project -- too many cooks in the kitchen? Or was it like the group project where everyone was expecting someone else to work on it and so no one did? What the book really needs is a writer's workshop or critique circle to really develop the characters, the plot, the stakes, the pacing. It's a neat idea that is absolutely not publish worthy yet.
There are amazing middle grade/children's literature stories out there. This is unfortunately not one of them. May I point to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairy Land in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente as an example of phenomenal writing and prose for a younger audience. Young readers deserve good stories too!
June 26, 2024
Super cute! A spooky, cozy Halloween read that I genuinely adored the whole way through.
October 28, 2024
4.5 A perfectly heartwarming Middle Grade that would be a great seasonal read for fall/Halloween. The first scene takes place on Halloween, would be great to pick up on that day!
I think this could be for you if you love found family, a spunky girl, and a paranormal/spooky vibe that’s also a tad fun and silly sometimes. There are a few sensitive topics, check trigger warnings if needed.
Eve runs away from the orphanage on Halloween night and meets The Pumpkin King, who then adopts her as his daughter and proclaims her The Pumpkin Princess. He takes her to Hallowell Valley, home to the undead (goblins, trolls, witches, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and more!) There are talking scarecrows, a boy vampire who happens to love food even though it makes him sick, and a young witch who doesn’t quite have a grasp on her powers. There’s also a mystery that Eve tries to solve while she tries to make Hallowell her home, as the only living person there, and some people do not want her there and try to force her out. I came to love this found family and even teared up at one point. It’s very heartwarming and fun.
It’s a debut novel, and looks like there is a book 2 planned, though the main plot like does wrap up, no cliffhanger here. I was so happy to hear there will be more to read with these characters! 🎃🥰
I think this could be for you if you love found family, a spunky girl, and a paranormal/spooky vibe that’s also a tad fun and silly sometimes. There are a few sensitive topics, check trigger warnings if needed.
Eve runs away from the orphanage on Halloween night and meets The Pumpkin King, who then adopts her as his daughter and proclaims her The Pumpkin Princess. He takes her to Hallowell Valley, home to the undead (goblins, trolls, witches, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and more!) There are talking scarecrows, a boy vampire who happens to love food even though it makes him sick, and a young witch who doesn’t quite have a grasp on her powers. There’s also a mystery that Eve tries to solve while she tries to make Hallowell her home, as the only living person there, and some people do not want her there and try to force her out. I came to love this found family and even teared up at one point. It’s very heartwarming and fun.
It’s a debut novel, and looks like there is a book 2 planned, though the main plot like does wrap up, no cliffhanger here. I was so happy to hear there will be more to read with these characters! 🎃🥰
November 1, 2024
SIX stars!!! All the stars!!! You get a star, and you get a star, and you get a star!!!
I’m just as shocked as anyone when I say this couldn’t have been more Pumpkin Princess Perfect!!
This has all the atmosphere of Halloweentown (both Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloweentown) and all the nuance, depth, and adventure of Harry Potter. Every step along the way I found myself not only loving the cozy autumnal and holiday vibes this has seeping out of every page, but also being enamored with how rich the story and characters were. You really never know what you’re going to get when you pick up a middle grade (heck, any age category of book) and this delivered on so many levels.
The plot takes many twists and turns and I was genuinely surprised with some of the misdirections and reveals. I also loved that this was not afraid to go dark, much darker than I was expecting. Some middle grade talks down to its audience or overly simplifies things by being too aware of its target age range. This thankfully never does. This can be just as enjoyed by a young reader as it could by an older reader. Like any good family film, this delivers for everyone.
Ugh, I’m just so in awe of my experience with this book, and even more in awe that I wasn’t expecting it in the least. Is it silly to say that this might be one of, if not my favorite read of the year?! Just so so good. Open yourself up to more stories and allow some middle grade loveliness into your life, starting here. Please.
I’m just as shocked as anyone when I say this couldn’t have been more Pumpkin Princess Perfect!!
This has all the atmosphere of Halloweentown (both Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloweentown) and all the nuance, depth, and adventure of Harry Potter. Every step along the way I found myself not only loving the cozy autumnal and holiday vibes this has seeping out of every page, but also being enamored with how rich the story and characters were. You really never know what you’re going to get when you pick up a middle grade (heck, any age category of book) and this delivered on so many levels.
The plot takes many twists and turns and I was genuinely surprised with some of the misdirections and reveals. I also loved that this was not afraid to go dark, much darker than I was expecting. Some middle grade talks down to its audience or overly simplifies things by being too aware of its target age range. This thankfully never does. This can be just as enjoyed by a young reader as it could by an older reader. Like any good family film, this delivers for everyone.
Ugh, I’m just so in awe of my experience with this book, and even more in awe that I wasn’t expecting it in the least. Is it silly to say that this might be one of, if not my favorite read of the year?! Just so so good. Open yourself up to more stories and allow some middle grade loveliness into your life, starting here. Please.
November 6, 2024
This was tremendous fun! The runaway orphan is great, the Pumpkin King is a lovely dad, and the friendships worked really well. I liked the misdirection with the villains and appreciated the emotional undercurrent of the fear of abandonment and the fear of that fear, although I wish it had been more subtext and less text. I don’t know if kid books of my youth had less explanation or if I just forgot the explanation and only remembered the emotions.
Someone pointed out to me some uncomfortable resonances around the scarecrows, whom the Pumpkin King created to work his farm. He doesn’t name them and resists when they befriend Eve. Scraps is a great character but having workers tied to the farm without pay who speak in uneducated ways and love serving is not a god ok, and now I can’t unsee it. I don’t think the book meant it as a reflection of the American South, but that is there.
Someone pointed out to me some uncomfortable resonances around the scarecrows, whom the Pumpkin King created to work his farm. He doesn’t name them and resists when they befriend Eve. Scraps is a great character but having workers tied to the farm without pay who speak in uneducated ways and love serving is not a god ok, and now I can’t unsee it. I don’t think the book meant it as a reflection of the American South, but that is there.
October 10, 2024
4.5 🌟 rounded up! Middle grade spooky season perfection! Appropriate for kids and adults who want a cozy, atmospheric read with a little mystery.. If you are looking for fall vibes, look no more! The author painted a complete picture. I could feel the chill in the air and hear the crunching leaves.
Eve is an orphan trying to escape the orphanage where fun is not allowed. She carries many personal fears about losing her parents and being unwanted. She plans her getaway down to the dirty socks used to throw off the dogs tracking her scent.. The time period and location of the orphanage and Hallowell aren’t stated. This completely worked.Could have been England or the US pre-electricity. Reminded me of many other great stories where the time period is unnamed. The magical world works whether it is 1890 or 1990.
Eve stumbles into the world of Hallowell and becomes the Pumpkin Princess. This world is full of a variety of magical/mythical creatures commonly found in books: werewolves, skeletons, witches, scarecrows and vampires.
As Eve learns how to be a daughter and how to fit into Hallowell, she finds a few other misfits. She befriends Lyla the witch and Vlad the vampire. Each one of them have a personal struggle, but coming together makes them stronger. Eve also befriends and names the scarecrows. I adored Scrags. At first I was afraid the scarecrows would be creepy but they were delightful. Eve and her new friends are faced with solving the mystery of a missing potion and an attempt to takeover Hallowell. All while ensuring she doesn’t get banished.
Full of adventure and found family. This was a delightful and heartwarming tale. I highly recommend this for fall reading.
Eve is an orphan trying to escape the orphanage where fun is not allowed. She carries many personal fears about losing her parents and being unwanted. She plans her getaway down to the dirty socks used to throw off the dogs tracking her scent.. The time period and location of the orphanage and Hallowell aren’t stated. This completely worked.Could have been England or the US pre-electricity. Reminded me of many other great stories where the time period is unnamed. The magical world works whether it is 1890 or 1990.
Eve stumbles into the world of Hallowell and becomes the Pumpkin Princess. This world is full of a variety of magical/mythical creatures commonly found in books: werewolves, skeletons, witches, scarecrows and vampires.
As Eve learns how to be a daughter and how to fit into Hallowell, she finds a few other misfits. She befriends Lyla the witch and Vlad the vampire. Each one of them have a personal struggle, but coming together makes them stronger. Eve also befriends and names the scarecrows. I adored Scrags. At first I was afraid the scarecrows would be creepy but they were delightful. Eve and her new friends are faced with solving the mystery of a missing potion and an attempt to takeover Hallowell. All while ensuring she doesn’t get banished.
Full of adventure and found family. This was a delightful and heartwarming tale. I highly recommend this for fall reading.
October 25, 2024
3.5 rounded down. Love the setting, the premise, and the food (I'm a Redwall kid at heart). With clunky language here and there, it does feel like a debut novel, but Banbury clearly isn't afraid to get creative, and he knows how to write some loveable characters. Some little things that nagged: "Pumpkin Princess" struck me as a super juvenile/Disney-esque phrase for a novel that has blood wine; the amount of times that the Pumpkin King says "hrmph" becomes annoying almost instantly; and, at the beginning, I had trouble believing how wildly quickly our hero accepts her new fantasy world.
But this is a charming and spooky work (not scary in the least--just atmospheric), and I will most definitely be on the lookout for its sequels!
But this is a charming and spooky work (not scary in the least--just atmospheric), and I will most definitely be on the lookout for its sequels!
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