She hates the cold, won't touch cookies, and rolls her eyes at anything remotely festive. As far as she's concerned, the holidays can choke on a candy cane.
But when she catches reindeer eating someone's rooftop garden and watches them shift into men, everything changes. Suddenly nine strangers are at her door to call a herd meeting.
They think Neve is the key to saving everything, but she can’t remember ever having set foot in Santa’s Village. Or that her Arctic researcher dad is Santa Claus.
Now she has to survive “Christmas Spirit Restoration Activities,” and the kind of North Pole traditions no HR department would ever approve…
She might hate Christmas, but her magic and nine reindeer are about to deck her halls anyway.
Of Magic and Reindeer is a why choose shifter romance filled with laughs and steam. It is a standalone with a happily ever after that includes all nine men.
I went into Of Magic and Reindeer by Maya Nicole knowing there might be a little cheese, but let me tell you, this book absolutely did not disappoint! It was a truly delightful read, cozy, heartwarming, and overflowing with holiday goodness that hit all the right notes without feeling overly sappy. This is a must-read if you're looking for an unforgettable festive escape!
The Nine Reindeer Shifters?!
Never in a million years did I think I'd be reading about men who can shapeshift into reindeers, but here we are, and it works! The introduction of the nine reindeer shifters is where the story truly shines. The sheer number of love interests is played for charming effect, especially when Neve jokes about needing an Excel sheet to keep track of them all! This little detail perfectly captured the fun of her being quite literally interested in all nine men.
Each shifter is unique and wonderfully developed, and honestly, I loved every single one of them. Though, if I had to pick a favorite, Rudy definitely stole my heart!
This book was a resounding five stars for me. The characters were charming, distinct, and easy to fall for. The little holiday one-liners were absolutely perfect. Crucially, they added to the festive feel without making the story feel over the top or super cheesy.
In short: I absolutely loved it! If you want a fun, festive reverse harem romance that delivers on both heart and humor, pick up Of Magic and Reindeer immediately.
Started this because of a Facebook ad that had me thinking “This sounds ridiculous… sign me up.” Expecting cliche, cheesy, and absurdly bad, my “I’m reading this for the lols” actually left me pleasantly surprised.
There were cliche’s, but that’s expected: it’s about Santa’s daughter and her nine Reindeer. Those cliche’s did have their own personal twists: the names of the Reindeer, the classic holiday traditions, the magical creatures of the North Pole.
I found the “bah humbug” and the humor of the story to be endearing and enjoyable. I liked Neve and her anti-Christmas spirit and I liked her still even when she found that joy again. For a book I had no hope of truly enjoying, it was a nice read that veered from the general “sameness” I’d been reading previously. It was better than expected, and I did truly enjoy the read.
However, I skipped nearly all of the spice. Unfortunately, the “insta-love” hit me too hard to enjoy it. There was no build-up, no steam. It was a very wham, bam, thank yah ma’am that I found lackluster. I love fast burn, but there’s a correct way to do fast-burn, and this book didn’t quite hit that mark.
The biggest issue that played a part of that, I think, came from the fact that I couldn’t tell any of the Reindeer apart except for Rudy. Having nine MMCs is a lot, and the only thing I could tell you about any of the men is that they all turn into reindeer. I know one of them (don’t know which) is the equivalent of a golden retriever who is always in perpetual “zoomies” mode, and Rudy is the brooding one who also happened to be the only one with a tiny dash of backstory. Everyone else was very one note, and I can’t even tell you all of their names despite them being named after nine famous reindeer.
Reverse harem with NINE reindeer shifters… I said HA OKAY SIGN ME UP FREDDY and meant it with my whole chest.
Enter Neve North: corporate goth, lawyer, certified Grinch who hates Christmas (rude of her to be this relatable). She voices her very valid opinion that some people deserve coal and the universe said, bet. Cue: date from hell, vibes are cursed, reality glitches, magic leaks, and suddenly Christmas is coming for her like an HR violation.
Next thing you know— NINE MEN. Yes. Nine. Ranging from golden retriever puppy energy to growly vibes. All of them determined to force-feed her Christmas spirit, magic, and joy while casually taking her to the North Pole like that’s a normal Tuesday.
I am not exaggerating when I say Christmas projectile-vomited all over this book. Tinsel. Magic. Snow. Feelings. .. also I’m never eating milk and cookies again.. Chaos. I laughed. I wheezed. I questioned my life choices and then doubled down.
Then the spice arrived. Not a simmer. Not a gentle snowfall. This was melt-the-snow, melt-the-panties, make-baby-Jesus-blush-and-the-elves-look-away level heat. 🌶️🔥
Maya Nicole… you unhinged festive menace. Thank you for awakening something in me I didn’t know existed. I didn’t know I needed nine reindeer shifters in my life, but apparently that was a personal deficiency because this?
✨ Hit. That. Craving. ✨
If you like: Reverse harem chaos Christmas on steroids Grumpy FMCs getting emotionally kidnapped by magic And asking yourself “why is this working?” while turning the page anyway Congrats. This book is your sleigh ride to madness.
Neave is Santa's daughter, only shes forgotten due to her wild magic being unpredictable and an accident in the north pole that was triggered by some abusive behavior she witnessed. Shes sent to the "real world" where she slowly forgets everything about herself and where she grew up till her reindeer mates show up to bring her home. The book revolves mostly around her slowly remembering who she was by doing "Christmas joy" activities and falling for her mates. I do like the snarky comments and writing and i did lol at a few and even read a few lines to the husband which made him laugh too. I appreciate that style of writing for sure! There are some odd dropped storylines and plot holes that could possibly be picked up in another book however they feel dangly here. Like an elf best friend? I get it, with 10 main characters its hard to plug in extras and give them something of a story line but it feels missed. And the weird first date she went on that randomly showed up later? I feel like that whole but could have been dedicated to developing the friendship. You get to see her parents and get more of a feel for her mother then Santa, her father. But at least they are present. A few random elves interjected here and there to make it feel more Christmassy. But really the whole story could have used a hair more. I really wanted to love this book more then I did. I thought Santa's daughter and the reindeer, well that is a fun take on the story. But the personalities of the 9 reindeer get mixed together and they seemed fairly interchangeable. One is a health nut and thats about all you get. Rudy the lead reindeer is predictably broody ( for a good reason though) The spice just isnt as spicy as I thought it would be for 9 partners. But also I get it, time constraints. You cant really write a ton in there, they get busy in pairs and 3 somes. The mating ceremony/bonding was really private and special in its own way but nothing public or big? I guess delivering gifts takes precident. The funniest moment for me, was in the book when our FMC realizes its Nov 29th. and It was actually Nov 29th that I was reading it. And the next day they said they were having a tree ceremony. WELL Its the 30th today and my city is having a tree lighting ceremony today. So I insist we put up our tree. Just funny timing that I made my husband play into too!
A magical, fantasy-filled, spicy holiday read!!! Nine....yes....NINE MMCs as Reindeer shifters amd one FMC, Neve!!! Why choose just one, when you can have nine!!! This is one spicy novel sure to put you in the Christmas spirit!!!🦌👸🍪🥛❄️☃️
🎄✨ Christmas didn’t just appear in this book it exploded. Tinsel, magic, snow, and feelings everywhere. ✨🎄
I went into Of Magic and Reindeer fully expecting a little cheese and yes, the clichés are there. But this story knows what it is and leans into it hard. After all, this is a book about Santa’s daughter being spirited away to the North Pole by nine reindeer shifters (yes, nine), all acting like this is a perfectly reasonable Tuesday plan.
Neave is Santa’s daughter only she doesn’t remember it. After a traumatic accident in the North Pole caused by her volatile magic and triggered by abusive behavior she witnessed, she’s sent to the human world for her own safety. Over time, she forgets her magic, her home, and herself until her reindeer mates arrive to bring her back. What follows is a joyful, chaotic journey of rediscovery, where Christmas traditions, magic, and falling in love all collide.
The story truly shines when the nine reindeer shifters are introduced. Instead of feeling overwhelming, the sheer number of love interests is played for humor and charm especially when Neave jokes about needing an Excel spreadsheet just to keep track of them all. That moment perfectly captures the fun of her being genuinely interested in every single one of them. Each shifter feels distinct and thoughtfully developed, and I honestly adored them all though Rudy completely stole my heart.
Their personalities range from golden-retriever chaos to low, growly menace, but they’re united by one mission: shove Christmas spirit, magic, and joy back into Neave until she remembers who she truly is. Pair that with a grumpy, bah humbug FMC and you get a dynamic that’s endlessly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt. I laughed. I wheezed. I questioned my life choices and then immediately kept reading. Milk and cookies will never be the same again.
This is a reverse harem with no MM, all nine men are devoted to her, and there is a happy ending (though no future epilogue). With such a large cast, some physical descriptions blurred together Kip stood out clearly (redhead, peak golden retriever energy), Don is massive, someone’s blonde…but beyond that, visuals occasionally got fuzzy. My only real gripe is that the final confrontation with the villain felt a bit rushed and could’ve benefited from more breathing room.
Still, if you love:
🎅 Reverse harem chaos
❄️ Christmas cranked to eleven
😒 Grumpy FMCs being emotionally kidnapped by magic
🤨 Asking yourself “why is this working?” while turning the page anyway
Congratulations. This book is your sleigh ride straight into festive madness and it’s way more fun than it has any right to be. 🎄✨
I impatiently waited until December to read Of Magic & Reindeer by Maya Nicole and it was absolutely worth the self-inflicted torture. I genuinely think I read the entire book with a smile glued to my face.
This story is bursting with Christmas magic and plenty of spice. Neve hates Christmas, but her life gets delightfully upended when nine sexy reindeer shifters turn up to inform her she’s Santa’s daughter and needs to return to the North Pole. Before that can happen, though, the reindeer men insist on giving her “lessons” to help her rediscover both the joy of Christmas and her own magic. What follows is pure festive chaos: cookie decorating, ice skating, Christmas tree decorating, antler competitions, and other wonderfully cozy (and not-so-innocent) activities.
Neve is inexplicably drawn to the nine reindeer men and they are equally drawn to her. This is a spicy why choose romance, and yes, Neve ends up with all nine. It’s funny, touching, unapologetically steamy, and somehow still manages to feel warm and heartfelt beneath the spice.
My only minor gripe is that the final confrontation and takedown of the bad guy felt a bit rushed—it all wrapped up over a chapter or two and could have used more breathing room.
That said, this book is festive escapism at its finest: magical, spicy, hilarious, and overflowing with Christmas cheer (and abs). Highly recommended for anyone who likes their holiday reads hot, heartfelt, and delightfully unhinged. 🎄🔥🦌
While I thought the storyline was unique with Santa's reindeer being shifters I was expecting a much more spicy book simply due to there being 9 all for Santa's daughter. While they all end up being intimate with her in pairs then altogether, it wasn't as spicy as it could've gotten. There is no mm, they're all for her and an HEA but nothing in the future, no epilogue. There were some descriptions of the men in the beginning but with nine it got confusing and no clear image stayed as to what they look like, only Kip because he's a red head and golden retriever energy. Don is huge, someone is blonde but just wasn't clear so that made it harder to enjoy some parts. I think she had a best friend in the human world if I recall but they never mention her again? The book was definitely fun, different and entertaining but it could've had a bit more bonding aside from Christmas joy, like as individuals what do they have in common, do they wants kids even? They also bonded for life like a mate but no wedding ceremony or mating ceremony with the North pole elves etc. I would've liked an epilogue as well. If Santa turns human, he will die like a human but his wife won't...how does that work out (sad).
You'll never watch Rudolph with quite the same perspective after reading this, but I'm kinda here for it. There's an underlying ridiculous/silly vibe that just lifts the story a bit. The storyline itself leaves me with a few questions, mainly about the magic. It is an open door HEA style and has a decent storyline arc. The humor is very high level, including Neve's snark and sarcasm.
Character wise, I enjoy all of them. And yes 9 guys is a fair few to keep track of but all 9 plus Neve are decently written, consistent throughout, and respectable main characters. It's bugging me that we have no idea what happened with Mia, since she has solid bestie energy. The other random characters we meet, except Mike, are solidly interesting and fit well into the story.
The antagonist plotline is a bit underwhelming. Such an impactful character with very little on page time and a relatively light repercussion/resolution. My blood thirsty side is totally on board with the reindeer punishment ideas. Best brainstorming session I've ever read.
I’m not gonna lie I read this mostly because I thought the plot sounded kind of silly and thought this was going to be just a fun little read. Was not expecting the emotional rollercoaster I experienced.
The beginning with the plot set up is hilarious. Neve trying to justify all of the strange things happening to her while nine random men keep popping up is such a fun dynamic. I like that she didn’t immediately believe them. It felt more realistic reading her resistance.
Once the funny part was out of the way and we dive into Neve’s backstory and why everything is happening to her was where the emotional heartbreak began. I was not expecting to feel so many things while reading this book. I was completely hooked.
All of the men are so sweet in this book. On top of everything happening to her, her complicated relationship with Rudy hurt even more. Then when I got his backstory I was absolutely crushed.
One of the best Christmas themed books I’ve read this season, if not the best. I adored this book more than I ever thought I would.
It was one of those reads where I thought, “Ok, werewolves are hot, even bear shifters. But reindeer? That’s cutesy.” And cute it was. There was no major antagonist. There was one bad guy but it was a matter of he did something, they caught him, and took care of it. No true build up, no big event, no working around it. Just finished it. I guess I was looking for some huge plot twist, or crescendo, but it never reached that high. It just maintained, and there wasn’t a huge amount of detail either.
I really liked the story overall but would’ve liked to have seen more done with it too. Definitely more detail, maybe even a two parter? Just something a little more. Overall, I would recommend to a friend since the idea of the story is really good, and I’m probably just nitpicking.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 a lot of spice and pretty hot 🔥🔥🔥 the spice somewhat plays into the plot but in other areas is just added in and isn’t entirely needed.
Tropes: ❤️9 Reindeer Mates ❤️Grumpy (Joyless) FMC x 9 sunshine yet some broody reindeer MMCs ❤️Reverse Harem ❤️Santa’s Daughter (but she doesn’t know it)
A very sweet holiday story, where a grinch or Scrooge of a person finds Christmas joy, along with her mates. Only two questions:
(Spoiler if you keep reading… in a way?)
Neve left her home, dropped everything and just *poof* from her life, leaving behind a best friend…. I wish we had a scene where Neve had at least called her or visited her to get a sense of closure there. Even something as small as a gift to show she was thinking of her. She never even once thinks about her past life, of leaving her best friend behind, once she leaves Palm Springs.
Her father… I get he is passing the mantle over, slowly losing his magic and all, but does this mean he is going to die? While she, her men, her mother…everyone else will keep living? He mentioned losing his immortality but no one talks about what does that mean? And his mother says they are bonded so doesn’t that mean he is still immortal? Or will she die when he does, due to the bond?
So I don’t watch tv or movies with the exception of cheesy holiday romances. I hated Christmas for a long time because I didn’t have much family and then I created one of my own and started slowly enjoining it. Those movies remind me of the feelings I had throughout my journey. Christmas novels hit me the same way so when I say this one is perfect it really is. I love this author and I expected a lot from this book and it went above and beyond. It definitely held the cheesy Christmas element that actually got more and more prevalent as the story progressed but so did the genuine heart of it. There was a lot of great spicy moments so it definitely fits the RH goodness anyone could want because what is the point of an RH without the heat? 9 reindeer shifters and a daughter that forgot she was North Pole royalty aka the daughter of Santa Claus with all the feels and all the steam it is definitely the perfect RH holiday shifter romance.
This was a fast read and it was filled with smut and holiday joy and I enjoyed reading it. Did I go in knowing that this was going to be a why choose with 9 shape shifting reindeer? Yes, yes I did. Do I regret reading it? Absolutely not! This book was really funny but also had a lot of Christmas references and a search for Christmas joy.
Neve, lives in Palm Beach and really doesn’t like Christmas. She’s not sure why, but she knows that is how she feels. Well, maybe, spoiler, it is because she has lost her memory of growing up in the North Pole and being the daughter of Santa. However, Santa needs help and Neve needs to get her memory back. And that is where the reindeer come in. They are a herd and are all drawn to her and help her find her way back home. Neve did get on my nerves just a tad by really holding onto the Grinch personality, but over the course of the book, she found her Christmas Spirit.
It is really hilarious that they use cookies and ugly sweaters and snow ball fights to help her remember, as well as their charm and more. Each man has a great personality that complements Neve’s. I cannot say that this book is spicy, because that doesn’t really cover it. This one has a lot of smutty parts to it that read perfect. They all form their bonds with her and there is a great happy ending where they work together to save Christmas.
Very cute little Christmas story overall, however it could have gone more in depth in the plot and setting details with less sexual encounters. I feel 75% of the fmc's personality was strictly her being a horn dog while her men had really endearing personality traits, which made her a little unlikeable throughout the story. There didn't seem to be a huge amount of character development with herself towards her attitude, as she continued to be a stubborn negative Nancy without the aid of her men, with what development she had (which was a whole lifestyle change) felt forced. Every other character within the book was absolutely adorable and should have been given some more page time in exchange for the smut encounters, more specifically Lumi and maybe Rudy's dad for more depth there or even introduce Rudy's mom. I recommend reading once if smut is your thing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Maya has written a book full of joy! I have laughed my way through the banter between these characters & the wit from Neve was brilliant!
I will never look at milk & cookies the same way again! 😜
The spice level was also 5⭐️, the relationship building - lots of fun ✔️
I think we all need a Nibbleknot in our lives. While the story was well written & from Neve’s POV, it flowed really well. Maya writes amazing stories!
As for the Christmas aspect, it was more than perfect! The story made sense, it was Christmas magical & full of detail that made you want to live at the Norh Pole!
This book pleasantly surprised me. I was expecting something extremely campy with very little substance, but found the story to be touching and sincere. The fmc's grumpiness and reticence added levity and lots of laugh out loud moments. There were times early where I felt the fmc should have given a little more fight/resistance. Otherwise, I appreciated that I could really see her growth on page and felt her frustration, fear, and confusion in addition to the moments of joy and awe as her as the story progressed. The fmc's journey was the real focus of the book, while the men were used to keep her story moving forward (and provided spice, of course). They kind of blurred together, but there's only so much backstory and individualization that can be done in 350 pages.
Well, this was a joy to read. Very immersed in Christmas spirit with a side order of sexy.
Was fun to go thru the journey of rediscovering Neve's magic nd her joy. Each reindeer man brought something to the story, nd I thought for sure I'd get confused about who was whom, but I never did. Each of them had their own unique personality that made it easy to like em. Some kinky ass reindeer shifters in this herd. Damn. Had a dp moment...as in 2 candy cane's in 1 cuppa cocoa 😉...that was mad hot.
I really liked the mix of "traditional" reindeer names (Dash - Dasher, Vix - Vixen) nd then ones that only shared their first letter (Pierce - Prancer)...was a cute nod to the song.
Of Magic and Reindeer was such a fun twist on a holiday romance! Never is basically a grinch — no joy, no Christmas spirit, just surviving the season — until she ends up meeting nine reindeer shifters who slowly bring her joy (and warmth) back.
I really liked how some of the reindeer names played off the traditional ones; it was a clever nod without being cheesy. There’s plenty of spice throughout, though I do wish there had been a few more group scenes instead of mostly pairs. The story stays pretty low angst, but once Never starts remembering things, you can tell there’s someone important in her past — the reveal doesn’t come until later, which kept me hooked.
Overall, this was a fun, steamy, and festive read. I’d love to see a follow-up novella just to check in on everyone — it definitely left me smiling!
This was an interesting read. A woman who doesn't like Christmas is suddenly bombarded by Christmas traditions and telepathic shifter reindeer. Turns out there's more than meets the eye regarding her Christmas hate. NINE is just too much, even for a fantasy book. I couldn't keep up with the appearances and personalities .
Don't want to get into spoilers but the reason why she left her home was lame and why the herd went to find her was meh/ glossed over.
Loved the Christmas activities which has given me ideas. I might start my prep early for gingerbread men and maybe try ice skating after many, many years. Wish me luck
Christmas in its full joyful magic, this book had me blush one minute then laughing the next. Each of the nine reindeer are so adorable with their love and donation to Neve. I love how the names are similar to the tradition names of Kip for Cupid and Don for donner. A fun twist on the names that worked so beautifully. It deepens that feel of Christmas magic and joy with how the love is explored. It’s deep without being heavy keeping the story feeling pretty light yet intriguing and fun to read. Not to mention the imagery in the book makes everything sound so much more magically.
I borrowed this book from kindle unlimited, honestly not expecting much as I’d never heard of it and just happened across it when looking for spicy paranormal holiday reads. Now I wish I had found it sooner because this book was just so good! It is reverse harem with 9 male partners, so if that’s not your cup of tea, this isn’t for you. But the story itself was chef’s kiss good! Neve hates Christmas and lives in the desert…until one night she crosses paths with 9 guys, and everything starts to change. I won’t give away more than that but if you’re looking for a sweet holiday romance (there IS spice in this but I personally would not rate it as particularly spicy myself).
1st person pov, Palm Springs, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and the North Pole, primarily. HEA, about 3 peppers spice, tiny bit of kink, a few mild triggers. This is a delightful lighthearted reverse harem romance between a girl and 9 reindeer shifters. Because it is a standalone, it focuses more on Neve, the 1st person fmc, and sort of leaves the men shallow and underdeveloped. There is lots of humor, some interesting undercurrents, and lots of rather sweet relationships. Recommended if you are looking for a nice, lighthearted holiday romance that is not entirely average.
Holy, Christmas was this not the cutest, funniest holiday themed “why choose” book I have ever read? Everything was absolutely perfect and I loved how entirely different each of Neve’s nine men were. They all had their own special quirks and personalities and they all had me falling in love right alongside Ms. North.
While the book isn’t terrible emotional it was beautiful and I found myself sighing a few times but mostly laughing out loud.
I am pretty sure this is my first book from the author and it will certainly not be the last!
New author to me. Saw the advert on Facebook and decided to give it a try. So glad I did. I loved the concept and idea behind the plot, Santa’s exiled daughter for her protection. Nine reindeer mates, nine! I wasn’t sure how it would work but Maya managed to to write believable bedroom scenes which scalded the page. Lots of good humour, action, hilarity and emotions. From bah humbug to god bless us everyone, great Christmas read. Will definitely check out other books.
I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was intriguing, steamy and quite entertaining.
Neve, the FMC, has zero Christmas spirit. That is, until she meets a bunch of reindeer shifters that teach her about the joys of Christmas, and ultimately, herself. This story is quite well done and a great read. Neve’s journey is well done, and I loved each of her men. Their banter and relationships were both sweet and cozy, and steamy as expected in a why choose book.
YESSS!!! This was literally the Christmas book I needed! There was spice without being overwhelming, a hallmark movie feel without being grossly cheesy, and a whole bunch of amazing and sexy reindeer shifter men 😏 I loved Neve’s self discovery journey and how supportive her nine reindeer were. I also loved her relationship with her parents and her new found family.
“Rate us however you want, sweetheart. But know that I’m aiming for nothing less than the naughty list.”
A woman who despises Christmas and 9 reindeer shifters who want to share all kinds of holiday magic with her. 😉🤣 Say less.
I saw this book randomly pop up in my Facebook feed and immediately began reading it, completely disregarding my TBR, and I have no regrets. It’s utterly ridiculous but so much fun. It was such a quick and easy read and had me giggling out loud a bunch.
If you want a sweet, funny, Christmassy romance with loads of spice, definitely give this one a read. It’s available now on Kindle Unlimited.