On the night before Christmas, lock the doors to the house…
Forget the jolly old man in his red, big-buttoned suit. Because another creature is up on the roof, preparing for his annual visit to little children everywhere.With a belt of knives round his waist, a writhing bag on his back and a Santa-sized appetite, he’s a little…different to the St Nick you might be expecting. And you can leave out all the carrots and mince pies you like…but it’s you he’s after. A horrid Christmas to all, and a terrible night.Every white Christmas has a dark side. Don’t miss A Christmas Horror Story, the gruesomely festive new story from Sebastian Gregory.
Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
This is not the first book I read by this author, so I thought I knew what I was getting into... (I mean, after The Boy in the Cemetery I honestly believed Sebastian Gregory's stories wouldn't surprise me and creep the hell out of me anymore).
Well, want to guess how wrong I was?
Sebastian Gregory's writing and storytelling style never fails to amaze me and this was no exception. This was straight up christmas horror and I would love to see this turn into a Tim Burton movie. I think it would be one of those movies you watch on repeat every christmas to scare your little siblings. (How is this not happening yet?)
From page one until that very last moment in gave me chills and I kept looking out the window to see the shadows pass. I believe what made this just the right amount of scary and fun was the way the different time periods were weaved together, keeping us guessing and gasping at the sound of the bells.
I really enjoyed reading about the main characters, Katy, Emily and Jake, and I kept rooting for them, all the way, even though my heart was telling me nothing I could say or hope for could give this a happy ending.
On that note, that ending left me there just wanting to cry and sob and re read it and threw my phone at the wall, it was just so heartbreaking and wonderful, just like the entire story.
After all this, this book was so different from every other christmas story that it's hard to explain why you should read it, but you definitely should!
I think Sebastian Gregory is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors and I desperately want more. When given the chance, I will read everything that man writes and you probably should, too.
On the night before Christmas, lock the doors to the house
For a creature is stirring, sly as a mouse,
He skulks on the roof, down the chimney with care,
Keep the fire burning for the Child Eater's here. ...
He has a thin face and little round belly,
Slurping down children as if they were jelly
Then out on the lawn there'll arise such a clatter.
Parents spring from the bed to see what is the matter.
Away to the window they'll fly like a flash.
Tear open the shutters and throw up the sash
The Child Eater springs to his feet, gives them a whistle,
And disappears into the woods and the thistle.
Until next year it drives out of sigh,
A horrid Christmas to all, and a terrible night.
