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Chains and Candy Canes
Santa says ho, ho, ho. Krampus just wants one.
I used to like Christmas. But this year? Total dumpster fire. My fiancé ran off with my barely-legal baby sister, my dad’s six feet under, and my mom is cosplaying as Martha Stewart: Holiday Edition. All I want is to drink my weight in vodka, torch the mistletoe, and pretend Christmas isn’t happening.
Instead, I make one reckless wish—and accidentally summon Krampus. Yes, that Krampus. Horns, hooves, chains, the whole nightmare-before-Christmas starter pack.
Because when life gives you heartbreak, you don’t go to therapy. You summon a goat demon with a stalking kink.
So now I, Katherine Evergreen, have to survive thirteen terrifying days of Christmas with a monster who jingles when he walks, growls when he talks, and looks at me like I’m the only present worth unwrapping.
So wish me luck. Or whiskey. But preferably both.
I used to like Christmas. But this year? Total dumpster fire. My fiancé ran off with my barely-legal baby sister, my dad’s six feet under, and my mom is cosplaying as Martha Stewart: Holiday Edition. All I want is to drink my weight in vodka, torch the mistletoe, and pretend Christmas isn’t happening.
Instead, I make one reckless wish—and accidentally summon Krampus. Yes, that Krampus. Horns, hooves, chains, the whole nightmare-before-Christmas starter pack.
Because when life gives you heartbreak, you don’t go to therapy. You summon a goat demon with a stalking kink.
So now I, Katherine Evergreen, have to survive thirteen terrifying days of Christmas with a monster who jingles when he walks, growls when he talks, and looks at me like I’m the only present worth unwrapping.
So wish me luck. Or whiskey. But preferably both.
260 pages, ebook
Published December 1, 2025
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 9, 2025
What is the easiest way to get back at a cheating boyfriend? Enlist a demon to do it for you of course!! Not just any demon though, it has to be Krampus. I ate this up and left no crumbs!!! From playing All I want for Christmas by Mariah Carey on repeat to a demented elf on the shelf who tells all the dirty secrets this was chef’s kiss. I absolutely loved the FMC she is so snarky. I was rolling at parts due to her thoughts, inner monologue, and comments. This book is a good time coated in peppermint frosting😉.
November 24, 2025
Katherine accidentally summons Krampus for revenge when she goes to her mothers for Christmas and learns that her cheating ex-boyfriend and her little b.tch of a sister (yep, that’s what you think) will attend too. Everything’s a mess, and maybe the 12 days she will have to spend with Krampus in return of the vengeful favors will do her some good…?
It cured my reading slump. I was so in the mood for a smutty Krampus dark romance and it was so fun to read. It deals with heavy themes such as grief and cheating, but there’s an ever present touch of humour that was so refreshing, I really liked it.
Thanks for much to Lillith for the arc!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spicy
Keywords: accidental summoning, krampus, revenge, cheating, secrets, grief, spice.
It cured my reading slump. I was so in the mood for a smutty Krampus dark romance and it was so fun to read. It deals with heavy themes such as grief and cheating, but there’s an ever present touch of humour that was so refreshing, I really liked it.
Thanks for much to Lillith for the arc!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spicy
Keywords: accidental summoning, krampus, revenge, cheating, secrets, grief, spice.
November 2, 2025
***ARC READ***
I personally love Krampus, I was the movie every year. If you're a fan of Krampus, dark romance and fantasy then this is for you! It was a brilliantly written book and I was honestly hooked. I especially enjoyed how Krampus was written in this book!
And the ending was so sweet! I thoroughly recommend reading this!
I personally love Krampus, I was the movie every year. If you're a fan of Krampus, dark romance and fantasy then this is for you! It was a brilliantly written book and I was honestly hooked. I especially enjoyed how Krampus was written in this book!
And the ending was so sweet! I thoroughly recommend reading this!
November 17, 2025
This really made me want to read all the dark Krampus stories. It was a spicy wild ride, and I loved every moment of it. The ending was sweet, a little sad, but mostly sweet. The banter and puns were great! It's definitely a fun spicy dark holiday read.
December 8, 2025
TYPE OF REVIEW BASE: 🖤 1. Sensual Fiction
Title: Chains and Candy Canes
Author: Lillith Abendroth
Genre: Dark Romance
Subgenre: Monster Romance, Christmas Smut
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
● Tropes: Pact, Magic, Flavoured💦, Size Difference, Dub/Non-Con, Knotting, Breeding, Voyeurism
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Thoughts:
● Tone & Themes:
- There’s definite trauma in the main character; trust issues, family manipulation, and emotional neglect. It’s messy, relatable, and painfully realistic for anyone who’s dealt with toxic family ties, or tough intimate relationships.
- The book’s darker elements, like the sexual content, creepy elves, and literal on-page violence (it is Krampus, after all), are balanced by unexpected affection and care. It explores how comfort can come from unlikely places, alongside themes of loss, grief, trust, and self-worth.
● Plot & Pacing:
- A fast, niche read that does exactly what it promises: festive Christmas smut with a touch of heart.
- The pacing flies, but it fits the 12-day setup.
- The opening to Krampus, the chase scene through the house, was a standout for me in both description and feeling; it was tense, thrilling, and full of dread for the main character.
- Beyond the relationship, there is a revenge plot. It’s a little hit-and-miss with the constant changes in the contract or in feelings, but it is human to change our minds, as Krampus notes. Still, the revenge is fun and festive! The elf scene? Equal parts hilarious and unsettling; it was definitely another highlight.
- While the intimacy develops believably within a paranormal sense, emotional shifts happen a bit too fast - from “Love is a rather human emotion, and as a demon, I believe I am incapable of feeling it” to full-blown love, and talk of children over 11-ish chapters (a few days in book context).
- The self-acceptance arc is beautiful, and I always love to read about it in books.
● Characters:
⇢ Krampus:
- He is everything you’d hope for in a monster love interest: dangerous yet oddly tender.
- Beneath the horns and hooves lies a demon who craves connection (or at least family) as much as he delivers punishment. His protectiveness and willingness to cherish Katherine gave depth beyond the smut.
⇢ Katherine:
- A refreshingly older protagonist (still only at 30yrs old). I enjoyed seeing this represented, for we have SO many dark romances with younger characters in their early 20s.
- Her sarcasm and quick wit helped to ground the chaos, and her reflections on age, self-image, and wanting more from her life hit close to home in ways that Female Main Characters don't usually do for me.
- Katherine is so relatable, resilient, and delightfully snarky. Every time she had a sarcastic thought, or opened her mouth to other characters, I found myself amused.
⇢ Side Characters:
- In small, quick-paced smut books like this, I often find the side characters to either be over the top, or unnecessary. In this, I found them brief but very effective for the plot.
- Katherine's sister and mother add emotional realism and betrayal that sting. I found myself hating them soooo much for their behaviour and manipulations. The family dynamic mirrors real-life; messy and dysfunctional.
- There was mention of a brother but it felt like a dropped thread for he never showed up or was spoken about more, but otherwise, the supporting cast strengthened the tension.
- Though the ex was the reason for her being home in the first place, Mike felt a bit lost in the background; I found him hanging around whilst chaos centered more around the others, but the final scene with him & Krampus was strangely satisfying.
● Chemistry & Spice:
- The chemistry is playful, teasing, and emotionally aware. The banter between Katherine and Krampus sells the connection more than the physical scenes, which are steamy yet have a mutual understanding and quickly evolving trust.
- To be blunt, It was refreshing to read about the guy enjoying/also shaking or convulsing in climax instead of seeming so unbothered like in other books I've read. (Nicely done)
- The smut content itself is great, but I often found myself tilting my head in confusion, trying to imagine the positioning (haha).
● Writing Style:
- The dialogue shines in this book, especially during the elf and confessional scenes. Lilith Abendroth balances absurdity with authenticity and self compassion, and the humour keeps the tone light where it could easily have turned too dark.
● Other Notes:
- Occasional pacing slips (time jumps, unclear transitions between days).
- Krampus’s height descriptions vary (7ft vs 9–10ft).
- Some repetition early on, though it settles later.
● Final notes:
- We knew the story would end this way, and it was bittersweet, but a few interesting things came up in the epilogue: the demonic play stacking-blocks that seemed linked either to Krampus himself in hell or to the elf, and Katherine’s sister knowing about Krampus. I feel that, here, things could do with more explaining. It certainly leaves the story open for more development if Lilith was to decide on an additional story.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Quotes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Title: Chains and Candy Canes
Author: Lillith Abendroth
Genre: Dark Romance
Subgenre: Monster Romance, Christmas Smut
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
● Tropes: Pact, Magic, Flavoured💦, Size Difference, Dub/Non-Con, Knotting, Breeding, Voyeurism
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Thoughts:
● Tone & Themes:
- There’s definite trauma in the main character; trust issues, family manipulation, and emotional neglect. It’s messy, relatable, and painfully realistic for anyone who’s dealt with toxic family ties, or tough intimate relationships.
- The book’s darker elements, like the sexual content, creepy elves, and literal on-page violence (it is Krampus, after all), are balanced by unexpected affection and care. It explores how comfort can come from unlikely places, alongside themes of loss, grief, trust, and self-worth.
● Plot & Pacing:
- A fast, niche read that does exactly what it promises: festive Christmas smut with a touch of heart.
- The pacing flies, but it fits the 12-day setup.
- The opening to Krampus, the chase scene through the house, was a standout for me in both description and feeling; it was tense, thrilling, and full of dread for the main character.
- Beyond the relationship, there is a revenge plot. It’s a little hit-and-miss with the constant changes in the contract or in feelings, but it is human to change our minds, as Krampus notes. Still, the revenge is fun and festive! The elf scene? Equal parts hilarious and unsettling; it was definitely another highlight.
- While the intimacy develops believably within a paranormal sense, emotional shifts happen a bit too fast - from “Love is a rather human emotion, and as a demon, I believe I am incapable of feeling it” to full-blown love, and talk of children over 11-ish chapters (a few days in book context).
- The self-acceptance arc is beautiful, and I always love to read about it in books.
● Characters:
⇢ Krampus:
- He is everything you’d hope for in a monster love interest: dangerous yet oddly tender.
- Beneath the horns and hooves lies a demon who craves connection (or at least family) as much as he delivers punishment. His protectiveness and willingness to cherish Katherine gave depth beyond the smut.
⇢ Katherine:
- A refreshingly older protagonist (still only at 30yrs old). I enjoyed seeing this represented, for we have SO many dark romances with younger characters in their early 20s.
- Her sarcasm and quick wit helped to ground the chaos, and her reflections on age, self-image, and wanting more from her life hit close to home in ways that Female Main Characters don't usually do for me.
- Katherine is so relatable, resilient, and delightfully snarky. Every time she had a sarcastic thought, or opened her mouth to other characters, I found myself amused.
⇢ Side Characters:
- In small, quick-paced smut books like this, I often find the side characters to either be over the top, or unnecessary. In this, I found them brief but very effective for the plot.
- Katherine's sister and mother add emotional realism and betrayal that sting. I found myself hating them soooo much for their behaviour and manipulations. The family dynamic mirrors real-life; messy and dysfunctional.
- There was mention of a brother but it felt like a dropped thread for he never showed up or was spoken about more, but otherwise, the supporting cast strengthened the tension.
- Though the ex was the reason for her being home in the first place, Mike felt a bit lost in the background; I found him hanging around whilst chaos centered more around the others, but the final scene with him & Krampus was strangely satisfying.
● Chemistry & Spice:
- The chemistry is playful, teasing, and emotionally aware. The banter between Katherine and Krampus sells the connection more than the physical scenes, which are steamy yet have a mutual understanding and quickly evolving trust.
- To be blunt, It was refreshing to read about the guy enjoying/also shaking or convulsing in climax instead of seeming so unbothered like in other books I've read. (Nicely done)
- The smut content itself is great, but I often found myself tilting my head in confusion, trying to imagine the positioning (haha).
● Writing Style:
- The dialogue shines in this book, especially during the elf and confessional scenes. Lilith Abendroth balances absurdity with authenticity and self compassion, and the humour keeps the tone light where it could easily have turned too dark.
● Other Notes:
- Occasional pacing slips (time jumps, unclear transitions between days).
- Krampus’s height descriptions vary (7ft vs 9–10ft).
- Some repetition early on, though it settles later.
● Final notes:
- We knew the story would end this way, and it was bittersweet, but a few interesting things came up in the epilogue: the demonic play stacking-blocks that seemed linked either to Krampus himself in hell or to the elf, and Katherine’s sister knowing about Krampus. I feel that, here, things could do with more explaining. It certainly leaves the story open for more development if Lilith was to decide on an additional story.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆₊⋆ ━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Quotes:
1.
“If only eye-rolling burned calories, I would have been a supermodel.”
2.
“Oh cool. Built in handle bars.”
3.
“I'm going to take you. Make you mine. Show you what mortals were never meant to survive, and see if you live to tell the tale.”
4.
“Do I seem like a babysitter to you, Katherine?”
5.
“Trust is not an easy thing to come by, especially after what you've been through. But please remember that I am here to help you.”
6.
“Watch what happens when mortal peasants place their filthy fingers on what is mine.”
7.
“F.uck you, Mary. You have no room to judge.”
November 29, 2025
ARC REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved it! An amazing quick and dirty holiday horrormance. I found the dark humor right up my alley. So good.
Kat has such a sarcastic and dry sense of humor. She has been dealt some pretty terrible cards this year and to cap it all off her completely underwelming fiancé gets her baby, like barely legal, sister pregnant.
Perfect! absolutely fkn outstanding.
The family Christmas is a nightmare of tension and all around horribleness UNTIL Kat summons Krampus. Who will do her bidding until he is sent back to hell at midnight Christmas Day.
Krampus is very literal but slowly starts to open up and even make jokes with Kat. He will do anything she wants. Even when she rethinks her rash decisions he amends his actions. BUT she must pay a price and she will e screaming his name while paying it.
Kat wrestles with her emotions and guilt over how she is reacting to her families betrayal. All of us at some point or another have wished for someone’s death is a Fitbit anger or hurt. But Krampus will dole out that punishment and make that wish come true.
He is domineering, brutal, but she still comes first. ALOT. He starts to feel things that he never believed his demon heart could feel.
#ARCreview #chainsandcandycanes #krampus #darkromance #checkyourtriggers #monstersdoitbetter
December 10, 2025
This audiobook feels like a cheesy, spicy, B-rated holiday horror movie—and I mean that in the absolute best way.
Cat catches her fiancé in bed with her little sister Same, Cat pack her bags to go cry at my mom’s house. Unfortunately for Cat, her mother believes in “family togetherness,” which apparently includes inviting the cheating sister and Cat’s ex-fiancé to spend Christmas under the same roof.
Naturally, Cat has a full-blown holiday-induced mental breakdown and makes one desperate Christmas wish: revenge.
Enter Crampus—yes, that Crampus. Horns, tail, fur, chaotic energy, and a voice that could absolutely ruin your moral compass. He agrees to grant her wish… but of course, he has conditions.
What follows is pure, unhinged, murder-flavored, spicy holiday mayhem—and I ate up every second of it.
Never thought I’d be rooting for a HEA between a heartbroken human and a revenge-granting demon… and yet here I am.
Cat catches her fiancé in bed with her little sister Same, Cat pack her bags to go cry at my mom’s house. Unfortunately for Cat, her mother believes in “family togetherness,” which apparently includes inviting the cheating sister and Cat’s ex-fiancé to spend Christmas under the same roof.
Naturally, Cat has a full-blown holiday-induced mental breakdown and makes one desperate Christmas wish: revenge.
Enter Crampus—yes, that Crampus. Horns, tail, fur, chaotic energy, and a voice that could absolutely ruin your moral compass. He agrees to grant her wish… but of course, he has conditions.
What follows is pure, unhinged, murder-flavored, spicy holiday mayhem—and I ate up every second of it.
Never thought I’d be rooting for a HEA between a heartbroken human and a revenge-granting demon… and yet here I am.
November 8, 2025
Chains and Candy Canes by Lilith Abendroth is a dark and unexpected twist on holiday romance. It takes sweetness, warmth, love (everything you’d associate with the holiday season) and blends it with something wild, eerie, and deeply emotional.
The monster romance element is handled with surprising depth. Abendroth doesn’t just focus on attraction; she digs into fear, trust, and what it means to be seen when you feel unlovable. The tension between beauty and brutality runs through every page, and it keeps you hooked.
The pacing moves quickly, sometimes almost too quickly, but it suits the story’s intensity. And while this definitely isn’t a cozy holiday read, it’s perfect for anyone who wants something that mixes romance, darkness, and redemption in equal measure.
The monster romance element is handled with surprising depth. Abendroth doesn’t just focus on attraction; she digs into fear, trust, and what it means to be seen when you feel unlovable. The tension between beauty and brutality runs through every page, and it keeps you hooked.
The pacing moves quickly, sometimes almost too quickly, but it suits the story’s intensity. And while this definitely isn’t a cozy holiday read, it’s perfect for anyone who wants something that mixes romance, darkness, and redemption in equal measure.
November 19, 2025
ARC Review
Thank you Lillith Abendroth letting me ARC read this crazy spicy story!! I'll never look at Krampus the same way again! LOL!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Please read trigger warnings!!
I love everything Christmas & Krampus but who knew you could summon him and then sign a contract. To be his submissive while he let's you control your own destiny in a spicy wild ride!!
Thank you Lillith Abendroth letting me ARC read this crazy spicy story!! I'll never look at Krampus the same way again! LOL!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Please read trigger warnings!!
I love everything Christmas & Krampus but who knew you could summon him and then sign a contract. To be his submissive while he let's you control your own destiny in a spicy wild ride!!
November 22, 2025
Chains and Candy Canes by Lillith Abendroth is wow. This story is full of craziness, spice, ups and downs, and monster romance. What do you do when you have a cheating boyfriend? Get revenge with a demon, just not any demon, Krampus. The sass from the FMC to the emotions that come out is so raw. I loved everything this had. Remember to read the trigger warnings.
December 5, 2025
Santa can go somewhere because Krampus is here to stay. This book was WILD and I loved EVERY second of it. This has everything from real life situations, revenge and a little smexy time to an adorable little elf with a bad side. I loved the progression that the story takes from the life of the fmc to the problems and issues through out her family and the solutions that Krampus has to offer. Which are incredible HOT i might add! This a deranged cozy cute and smutty dark book and I love all the Christmas stuff that makes it the perfect dark holiday book!
November 6, 2025
holy shit this book was amazing could i put it down no it was so good the storyline the spice the characters 😍 honestly I had so many different emotions in this book but it was so worth it the ending wad frickin fabulous 👌 honestly go read this book so worth it a physical copy will be bought ❤️
November 8, 2025
***ARC READ***
I absolutely loved this book. It’s an amazing mix of smut, romance, and comedy. Kat is super witty and funny and snarky. Krampus is…. Well an ancient demon that is sometimes awkward with figuring out kinks in the 21st century. Highly recommend this book.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s an amazing mix of smut, romance, and comedy. Kat is super witty and funny and snarky. Krampus is…. Well an ancient demon that is sometimes awkward with figuring out kinks in the 21st century. Highly recommend this book.
December 7, 2025
I received a gifted copy. This review is honest and voluntary.
I really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. The book itself was a fun experience as well. A bit dark. A bit humorous. A few lessons sprinkled in the mix, with a naughty slice of spice. I had fun listening to this audiobook.
I really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. The book itself was a fun experience as well. A bit dark. A bit humorous. A few lessons sprinkled in the mix, with a naughty slice of spice. I had fun listening to this audiobook.
February 15, 2026
Chains and Candy Canes
This book had me INVESTED. Never did i think id be rooting for a story for Krampus to get the girl! Lillith Abendroth did it again! In a word this book was AMAZING!
This book had me INVESTED. Never did i think id be rooting for a story for Krampus to get the girl! Lillith Abendroth did it again! In a word this book was AMAZING!
November 25, 2025
ARC review
This is a cute Christmas story you will want to reread. The best part is krampus and the banter between him and Katherine. The ending is sad ...........
This is a cute Christmas story you will want to reread. The best part is krampus and the banter between him and Katherine. The ending is sad ...........
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews