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The Rise of Nicholas the Noble
Before there was the Elf on the Shelf there was a young boy named Nicholas.
Shipwrecked in the Arctic Tundra, a young Nicholas and his loyal dog, Barry, stumble upon the enchanted and mysterious world of One True North—home to gnomes; fairies; and, of course, magical elves. Nicholas discovers that these special creatures protect a powerful relic known as the Lumistella Stone, a shard of the Christmas star that fell to Earth thousands of years ago. To those who believe, the stone holds the power to spread goodwill and love throughout the universe—but its strength can be extinguished. Gangleri, a powerful force driven by greed and hate, seeks to snatch the Lumistella Stone for his own sinister ambitions. With his army of twisted monsters and beasts known as Lightalfs, Gangleri will launch an attack that will end One True North forever.
Now caught in the crosshairs of an ancient prophecy, Nicholas and his new fellowship must battle Gangleri and his army. Can a little boy find the courage to become the noble hero that One True North—and the rest of the universe—so desperately needs?
Shipwrecked in the Arctic Tundra, a young Nicholas and his loyal dog, Barry, stumble upon the enchanted and mysterious world of One True North—home to gnomes; fairies; and, of course, magical elves. Nicholas discovers that these special creatures protect a powerful relic known as the Lumistella Stone, a shard of the Christmas star that fell to Earth thousands of years ago. To those who believe, the stone holds the power to spread goodwill and love throughout the universe—but its strength can be extinguished. Gangleri, a powerful force driven by greed and hate, seeks to snatch the Lumistella Stone for his own sinister ambitions. With his army of twisted monsters and beasts known as Lightalfs, Gangleri will launch an attack that will end One True North forever.
Now caught in the crosshairs of an ancient prophecy, Nicholas and his new fellowship must battle Gangleri and his army. Can a little boy find the courage to become the noble hero that One True North—and the rest of the universe—so desperately needs?
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 16, 2025
36 people are currently reading
3328 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 29, 2025
I'm starting reading for Xmas early this year and was curious to discover this world.
For kids it is full of adventure and a chosen one who lives up to the expectations.
For me as adult reader it offers a perplexing mix of Christian, norse mythology and paganism. And yes, you guessed right, women, or in this case girls, always land in the supporting role.
For kids it is full of adventure and a chosen one who lives up to the expectations.
For me as adult reader it offers a perplexing mix of Christian, norse mythology and paganism. And yes, you guessed right, women, or in this case girls, always land in the supporting role.
September 16, 2025
A magical retelling of Santa and the meaning of the holidays, with beautiful illustrations and a story that absolutely warms your heart and has you yearning for to be apart of Christmas magic. You can order this special book now on Amazon
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November 27, 2025Buried under the BS (Burly Santas 😉), a voice of reason: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 15, 2025
This is the perfect holiday read to welcome the very festive months. If you love Elf on the Shelf, you’ll absolutely will love this story. We meet Nicholas and he’s loyal dog Barry. Both are stranded in the freezing waters of the Arctic Tundra. When all hope is lost, they found themselves in a mysterious and enchanted world called One True North. There they meet gnomes, fairies and magical elves.
The friendly creatures are wary at first but they notice that Nicholas is a special boy. There is an ancient prophecy where a son of Adam will help the elves protect a magical relic called The Lumistella Stone. It is a shard of the Christmas star that fell on Earth thousands of years ago. Easy to say Nicholas will have the adventure of a lifetime and will have to face some formidable foes and with the help of his dog Barry and new found friends everything is possible. The illustrations were amazing some pages looked like beautiful cookie patters that will make the pages come alive.
The friendly creatures are wary at first but they notice that Nicholas is a special boy. There is an ancient prophecy where a son of Adam will help the elves protect a magical relic called The Lumistella Stone. It is a shard of the Christmas star that fell on Earth thousands of years ago. Easy to say Nicholas will have the adventure of a lifetime and will have to face some formidable foes and with the help of his dog Barry and new found friends everything is possible. The illustrations were amazing some pages looked like beautiful cookie patters that will make the pages come alive.
December 18, 2025
A rollercoaster… and not the kind you’d think. This starts off, as every middle grade book does, with a child who has recently been orphaned. There’s a lot of exposition that is, surprisingly, not very Christocentric. The focus and tone seem to be more about world-building and mythologizing the theology of Christianity than about preaching the gospel or the edicts of the church, which was pleasantly surprising. There are references to the Greek polytheistic structure, aspects of Norse mythology (the Bifrost plays a big role), fantastical creatures, and the villain is noted as being a demigod. In the first 50% of the book it is only noted once that Nicholas is a Christian at all. This becomes a little more present towards the end as Nicholas tries to embody the tenants of justice, mercy, and walking with his god; but there is a distinct lack of Jesus. This is a welcome choice seeing as the notions of santa, elves, gnomes, etc. are ultimately pre-Christianity.
There is a SURPRISING amount of violence, battle, and bloodshed for a middle grade novel that is a tie in for a product/tradition for younger children. Nicholas is 12, but gains the wisdom, strength, and intelligence of an adult (and beyond). It feels like the author (also CEO of the company selling elf on the shelf) was trying extremely hard to model this after Narnia, but it doesn’t achieve the same heights of prose or depth of characters. The great battle at the end feels very contrived and dialogue is straight-up corny. I appreciate the effort to explain some of the scout elf-isms like the inability to touch humans, but these are all side notes and have little bearing on the actual story. It is worthy of a read if you have a child that is older and nostalgic for the days of scout elf antics, but I wouldn’t read this to my kindergartener, who is ultimately the target age for the whole product line of the company other than this novel.
The world-building was enjoyable and it is very rare that I end up liking the exposition of a story better than the climax and the action. It ultimately seems like there wasn’t any planning or editing done for this book that reflected on the already established market. I do have an older child (10) who might fit the demographic for this book as he grew up with our scout elf and still believes and enjoys the magic of Christmas, but this is such a slim margin.
There is a SURPRISING amount of violence, battle, and bloodshed for a middle grade novel that is a tie in for a product/tradition for younger children. Nicholas is 12, but gains the wisdom, strength, and intelligence of an adult (and beyond). It feels like the author (also CEO of the company selling elf on the shelf) was trying extremely hard to model this after Narnia, but it doesn’t achieve the same heights of prose or depth of characters. The great battle at the end feels very contrived and dialogue is straight-up corny. I appreciate the effort to explain some of the scout elf-isms like the inability to touch humans, but these are all side notes and have little bearing on the actual story. It is worthy of a read if you have a child that is older and nostalgic for the days of scout elf antics, but I wouldn’t read this to my kindergartener, who is ultimately the target age for the whole product line of the company other than this novel.
The world-building was enjoyable and it is very rare that I end up liking the exposition of a story better than the climax and the action. It ultimately seems like there wasn’t any planning or editing done for this book that reflected on the already established market. I do have an older child (10) who might fit the demographic for this book as he grew up with our scout elf and still believes and enjoys the magic of Christmas, but this is such a slim margin.
July 1, 2025
An Origin Story Full of Hope and Holiday Magic
The Rise of Nicholas the Noble is a captivating and action-packed origin story that depicts Santa Claus as a courageous young boy on a quest filled with danger, discovery, and destiny. From the very first page, readers are drawn into a rich world full of enchanted creatures, both friend and foe, where friendship, loyalty, and bravery take center stage.
What makes this story compelling is how it reveals the early life of Nicholas—long before he became Santa Claus—and follows his journey to the North Pole. Along the way, Nicholas faces formidable challenges and uncovers secrets that shape not only his identity but also the legacy he will one day embody.
The adventure is fast-paced and exciting, yet it’s the warmth of the relationships and the unwavering spirit of goodness that give the book its true heart. Through every obstacle, Nicholas is guided by compassion, courage, and a deep sense of purpose—qualities that echo the very best of the Christmas spirit.
This is more than just a holiday tale. It’s an inspiring backstory that brings new depth to the character of Santa Claus, reminding readers—young and old—that greatness begins with kindness and that true nobility lies in how we care for others.
Perfect for fans of epic adventures who love the magic of the Christmas season, The Rise of Nicholas the Noble is a new holiday classic in the making.
The Rise of Nicholas the Noble is a captivating and action-packed origin story that depicts Santa Claus as a courageous young boy on a quest filled with danger, discovery, and destiny. From the very first page, readers are drawn into a rich world full of enchanted creatures, both friend and foe, where friendship, loyalty, and bravery take center stage.
What makes this story compelling is how it reveals the early life of Nicholas—long before he became Santa Claus—and follows his journey to the North Pole. Along the way, Nicholas faces formidable challenges and uncovers secrets that shape not only his identity but also the legacy he will one day embody.
The adventure is fast-paced and exciting, yet it’s the warmth of the relationships and the unwavering spirit of goodness that give the book its true heart. Through every obstacle, Nicholas is guided by compassion, courage, and a deep sense of purpose—qualities that echo the very best of the Christmas spirit.
This is more than just a holiday tale. It’s an inspiring backstory that brings new depth to the character of Santa Claus, reminding readers—young and old—that greatness begins with kindness and that true nobility lies in how we care for others.
Perfect for fans of epic adventures who love the magic of the Christmas season, The Rise of Nicholas the Noble is a new holiday classic in the making.
June 25, 2025
preliminary review - I will adjust after me and the kiddo read it!
thank you to goodreads and Harper Collins for the ARC to enjoy/read!
Preliminary - the cover grabs your attention, the blurb/summary on the back pulls you even further in and does a great job of making this adventure sound like an epic one you want to start on immediately! (even tho it's only june)
The book has a map which both me and my kiddo love in books. The chapters don't look too long and drawn out and a cursory glance at the first chapter has drawn me in even further and I can't wait to read it together! there are also some pictures throughout to help give a break to kiddos throughout each chapter but not too many to make it feel like a younger audience. My kiddo is in elementary school and will enjoy reading this one!
thank you to goodreads and Harper Collins for the ARC to enjoy/read!
Preliminary - the cover grabs your attention, the blurb/summary on the back pulls you even further in and does a great job of making this adventure sound like an epic one you want to start on immediately! (even tho it's only june)
The book has a map which both me and my kiddo love in books. The chapters don't look too long and drawn out and a cursory glance at the first chapter has drawn me in even further and I can't wait to read it together! there are also some pictures throughout to help give a break to kiddos throughout each chapter but not too many to make it feel like a younger audience. My kiddo is in elementary school and will enjoy reading this one!
July 18, 2025
This would make an amazing movie or steaming holiday special. Like so many of the great Christmas Movies that bring out the child in me as an adult and inspire children to think about what The Season represents, this book calls out what makes us our best self. This is the Santa Claus backstory you never knew but always wondered about. I am so excited read this with my family this year and these chapters are perfect for some.shared quality time and hopefully inspire some conversations about the power of kindness, friendship, and compassion.
Thank you for this Goodreads Win
Thank you for this Goodreads Win
September 9, 2025
As a parent Im always on the lookout for stories that spark imagination while also offering heart, hope, and a meaningful message The Rise of Nicholas the Noble by Chanda A. Bell does just that. It’s a beautifully written and richly illustrated tale that brings to life the origins of Santa Claus in a way that feels both magical and timeless.
From the very first chapter the book captures the spirit of generosity and kindness, weaving a story that is accessible for children while still layered enough to hold an adult’s attention. Bell’s storytelling carries a warmth that feels perfect for family reading, and it’s clear she understands how to balance wonder with deeper values.
What makes this book truly special in our home is the way it has captured my girls hearts. They ask for it again and again, and I’ve found that it’s sparked so many sweet conversations about giving selflessness, and what it means to be noble Watching their faces light up as we read together is a joy in itself.
As an adult I appreciate how Bell ties myth and meaning together offering a story that is as inspiring for parents as it is enchanting for children The Rise of Nicholas the Noble has quickly become a treasured part of our holiday traditions and I imagine it will remain so for years to come.
From the very first chapter the book captures the spirit of generosity and kindness, weaving a story that is accessible for children while still layered enough to hold an adult’s attention. Bell’s storytelling carries a warmth that feels perfect for family reading, and it’s clear she understands how to balance wonder with deeper values.
What makes this book truly special in our home is the way it has captured my girls hearts. They ask for it again and again, and I’ve found that it’s sparked so many sweet conversations about giving selflessness, and what it means to be noble Watching their faces light up as we read together is a joy in itself.
As an adult I appreciate how Bell ties myth and meaning together offering a story that is as inspiring for parents as it is enchanting for children The Rise of Nicholas the Noble has quickly become a treasured part of our holiday traditions and I imagine it will remain so for years to come.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews