I am a huge fan of Nightmare Before Christmas and Jack and Sally so getting to see more of them in this book was an absolute delight.

I loved that Sally got to be the main character and embark on her own adventure.

I really enjoyed seeing her uncover the dark side of the seemingly perfect Christmas Town with it's emphasis on being good and appearing to be perfect, and the mystery of what happens to anyone found lacking.

Brilliant story and I would definitely recommend

What I love about the Twisted Tales series is how a single change can create a fresh take on a familiar story. In this version, having Sally be the one to stumble upon Christmastown was a fun twist. The residents of Christmastown were as charming as ever, and I enjoyed getting to spend more time in that festive world.
Jack and Sally’s relationship was also given more room to grow, with a more gradual and thoughtful development of their romance. It felt more natural and sweeter than the original, making their connection even more meaningful.

As a self confessed Disney Kid for Life, these Twisted Tales books have been both captivating and nostalgic reads for me. The Nightmare Before Christmas in particular is one of my favourite Disney films so it is wonderful to see it get some love here.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favourite animations, so a Twisted Tales spin on the original story was always going to appeal to me. Does Sally's Lament work? In some ways, yes, in others, no. Having Sally, not Jack, discover Christmas Town and its residents allows Mari Mancusi to show us a whole new, and in some ways darker, side to the setting before introducing it to Jack.

Because most of the action takes place there rather than Halloween Town there's a lot more scope for character development. Sandy Claw... Sorry, Santa Claus is here, but accompanied by a new cast of characters. They're perhaps not as memorable as the denizens of Halloween Town, but that was always going to be the case.

The big problems though are Jack himself, who just isn't the larger-than-life presence he is in the original version, and the simple fact that a print version of The Nightmare Before Christmas, in whatever form the story takes, just doesn't compare to the musical brilliance of the original.

Thanks to NetGalley, Autumn Publishing and the author for an advance copy.

OMG I loved this version! Sally finding Christmas Town and all it has to offer. It's nice to see it from her perspective, the start is similar with Sally wanting to escape from Dr Finkelstein but I like the way it takes a turn and Sally goes exploring after meeting Jack at the Spiral Hill.

I love seeing Sally interact with the characters in Christmas Town, there is a kindness to her that you can imagine as she finds her way around. I can imagine her excitement when she encounters snow and sugarplums for the first time. Abigail sounds like a true gem, a true friend to find and I like how their friendship forms.

I would love you to discover this story yourself, it's written with love for the original. Mr Jingles is one to watch out for but the guards and the townspeople keep him on his toes.

Great version of this story and an enjoyable read!

What's this? What's this? This is Halloween! (Yes I know I've mixed songs there). Sally's Lament is the latest in Disney's Twisted Tales series, this time focusing on what if Sally discovered Christmas Town and not Jack. The result is a much more in depth peek in to Christmas Town and discovering its very own villainous plot without Jack's hijacking.

If you are a fan of the series or The Nightmare Before Christmas I would pick this one up. I loved diving back into the world and exploring further into Christmas Town and spending time with Sally, learning more of her thoughts and feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring more of Jack and Sally's relationship as well.

TNBC sparks Jaffa cake style debate of if it's a Halloween or Christmas movie but unlike Jaffa cakes (which are officially cakes by the way, for tax purposes) I feel it can't be defined as one or the other, it's definitely both to me! With this in mind, I thought this would be a great way to kick off spooky season, but feel this one is definitely more for Christmas. Maybe watch TNBC in October, and then dive into this one in November/December, before rewatching TNBC again before actual Christmas.

This was an enjoyable, easy read which I enjoyed cosying down with.

Book Review: Disney The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sally's Lament by Mari Mancusi

As a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, I was thrilled to dive into Sally's Lament. This retelling takes a fascinating twist by exploring what would happen if Sally ventured into Christmas Town instead of Jack. From the start, I was drawn into Sally's internal struggle—her yearning for something beyond the confines of Halloween Town resonated deeply with me.

Mancusi’s writing beautifully captures Sally’s spirit. Her curiosity and determination shine through as she seeks a solution for both herself and Jack. The vivid descriptions of Christmas Town painted a delightful picture, but as Sally spends more time there, I found myself mirroring her growing suspicions about this seemingly perfect place.

The pacing was engaging, keeping me on my toes as Sally navigates the challenges of her new environment. The themes of identity and the importance of staying true to oneself added depth to the narrative. I loved how Sally’s character development unfolded; she becomes more assertive and proactive, ultimately challenging the status quo.

This book isn’t just a festive read; it’s a thoughtful exploration of two contrasting worlds and what it means to find a balance between them. Mancusi masterfully intertwines the whimsical elements of both towns, creating a rich backdrop for Sally's journey.

Overall, Sally's Lament is a captivating addition to the Twisted Tales series. It left me with a renewed appreciation for the original story and a sense of warmth that’s perfect for the holiday season. If you’re a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, this book is a must-read!

SALLY'S LAMENT - DISNEYA TWISTED TALE- ARC- MARI
MANCUSI
These twisted tales are just lovely easy reading. I love the spin on an old classic.
Perfect for autumn/halloween/Christmas reading for any fans of Disney.
Sally needs to get away, a change, something new. She sneaks out on Halloween night to get involved in all the traditions of Halloween town but finds herself listening to the pumpkin king himself also needing an adventure and something new. When Sally finds herself and zero in Christmas town something isn't right. Can Sally fix everything before it's too late? Can
Jack help?
@rachaelmcreads

It was such a lovely & fun read! My Disney and Nightmare Before Christmas loving heart were fully immersed from the start and I recommend this one to everyone who loves NBC!

Such a fun little retelling of the Nightmare Before Christmas with Sally being the lead character. I liked the creative liberty of introducing new characters to make the story unique and interesting, exactly what I’d expect from a Twisted Tale. This is the first one I’ve read and the characters felt very familiar through their dialogue and mannerisms, just like their animated counterparts. I felt the love interest between Sally and Jack was a little forced at the end, and the pacing wasn’t always consistent but overall these are minor points. It was clear the story was aimed at a younger audience but I still found the writing entertaining and well crafted.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book

I have always been a huge fan of Sally because she is a great character, I also love the movie Nightmare Before Christmas 🎄 so for me this book was a must-read.

Reading this had me smiling so much and also seeing the story between her and Jack more explored with their relationship was lovely to see & little Zero the dog is so adorable.

Will definitely buy this and add it to my collection

I keep hearing of the Disney Twisted Tale series. I actually have one other title on my TBR (again, from NetGalley - Fate Be Changed) and there’s one or two I am tempted to try, but when this came on my radar, I knew I had to read it. It seems like a perfect platter cleanse of a read and it asked an interesting what if.

What if, instead of Jack Skellington discovering Christmas Town, it was Sally instead? How different would the story be?

It was such a lovely, fun read. Yes, I am not the target audience but this was such an easy read with nods towards the movie (though the book is trusting that the reader has seen the film as there was very little descriptions on characters and locations).

It, also, fleshed out Sally and Jack’s growing friendship and affections for each other, as well as Sally and a resident of Christmas Town, Abigail, a doll which (for some reason), pictured as the China Girl from the Disney live action movie, Oz: The Great and Powerful.

There were one of two things, plot wise, that made me go “Wait, so if this is happening in Christmas Town at the time of the movie, is it still going on? Or did Santa figure it out?”. I did question one or two things but this was a whimsy read for younger fans of the movie.

I loved the dynamic of this, the change of reverse roles. I'm a massive fan of NBC so I was so glad to be able to read this. The story flows so well and was easy to read and get through. I couldn't put it down!

This isn’t the first time I have jumped back into the nightmare before Christmas universe I loved Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw which is a sequel. This review might be bias as I love The Nightmare Before Christmas and I am so lucky and thankful I got access to an early copy.

One thing I love about the twisted tales is how one detail can make such a difference. I loved that in the story it was Sally who go to discover Christmastown. I found Christmas Towns residents delightful and I’m happy we got to spend a little more time with them.

I know Jack and Sally “are simply meant to be” but in this story we get a more developed relationship between them as there was a full build up to their romance and I was a lot cuter than the movie and made sense.

The plot is intriguing & well-paced in my opinion. I loved following Sally, Jack & Zeros on this beautiful story and well written adventure and I thought it was perfect. Mari gets bonus points for including Zero because he is the bestest boy. I hope the author does more stories within the Nightmare universe.

I love Nightmare Before Christmas and Jack and Sally's relationship so it was great to read this alternative story of what could have been.

I love the concept of this and both the graphic novel and film versions of The Nightmare Before Christmas are amazing.

I could picture everything but the prose itself wasn't for me, which is fine because I know I'm not the target audience.

I think this would be a great addition to The Twisted Tales collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

A twist on The Nightmare Before Christmas: what if Sally discovered Christmas Town before Jack did?

I’m a fan of the twisted tale series, but it’s been since I indulged, escaping into Sally’s tale was the perfect reintroduction. When she stumbles into Christmas Town, Sally is enchanted, but soon sees that there is something not so ‘nice’ lurking underneath the snow & sweetness. When she invites Jack to return there with her for a little holiday of their own, the adventures takes a turn. Can they save Christmas Town?

With Autumn approaching, I highly recommend you snuggle up with a hot chocolate avec spiders and lose yourself in a new NBC adventure.

Note for NetGalley readers: I couldn’t read the version provided on the shelf app, but luckily Disney sent through a kindle version! Download it now for much easier reading.

I absolutely love the nightmare before Christmas and was so excited to be able to read this! Twisted tales gets it spot on everytime. This was an amazing retelling! It was so great to see all the detail and deepened relationships compared to the film etc..

I enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing take on the events and I loved all the descriptive details. My favourite character is Zero (dogs are the best) but the way Sally handles everything is good. I will look out for more Twisted Tales. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reading copy.

The twisted tales series are definitely favourites of mine. I really enjoyed this retelling of a age old story. Good for adults and teens alike

Thanks for the opportunity to review