nonabgo 's review for:

The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig

5.0

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“Without hope, there would be no magic."

Magical, funny, insightful. Another Christmas story filled with adventures, to be enjoyed by children big and small.

This one brought me Dickensian vibes, and not just because he happens to stroll into the story. Amelia, the "girl who saved Christmas", is an orphan fallen right out of one of his novels. The story takes place in Victorian England, with a cameo from Queen Victoria herself (which sort of reminded me of the Queen of Hearts and made me laugh out loud).

This book is quite atmospheric and carries gothic vibes. Just like [b:A Boy Called Christmas|25882558|A Boy Called Christmas (Christmas, #1)|Matt Haig|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441267564l/25882558._SY75_.jpg|45760886], it deals with themes such as the loss of a parent and losing hope, but it's darker somehow. Amelia's fate feels worse than Nikolas', probably because her journey is described in more detail. It transported me right into "Oliver Twist.

But above all that, there's always a flicker of hope which rekindles the light of magic. We meet even more elves, pixies and trolls, with their own distinct personalities. The Truth Pixie is as hilarious as ever and Blitzen "goes to the bathroom" in the most unexpected places.

It's a fun, heart-warming, festive story, illustrated by Chris Mould's magical pen. This series may just be what I will reread for every Christmas for years to come.