Christmas Eve Carnage 2: Sprinkles Lives

by John Lynch

SPRINKLES IS BACK, BABY!

Cindy is the lone survivor of the Christmas Eve Massacre, hospitalized and alone.

Laurie, estranged aunt to Cindy, makes a surprise trip to visit the Feltcher family. But the Nor'easter delays her travel and she arrives at her brother's house to discover her entire family is dead, except for Cindy.

Laurie meets Detective Moore, the best homicide Detective on the force, but when a call comes in about an accident that may not be what it seems it's a race against time to save Cindy.

SPRINKLES IS BACK AND READY TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTED!

Genres: Horror

138 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

John Lynch is a United States Marine Corps Veteran. He writes horror in Rhode Island with his cat, and English Bulldog.

He is most known for his debut novel, The Warrior Retreat.

Sign up for for my newsletter here https://johnlynchbooks.substack.com/ and follow him over on book bub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-... for sales notifications

Reviews

[Tracy P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think it was possible to up the ante after the bloodbath and carnage left behind at the conclusion of book one. Well... Christmas Eve Carnage proved me wrong - and with authority.

John Lynch delivers once again. Without giving anything away, I will say these books play no favorites. What a harrowing series.

Thank you for the fun break from reality, Mr. Lynch. So glad you are feeling better. Please keep 'em coming.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

...𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥. 𝐀 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭...𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

I was absolutely foaming at the mouth for this sequel. Taking place immediately after the carnage in book one, Cindy, the lone survivor of her family's massacre, is hospitalized and alone. Sprinkles knows that the Big Guy won't be happy to hear of a survivor, so he leaves behind a trail of blood and body parts in his quest to get to her.

This sequel was even more unhinged than its predecessor as the kills were much more gruesome, the humor was darker, and the one-liners were freaking hysterical. It gave all the 80s slasher vibes, complete with blood, sex, and sadism. I will 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 look at a candy cane, a pencil, or a trampoline in the same way again.

Sprinkles is the Elf on the Shelf that parents need when gentle parenting doesn't work, and I hope his batsh*t crazy escapades continue for many volumes to come. Thank you so much to the author for letting me read an ARC, and you need to go ahead and read the first one in anticipation for this release on December 10, 2024.

One final note: read the acknowledgements and the author's notes. You should be doing this with every book, but it's especially important with this one.

[Creeping Beauty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sprinkles is part Chucky on steroids!

[Phrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so behind on my book reviews, its about to be February and I’m just getting to Xmas books I read the week of! 😭 This semester has been kicking my ass but as the horrors persist, so will I. 🫡

So I finally timed it right and was able to read Christmas Eve Carnage as well as the sequel & man did they make the holidays so much more tolerable. As expected, I kicked myself for waiting so long and also for waiting til the “right time” to read them. I blame my “quirky” brain for compartmentalizing, but I will forgive it for the time being. Slashers, even Xmas-themed ones, are welcome year round. Especially John Lynch slashers, which continue to be the cream of the crop when it comes to slashers. 👌🏽

The Felcher family (I JUST caught that 🤭) has had some rough times & they’re not about to get any smoother, holidays or not. Daddy kins is stuck working overtime at the prison who just so happened to have come up one prisoner short. Now it’s a Christmas rush to see who gets home to his family first, a vengeful ex-con, a nor’easter storm a’brewin, or a homicidal elf that shows up to make things interesting? In the sequel, Sprinkles Lives, he very much does. As does another survivor from the first book. Both are thrust upon a new family who are unaware they are in line to have the same fate as the last family, as well as some unsuspecting medical workers.

As I said, Lynch is a slasher master in the game and both of these were everything we want in our slashers. The suspense, the violence, the emotional backstories, as well some winks to slashers of yore. Lynch knows how to make a truly evil antagonist and then throws an extra one in as a holiday bonus. Don’t be like me, don’t wait til December to read these. You deserve a slasher treat year round, especially these two.

[Veronica ☠️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is how you do a sequel! Sprinkles is back and picks up exactly from the first book.

Cindy Feltcher is the lone survivor in the Christmas Eve Carnage that happened at her house by an Elf named Sprinkles. She wakes up alone in the hospital and traumatized. She knows Sprinkles never died and her first thought is he's coming back for her. Her nurse Liosha assumes it's all from trauma and comforts Cindy. Little does she know, Cindy's right.

The stormstorm is so bad that everyone is told to stay put but eventually all of these characters head to the hospital. What they don't know is Sprinkles is indeed back and is leaving carnage everywhere he goes.

This was so good! I loved all the characters, especially Sprinkles. He's back and he's meaner than ever. The kills were creative and ruthless! Sprinkles one liners are super fun. I liked that Sprinkles wasn't the only killer so there were deaths happening left, right, and center. The hospital setting was great, reminded me of Halloween 2. The ending still has me staring at the wall! For this holiday season, I highly suggest you read this duology. It's absolutely perfect!

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Gone was the plastic cock, replaced by a giant, phallic candy cane. The red and white striped penis was shaped like a normal, circumcised dick, except the head ended in a sharpened point.”

Ahh!! Okay, I’m really excited for this one!! I ARC read the first one last year and I’ve been super pumped for this sequel, so when it finally landed in my inbox, I basically jumped right in. (I’ve truly been asking for an ETA since July. 😂) But yay!! It’s here and it lived up to all the expectations!! I love when Lynch dives into the more unhinged/extreme realm, he does it really freaking well and still maintains a full plot with substance, character development, etc. 🔥

Sprinkles the elf is an absolute fking menace and is def a “FAFO” type. Let’s just say, there’s a zero percent chance my toddler is getting an elf on the shelf. 🫡 This book goes quite unhinged right from the start and ends when an absolute WTF plot twist. 🫣 (I will now be hounding for a third installment)

I gagged, I laughed, I cringed, I made a note that I was glad I didn’t have testicles, the word lot lizard is mentioned which is a love for me, the kill scenes and the action that led up to everything was done really well, tube steak has taken on a different meaning, and one of the quotes I noted was:
“Last month, Keith had shoved an entire pencil up his cock.”
…So there’s that. ✏️🍆
😂😅🤣😭

OHHHHH I almost forgot, *hawk tua* is mentioned. 😂💦

This is definitely one of my favorite holiday horror books. Last year I remember noting that holiday horror wasn’t really my thing, but I’ve been singing a different tune this year, and this one is definitely at the top. 🤌🏼

Five Christmas trees slotted for this unhinged holiday gem. 🙌🏼

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t mess with Sprinkles!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, love, love this series! This is a perfect sequel. It picks up right where it left off and gets right to the gore and Christmas Eve mayhem.

Sprinkles is such a little shit and is always up to no good and man, he does not give anyone a break in this story. The kill scenes are so cool and shocking and had me flinching.

Overall this series has just been so damn fun. Lynch really knows how to bring the gore and blood and never lets the story get boring. Just when you think there’s no way it could get worse for poor Cindy, Lynch says “hold my beer…”

A fast paced and fun filled bloodbath. Lynch really knows how to get under your skin with his descriptions of the kill scenes. You are not ready! But get ready because you have to read this!

[dottie sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready for sprinkles?

John Lynch is a master of carnage! Sprinkles lives is another Christmas gore fest! Will Sprinkles come back again? Is Cindy safe? What a masterpiece! The carnage and death are just as macabre as in the first book Christmas Eve carnage! I really think John out did himself this time? Can't wait to see if Sprinkles will be back next Christmas! Well done!

[Karen Oldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been saving this since March to kick off my season. I absolutely loved the first one and this it did not disappoint. It picks up right where we left off and while the pacing is super fast and Sprinkles is as unhinged as ever, we don’t lose any plot or character development.

If you’ve already read book 1, just go in blind.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking news!!
Sprinkles is back with vengeance. Book 2 picks up immediately at the end of book one. And we jump in full force with the wrath from our favorite evil little elf. This is bloody and gruesome and pure chaos.
Chapter 10.... holy hell 🥵 that was intense and gross. You will easily read this book in one sitting it was so good I couldn't put it down.

Sprinkles is not your typical elf on a shelf...in fact, he would probably sit you on the shelf and burn🔥 it down.

[Alexandra Nisneru · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Christmas Eve Carnage takes things forward from where events stopped in book 1. It doesn't let down at all, if something, it's even more violent than the first. Even my over active imagination had trouble perfectly envisioning the scenes of gore Lynch came up with.

[Teah Sennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah

This was a wild ride. I hope there is a 3rd. Maybe with a certain character (no spoilers) getting revenge. I'd certainly like that. The character of Sprinkles definitely did its job. He's terrifying.

[Mike Prewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, that is how you write a sequel. This was better than the first. I loved all of the kills, and the ending was actually pretty depressing. Sprinkles was an evil little dude. This was my last official book of 2024.

[Kiera ☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved the first book, you’ll love this one too! Sprinkles is such a fun and twisted character just in time for the holidays. If you’re looking for some Christmas trauma, then you really need to read these books. Book 2 picks up right where the first one ended and the action never let down! A bloody, jolly good time from front to back.

There’s a really great balance here of silly with genuinely well written characters. It doesn’t feel thrown together as I find a lot of holiday novellas do. You can tell John put a lot of care and love into this story, and it’s probably because it’s his favourite which really shines through in the writing. From the first page to the last, it’ll keep you wanting more. I can’t wait to see what else Lynch may have in store for us with Sprinkles!

[Raven T. Nudd · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, as we are all well aware by now, depression has knocked me on my ass HARD. I couldn't even focus on reading... I stopped about half-way through this arc copy, and it's not a very long book...

But today, I finally gathered enough energy to read again. So, obviously, I picked up where I left off. And shoooooo-weeee!!! Am I glad I did. What a wild ride with Sprinkles, the k1ll3r elf doll!

John Lynch did a fantastic job with book 1, so when I heard there was a book 2 I jumped all over it!!! John, please accept my sincerest apologies for taking so long.

But, even if you don't...I'll still buy your books ;)

Yes - he's THAT awesome. :)

Now, about the book...
So, obviously Sprinkles, the k1ll3r elf toy from book 1 is back...but this dude is out for some serious blood and doesn't gaf who gets in his way. Even the cops can't seem to take down this freakish toy. Can Cindy survive another round of trauma caused by a plastic elf? Go check it out for yourself and find out!


I never bought into the "elf on the shelf" thing - and after reading this, I'm even more glad I didn't! 😆

Fantastic job, Lynch! 5 black hearts from me! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book and this book definitely exceeded my expectations. Book two immediately picks up where book one ended. Sprinkles is back and more unhinged than before! The kills are more gruesome this time around and he’s determined to find Cindy and ultimately end what he started.

Sprinkles is one naughty elf and the candy cane is back with a vengeance. If you’ve read the first one, then you know exactly what I mean. The defibrillator scene was hands down my favorite. I laughed out loud for real. There’s also a snowblower kill that’s pretty brutal.

I can’t go too much further into detail as I would like with this one because given that this is book two, I don’t want to spoil anything for future readers.

Go read the first book if you haven’t and then read this one. You won’t be disappointed. Book two is even more of a vibe than the first. 🙌

Christmas Eve Carnage II: Sprinkles Lives releases on December 10th, 2024. Thank you to John for allowing me to ARC read this. I had a blast.

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has ever watched a movie knows that the key to a successful sequel is to use the same formula in a different location.
Enter Christmas Eve Carnage 2: the Home Alone 2 of Christmas horror books. Sprinkles the elf is back, picking up exactly where he left off, no pesky survivors allowed.

Like the first book we have a psychotic Christmas elf with a high sex drive and a love of gore, plus an escaped killer. It makes for an instantly classic combination that we frankly don’t see often enough.
If you enjoyed the first book you know what you are in for here, and you won’t be disappointed. Despite being a similar plot, this is just as entertaining the second time around.

Christmas Eve Carnage 2: Electric Boogaloo…I mean, Sprinkles Lives…is already out, so don’t wait on this one!

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the events of the first book, twelve year old Cindy is the lone survivor and taken to hospital. Unable to speak, she can't warn people about Sprinkles the elf. She knows he's still out there, and she knows she isn't safe while he is.

The first book took a little time getting to the action. This one did not. From the very beginning, it was just blood and guts galore. It was a fun read, but there are some scenes that may cause upset, so be aware if you choose to read it.
My only issue really, was that all the characters seemed really, really dumb. And I hated how it ended. Although the story is definitely not finished so I hope to see a third book in the future.

[Laura Bilodeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sprinkles has returned!

Wow… better late than never (just like when I finished book 1 late also). This book picks up where the first book leaves off and it takes off running in a full sprint towards insanity. Sprinkles is not messing around. He’s back and he’s taking everyone out. I lost track of just how many lives were lost in this book. John didn’t just write a story here, you can tell he really wrote from the soul and found a cathartic release with all of the pain and anger inflicted in this book which is solidified in his very personal note following the book. Kudos to John because this one was incredible, then again everything I’ve ever read by him is.

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas Eve Carnage 2: Sprinkles Lives by John Lynch is a tale where the carnage leaves this book with blood pooled in the margins and dripping from the pages.

Prepare your buttholes for this one…. There were scenes I had to skim-read!

My goodness, this was a brutal read. I didn’t think it could get more intense after the first book. I was very, very wrong. Horror fans, you’re in for a treat!

Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/chris...

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What a wild end to this duology! Sprinkles didn't hold back. This installment was faster-paced, more brutal, and had a much higher body count. I'm glad that a few of my lingering questions from the first book were answered as well. The ending was as bleak as I expected it to be, but didn't end in the way I thought it was going to, which was a nice surprise.

I highly recommend this if you want a quick, violent slasher holiday horror to read. If you're a fan of Art the Clown, you'll definitely love Sprinkles and enjoy his antics.

[SeveredTherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book and yes, I realize its well past Christmas. But, this was a gift from my partner and I felt it important to finish.

The story felt much more fleshed out in this one and more coherent. The silliness that was in the first continued here and I was certainly a fan. The ending, however, was certainly bittersweet. The afterword from the author also sparked some feels (empathetic, for sure).

With that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and look forward to reading more of this man's books.

5.5 out of 5 severed thumbs-up.

[Steph Kneeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book! I was hoping to have it finished before Christmas, but life happens 🤷‍♀️.

I've read a few of John Lynch's books and they just seem to get better and better! This one follows the story of Cindy the only survivor of the Christmas Eve massacre that her family endured.

It keeps you on the edge of your seat, and is a quick paced read. Just know Sprinkles is a d*ck and a very vile little elf looking for vengeance. This book is not for a weak stomach!

[Bigbookgeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Christmas Eve Carnage when I read it a couple years ago. Sprinkles is a fun and twisted villain. So I was excited to read this sequel for the holiday season this year! What a crazy story, and carnage is an understatement, this is just pure no-holds barred mayhem! This picks up immediately after the first book, and well, Sorinkles is clearly not done and still hell bent on completing his mission. So twisted and fun!

[Dale Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sprinkles is back! And causing more carnage than before. This book follows on from the previous so it's a great idea to read them back to back. John's imagination has gone into overdrive with some of these death scenes, definitely amped up the gore and inventiveness. Another well written tale of festive horror. Cindy just can't catch a break, can she?!

[Dottie Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Lynch did it again! A mastermind of carnage! Christmas will never be the same again! Sprinkles is at ut again and no one is going to survive. Or will they? Cindy is trying to survive, but Sprinkles will be there! I'm really hoping john isn't finished with Sprinkles! Will there be another Christmas with Sprinkles in the future?

[Lou Canning · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good follow up

Wow! Carrying on from where the first carnage ended but in hospital, poor Cindy is terrorised by Sprinkles yet again!
So much death and destruction!! But will Cindy survive a second time?!
If you can’t handle violence blood and guts do not read this book!!
It’s fun and not so jolly for Sprinkles victims, Santa is just no fun anymore!!!

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This creepy doll elf lives on and is better than the prequel. Gives a chucky a run for his money.You would never expect a elf so hellbent on revenge for a little girl. But honestly Chucky was hellbent for Andy death.

[Brandon Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry 2024 has been rough on you, John. Broke my heart reading your Afterward.

While you are a great author that we all love reading…your mental health is number one!

With that said…

Not the babies!!!!! 👶💀🤣