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The Christmas Chronicles
The Silent Night: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
Twas the hour after midnight and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for the owls.
And Holly.
Holly is no stranger to the night. Her unique position means that the still hours in the darkest parts of the night are when most of her work gets done. It’s not completely silent—she has Parliament to thank for that—but it does get a bit lonely. Not even the letters from her faithful correspondent can completely fill the empty space, and it’s only a matter of time before she loses even those.
Dominic Klause has watched as, year after year, the winters in Weihnacht grow longer and colder. The nights are dark, food is scarce, and his fellow countrymen are desperate for a miracle, but too proud to accept charity, leaving Dominic no choice but to hide his attempts at helping them under the cover of darkness. But his resources are limited, and not even the brilliant suggestions of his friend Joy can change the fact that it will require the riches of a king to continue his charitable efforts.
As Deus Natus Eve approaches, Dominic turns his attention towards the one place that could solve all his problems—the abandoned castle of the former king. But all is not as it seems behind the towering holly hedges that surround the castle, and Dominic encounters more than he bargained for. When the unexpected gift of love is dropped into his lap, will Dominic find the treasure he seeks? Or will it be lost to the silence of the night?
This book is a part of The Christmas Chronicles, a collection of festive novellas filled with clean romance, chilly weather, and cozy adventures.
And Holly.
Holly is no stranger to the night. Her unique position means that the still hours in the darkest parts of the night are when most of her work gets done. It’s not completely silent—she has Parliament to thank for that—but it does get a bit lonely. Not even the letters from her faithful correspondent can completely fill the empty space, and it’s only a matter of time before she loses even those.
Dominic Klause has watched as, year after year, the winters in Weihnacht grow longer and colder. The nights are dark, food is scarce, and his fellow countrymen are desperate for a miracle, but too proud to accept charity, leaving Dominic no choice but to hide his attempts at helping them under the cover of darkness. But his resources are limited, and not even the brilliant suggestions of his friend Joy can change the fact that it will require the riches of a king to continue his charitable efforts.
As Deus Natus Eve approaches, Dominic turns his attention towards the one place that could solve all his problems—the abandoned castle of the former king. But all is not as it seems behind the towering holly hedges that surround the castle, and Dominic encounters more than he bargained for. When the unexpected gift of love is dropped into his lap, will Dominic find the treasure he seeks? Or will it be lost to the silence of the night?
This book is a part of The Christmas Chronicles, a collection of festive novellas filled with clean romance, chilly weather, and cozy adventures.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2024
39 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beran
29 books184 followersSarah lives in sunny southern California with her husband, two small children, and dog Pippin. An elementary music teacher by day, when she is not writing or devouring books she spends her free time running, making music, or playing make believe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
December 8, 2024
4 stars ✨ (Clean fairytale retelling)
This was such a cute story! I wasn’t sure about a Christmas themed Sleeping Beauty retelling, but it worked absolutely perfectly!
I was instantly sucked into this book, but it was the line in a letter she received from Nic that really got me excited for the rest of this story:
“I find it difficult to compose a proper greeting to an unknown recipient who leaves letters tucked away in the hollow of a tree. Yours was addressed ‘To anyone who finds this,’ which, I suppose, must make the reciprocal ‘To the person who left the first letter’ perfectly acceptable.”
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite retellings and after reading my new favorite one a couple of weeks ago, I was hesitant about reading this version in case it doesn’t stack up against that one. But this is definitely a new favorite version of this classic tale! :)
If you’re like me and love the Winnie the Pooh scene of Piglet with his knotting skills, there’s a couple scenes in here that made me laugh so hard as they’re similar but with Holly’s owl friends because of their names.
There is a case of one of them being a noble idiot for the other that raised my blood pressure some 😅 but it ended quickly, thankfully! I do wish this book would have been longer, more stretched out as it felt a bit like it was on a speed run—but perhaps that was me reading too fast. Pretty sure it was both, though.
This was my technical third book by this author and was another success! Which makes me even more excited to read more of her books soon. 🥰
Main Content-
As with the story of Sleeping Beauty, our main character has been cursed as a baby by a fairy will ill intent, but another fairy makes it where she only goes into a deep sleep instead of dying in her sixteenth birthday (Holly recaps this, but there’s also a chapter as a flashback to this event); Holly wakes up a few hours every night, but everyone else in the castle have been sleep for a hundred years; Holly is compelled by the curse to go back to sleep when the time comes; The castle and gates are covered by an enchanted holly hedge; Mentions of the curse, fairies, fairy godmothers, & their magic; Mentions of others believing the castle is haunted by ghosts & rumors about it.
Prayers & Thanking Deus; A priest clams that God will send their country a ruler again, Nic isn’t sure how that will happen; After disappointing news, Nic tires to get out of going to a church service with his family, but goes and feels no excitement (the songs sounding dull and the words being delivered by rote); Set during Deus Natus (Christmas); Mentions of Deus (God/Jesus) & prayers/praying; Mentions of chapels/churches, attending services during the holiday season, & the priest; Mentions of Deus Natus & miracles happening around then.
No major or minor language used; “Heavens” is exclaimed once; Some eye rolling & sarcasm.
Because of everyone else in the castle is asleep, they all look like corpses at first glance (which is unnerving for both Holly and Nic); Nic does sneak into others’ houses to leave gifts & break-into the castle to steal items for those who need it (Robin Hood reasons and doesn’t even consider it as stealing until his friend mentions it); Holly’s mother cries over the curse taking place & later Nic thinks that Holly looks like a body later looks like one layer out for a funeral.
Mentions of break-ins, thieves/criminals, stealing, crimes, & violence; Mentions of drunks & a tavern; A few mentions of war, injuries, & blood; A couple mentions of deaths; A couple mentions of parents in prisons/jails; A couple mentions of an injured owl.
2 hand kisses,
2 forehead kisses,
3 kisses with no details
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences;
Some touches, embraces, shivers/electricity, & noticing (up to a couple sentences); A bit of winks & blushes; Some love, falling/being in love, & the emotions; A married couple share a kiss (on the cheek).
A few mentions of true love’s kiss; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of a creditor demanding the payment from a woman or her daughters.
This was such a cute story! I wasn’t sure about a Christmas themed Sleeping Beauty retelling, but it worked absolutely perfectly!
I was instantly sucked into this book, but it was the line in a letter she received from Nic that really got me excited for the rest of this story:
“I find it difficult to compose a proper greeting to an unknown recipient who leaves letters tucked away in the hollow of a tree. Yours was addressed ‘To anyone who finds this,’ which, I suppose, must make the reciprocal ‘To the person who left the first letter’ perfectly acceptable.”
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite retellings and after reading my new favorite one a couple of weeks ago, I was hesitant about reading this version in case it doesn’t stack up against that one. But this is definitely a new favorite version of this classic tale! :)
If you’re like me and love the Winnie the Pooh scene of Piglet with his knotting skills, there’s a couple scenes in here that made me laugh so hard as they’re similar but with Holly’s owl friends because of their names.
There is a case of one of them being a noble idiot for the other that raised my blood pressure some 😅 but it ended quickly, thankfully! I do wish this book would have been longer, more stretched out as it felt a bit like it was on a speed run—but perhaps that was me reading too fast. Pretty sure it was both, though.
This was my technical third book by this author and was another success! Which makes me even more excited to read more of her books soon. 🥰
Main Content-
As with the story of Sleeping Beauty, our main character has been cursed as a baby by a fairy will ill intent, but another fairy makes it where she only goes into a deep sleep instead of dying in her sixteenth birthday (Holly recaps this, but there’s also a chapter as a flashback to this event); Holly wakes up a few hours every night, but everyone else in the castle have been sleep for a hundred years; Holly is compelled by the curse to go back to sleep when the time comes; The castle and gates are covered by an enchanted holly hedge; Mentions of the curse, fairies, fairy godmothers, & their magic; Mentions of others believing the castle is haunted by ghosts & rumors about it.
Prayers & Thanking Deus; A priest clams that God will send their country a ruler again, Nic isn’t sure how that will happen; After disappointing news, Nic tires to get out of going to a church service with his family, but goes and feels no excitement (the songs sounding dull and the words being delivered by rote); Set during Deus Natus (Christmas); Mentions of Deus (God/Jesus) & prayers/praying; Mentions of chapels/churches, attending services during the holiday season, & the priest; Mentions of Deus Natus & miracles happening around then.
No major or minor language used; “Heavens” is exclaimed once; Some eye rolling & sarcasm.
Because of everyone else in the castle is asleep, they all look like corpses at first glance (which is unnerving for both Holly and Nic); Nic does sneak into others’ houses to leave gifts & break-into the castle to steal items for those who need it (Robin Hood reasons and doesn’t even consider it as stealing until his friend mentions it); Holly’s mother cries over the curse taking place & later Nic thinks that Holly looks like a body later looks like one layer out for a funeral.
Mentions of break-ins, thieves/criminals, stealing, crimes, & violence; Mentions of drunks & a tavern; A few mentions of war, injuries, & blood; A couple mentions of deaths; A couple mentions of parents in prisons/jails; A couple mentions of an injured owl.
2 hand kisses,
2 forehead kisses,
3 kisses with no details
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences;
Some touches, embraces, shivers/electricity, & noticing (up to a couple sentences); A bit of winks & blushes; Some love, falling/being in love, & the emotions; A married couple share a kiss (on the cheek).
A few mentions of true love’s kiss; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of a creditor demanding the payment from a woman or her daughters.
December 9, 2024
In the third installment of the Christmas Chronicles, Sarah Beran presents a beautiful Christmassy retelling of Sleeping Beauty with hints of a Santa Claus origin story thrown in!
Let's start with my favorite part: Holly's PARLIAMENT!!!!!!!!!!! So in The Silent Night, Holly, the protagonist, is alone in a castle with only a parliament of owls for company. It is so fun watching Holly hold parliament and talk to her questionably-named owls! I loved seeing how the little feathery friends helped move the story along and played matchmakers all along the way!
And I suppose this would be a good time to talk about Holly. Holly has been left all alone in a castle for... a long time (I can't remember the specifics, okay?). She doesn't like her situation, but she tries to make the most of things. I love seeing how quick she is to show gratitude for the help of her Parliament and how generous she is to those in need. I could also deeply feel for her plight as she struggles to accept how her curse affected the people she cares about.
And then there's Dominic. He's just a whole bundle of sweetness. I love how he plays Santa Claus to all the littles and is literally willing to give anyone who asks the shirt off his back. I love how he uses his ingenuity and determination to serve those around him.
My other favorite part was the notes that Holly and Dominic exchange. And how clueless they are about who is receiving their letter. *sighs* It's so stinkin' CUTE!!!!!!!!!!! I love it when the love interests exchange letters. There are two other books I can think of when the characters do that (A Noble Masquerade and Frey and the Icy Orchard), and those are also some of my favorites!!!!!!!!!!
Overall, I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this sweet Christmas story! If you want a fun, clean, Christmassy fairy tale retelling, you MUST read this book!!!
I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
Let's start with my favorite part: Holly's PARLIAMENT!!!!!!!!!!! So in The Silent Night, Holly, the protagonist, is alone in a castle with only a parliament of owls for company. It is so fun watching Holly hold parliament and talk to her questionably-named owls! I loved seeing how the little feathery friends helped move the story along and played matchmakers all along the way!
And I suppose this would be a good time to talk about Holly. Holly has been left all alone in a castle for... a long time (I can't remember the specifics, okay?). She doesn't like her situation, but she tries to make the most of things. I love seeing how quick she is to show gratitude for the help of her Parliament and how generous she is to those in need. I could also deeply feel for her plight as she struggles to accept how her curse affected the people she cares about.
And then there's Dominic. He's just a whole bundle of sweetness. I love how he plays Santa Claus to all the littles and is literally willing to give anyone who asks the shirt off his back. I love how he uses his ingenuity and determination to serve those around him.
My other favorite part was the notes that Holly and Dominic exchange. And how clueless they are about who is receiving their letter. *sighs* It's so stinkin' CUTE!!!!!!!!!!! I love it when the love interests exchange letters. There are two other books I can think of when the characters do that (A Noble Masquerade and Frey and the Icy Orchard), and those are also some of my favorites!!!!!!!!!!
Overall, I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this sweet Christmas story! If you want a fun, clean, Christmassy fairy tale retelling, you MUST read this book!!!
I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
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December 18, 2025Full review and rating to come!
December 17, 2025
This is EXACTLY the level of romanceyness that I like in a book. We did not spend several sentences every chapter or two rhapsodizing over what it might be like to kiss the love interest. No one stared at the other person's lips. No one daydreamed about touching their love interest's velvety skin or running a hand through their hair. The main characters fell in love via letters. Theirs was absolutely a slow-burn, friends-to-more story, and I am HERE FOR IT.
This is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, plus a Santa Claus origin story, and you had better believe I am also very much here for a romance between Sleeping Beauty and Santa Claus. Every chapter has a snippet of "The Night Before Christmas" as a header, and I loved how those got worked into the story.
This is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, plus a Santa Claus origin story, and you had better believe I am also very much here for a romance between Sleeping Beauty and Santa Claus. Every chapter has a snippet of "The Night Before Christmas" as a header, and I loved how those got worked into the story.
October 25, 2024
A Silent Night is an endearing and creative twist on the popular retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Aside from the owls, Dominic was my favorite character. And while I've never been in Holly's shoes--thankfully--she was so relatable, and her loneliness will cut to the reader's heart.
Beran also did well incorporating elements from a certain well-known Christmas poem. As always, I enjoyed the sheer creativity the author infuses into every tale. Be sure to pick up A Silent Night because I guarantee you've never read a Sleeping Beauty retelling quite like this one.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Beran also did well incorporating elements from a certain well-known Christmas poem. As always, I enjoyed the sheer creativity the author infuses into every tale. Be sure to pick up A Silent Night because I guarantee you've never read a Sleeping Beauty retelling quite like this one.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 28, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. Barely there. A girl pricks her finger.
Sexual: Mild. Hand-holding, kissing of hand, chaste on-the-lips kisses, hugs.
Triggers: Isolation/imprisonment.
AWWWWWW. This was so sweet!
I kinda wish I'd waited a few more months for the optimum cozy effect of the holiday season. Frankly I grabbed it because it was the first book on my kindle by an author I love and I needed a safe bet read.
The letters! I'm such a sucker for letter writing in books. The cute factor in this was only upped by it being owl-post letters. I want a cute little parliament of owl friends too! So jealous of a fictional character for that alone.
Sarah Beran is always able to delight me with her twists on fairy tales, her humor (all the puns), and her warm tone. I smiled through this entire book.
Reading the poems, and seeing the nods to Santa Claus in many ways, and the little aside with Mrs. Hubbard (I snickered so much at that when it clicked), just puts me in the best mood.
This is why I hoard Sarah's books. I love them and I don't want to run out. I do this with my favorite authors. They are my 'break glass in case of emergency' reads when I just need comfort and happiness and delight.
Holly and Nic are warm fuzzy people. So cute. Nic especially made me 'Awwww' so many times. This being a sort of mash of Sleeping Beauty as well as Santa Claus was the most fun thing ever. I loved seeing how different parts of lore were woven into the characters without feeling forced. It was hilarious to watch how Nic decides to first go down a chimney, and how his friends/family react to his single-mindedness.
I will say I never truly understood why Holly was awake some of the time, though it's almost impossible to write a Sleeping Beauty retelling without somehow making the princess aware so the romance isn't...cringe. Holly was a quirky fun girl who had a horrible thing happen to her, and seeing how she reacted to her situation with both optimism and realism was nice. She wasn't Pollyanna, but she chose to face her reality with joy, and a few tears when it got especially hard. It felt true to me and not forced. I appreciated that aspect of her character.
So if you're looking for a GREAT cozy holiday story, this is 1000% the book you want to read. Seriously, I do wish I'd waited until it was snowing at least to read this, just for vibes.
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. Barely there. A girl pricks her finger.
Sexual: Mild. Hand-holding, kissing of hand, chaste on-the-lips kisses, hugs.
Triggers: Isolation/imprisonment.
AWWWWWW. This was so sweet!
I kinda wish I'd waited a few more months for the optimum cozy effect of the holiday season. Frankly I grabbed it because it was the first book on my kindle by an author I love and I needed a safe bet read.
The letters! I'm such a sucker for letter writing in books. The cute factor in this was only upped by it being owl-post letters. I want a cute little parliament of owl friends too! So jealous of a fictional character for that alone.
Sarah Beran is always able to delight me with her twists on fairy tales, her humor (all the puns), and her warm tone. I smiled through this entire book.
Reading the poems, and seeing the nods to Santa Claus in many ways, and the little aside with Mrs. Hubbard (I snickered so much at that when it clicked), just puts me in the best mood.
This is why I hoard Sarah's books. I love them and I don't want to run out. I do this with my favorite authors. They are my 'break glass in case of emergency' reads when I just need comfort and happiness and delight.
Holly and Nic are warm fuzzy people. So cute. Nic especially made me 'Awwww' so many times. This being a sort of mash of Sleeping Beauty as well as Santa Claus was the most fun thing ever. I loved seeing how different parts of lore were woven into the characters without feeling forced. It was hilarious to watch how Nic decides to first go down a chimney, and how his friends/family react to his single-mindedness.
I will say I never truly understood why Holly was awake some of the time, though it's almost impossible to write a Sleeping Beauty retelling without somehow making the princess aware so the romance isn't...cringe. Holly was a quirky fun girl who had a horrible thing happen to her, and seeing how she reacted to her situation with both optimism and realism was nice. She wasn't Pollyanna, but she chose to face her reality with joy, and a few tears when it got especially hard. It felt true to me and not forced. I appreciated that aspect of her character.
So if you're looking for a GREAT cozy holiday story, this is 1000% the book you want to read. Seriously, I do wish I'd waited until it was snowing at least to read this, just for vibes.
January 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Super duper cute Christmas/wintery read! I love how Beran meshed together Sleeping Beauty and Twas the Night Before Christmas--she artfully made each chapter correspond up with a line of the poem, so neat and creative!
I absolutely love owls so the fact that Holly had owl companions (a Parliment, I even learned something from this book!) was awesome to me.
There is a needlessly self-sacrificial moment that was slightly frustrating but it didn't last long. Also, there was a small part where the math wasn't mathing for me, but a very minor detail.
It's super short but I enjoyed the length as it was a perfect dose of a Christmas romance.
Christian faith rating: 1/3 although this isn't marketed as Christian, the author is a Christian and there's a very apparent parallel to Christmas/Christ, clean, no cursing
Super duper cute Christmas/wintery read! I love how Beran meshed together Sleeping Beauty and Twas the Night Before Christmas--she artfully made each chapter correspond up with a line of the poem, so neat and creative!
I absolutely love owls so the fact that Holly had owl companions (a Parliment, I even learned something from this book!) was awesome to me.
There is a needlessly self-sacrificial moment that was slightly frustrating but it didn't last long. Also, there was a small part where the math wasn't mathing for me, but a very minor detail.
It's super short but I enjoyed the length as it was a perfect dose of a Christmas romance.
Christian faith rating: 1/3 although this isn't marketed as Christian, the author is a Christian and there's a very apparent parallel to Christmas/Christ, clean, no cursing
October 29, 2024
So far my second favorite in this series! I loved how Beran was able to bring in a HEA but she definitely had it as a nail-biter! The plot twist was perfect. I remember it crossing my mind but I know my brain kept working out how on earth it could all work out!
I loved how swoony this story was. I loved Nic and Holly, they were perfectly human, trying to figure out how to survive and help their people survive in a world that wasn't helping anyone.
Of course, I also loved the animal sidekicks with Who the owl and Dash the doggie. They added a fun element to the story that I hadn't expected, but made me adore it all the more. Definitely a story I recommend!
I loved how swoony this story was. I loved Nic and Holly, they were perfectly human, trying to figure out how to survive and help their people survive in a world that wasn't helping anyone.
Of course, I also loved the animal sidekicks with Who the owl and Dash the doggie. They added a fun element to the story that I hadn't expected, but made me adore it all the more. Definitely a story I recommend!
October 27, 2024
A whimsical Christmas retelling of Sleeping Beauty and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas! If you are looking for a cozy Christmas retelling, look no further! Sarah Beran delivered a wonderful tale of friendship, courage and hope in a (very unfortunately) short novella. Her main characters, Holly and Nic were absolutely lovely and most important of all: there were puns! (Sarah Beran often writes puns in her books and I live for those hahaha)
With that said, it’s a little early to say Merry Christmas, but this book will leave you feeling like today is Christmas Eve.
Enjoy, friends!
Content warning: none, as usual. I’d say one can buy Sarah Beran’s books with their eyes closed.
Thank you, Sarah Beran, for the chance to read an ARC!
With that said, it’s a little early to say Merry Christmas, but this book will leave you feeling like today is Christmas Eve.
Enjoy, friends!
Content warning: none, as usual. I’d say one can buy Sarah Beran’s books with their eyes closed.
Thank you, Sarah Beran, for the chance to read an ARC!
December 17, 2024
5 stars
What a cozy, cute read. These stories get you in the Christmas spirit so well. I loved the friendship, sweet romance and the owls. This all worked so well. 👌 🎄
What a cozy, cute read. These stories get you in the Christmas spirit so well. I loved the friendship, sweet romance and the owls. This all worked so well. 👌 🎄
November 24, 2024
This was such a sweet and cozy Christmas twist on the sleeping beauty fairytale. It warmed my heart as much as a cozy blanket, cup of hot cocoa, and a fire in the fireplace. What if Sleeping Beauty didn’t sleep the entire time she was cursed? What if she was pin pals with St Nick? What if her sidekicks were owls? This story is all that and more.
The characters were so sweet, caring, and wanted to make the kingdom a better place. They each had their stubborn streak and tried to sacrifice to help the other. I loved watching their relationship bloom through the hidden identities, curses, misunderstandings, and their own stubbornness.
I loved the plot. Such a fun twist. A perfect cozy Christmas read!
I want a Parliament of owls now! 🦉
Read this asap if you like:
✨sleeping beauty
✨fairytale retellings
✨Christmas origin stories
✨animal sidekicks
✨breaking and entering
✨potatoes
✨hidden/mistaken identities
Strong language: none
Spice: none
Violence: none
The characters were so sweet, caring, and wanted to make the kingdom a better place. They each had their stubborn streak and tried to sacrifice to help the other. I loved watching their relationship bloom through the hidden identities, curses, misunderstandings, and their own stubbornness.
I loved the plot. Such a fun twist. A perfect cozy Christmas read!
I want a Parliament of owls now! 🦉
Read this asap if you like:
✨sleeping beauty
✨fairytale retellings
✨Christmas origin stories
✨animal sidekicks
✨breaking and entering
✨potatoes
✨hidden/mistaken identities
Strong language: none
Spice: none
Violence: none
October 29, 2024
Wow. I have read a few sleeping beauty retellings this year, but this take is probably my favourite.
The book is short and the setting of the book is limited which helps the readers focus on the characters and their animal sidekicks. Love the owls, and the dogs ☺️
Nic was adorable and Holly was so resilient even after going through so much. Reading their letters felt so intimate and it felt like I was there.
Added bonus, the book is hilarious (there's a particular scene- I hope you laugh too) and the parliament of owls- sassy.
I need to get my hands on all of the author's books, and you need to get your hands on this one.
I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is short and the setting of the book is limited which helps the readers focus on the characters and their animal sidekicks. Love the owls, and the dogs ☺️
Nic was adorable and Holly was so resilient even after going through so much. Reading their letters felt so intimate and it felt like I was there.
Added bonus, the book is hilarious (there's a particular scene- I hope you laugh too) and the parliament of owls- sassy.
I need to get my hands on all of the author's books, and you need to get your hands on this one.
I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 3, 2024
This was a sweet short story, I feel like it was exactly what I was expecting and looking for. It added a neat spin to the original Sleeping Beauty and Saint Nicholas story, and Dominic's character was such a wonderful person. And then the heart of Holly was also something to admire. I loved this Christmas Chronicle. It's a clean romance read, and one of the first times I read a book with a little magic in it, and I liked it!
For me, this was a 3.5 star read, rounded up to 4 stars. I would recommend it to others for a sweet Christmas romance and especially as a new take on classic fairtales.
I received a complimentary copy, the review was all my own opinion.
For me, this was a 3.5 star read, rounded up to 4 stars. I would recommend it to others for a sweet Christmas romance and especially as a new take on classic fairtales.
I received a complimentary copy, the review was all my own opinion.
December 18, 2024
This book is perfection! I loved Holly and her Parliament of owls! The Christmas twists were clever and cheery, and overall this was such a heartwarming, wholesome take on Sleeping Beauty.
December 24, 2024
Reading this was such a fun way to spend part of my Christmas Eve! I loved all the Christmas references and it was a fun twist on sleeping beauty!
March 25, 2025
I loved this book!! As a Christmas baby myself, I instantly connected with the characters and story. All the good feels made an appearance while reading the semi-complex nature of Nic and Holly’s relationship, even though the story was a short one. It was beautifully written, and I know it’ll become a go-to Christmas-time classic for me.
October 8, 2024
"Maybe this is just what the rest of my life will be: another seven hundred or so years of cold, lonely, silent nights."
Sleeping Beauty and Twas the Night Before Christmas retelling mashup!!! Yes please!!
This story is so cute and cozy! Perfect little Christmas story. The plot is fast paced and it's a pretty short read but packs a whole lot of beautiful story in just a few chapters.
The main characters are unique and quirky, I love them!
We have Holly, who's smart, sounds just a touch insane(with good reason mind you) has the most adorable, unusual pets/friends which add so much cuteness factor🤭 She's cursed, lonely, loves a good laugh and has a fun sense of humor (loves a good pun too) She is caring, and not afraid to speak her mind, vulnerable but strong. She is our sleeping beauty and let me say I love the spin Sarah took on this one, for example like this line in the book:
" A kiss of true love is a powerful counter-curse, but ineffective in this case. How will she fall in love while asleep? A king's son will be enough." I laughed out loud when I read this because it's just so logical and never said in anything else even closely related to sleeping beauty, so let's just say I loved that😂
We also have Dominic Kluase, yep our Santa Claus! He even has his own set of "reindeer." Even his character is a different take on the usual persona you see for jolly old saint Nick. But you'll have to read it to see why😉 He's desperate to help anyone in need and to see his people flourish again, he is insecure, creative, determined, and has a big heart.
I love the little tidbits in the story that correlate with the story, Twas the night before Christmas, even every chapter started with a line from the book, so cute! And the little Easter eggs pointing to Santa clause!
Plus they're love story starts with exchanging letters anonymously, sort of, like how adorable and sweet! Once Dominic gets real creative and thinks of an ingenious plan, things get a little more interesting. Him and Holly finally meet but don't exactly know it, and of course as the knight in shining armor he is, trys to help her out. Their meeting was hilarious and perfect, honestly their whole relationship was!🤭
The emotion at the end too, there was definite tears happening 🥹🥺 it was so vulnerable, and sweet, and swoony and everything good🥰 it was just the perfect ending but I'm sad it did end, I want more but that's a sign of a good book isn't it?! "Sigh" and there's a little plot twist at the end😲 not major but just a little "wow" moment that tied it all up perfectly.
10/10 recommend! Five stars all the way! Time for you to read this adorable, short Christmas story!
Sleeping Beauty and Twas the Night Before Christmas retelling mashup!!! Yes please!!
This story is so cute and cozy! Perfect little Christmas story. The plot is fast paced and it's a pretty short read but packs a whole lot of beautiful story in just a few chapters.
The main characters are unique and quirky, I love them!
We have Holly, who's smart, sounds just a touch insane(with good reason mind you) has the most adorable, unusual pets/friends which add so much cuteness factor🤭 She's cursed, lonely, loves a good laugh and has a fun sense of humor (loves a good pun too) She is caring, and not afraid to speak her mind, vulnerable but strong. She is our sleeping beauty and let me say I love the spin Sarah took on this one, for example like this line in the book:
" A kiss of true love is a powerful counter-curse, but ineffective in this case. How will she fall in love while asleep? A king's son will be enough." I laughed out loud when I read this because it's just so logical and never said in anything else even closely related to sleeping beauty, so let's just say I loved that😂
We also have Dominic Kluase, yep our Santa Claus! He even has his own set of "reindeer." Even his character is a different take on the usual persona you see for jolly old saint Nick. But you'll have to read it to see why😉 He's desperate to help anyone in need and to see his people flourish again, he is insecure, creative, determined, and has a big heart.
I love the little tidbits in the story that correlate with the story, Twas the night before Christmas, even every chapter started with a line from the book, so cute! And the little Easter eggs pointing to Santa clause!
Plus they're love story starts with exchanging letters anonymously, sort of, like how adorable and sweet! Once Dominic gets real creative and thinks of an ingenious plan, things get a little more interesting. Him and Holly finally meet but don't exactly know it, and of course as the knight in shining armor he is, trys to help her out. Their meeting was hilarious and perfect, honestly their whole relationship was!🤭
The emotion at the end too, there was definite tears happening 🥹🥺 it was so vulnerable, and sweet, and swoony and everything good🥰 it was just the perfect ending but I'm sad it did end, I want more but that's a sign of a good book isn't it?! "Sigh" and there's a little plot twist at the end😲 not major but just a little "wow" moment that tied it all up perfectly.
10/10 recommend! Five stars all the way! Time for you to read this adorable, short Christmas story!
January 3, 2025
✨ Book Review ✨
Sleeping Beauty AND owls?! 👸🏻🦉
Sign me up!
My second-to-last read of 2024 was THE SILENT NIGHT by Sarah Beran. Not only is it a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" with owls, but Ms. Beran wove in "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (aka. "The Night Before Christmas") as seamlessly as the connection in the title between a certain famous Christmas carol and the fairy tale retold. It is therefore the perfect festive read🎄for those who also enjoy beautifully spun romantasy stories.
There is much to love in this book, from the nobility found in Dominic as he takes on a "St. Nick" sort of role to the adorable interactions between Princess Holly and the aforementioned owls. But what instantly captured my heart from very early on was the manner in which the author wrote the deep connection between Holly and Dominic and delightfully idiosyncratic nature thereof.
As a poetic soul, I have always found letter-writing to be particularly romantic—in terms of love stories, but also in the more general context of the forgotten depth of a bygone age. It is likewise personally relatable to some readers, including myself, who began a forever romance (ie. my husband) or friendship from afar. Beran masterfully builds the story suspense and tension between two parties who have grown to know each other authentically for a year but have never met in person and, in this instance, have very limited details as to the other's identity and circumstances. The reader is eager to find out how this will develop, especially as Holly's unusual situation becomes more clear.
Within that dynamic, the relationship between the two is skillfully written with a mixture of two favorite elements of mine. On one hand, there is a "windswept" enchantment and sweet tenderness. I found myself picturing one of the scenes toward the end on the movie screen, the sort where people gather together with tissue boxes in hand. But it is also quirky, and that kind of literary personality is infused not only into their relationship but the writing in general. In effect, it enlivens it. As someone who loves both moments of Beauty and randomness, this was the perfect combination for me as a reader.
There is a refreshing mixture of the clever syntax reminiscent of classic writing and a sort of animated, eccentrically exuberant humor à la the exotic jam scene in ALADDIN (2019).
Speaking of randomness, I must quote a favorite example of that from the text 😉 :
"Carry on. So the beautiful woman had an owl and talked about potatoes."
Those lines, simply stated in that fashion, just pleased me to no end. 😂
On that note, I will conclude my review by saying that this is the first book that I have read by Beran . . . and that it definitely validates the inclusion of others on my to-read list. 🙂 A wonderful read! 🦉✨
Sleeping Beauty AND owls?! 👸🏻🦉
Sign me up!
My second-to-last read of 2024 was THE SILENT NIGHT by Sarah Beran. Not only is it a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" with owls, but Ms. Beran wove in "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (aka. "The Night Before Christmas") as seamlessly as the connection in the title between a certain famous Christmas carol and the fairy tale retold. It is therefore the perfect festive read🎄for those who also enjoy beautifully spun romantasy stories.
There is much to love in this book, from the nobility found in Dominic as he takes on a "St. Nick" sort of role to the adorable interactions between Princess Holly and the aforementioned owls. But what instantly captured my heart from very early on was the manner in which the author wrote the deep connection between Holly and Dominic and delightfully idiosyncratic nature thereof.
As a poetic soul, I have always found letter-writing to be particularly romantic—in terms of love stories, but also in the more general context of the forgotten depth of a bygone age. It is likewise personally relatable to some readers, including myself, who began a forever romance (ie. my husband) or friendship from afar. Beran masterfully builds the story suspense and tension between two parties who have grown to know each other authentically for a year but have never met in person and, in this instance, have very limited details as to the other's identity and circumstances. The reader is eager to find out how this will develop, especially as Holly's unusual situation becomes more clear.
Within that dynamic, the relationship between the two is skillfully written with a mixture of two favorite elements of mine. On one hand, there is a "windswept" enchantment and sweet tenderness. I found myself picturing one of the scenes toward the end on the movie screen, the sort where people gather together with tissue boxes in hand. But it is also quirky, and that kind of literary personality is infused not only into their relationship but the writing in general. In effect, it enlivens it. As someone who loves both moments of Beauty and randomness, this was the perfect combination for me as a reader.
There is a refreshing mixture of the clever syntax reminiscent of classic writing and a sort of animated, eccentrically exuberant humor à la the exotic jam scene in ALADDIN (2019).
Speaking of randomness, I must quote a favorite example of that from the text 😉 :
"Carry on. So the beautiful woman had an owl and talked about potatoes."
Those lines, simply stated in that fashion, just pleased me to no end. 😂
On that note, I will conclude my review by saying that this is the first book that I have read by Beran . . . and that it definitely validates the inclusion of others on my to-read list. 🙂 A wonderful read! 🦉✨
September 30, 2024
The Silent Night was the absolutely most delightful and enchanting mix up of Sleeping Beauty, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, swoony romance, and cozy sweetness!
OMG! This little tale, although only 134 pages, is the most magnificent and wonderful little stocking sized fairytale to fill your heart with joy and your soul with holiday spirit!
Princess Holly has been cursed to sleep for a hundred years. She only experiences a few hours of wakefulness each night. She is lonely and bored and concerned for the kingdom outside her Holly encased castle. So she does the only thing she is able and bids one her only friends, Who, to leave a note in hopes of someone finding it.
And Nic…well…Nic…he just wants to help the people of the slowly freezing over kingdom to eat and survive. Even if it means sneaking in windows or sliding down chimneys. He isn’t expecting to befriend a girl suffering from a mysterious illness and only able to converse through hidden notes.
But soon these two’s lives will become irrevocably entwined in the most enchanting and magical of ways.
This! This book! Is the perfect little romantic holiday escape! From the very first sentence of the very first page a smile graced my lips and it continued to the very last word of the epilogue. I really could not get enough of this story! It was the heartwarming dash of Holiday Joy we all NEED this holiday season!!! The characters were lovely, well written, and delightful. The story was cozy and magically captivating. And the romance is nothing short of completely sweet, utterly swoony, and entirely clean. This is one Holiday story I will definitely be reading every Holiday Seasin!
I absolutely could not recommend The Silent Night more!!!
OMG! This little tale, although only 134 pages, is the most magnificent and wonderful little stocking sized fairytale to fill your heart with joy and your soul with holiday spirit!
Princess Holly has been cursed to sleep for a hundred years. She only experiences a few hours of wakefulness each night. She is lonely and bored and concerned for the kingdom outside her Holly encased castle. So she does the only thing she is able and bids one her only friends, Who, to leave a note in hopes of someone finding it.
And Nic…well…Nic…he just wants to help the people of the slowly freezing over kingdom to eat and survive. Even if it means sneaking in windows or sliding down chimneys. He isn’t expecting to befriend a girl suffering from a mysterious illness and only able to converse through hidden notes.
But soon these two’s lives will become irrevocably entwined in the most enchanting and magical of ways.
This! This book! Is the perfect little romantic holiday escape! From the very first sentence of the very first page a smile graced my lips and it continued to the very last word of the epilogue. I really could not get enough of this story! It was the heartwarming dash of Holiday Joy we all NEED this holiday season!!! The characters were lovely, well written, and delightful. The story was cozy and magically captivating. And the romance is nothing short of completely sweet, utterly swoony, and entirely clean. This is one Holiday story I will definitely be reading every Holiday Seasin!
I absolutely could not recommend The Silent Night more!!!
February 20, 2025
A Lovely Christmas Fairy Tale
This was such a cute story with warm Christmas vibes and blended tales! I loved how the Silent Night poem and Sleeping Beauty intertwined. Nic was a great character; charming, bold, giving. Holly was booksmart, creative, and persevered through conditions that could drive a person insane. I liked how these two connected through letters, a passion for helping, and a love for animals. I loved Holly's parliament of owl friends. They showed both her kindness as well as the strain of being isolated for so long.
Some gripes:
This was such a cute story with warm Christmas vibes and blended tales! I loved how the Silent Night poem and Sleeping Beauty intertwined. Nic was a great character; charming, bold, giving. Holly was booksmart, creative, and persevered through conditions that could drive a person insane. I liked how these two connected through letters, a passion for helping, and a love for animals. I loved Holly's parliament of owl friends. They showed both her kindness as well as the strain of being isolated for so long.
Some gripes:
October 22, 2024
Every night, Holly wakes up alone in the old castle. She has a few hours to visit with Parliament — of the owl variety — cook some of the few remaining potatoes, and reply to her mysterious correspondent. It’s not a terrible existence, but one that will end soon if she can’t find a way to break the spell that forces her back to sleep after only a few hours of wakefulness.
Dominic Klause is desperate to help his fellow citizens, but every year the winter grows longer and they’re running out of food. And he can’t keep sneaking into people’s homes to leave them much needed supplies. The one place he’s not looked is the long abandoned castle. Surely there must be something of value there he could use to trade for food.
But what he finds within is worth even more than he could ever imagine.
“You can do something even more powerful: You can bring hope and love.”
This wasn’t just a Sleeping Beauty story; it was Sleeping Beauty interwoven perfectly with The Night Before Christmas. Sooo many delicious Easter eggs and all the delightful puns. This story made me swoon, it made me cry, it made me laugh aloud.
This story has hope and despair, heartbreak and sacrifice, and the sweetest of friendships. And puppies! Did I mention the puppies?
Grab a mug of hot chocolate, load it up with marshmallows, and sneak a plate of molasses cookies, because Sarah Beran has once again written perfection.
5 Glistening Snowflakes
In-world swears only
Non-descriptive kisses
No injuries
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
Dominic Klause is desperate to help his fellow citizens, but every year the winter grows longer and they’re running out of food. And he can’t keep sneaking into people’s homes to leave them much needed supplies. The one place he’s not looked is the long abandoned castle. Surely there must be something of value there he could use to trade for food.
But what he finds within is worth even more than he could ever imagine.
“You can do something even more powerful: You can bring hope and love.”
This wasn’t just a Sleeping Beauty story; it was Sleeping Beauty interwoven perfectly with The Night Before Christmas. Sooo many delicious Easter eggs and all the delightful puns. This story made me swoon, it made me cry, it made me laugh aloud.
This story has hope and despair, heartbreak and sacrifice, and the sweetest of friendships. And puppies! Did I mention the puppies?
Grab a mug of hot chocolate, load it up with marshmallows, and sneak a plate of molasses cookies, because Sarah Beran has once again written perfection.
5 Glistening Snowflakes
In-world swears only
Non-descriptive kisses
No injuries
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
October 29, 2024
Sarah Beran is known for quirky humorous stories and this one delivers the humour as always, BUT with a side dose of mystery! And that was new for me – from this particular author.
Throughout the whole of the first chapter my brain was going nuts trying to figure out who the mysterious lady in the story was and why she lived alone in a creepy castle with only potatoes to eat, and why she had an oh so cute Parliament of owls, but I certainly didn’t see the twist at the end of that chapter coming! Sarah deserves a trophy for that twist!
The rest of the book did not disappoint. It’s an adorable Sleeping Beauty retelling mixed with The Night Before Christmas and the MMC is basically a precursor to Santa Claus, complete with a penchant for dropping down chimneys to leave gifts, but THIS St. Nick is young and gorgeous with a mystery of his own.
I found this to be a quick read but it will certainly sit on my favourites shelf till Kingdom come and it will be reread countless times throughout the year, not just in the Christmas season!
I loved all the characters (those dog names! And the owl names are even better!) and the absolute originality of the story. It exuded swoon without spice, and was chock full of clever humour, as well as brilliant nods to the origins of Christmas. And of course the love story between Nick and Holly was too cute for words – bring back the lost art of writing letters!
All in all, this may be a short read but it’s a powerful, intriguing and captivating story which I will recommend to all and sundry, always!
Throughout the whole of the first chapter my brain was going nuts trying to figure out who the mysterious lady in the story was and why she lived alone in a creepy castle with only potatoes to eat, and why she had an oh so cute Parliament of owls, but I certainly didn’t see the twist at the end of that chapter coming! Sarah deserves a trophy for that twist!
The rest of the book did not disappoint. It’s an adorable Sleeping Beauty retelling mixed with The Night Before Christmas and the MMC is basically a precursor to Santa Claus, complete with a penchant for dropping down chimneys to leave gifts, but THIS St. Nick is young and gorgeous with a mystery of his own.
I found this to be a quick read but it will certainly sit on my favourites shelf till Kingdom come and it will be reread countless times throughout the year, not just in the Christmas season!
I loved all the characters (those dog names! And the owl names are even better!) and the absolute originality of the story. It exuded swoon without spice, and was chock full of clever humour, as well as brilliant nods to the origins of Christmas. And of course the love story between Nick and Holly was too cute for words – bring back the lost art of writing letters!
All in all, this may be a short read but it’s a powerful, intriguing and captivating story which I will recommend to all and sundry, always!
November 2, 2024
“Dear Joy,
Will you meet me?
I find that knowing you on paper is no longer enough. I want to see your face, to see the way your eyes light up when you speak of your family…I want to be able to hear your voice, to know if it matches what I hear in my own mind when I read your words. There are things I want to tell you – things that should only be said in person, not in ink.
Will you come?
Nic”
I honestly think the quickest way to melt my heart is through letters. The letters exchanged in The Silent Night: A Sleeping Beauty retelling by Sarah Beran did just that! I devoured each one (much like Joy and Nic do!) and love the emotional pull I feel while doing so.
I absolutely love this book! It is well paced, easy to read, and very engaging. The retelling of Sleeping Beauty’s story with Holly, and adding in the spirit of Christmas with Dominic makes for a fresh new perspective of beloved tales. I completely devoured this book in one day because it is THAT GOOD…with a fun little twist at the end!
Things to enjoy:
Dual POV
Cinnamon roll MMC
Christmas/Holiday
The Letters (as mentioned above!!)
Owls
True Best Friend
Molasses Cookies
First Kiss
I highly recommend this book to give you all of the warm fuzzy feel good vibes and brighten your day!
Kisses only, sweet and swoony romance.
This book is a part of The Christmas Chronicles, a collection of festive novellas filled with clean romance, chilly weather, and cozy adventures. Each novella can be read as a standalone.
Will you meet me?
I find that knowing you on paper is no longer enough. I want to see your face, to see the way your eyes light up when you speak of your family…I want to be able to hear your voice, to know if it matches what I hear in my own mind when I read your words. There are things I want to tell you – things that should only be said in person, not in ink.
Will you come?
Nic”
I honestly think the quickest way to melt my heart is through letters. The letters exchanged in The Silent Night: A Sleeping Beauty retelling by Sarah Beran did just that! I devoured each one (much like Joy and Nic do!) and love the emotional pull I feel while doing so.
I absolutely love this book! It is well paced, easy to read, and very engaging. The retelling of Sleeping Beauty’s story with Holly, and adding in the spirit of Christmas with Dominic makes for a fresh new perspective of beloved tales. I completely devoured this book in one day because it is THAT GOOD…with a fun little twist at the end!
Things to enjoy:
Dual POV
Cinnamon roll MMC
Christmas/Holiday
The Letters (as mentioned above!!)
Owls
True Best Friend
Molasses Cookies
First Kiss
I highly recommend this book to give you all of the warm fuzzy feel good vibes and brighten your day!
Kisses only, sweet and swoony romance.
This book is a part of The Christmas Chronicles, a collection of festive novellas filled with clean romance, chilly weather, and cozy adventures. Each novella can be read as a standalone.
October 5, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an ARC, however, what I've written below is my own opinion.
I absolutely loved this sweet and clean holiday spin on the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty! Holly and Dominic's story was the perfect quick read as we head into the holiday season.
Holly is cursed to sleep one hundred years. During that time, she experiences only a few hours of wakefulness set during the middle of the night. She doesn't expect to have the opportunity to meet a friend, (well other than her favorite owls who visit her). In a moment of loneliness, she takes a chance and has one of her owls deliver a note she penned to a hollow tree in the hopes that someone might find it and write back.
The note is found by Dominic (Nic). Nic is simply trying to help the people of his kingdom as they are slowly starving and freezing to death. Whether that means sliding down chimneys, climbing through windows, or hiding in a pantry in an effort to aid those in need. He doesn't expect to find the note that Holly's owl Who had left behind let alone become friends with a young woman who suffers from a mysterious illness.
As time passes, Holly and Nic's lives become interconnected in a special and magical way. To find out how this story ends, check out The Silent Night once it releases! It's the perfect story to read as we head into the holidays and definitely one you will not want to miss!
I absolutely loved this sweet and clean holiday spin on the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty! Holly and Dominic's story was the perfect quick read as we head into the holiday season.
Holly is cursed to sleep one hundred years. During that time, she experiences only a few hours of wakefulness set during the middle of the night. She doesn't expect to have the opportunity to meet a friend, (well other than her favorite owls who visit her). In a moment of loneliness, she takes a chance and has one of her owls deliver a note she penned to a hollow tree in the hopes that someone might find it and write back.
The note is found by Dominic (Nic). Nic is simply trying to help the people of his kingdom as they are slowly starving and freezing to death. Whether that means sliding down chimneys, climbing through windows, or hiding in a pantry in an effort to aid those in need. He doesn't expect to find the note that Holly's owl Who had left behind let alone become friends with a young woman who suffers from a mysterious illness.
As time passes, Holly and Nic's lives become interconnected in a special and magical way. To find out how this story ends, check out The Silent Night once it releases! It's the perfect story to read as we head into the holidays and definitely one you will not want to miss!
October 11, 2024
A lovely addition to the Christmas Chronicles! I loved the way Ms. Beran used the classic poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, as well as the classic fairytale, Sleeping Beauty.The themes of sacrifice, generosity, and kindness are so inspiring and are so perfect for the Christmas theme.
I felt for Holly so much! She was faced with such unique circumstances and was struggling to see how things would change. She was trapped in more than one way. Yet, she sought to find ways to survive and even find companionship through the letters she had. She sought to still help those around her. I admired her dedication to not lose hope.
Dominic was so sweet! I adored his heart for others and his willingness to sacrifice and work for those in need. He was so determined to help and even willing to brave the castle. Dominic is the type of character that I not only live to read about, but truly think I would love to know in real life!
It was so exciting to read about how Holly and Dominic discovered the answers to their problems. The story was so engrossing and I loved the letters! This fairytale inspired romance is full of heart and charm with only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
I felt for Holly so much! She was faced with such unique circumstances and was struggling to see how things would change. She was trapped in more than one way. Yet, she sought to find ways to survive and even find companionship through the letters she had. She sought to still help those around her. I admired her dedication to not lose hope.
Dominic was so sweet! I adored his heart for others and his willingness to sacrifice and work for those in need. He was so determined to help and even willing to brave the castle. Dominic is the type of character that I not only live to read about, but truly think I would love to know in real life!
It was so exciting to read about how Holly and Dominic discovered the answers to their problems. The story was so engrossing and I loved the letters! This fairytale inspired romance is full of heart and charm with only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
October 29, 2024
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but meant to be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Holly & Dominic’s points of view
Review:
I loved this so much! It was sweet and I loved the various nods to Santa Claus/St. Nick in Dominic’s thoughts and actions towards the townspeople. I loved the way the Sleeping Beauty story was used in this retelling and how we didn’t get the full picture of Holly’s specific situation right away. I loved the sweet letters between the pen pals and Holly’s fluffy friends. I loved how the two main characters finally got together. I also loved Dominic’s friend & how he was invested in Dominic’s wanderings/interests and prompted him at times.
Summary:
Holly has only known the night since that fateful day. Though in the past few years she’s found companionship in the form of Parliament & her mysterious pen pal, Holly knows that it won’t be long before she’s lost them as well…
Dominic sees the lengthening winters in Weihnacht causing issues for the people year upon passing year but feels helpless in finding a way out for them. Though his pen pal Joy has provided ideas that provide a small solace, it just isn’t enough. The only thing left for Dominic to do is to venture where no one else dares: the abandoned castle where the last royals just vanished from one day long ago. But when he scales the holly bushes along it’s walls and enters the fortress, Dominic finds much more than he expected…
– this is part of a series, but meant to be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Holly & Dominic’s points of view
Review:
I loved this so much! It was sweet and I loved the various nods to Santa Claus/St. Nick in Dominic’s thoughts and actions towards the townspeople. I loved the way the Sleeping Beauty story was used in this retelling and how we didn’t get the full picture of Holly’s specific situation right away. I loved the sweet letters between the pen pals and Holly’s fluffy friends. I loved how the two main characters finally got together. I also loved Dominic’s friend & how he was invested in Dominic’s wanderings/interests and prompted him at times.
Summary:
Holly has only known the night since that fateful day. Though in the past few years she’s found companionship in the form of Parliament & her mysterious pen pal, Holly knows that it won’t be long before she’s lost them as well…
Dominic sees the lengthening winters in Weihnacht causing issues for the people year upon passing year but feels helpless in finding a way out for them. Though his pen pal Joy has provided ideas that provide a small solace, it just isn’t enough. The only thing left for Dominic to do is to venture where no one else dares: the abandoned castle where the last royals just vanished from one day long ago. But when he scales the holly bushes along it’s walls and enters the fortress, Dominic finds much more than he expected…
October 30, 2024
The Silent Night is such a creative take on Sleeping Beauty that I will likely never again view this fairytale without thinking of the ingenious way it can be woven with the classic Twas the Night Before Christmas, as well as elements from the Saint Nicholas story.
I was captivated from the first page and couldn’t stop smiling. The plot is well-paced with so much story packed into this novella, while also leaving me wanting to spend more time with these wonderful characters and their delightful story because I couldn't get enough. Their romance was so beautiful, and I especially loved the letter exchange.
As for our characters, I loved both our hero and heroine. Holly was so strong and resilient; I could just feel her loneliness emanate from the page. Dominic was such a wonderful, adorable hero who is definitely book boyfriend material. I also loved the owls! As well as the “reindeer”.
The writing was beautifully crafted and woven with many clever puns and fun humor, as is Sarah Beran’s delightful style. I also loved how the chapters started with a line from the famous poem it’s based on, as well as all the Christmas Easter eggs sprinkled throughout. Overall this is truly the perfect cozy Christmas read. I absolutely adored this creative, sweet, romantic, and magical tale, and will definitely reread it during the Christmas season.
I was captivated from the first page and couldn’t stop smiling. The plot is well-paced with so much story packed into this novella, while also leaving me wanting to spend more time with these wonderful characters and their delightful story because I couldn't get enough. Their romance was so beautiful, and I especially loved the letter exchange.
As for our characters, I loved both our hero and heroine. Holly was so strong and resilient; I could just feel her loneliness emanate from the page. Dominic was such a wonderful, adorable hero who is definitely book boyfriend material. I also loved the owls! As well as the “reindeer”.
The writing was beautifully crafted and woven with many clever puns and fun humor, as is Sarah Beran’s delightful style. I also loved how the chapters started with a line from the famous poem it’s based on, as well as all the Christmas Easter eggs sprinkled throughout. Overall this is truly the perfect cozy Christmas read. I absolutely adored this creative, sweet, romantic, and magical tale, and will definitely reread it during the Christmas season.
December 12, 2024
4.5 stars
After a couple of romantasy reads that were major disappointments, I was really hoping The Silent Night and Sarah Beran would pull through for me - and this book/author absolutely did!
This is an adorable, cute, humorous, quick tale that combines Sleeping Beauty with a dash of the legend of St. Nicholas. Featuring the son of a duke who is doing some light B&E ("it's not breaking and entering because I'm not stealing!") to leave toys, food, and coins for commoners who are suffering as each year the winters get longer and harsher, and a cursed princess named Holly who is awake for only a few hours each night, during which she talks to her Parliament of owls and exchanges long-distance letters with Nic. There's some hand-wavy "because magic" logic and some info-dumping toward the beginning and the worldbuilding is definitely secondary, but overall, this was really fun. After about halfway I couldn't put it down and went to bed too late. 😆😅 Also, I loved that the MMC is an average height/shorter, skinny/lanky dude! Most importantly, the romance was really *healthy* and wholesome with two cinnamon roll MCs and when I tell you I am absolutely STARVED for romantasy that is both no-spice AND not toxic... Anyway. Yes. Do recommend for the wintry, Christmasy vibes, cute romance, and if you're looking for a quick and light read.
After a couple of romantasy reads that were major disappointments, I was really hoping The Silent Night and Sarah Beran would pull through for me - and this book/author absolutely did!
This is an adorable, cute, humorous, quick tale that combines Sleeping Beauty with a dash of the legend of St. Nicholas. Featuring the son of a duke who is doing some light B&E ("it's not breaking and entering because I'm not stealing!") to leave toys, food, and coins for commoners who are suffering as each year the winters get longer and harsher, and a cursed princess named Holly who is awake for only a few hours each night, during which she talks to her Parliament of owls and exchanges long-distance letters with Nic. There's some hand-wavy "because magic" logic and some info-dumping toward the beginning and the worldbuilding is definitely secondary, but overall, this was really fun. After about halfway I couldn't put it down and went to bed too late. 😆😅 Also, I loved that the MMC is an average height/shorter, skinny/lanky dude! Most importantly, the romance was really *healthy* and wholesome with two cinnamon roll MCs and when I tell you I am absolutely STARVED for romantasy that is both no-spice AND not toxic... Anyway. Yes. Do recommend for the wintry, Christmasy vibes, cute romance, and if you're looking for a quick and light read.
October 4, 2024
OH THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE!!! Yep, I loved it! This has all the Christmas feels! So I suggest you grab something warm and cuddle up with this adorable book!
I love how there was only the 2 main characters and a couple side characters well, unless you want to count all the furries.
There are a lot of furry/feathery characters! With so few characters it was easy to focus on the main character’s story which, by the way, is so charming! It was a budding romance that happened over a year’s worth of correspondence, so it wasn’t insta love.
The setting was very easy to picture, the author did a great job describing the setting as each scene took place.
I love how their names were related to all things Christmas! There was Holly, Joy, DomiNIC Klause, Dash! OMGosh so many more! BUT, in the Parliament their names were THE BEST!!! I’m not telling you! You’ll have to read it!!
Oh yes, banter!! So so good!! So I really enjoyed this book so much I think I will reread it again closer to Christmas with a blanket and hot chocolate!
I was blessed and given this book as an ARC and this is my honest review!
I love how there was only the 2 main characters and a couple side characters well, unless you want to count all the furries.
There are a lot of furry/feathery characters! With so few characters it was easy to focus on the main character’s story which, by the way, is so charming! It was a budding romance that happened over a year’s worth of correspondence, so it wasn’t insta love.
The setting was very easy to picture, the author did a great job describing the setting as each scene took place.
I love how their names were related to all things Christmas! There was Holly, Joy, DomiNIC Klause, Dash! OMGosh so many more! BUT, in the Parliament their names were THE BEST!!! I’m not telling you! You’ll have to read it!!
Oh yes, banter!! So so good!! So I really enjoyed this book so much I think I will reread it again closer to Christmas with a blanket and hot chocolate!
I was blessed and given this book as an ARC and this is my honest review!
October 30, 2024
A fun homage to a classic poem. First off, the author does a really neat thing by including the poem of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” throughout the story! It helped set up each chapter, and I loved looking to see how the lines in the poem compared to the story. This story was a unique and fun way to combine both tales. It’s magical; it’s charming; it’s sweet. Nic is a wonderful MMC, and he is just a kindhearted soul who truly wants to help his kingdom. And the fact that he has a dog sled pulled by eight dogs, all with very familiar names, is just the icing on the cake.
I loved the twist on Sleeping Beauty, and the references to the animated movie. I enjoyed being able to search for all of the “hidden mickeys,” so to speak. Princess Holly actually has a role in the story, which I enjoyed, and I loved seeing her vulnerable after being alone for so long. It made her character and interactions more believable. The ending may have been anticlimactic for my taste, but for a novella, it’s totally still enjoyable!! Another holiday read to add to your holiday TBR.
I received an advanced copy, and the review is my own.
I loved the twist on Sleeping Beauty, and the references to the animated movie. I enjoyed being able to search for all of the “hidden mickeys,” so to speak. Princess Holly actually has a role in the story, which I enjoyed, and I loved seeing her vulnerable after being alone for so long. It made her character and interactions more believable. The ending may have been anticlimactic for my taste, but for a novella, it’s totally still enjoyable!! Another holiday read to add to your holiday TBR.
I received an advanced copy, and the review is my own.
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