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12 NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS: The Asylum Advent Collection
Twelve nights of dying. One season you won’t The Asylum Advent Collection
Twelve patients.
Twelve final confessions—each one tangled in the holidays.
This isn’t a season of comfort. Not on Jack Steen’s floor.
Each night brings another dying soul with a secret heavy enough to drag the dark a toymaker obsessed with broken children, a woman who decided which kids never came home, a man whose holiday ledger ended in blood, and others who carried their sins far too long.
So pour a drink. Lock your door.
And settle in for twelve nights of cold truths from the Death Ward.
12 NIGHTS BEFORE An Asylum Advent Collection
Twelve nights.
Twelve dying souls.
No light at the end—just the truth they finally let slip.
Twelve patients.
Twelve final confessions—each one tangled in the holidays.
This isn’t a season of comfort. Not on Jack Steen’s floor.
Each night brings another dying soul with a secret heavy enough to drag the dark a toymaker obsessed with broken children, a woman who decided which kids never came home, a man whose holiday ledger ended in blood, and others who carried their sins far too long.
So pour a drink. Lock your door.
And settle in for twelve nights of cold truths from the Death Ward.
12 NIGHTS BEFORE An Asylum Advent Collection
Twelve nights.
Twelve dying souls.
No light at the end—just the truth they finally let slip.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2025
117 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 25, 2026
I love these by this author.
December 31, 2025
12 Nights Before Christmas by Jack Steen was an absolute blast — dark, clever, and surprisingly addictive.
This is not your cozy Hallmark holiday story. This is Christmas with a wicked sense of humor, a sharp edge, and enough twisted moments to make you question your life choices… in a good way. I went in expecting something fun and came out genuinely entertained and mildly unhinged.
The pacing is quick, the tone is deliciously dark, and the whole concept works ridiculously well. I flew through it, constantly thinking, “This is messed up… I love it.”
Is it subtle? No.
Is it deep and literary? Also no.
Is it wildly entertaining and perfect for the season if you like your holiday reads with a side of chaos? Absolutely.
Final verdict: 4 stars.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants their Christmas reading with a little murder, a lot of attitude, and zero silent nights. 🎄🔪📚
This is not your cozy Hallmark holiday story. This is Christmas with a wicked sense of humor, a sharp edge, and enough twisted moments to make you question your life choices… in a good way. I went in expecting something fun and came out genuinely entertained and mildly unhinged.
The pacing is quick, the tone is deliciously dark, and the whole concept works ridiculously well. I flew through it, constantly thinking, “This is messed up… I love it.”
Is it subtle? No.
Is it deep and literary? Also no.
Is it wildly entertaining and perfect for the season if you like your holiday reads with a side of chaos? Absolutely.
Final verdict: 4 stars.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants their Christmas reading with a little murder, a lot of attitude, and zero silent nights. 🎄🔪📚
December 30, 2025
Twelve patients.
Twelve final confessions—each one tangled in the holidays.
This isn’t a season of comfort. Not on Jack Steen’s floor.
Each night brings another dying soul with a secret heavy enough to drag the dark a toymaker obsessed with broken children, a woman who decided which kids never came home, a man whose holiday ledger ended in blood, and others who carried their sins far too long.
I'm enjoying reading the confessions series and this one was no exception. Another great read. I can understand why some of these patients did what they did, when others couldn't see it. Some of them though knew they were in control and had the power and they used it to their advantage.
Twelve final confessions—each one tangled in the holidays.
This isn’t a season of comfort. Not on Jack Steen’s floor.
Each night brings another dying soul with a secret heavy enough to drag the dark a toymaker obsessed with broken children, a woman who decided which kids never came home, a man whose holiday ledger ended in blood, and others who carried their sins far too long.
I'm enjoying reading the confessions series and this one was no exception. Another great read. I can understand why some of these patients did what they did, when others couldn't see it. Some of them though knew they were in control and had the power and they used it to their advantage.
December 30, 2025
Not bad, though this one came across as rushed. It didn't have the same hold as the rest of the books in this series.
January 8, 2026
Stories were good but the editing was so bad in this one. Felt very rushed. Jack’s stories are so good but it can be hard to overcome the poor editing.
January 9, 2026
Overview:
First off feel like I need to make this clear: Jack Steen is one of my favorite authors. I love the humor in some of his stories and his writing style makes me just devour his books but I really wish he would hire a better editor. As someone who struggles with reading even as an adult; when I can notice mistakes I know it’s bad. Spelling, grammar, repeating whole paragraphs. This book seems to not know what it wants to be. Half the stories have everything to do with Christmas, half the stories have nothing to do with Christmas. There is no order to them if they are supposed to be leading up to Christmas. Granted I did not read this book as the advent calendar format and am glad that I didn’t because of the lack of flow or lead up.
Marjorie – Warmth
If you have read the first book of the Asylum Confessions, you will remember Bucket. This story gives major Bucket energy.
I may be a little bias here because Bucket was one of my favorite stories from the original book and it’s how I sell this series to people. Marjorie’s story is a little heartbreaking because she genuinely doesn’t seem to understand what she did wrong.
Elliot – Choir Boy
There are some disgusting people who shouldn’t have access to children and unfortunately this story shows why.
Pushing children to be your idea of perfect has always set me a little weird because they are just learning and growing. This Choir director seemed to not understand that; he wanted them to be perfect or else.
Mara – On Display
Some people really take their work too seriously and get too obsessed with making sure everything is “perfect”.
I can understand and respect putting your heart and soul into your work and then having someone come along and ruin it and it makes you a little crazy.
Arthur – The Lover
Love and family traditions sometimes mean a little too much to people and they can’t see past that. Dealing with grief can be messy.
I’m a sucker for a good love story and having that be the base for this story really set me in the holiday mood. The bond and traditions being set from the base of their relationship; I can respect wanting to keep them. Maybe not to that extent.
Milo – Toy Maker
Parents really need to pay attention to their children and realize that they are not workers. They are children who want to be just like their parents.
Probably my least favorite story of them all because it didn’t seem like Milo wanted anything other than to prove to his father that he existed which I think his father was fully aware of but he wanted/needed to focus on his job.
Cassandra – Foster care Warrior
Some children need help and saving in a broken system that will do nothing but hurt them. Some children don’t deserve saving; they are monsters.
I can’t imagine working a job where you go into other people’s homes and you have to watch and see the monsters that are created in this broken system. When most people talk about monsters in the foster care system they are talking about adults that shouldn’t be left alone with children, not children that shouldn’t be.
Gideon – Mall Security
We take our job seriously and we want to protect all we can but sometimes the voices we hear in our head can get us into trouble.
My second to least favorite story of the book. He really didn’t have a personality outside of his need to protect. He was very one sided.
Cassian – Bell Ringer
Feeling like you are responsible for making sure someone sees the afterlife they deserve is a hard expectation to set for yourself; making it your life’s work makes it detrimental to all around you.
I feel like there is a level of religious trauma that goes with this story. He’s told this is your job; ring the bell as someone dies. He feels like because he didn’t do this he damned this person so he tries to make sure it never happens again.
Ruth – Teacher
It’s hard to watch a child suffer through something that you know you can fix. Questioning why no one will listen to your concerns makes for a hard work environment. You are just doing what is best for the child.
Watching a child get mistreated (even if only in your eyes) is extremely hard to do. Having a system that doesn't support or listen to you makes it impossible to ignore the injustice you are witnessing.
Christopher – Firefighter
When duty tells you that you are supposed to serve and protect but does everyone deserve those rights?
Another really heavy hitter because you have to ask yourself would you have done the same thing? I understand it’s wrong to play judge, jury and executioner for someone but when you know the world would be better off without them?
Jenna – Hospice Care
No one deserves to die alone without someone seeing them but what happens when it isn’t in your job description to be there the whole time.
Jobs I know I could never do. I understand this place has it’s rules but I think it’s kind of weird that the upset of the families when she was just trying to be there for these people in their final moments and being honest with them and giving them what they wanted.
Danial – Book Keeper
When you control the books you control all the power. You get to choose who lives and who doesn't get to see Christmas.
Definitely reminded me or the murder for hire series and as a nice wrap up to the book.
First off feel like I need to make this clear: Jack Steen is one of my favorite authors. I love the humor in some of his stories and his writing style makes me just devour his books but I really wish he would hire a better editor. As someone who struggles with reading even as an adult; when I can notice mistakes I know it’s bad. Spelling, grammar, repeating whole paragraphs. This book seems to not know what it wants to be. Half the stories have everything to do with Christmas, half the stories have nothing to do with Christmas. There is no order to them if they are supposed to be leading up to Christmas. Granted I did not read this book as the advent calendar format and am glad that I didn’t because of the lack of flow or lead up.
Marjorie – Warmth
If you have read the first book of the Asylum Confessions, you will remember Bucket. This story gives major Bucket energy.
I may be a little bias here because Bucket was one of my favorite stories from the original book and it’s how I sell this series to people. Marjorie’s story is a little heartbreaking because she genuinely doesn’t seem to understand what she did wrong.
Elliot – Choir Boy
There are some disgusting people who shouldn’t have access to children and unfortunately this story shows why.
Pushing children to be your idea of perfect has always set me a little weird because they are just learning and growing. This Choir director seemed to not understand that; he wanted them to be perfect or else.
Mara – On Display
Some people really take their work too seriously and get too obsessed with making sure everything is “perfect”.
I can understand and respect putting your heart and soul into your work and then having someone come along and ruin it and it makes you a little crazy.
Arthur – The Lover
Love and family traditions sometimes mean a little too much to people and they can’t see past that. Dealing with grief can be messy.
I’m a sucker for a good love story and having that be the base for this story really set me in the holiday mood. The bond and traditions being set from the base of their relationship; I can respect wanting to keep them. Maybe not to that extent.
Milo – Toy Maker
Parents really need to pay attention to their children and realize that they are not workers. They are children who want to be just like their parents.
Probably my least favorite story of them all because it didn’t seem like Milo wanted anything other than to prove to his father that he existed which I think his father was fully aware of but he wanted/needed to focus on his job.
Cassandra – Foster care Warrior
Some children need help and saving in a broken system that will do nothing but hurt them. Some children don’t deserve saving; they are monsters.
I can’t imagine working a job where you go into other people’s homes and you have to watch and see the monsters that are created in this broken system. When most people talk about monsters in the foster care system they are talking about adults that shouldn’t be left alone with children, not children that shouldn’t be.
Gideon – Mall Security
We take our job seriously and we want to protect all we can but sometimes the voices we hear in our head can get us into trouble.
My second to least favorite story of the book. He really didn’t have a personality outside of his need to protect. He was very one sided.
Cassian – Bell Ringer
Feeling like you are responsible for making sure someone sees the afterlife they deserve is a hard expectation to set for yourself; making it your life’s work makes it detrimental to all around you.
I feel like there is a level of religious trauma that goes with this story. He’s told this is your job; ring the bell as someone dies. He feels like because he didn’t do this he damned this person so he tries to make sure it never happens again.
Ruth – Teacher
It’s hard to watch a child suffer through something that you know you can fix. Questioning why no one will listen to your concerns makes for a hard work environment. You are just doing what is best for the child.
Watching a child get mistreated (even if only in your eyes) is extremely hard to do. Having a system that doesn't support or listen to you makes it impossible to ignore the injustice you are witnessing.
Christopher – Firefighter
When duty tells you that you are supposed to serve and protect but does everyone deserve those rights?
Another really heavy hitter because you have to ask yourself would you have done the same thing? I understand it’s wrong to play judge, jury and executioner for someone but when you know the world would be better off without them?
Jenna – Hospice Care
No one deserves to die alone without someone seeing them but what happens when it isn’t in your job description to be there the whole time.
Jobs I know I could never do. I understand this place has it’s rules but I think it’s kind of weird that the upset of the families when she was just trying to be there for these people in their final moments and being honest with them and giving them what they wanted.
Danial – Book Keeper
When you control the books you control all the power. You get to choose who lives and who doesn't get to see Christmas.
Definitely reminded me or the murder for hire series and as a nice wrap up to the book.
December 21, 2025
If you have read any of The Asylum Confessions books you definitely have to read this advent book! Damn this was another one hit out of the park by Jack Steen! I absolutely love the asylum series!
This time around we have 12 stories from:
* Marjorie
* Elliot
* Mara
* Arthur
* Milo
* Cassandra
* Gideon
* Cassian
* Ruth
* Christopher
* Jenna
* Daniel
These stories were absolutely fantastic and are all set around Christmas/winter time.
I will say some of the stories got me in the feels, Marjorie's, Elliot's and Arthur's especially. I can see why they did what they did.
Some of the others I don't blame them for example Christopher...I kind of didn't blame him to be honest.
The others held too much power.
Anyways this was a great edition to the series! Can't wait for more!
This time around we have 12 stories from:
* Marjorie
* Elliot
* Mara
* Arthur
* Milo
* Cassandra
* Gideon
* Cassian
* Ruth
* Christopher
* Jenna
* Daniel
These stories were absolutely fantastic and are all set around Christmas/winter time.
I will say some of the stories got me in the feels, Marjorie's, Elliot's and Arthur's especially. I can see why they did what they did.
Some of the others I don't blame them for example Christopher...I kind of didn't blame him to be honest.
The others held too much power.
Anyways this was a great edition to the series! Can't wait for more!
January 14, 2026
this took me two days probably could have read it in one if I wasn't interrupted so much.
anyway, this book was different to everything I've read and that's a good thing I needed something different fresh and new from all the smut I read.
with that said, this book was great, and I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for all the typos and small mistakes throughout, not sure if this was self edited or if there was just no budget for that. but it would be great if it was re-released after a good editor goes through it and cleans it up.
do i recommend this book, heck yes! Just be mindful that it's not perfect
anyway, this book was different to everything I've read and that's a good thing I needed something different fresh and new from all the smut I read.
with that said, this book was great, and I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for all the typos and small mistakes throughout, not sure if this was self edited or if there was just no budget for that. but it would be great if it was re-released after a good editor goes through it and cleans it up.
do i recommend this book, heck yes! Just be mindful that it's not perfect
December 12, 2025
Jack has done it again. I'm part of his Patreon and have loved all the little extras he's been throwing in with this book for his VIPs. It's been so much fun!
These confessions are something I look forward to. Who doesn't love an asylum based book? I bought the book as soon as it hit Amazon and decided to go ahead and finish it. I will still be reading along on Patreon as well.
So far, this has been my favorite Advent book yet.
These confessions are something I look forward to. Who doesn't love an asylum based book? I bought the book as soon as it hit Amazon and decided to go ahead and finish it. I will still be reading along on Patreon as well.
So far, this has been my favorite Advent book yet.
December 31, 2025
Not bad needed better proof reading
I'd give it a 4 because it was good, the stories were captivating, and the book structure was unique. However, the editor/ proof reader was asleep at the wheel with this one. I read it on kindle and there were multiple typos, grammatical errors, and duplicate sentences back to back. Odd that these errors got passed publishing, but it did take away from the reading experience for me.
I'd give it a 4 because it was good, the stories were captivating, and the book structure was unique. However, the editor/ proof reader was asleep at the wheel with this one. I read it on kindle and there were multiple typos, grammatical errors, and duplicate sentences back to back. Odd that these errors got passed publishing, but it did take away from the reading experience for me.
January 31, 2026
12 Nights Before Christmas: The Asylum Advent Collection by Jack Stern promised a creepy holiday twist, but ultimately fell short for me. While a few stories showed sparks of creativity and some genuinely eerie moments, most felt uneven or underdeveloped. The pacing was inconsistent, and I struggled to connect with the characters. Fans of horror anthologies might find a few enjoyable tales here, but overall it didn’t live up to its intriguing premise. Not my favorite holiday read.
December 25, 2025
good quick stories!
This was a good quick set of stories to read. Each unique in their own way & the way they captured my attention was pretty good. I’m not one to read a bunch of short stories
This was a good quick set of stories to read. Each unique in their own way & the way they captured my attention was pretty good. I’m not one to read a bunch of short stories
January 10, 2026
Different but great
I love his books! Read all 8 of them last year in a few months. So to find out he wrote one for Christmas i was ecstatic. This one didn’t disappoint. Started before the holiday ended and just finished due to life. Nonetheless, amazing quick read!
I love his books! Read all 8 of them last year in a few months. So to find out he wrote one for Christmas i was ecstatic. This one didn’t disappoint. Started before the holiday ended and just finished due to life. Nonetheless, amazing quick read!
December 24, 2025
Relatively tame compared to other books. Kinda felt sorry for a few of them
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December 27, 2025Kindle Unlimited
December 28, 2025
I'm addicted to these gruesome books. one is better than the next. I need to take a break from this series or I'll end up in this ward lol
December 29, 2025
Not what I expected, but I’m not mad I read it haha.
December 30, 2025
This was my first book in the Asylum Confessions and now I will def have to read more, what an incredibly interesting book!
January 11, 2026
I liked this but it didnt grip me like I was told it would. I do have plans to read some more of Jacks work though
February 2, 2026
4.25 - 4.5 ⭐️
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews