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A review by lauriereadslohf
Gothic Blue Book VI: A Krampus Carol by Sara Tantlinger
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
This book was such a joy to read.
This is a beautifully curated collection of winter horrors. It’s called A Krampus Carol but only a few of the stories featured that gorgeous horned beast, and that worked for me because I fear a collection consisting solely of Krampus tales might’ve been a wee bit too much Krampus - even for me! Instead, we get a nice mix of gorgeous dark poetry, folklorish creatures, and tales that should be read by a fireplace on a dark wintery night. Too bad I don’t have one, haha! I adored this book so much. Like any collection of this size, I enjoyed some stories more than others but there were no duds, and you know I’d tell you if there were. With that said, I’m focusing on my favorites because if I try to talk about them all this review will be over 1400 words long and no one’s here for that. I honestly had such a difficult time choosing my favorites but that is the best sort of struggle, right?
The Aspirant Heiress by Deanna Baran
This story is the first and it sets an immediate mood. It’s an eerie tale about a young nun in training who is called back home because she’s now an heiress to a fortune. I loved the setting, the atmosphere, the gothic goings-on, everything about it. It immediately feels like you’ve taken a step back in time and you might never want to leave. This one hit all the right notes for me.
The Night of Epiphany by Nico Bell
Anna wants to spend time with her friends on their senior trip but her family has an annual tradition they call Epiphany. Anna plots to make this the final one - and risks the wrath of the mythical witch they must appease. This is a story about the importance of keeping traditions alive. Just like the previous story, this one excels at setting a mood and I think it may just be my favorite mood ever. The one where I walk into the deep dark woods and scream at the sky forever.
When the Leaves Go by Die Booth
A young fellow trying to escape visiting relatives goes for a walk and spies a shop he’s never noticed before. He steps inside and discovers that this is a place that has something for everyone - even your homophobic prick of a cousin and it’s also a place where everyone gets what they deserve. This is a whimsical dream of a story. I sound like a stuck record but this collection is so incredibly ethereal and lovely. This story was a definite favorite.
Yule Log by T.M. Brown
Oh how this story made me laugh but it’s also SO incredibly sad. How did the author manage this? It’s haunting and terribly amusing all at the same time, that’s some mad skill.
The Boy Who Tricked Krampus by Malina Douglas
This is a delightfully macabre tale about a naughty little boy who has an excellent, if maybe not so well thought out, plan to trick Krampus into showing up and wielding his whip. I’m definitely not a fan of bratty kids but I loved this devilish little punk!
Sugarplum by Kevin M. Folliard
A businessman in no rush to return home to the wife and kiddies, steps into a little tavern where sweet drinks are poured, and secrets are revealed and where one gets what one deserves if you’re asking me.
This is a beautifully curated collection of winter horrors. It’s called A Krampus Carol but only a few of the stories featured that gorgeous horned beast, and that worked for me because I fear a collection consisting solely of Krampus tales might’ve been a wee bit too much Krampus - even for me! Instead, we get a nice mix of gorgeous dark poetry, folklorish creatures, and tales that should be read by a fireplace on a dark wintery night. Too bad I don’t have one, haha! I adored this book so much. Like any collection of this size, I enjoyed some stories more than others but there were no duds, and you know I’d tell you if there were. With that said, I’m focusing on my favorites because if I try to talk about them all this review will be over 1400 words long and no one’s here for that. I honestly had such a difficult time choosing my favorites but that is the best sort of struggle, right?
The Aspirant Heiress by Deanna Baran
This story is the first and it sets an immediate mood. It’s an eerie tale about a young nun in training who is called back home because she’s now an heiress to a fortune. I loved the setting, the atmosphere, the gothic goings-on, everything about it. It immediately feels like you’ve taken a step back in time and you might never want to leave. This one hit all the right notes for me.
The Night of Epiphany by Nico Bell
Anna wants to spend time with her friends on their senior trip but her family has an annual tradition they call Epiphany. Anna plots to make this the final one - and risks the wrath of the mythical witch they must appease. This is a story about the importance of keeping traditions alive. Just like the previous story, this one excels at setting a mood and I think it may just be my favorite mood ever. The one where I walk into the deep dark woods and scream at the sky forever.
When the Leaves Go by Die Booth
A young fellow trying to escape visiting relatives goes for a walk and spies a shop he’s never noticed before. He steps inside and discovers that this is a place that has something for everyone - even your homophobic prick of a cousin and it’s also a place where everyone gets what they deserve. This is a whimsical dream of a story. I sound like a stuck record but this collection is so incredibly ethereal and lovely. This story was a definite favorite.
Yule Log by T.M. Brown
Oh how this story made me laugh but it’s also SO incredibly sad. How did the author manage this? It’s haunting and terribly amusing all at the same time, that’s some mad skill.
The Boy Who Tricked Krampus by Malina Douglas
This is a delightfully macabre tale about a naughty little boy who has an excellent, if maybe not so well thought out, plan to trick Krampus into showing up and wielding his whip. I’m definitely not a fan of bratty kids but I loved this devilish little punk!
Sugarplum by Kevin M. Folliard
A businessman in no rush to return home to the wife and kiddies, steps into a little tavern where sweet drinks are poured, and secrets are revealed and where one gets what one deserves if you’re asking me.