faebookhoard's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I struggled to enjoy this book at first (I'm pretty sure it was just a reading slump) but the development behind Sally and everything she goes through in this book is beautiful. Absolutely amazing book, I grew up living on Nightmare before Christmas. And still watch it as often as humanly possible this fits so well into everything
kerasalwaysreading's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really intricate and somewhat foreboding story that sucked me right in. The world of The Nightmare Before Christmas means so much to me having been the movie I was obsessed with as a child. And this really felt like it was a part of that. The FEELING was there.
I didn’t know I needed this until I was in the middle of it and it elicited such a nostalgic feeling. The story was wonderful and kept me guessing. Sally was the focus in this and I felt so strongly for her insecurities as the Pumpkin Queen. Ultimately, there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her King and Halloween Town.
I didn’t know I needed this until I was in the middle of it and it elicited such a nostalgic feeling. The story was wonderful and kept me guessing. Sally was the focus in this and I felt so strongly for her insecurities as the Pumpkin Queen. Ultimately, there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her King and Halloween Town.
thatonebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
My personal rating is a 3.5/5
We finally get to know what happens next in Nightmare Before Christmas. This sequel takes place right after the end of Nightmare Before Christmas and is entirely focused on a fan favorite, Sally. Jack and Sally officially marry and Sally learns of her new role as the Pumpkin Queen. Being the first ever Pumpkin Queen, Sally questions whether she has it in her to be the Queen her town needs. In need of an escape, Sally finds herself in the forest of doors where she uncovers a door, Dream Town, unlike the rest and she opens it. After she wakes up in Spiral Hill, Sally discovers everyone in her town is in a deep sleep and is unable to be awakened. Now it is up to Sally to help her town and the other worlds in the forest of doors. She travels to find the answer to defeating this new foe and while she seeks answers, Sally learns about secrets of herself.
I have not read a single book from Shea Ernshaw, but I have heard positive things about her writing. She has a gift for bringing words together in order to show the world she wants us to see. I loved reading this story because at times it felt like I was there watching Sally make her moves, but there were times that felt bland and didn’t hit as you would expect.
A story of love, self-discovery, and growth. This book is a good read if nothing else, but for nostalgia. We get to see Jack and the crew even if their roles are much smaller in this story. We also get to see different towns such as Valentine Town and Dream Town. Seeing Valentine Town was fun because we have always been curious about what the other towns look like, but we didn’t get much of that which is a shame. I definitely enjoyed the beauty of Valentine Town and it looked just as one may think such a town would look like. However, Sally becomes more insecure about herself being a queen after meeting the queen of Valentine Town. Her insecurities are what carry the story and it’s a shame because that’s not the Sally we know. Personally, this Sally was one that I could not get behind and it is a shame. Learning Sally’s real backstory also didn’t do much for me and the surprise factor felt more let down than anything else. Oh and we got Zero back and who doesn’t love that little ghost dog? (:
Am I glad I read this? Yes! But would I read this again? No. Minus the nostalgia, there wasn’t much in this story that made me want to read it again.
*FROM HERE THERE WILL BE SPOILERS*
I didn’t have a scene or a quote really jump at me as something I needed to keep in mind. It is an easy-to-forget book which is a shame because it did have a lot of potential. However, there is a lot going on but also feels like nothing really happened. While every book has its flaws, this story’s biggest flaw was Sally’s self-loathing. When I think of Sally, I think of the ragdoll from the film who is unafraid to call out things she doesn’t like and is confident with what she believes. This sequel had Sally start at ground zero with no confidence in herself and constantly thinking of her life as being in a cage. However, it is hard to get behind this when there isn’t much to show she’s in this cage now. And even in the film, she was always escaping the lab one way or another, so was she really even caged then? Just not enough support for the lack of confidence when we initially saw a pretty set in her ways Sally from the film. BUT I will say she grows out of it by the end and thank goodness. Another thing was the constant mentioning of her seams and stitches, we know she’s a ragdoll please stop reminding us.
Sally’s new backstory is hard for me to get behind. The shock factor of it did not really wow me, but that was because I feel detached from this Sally. I was not invested in knowing how Sally felt when she discovers she was not just created in a lab, but was stolen away from her parents by Dr. Finkelstein and had her memories erased.
Another thing was sometimes the wording was too flowery which sometimes broke the aesthetic setup Ernshaw created. Not only that but there were times the pacing went too fast and yet nothing happened for example when Sally traveled through each door. When she got to the last one, St. Patrick's Day, she meets a leprechaun who is still awake. No reason why he didn’t succumb to the sandman, he just has and he is the least bit interested in Sally, but he gives her a four leaf clover and leaves. He’s never mentioned or seen again which is a bit annoying because you kind of linger on this sudden character appearance.
We finally get to know what happens next in Nightmare Before Christmas. This sequel takes place right after the end of Nightmare Before Christmas and is entirely focused on a fan favorite, Sally. Jack and Sally officially marry and Sally learns of her new role as the Pumpkin Queen. Being the first ever Pumpkin Queen, Sally questions whether she has it in her to be the Queen her town needs. In need of an escape, Sally finds herself in the forest of doors where she uncovers a door, Dream Town, unlike the rest and she opens it. After she wakes up in Spiral Hill, Sally discovers everyone in her town is in a deep sleep and is unable to be awakened. Now it is up to Sally to help her town and the other worlds in the forest of doors. She travels to find the answer to defeating this new foe and while she seeks answers, Sally learns about secrets of herself.
I have not read a single book from Shea Ernshaw, but I have heard positive things about her writing. She has a gift for bringing words together in order to show the world she wants us to see. I loved reading this story because at times it felt like I was there watching Sally make her moves, but there were times that felt bland and didn’t hit as you would expect.
A story of love, self-discovery, and growth. This book is a good read if nothing else, but for nostalgia. We get to see Jack and the crew even if their roles are much smaller in this story. We also get to see different towns such as Valentine Town and Dream Town. Seeing Valentine Town was fun because we have always been curious about what the other towns look like, but we didn’t get much of that which is a shame. I definitely enjoyed the beauty of Valentine Town and it looked just as one may think such a town would look like. However, Sally becomes more insecure about herself being a queen after meeting the queen of Valentine Town. Her insecurities are what carry the story and it’s a shame because that’s not the Sally we know. Personally, this Sally was one that I could not get behind and it is a shame. Learning Sally’s real backstory also didn’t do much for me and the surprise factor felt more let down than anything else. Oh and we got Zero back and who doesn’t love that little ghost dog? (:
Am I glad I read this? Yes! But would I read this again? No. Minus the nostalgia, there wasn’t much in this story that made me want to read it again.
*FROM HERE THERE WILL BE SPOILERS*
I didn’t have a scene or a quote really jump at me as something I needed to keep in mind. It is an easy-to-forget book which is a shame because it did have a lot of potential. However, there is a lot going on but also feels like nothing really happened. While every book has its flaws, this story’s biggest flaw was Sally’s self-loathing. When I think of Sally, I think of the ragdoll from the film who is unafraid to call out things she doesn’t like and is confident with what she believes. This sequel had Sally start at ground zero with no confidence in herself and constantly thinking of her life as being in a cage. However, it is hard to get behind this when there isn’t much to show she’s in this cage now. And even in the film, she was always escaping the lab one way or another, so was she really even caged then? Just not enough support for the lack of confidence when we initially saw a pretty set in her ways Sally from the film. BUT I will say she grows out of it by the end and thank goodness. Another thing was the constant mentioning of her seams and stitches, we know she’s a ragdoll please stop reminding us.
Sally’s new backstory is hard for me to get behind. The shock factor of it did not really wow me, but that was because I feel detached from this Sally. I was not invested in knowing how Sally felt when she discovers she was not just created in a lab, but was stolen away from her parents by Dr. Finkelstein and had her memories erased.
Another thing was sometimes the wording was too flowery which sometimes broke the aesthetic setup Ernshaw created. Not only that but there were times the pacing went too fast and yet nothing happened for example when Sally traveled through each door. When she got to the last one, St. Patrick's Day, she meets a leprechaun who is still awake. No reason why he didn’t succumb to the sandman, he just has and he is the least bit interested in Sally, but he gives her a four leaf clover and leaves. He’s never mentioned or seen again which is a bit annoying because you kind of linger on this sudden character appearance.
sansiebar's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookreader02's review against another edition
5.0
I've held a deep affection for the film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" for as long as I can remember. Every year, as Halloween approaches, I make it a tradition to revisit this movie. It's a ritual that has become a source of comfort in anticipation of the holiday season. Recently, to my surprise, I discovered a book titled "Long Live The Pumpkin Queen." This revelation filled me with an immediate desire to dive into its pages and uncover the untold story of Sally, one of the film's characters. My curiosity was piqued, and I couldn't wait to embark on this literary adventure.
As I delved into the pages of "Long Live The Pumpkin Queen," I found myself completely engrossed in Sally's narrative. Page after page, I eagerly followed her journey, always eager to learn what would transpire next. The author's skillful storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat, and I felt a genuine connection with the characters.
When I finally reached the book's conclusion, I was filled with satisfaction. The way it all came together, the resolutions, and the emotional depth of the characters left me feeling content and fulfilled. It was a fitting companion to my love for "The Nightmare Before Christmas," adding a new layer of appreciation to a beloved story.
As I delved into the pages of "Long Live The Pumpkin Queen," I found myself completely engrossed in Sally's narrative. Page after page, I eagerly followed her journey, always eager to learn what would transpire next. The author's skillful storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat, and I felt a genuine connection with the characters.
When I finally reached the book's conclusion, I was filled with satisfaction. The way it all came together, the resolutions, and the emotional depth of the characters left me feeling content and fulfilled. It was a fitting companion to my love for "The Nightmare Before Christmas," adding a new layer of appreciation to a beloved story.
michellew123's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
k8lovestoread's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
3.25
I love The Nightmare Before Christmas so I went into this with high hopes. Overall enjoyed it, it was an easy listen (the narrator was perfect). I liked the expansion on Sally as a character. Didn't care for how the villain was completed/handled, it felt too simplistic. Good for some easy Halloween vibes but don't go into this expecting anything revolutionary or gripping.
totalgreyspace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
carlysgrowingtbr's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so adorable for the time of year. This is a book I would highly recommend parents read or with or to their child to get them into reading in general. If you loved the movie the nightmare before Christmas you will definitely like this book.
This book takes place about a year after the movie the nightmare before Christmas ends. It picks up when Sally and Jack are getting married and going on their honeymoon. It follows closely as to how Sally feels after the honeymoon when people start treating her like the queen. Sally just wants to remain herself. A Rag Doll with a complicated past who is basically a loner. But unfortunately the town sees her as their new queen and wants to lavish tons of attention on her and watch her to suddenly act more, royal. They want her to dress different and do different events in the city more becoming of a queen. Which Sally is very uncomfortable with but nobody seems to want to listen to her. Including Jack.
In order to get some alone time Sally steals away to the forest and find a hidden door off the beaten path that seems to be sealed shut. She manages to get the door open and chaos ensues. I won't go any farther that way you don't get any deep spoilers but suffice it to say it's a very thrilling race to combat some magic nobody's ever heard of in Halloween town. Sally learns a lot about herself and her past and decides who she truly wants to be and what she truly wants out of her life. It's a very good book with a great Tim Burton feel. I still believe it would be perfect for anyone age 7-8 and up.
This book takes place about a year after the movie the nightmare before Christmas ends. It picks up when Sally and Jack are getting married and going on their honeymoon. It follows closely as to how Sally feels after the honeymoon when people start treating her like the queen. Sally just wants to remain herself. A Rag Doll with a complicated past who is basically a loner. But unfortunately the town sees her as their new queen and wants to lavish tons of attention on her and watch her to suddenly act more, royal. They want her to dress different and do different events in the city more becoming of a queen. Which Sally is very uncomfortable with but nobody seems to want to listen to her. Including Jack.
In order to get some alone time Sally steals away to the forest and find a hidden door off the beaten path that seems to be sealed shut. She manages to get the door open and chaos ensues. I won't go any farther that way you don't get any deep spoilers but suffice it to say it's a very thrilling race to combat some magic nobody's ever heard of in Halloween town. Sally learns a lot about herself and her past and decides who she truly wants to be and what she truly wants out of her life. It's a very good book with a great Tim Burton feel. I still believe it would be perfect for anyone age 7-8 and up.