D23 has revealed the cover for Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen, the third book in the Pumpkin Queen series inspired by Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The book, written by Megan Shepherd, is set for release in July 2026 and is available for pre-order now.
The cover artwork shows Sally wielding a determined stance against a golden backdrop, with the familiar Nightmare Before Christmas branding and the book’s title displayed prominently. It marks the continuation of a series that has become a cornerstone of expanded storytelling in the Nightmare universe.
The Pumpkin Queen Series So Far
The Pumpkin Queen series has become a fan-favorite extension of the Nightmare Before Christmas universe. The first two entries, Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw and Hour of the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd, are both New York Times bestsellers. Together, the books have taken fans deep into the wonders of Halloween Town, the Hinterlands, and Dream Town through the eyes of Sally as she grows into her role as Pumpkin Queen.
What Is Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen About?
In the third installment, Sally and Jack Skellington face a new threat: a mysterious figure cloaked in darkness who has been lurking since the events of the previous book. When strange storm clouds and directionless wind begin to haunt Halloween Town and citizens start to go missing, it becomes clear that this dark foe is making the first move.
Things take a dramatic turn when the mysterious force captures Jack himself. Sally learns that her enemy is a dark prince who rules a lost realm called Shadow Town, and she embarks on a cross-realms quest to rescue her king. The journey takes her to entirely new locations, including Chance Town and the Hinterlands Maze, as she fights to prevent the total destruction of Halloween Town.
The official book description teases a deeper mystery at the heart of the conflict, asking: “What secrets is the prince hiding, and could the truth undo everything?”
About the Author
Megan Shepherd is a New York Times bestselling and Carnegie Medal-nominated author known for Malice House, The Madman’s Daughter series, The Cage series, and several other acclaimed novels for adults and kids. She also wrote Hour of the Pumpkin Queen, the second book in the series. Shepherd lives on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina.
How to Pre-Order
Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen is available for pre-order now through Penguin Random House. Fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Pumpkin Queen series will want to mark July 2026 on their calendars.
Source: D23
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