'Twas the Night: A Novel

by Kevin Johnson

Yuletide cheer is served with a double dose of horror in Kevin Johnson’s gripping debut, in which a young reporter follows a string of disappearances into the middle of a terrifying Christmas cult inspired by our favorite holiday classics.

You better watch out. You better not cry.

It’s Christmas in the village of Yule, Maine.

In fact, it’s always Christmas in Yule. Here, Santa Claus isn’t a storybook figure. He’s an icon. A god. The villagers don’t just believe in him—they worship him. And the world is better for it.

Halley Belanger hates Christmas, and she doesn’t have much love for Santa either. But when a string of child disappearances across Maine seems to spare only the village of Yule, Halley—a sharp, skeptical reporter—decides to investigate.

What she finds is a town that guards its secrets with gingerbread smiles and a snow globe sheen. Outsiders aren’t welcome. She isn’t welcome. And something sinister is keeping the Christmas spirit alive.

As Halley digs deeper, she begins to uncover the horrifying truth behind Yule’s eternal cheer. Christmas comes at a grisly cost. And Santa Claus is no saint.

Genres: Horror, Christmas, Holiday, Fiction, Horror Thriller

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Kevin Johnson grew up reading Goosebumps and roaming the horror aisles of the nearest Blockbuster Video. He studied Creative Writing at Florida State University and currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife and a rambunctious long-haired miniature dachshund named Pepper. ‘Twas The Night is his debut novel. You can find him on social media @bookevinjohnson.

Reviews

[Trisha]

I LOVE Christmas Horror stories! this one sounds fun!

** UPDATE ARC REC'D THANK YOU SO MUCH!! **

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Aubry · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

4.5⭐️ Definitely impressed with this debut. I can honestly say I’ve never read a story about a secluded village with a twisted, cult-like devotion to Santa Claus. And not about the festive Christmas cheer we’re all used to.

Clever writing that takes familiar holiday traditions and transforms them into nightmares that keep the tension building—think The Wicker Man meets Silent Night. If you’re looking for a dark, investigative horror this book is an absolute must-read that will make you look at Santa Claus in a whole new light. Well done.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh I love Christmas horror.

This book takes place in a reality where Santa Claus is unquestionably real, and somehow his existence has become one of the few things that unites nations, cultures, and religions. Honestly, that premise alone sold me.

The story follows a journalist working for a small online publication who is desperate for the story that will finally put her on the map. While investigating a string of missing children, she follows the trail to an isolated town that is very clearly not interested in outsiders asking questions.

Once she gets there, things become much stranger than she expected. The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers, and while she does eventually find what she’s looking for, it comes at a cost.

This was just a really fun read. It balances mystery, horror, and Christmas weirdness in a way that kept me engaged the whole time. The worldbuilding around Santa and the holiday itself was probably my favorite part. It takes a familiar idea and twists it into something much darker.

I’m not even a Christmas person, which makes my love of Christmas horror a little confusing, but apparently this is one of my genres now. And books like this are exactly why.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“'Twas the Night” by Kevin Johnson is the kind of book that takes a seemingly ridiculous premise—What if Santa Claus was real and that was a problem?—and somehow turns it into a genuinely fun Christmas horror thriller.

First of all, the worldbuilding immediately grabbed me. In this universe, Santa Claus isn't a myth, a legend, or something parents tell their kids. He's 100% real, universally accepted, and one of the few things that unites people across nations, cultures, and religions. Honestly, I could have read an entire book just about the implications of that idea.

Instead, Kevin Johnson decides to ask a much more important question: What if Santa is kind of terrifying?

The story follows Halley Belanger, a journalist working for a small online publication who's desperately looking for the story that will finally make her career. When children start disappearing across Maine, except in one strangely cheerful town called Yule, Halley begins investigating. Naturally, this leads her directly into what appears to be the most suspicious Christmas town ever created. Seriously, the second Yule appears on the page, every horror alarm in your brain starts going off.

The town is permanently festive. The residents are secretive. Nobody seems particularly interested in answering questions. There are giant nutcrackers, creepy snowmen, strange traditions, and an overwhelming feeling that everyone knows something they're not telling Halley. The entire place feels like a Hallmark Christmas movie directed by someone who clearly needs therapy.

The atmosphere is easily one of the book's strongest features. It captures that cozy Christmas feeling while simultaneously making it deeply unsettling. It's like opening a beautifully wrapped present and finding a curse inside.

As Halley digs deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a horrifying secret tied to the town's relationship with Santa Claus. The mythology takes familiar Christmas traditions and twists them into something much darker. The idea that Christmas itself might come with a deadly cost is both creative and surprisingly effective. There were several moments where I found myself thinking, "Okay, that's messed up but also kind of brilliant."

Halley works well as a protagonist because she's curious, determined, and refreshingly competent. She doesn't spend the entire book making obviously terrible decisions, which is always appreciated in a horror novel. As the mystery unfolds, there are also some revelations about her own past that add another layer to the story and make her connection to the investigation more personal than it initially appears.

This leans more toward thriller territory than full-blown horror for most of its runtime. There are creepy moments, plenty of tension, and a constant sense of unease, but the book focuses more on unraveling the mystery than trying to scare you every five pages. The bloodier and more intense moments are mostly saved for the final stretch, when everything starts coming apart.

I also appreciated how much Christmas folklore and Santa mythology were brought into the story. You can tell the author had fun researching different versions of Santa legends and holiday traditions. Some of those details ended up being some of my favorite parts of the book.

That said, I did find myself wanting more answers by the end. The mythology is fascinating, but there were definitely times where I wished the story dug deeper into who or what Santa actually is and how this entire system came to exist. The premise is so interesting that it occasionally feels like the book is teasing a larger mythology just out of reach.

Still, even with a few unanswered questions, I had a blast with this one. The pacing moves quickly, the setting is wonderfully creepy, and the central idea is unique enough to stand out in a crowded horror market.

Overall, “'Twas the Night” is a fun, atmospheric Christmas horror thriller that asks the question nobody really wanted answered: What if Santa's naughty list had real consequences? If you enjoy creepy small towns, dark holiday folklore, investigative mysteries, and Christmas stories where something feels very, very wrong beneath all the twinkling lights and holiday cheer, this is a festive nightmare worth checking out.

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a good horror story set during the holidays. The juxtaposition of what should be a jolly good time and the terrifying frights of the horrors that take place is something I cannot get enough of. 'Twas The Night by Kevin Johnson scratches the itch with a uniquely horrifying tale set in my home-state of Maine.

You better watch out. You better not cry. It’s Christmas in the village of Yule, Maine.

In fact, it’s always Christmas in Yule. Here, Santa Claus isn’t a storybook figure. He’s an icon. A god. The villagers don’t just believe in him—they worship him. And the world is better for it. Halley Belanger hates Christmas, and she doesn’t have much love for Santa either. But when a string of child disappearances across Maine seems to spare only the village of Yule, Halley—a sharp, skeptical reporter—decides to investigate.

What she finds is a town that guards its secrets with gingerbread smiles and a snow globe sheen. Outsiders aren’t welcome. She isn’t welcome. And something sinister is keeping the Christmas spirit alive. As Halley digs deeper, she begins to uncover the horrifying truth behind Yule’s eternal cheer. Christmas comes at a grisly cost. And Santa Claus is no saint.

The Christmas tale set in the horror genre is the key reason why I picked up 'Twas The Night , but the fact that it takes place in the fictional Maine town of Yule sealed the deal. As a Mainer I tend to get overexcited about stories taking place in my backyard, as we have a special state with a vast variety of people, towns, communities and geography that make setting stories here something unlike anywhere else. Why not a Christmas horror story that is not just a random holiday tale, but one that features the big guy himself.

We have read or seen our far share of holiday horrors, even those involving Santa, but Johnson takes this story in a fresh direction. 'Twas The Night twists the love and affection we all feel for the big guy in red around the holiday season and takes it to a new level. The almost cult-like worshipping of Santa and the relation to a string a missing children not only is creepy, but also heartbreaking made even worse by the jolliness we all want to feel around the holidays.

When 'Twas The Night opened, I could vividly see the Town of Yule as well as the people within that would not leave my head. As a Mainer I would hope there is actually no place in my state like Yule, but could see it like I had been there before. An atmospheric setting is what hooked me from the outset, but it's the eerie characters within this book that had me staying around. Most of these characters are not likable, but there was something pushing me to want to know more.

'Twas The Night is an eerie, atmospheric horror story that adds more horror to the holidays in a fresh way. Kevin Johnson comes out swinging in his debut novel with a terrifying tale of a cult-like worshipping of Santa that is has creepy as it is frightening. Johnson delivers on a chilling holiday nightmare that transforms Christmas cheer into pure dread.

'Twas The Night hits bookstores everywhere on October 13, 2026 from William Morrow.

NOTE: We received an advance copy of 'Twas The Night from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

[CloseTheClosetDoor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one felt like cracking open a cozy Christmas story and realizing way too late that something is very wrong under the wrapping.

Twas the Night takes the whole “what if Santa was evil?” idea and runs with it in a way that’s more tense than terrifying, but still unsettling enough to keep you hooked.

We follow Halley, a journalist digging into a string of missing children cases that all seem to point back to a remote town called Yule, Maine. And yeah, the second she gets there, it’s clear this place is off. The people, the traditions, the way everyone just accepts what’s happening… it all builds into this quiet, wrong feeling that never really goes away.

The central concept is honestly great. The town’s deal with Santa, sacrificing children to keep Christmas alive for everyone else, is dark in a way that should hit really hard. And there are moments where it does. Especially when the story leans into the folklore and the idea that Santa isn’t just a figure, but something much older and harder to kill.

Halley as a main character worked well enough for me. She’s driven, curious, and not stupid, which matters in a story like this. The reveal about her past adds an interesting layer, even if I wish it had been pushed further because there was more to explore there.

Tone-wise, this leaned more thriller than full horror for me. There are a couple of brutal moments, but it’s not constantly trying to scare you. It’s more about the tension and the unraveling of what’s really going on.

Where it lost me a bit was the back half. Once everything starts building toward the big confrontation, it drags. There’s a lot of setup that doesn’t really pay off in the way you expect, and the final stretch didn’t hit as hard as it should have given how strong the premise is.

I kept waiting for it to go deeper into the mythology. Like, really get into what Santa is, how he became this thing, and why the system exists the way it does. We get pieces, but not enough to fully sell it.

Overall, this had a killer concept and some genuinely creepy ideas, but it never fully commits to being as dark or as intense as it could’ve been.

Still worth picking up if you like:
isolated creepy towns, twisted holiday horror, folklore with a dark edge, and stories where something familiar gets turned into a nightmare.

[Bithia Rissinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

When children begin disappearing across Maine—except in the always-festive town of Yule—skeptical reporter Halley Belanger investigates. What she finds is a secretive village that worships Santa Claus and hides something far more sinister beneath its holiday cheer. As Halley gets closer to the truth, she discovers that Yule’s Christmas spirit comes at a deadly cost.

Told in the third person, the novel primarily follows Halley’s perspective as she sets out in search of—and ultimately discovers—the mysterious town of Yule. Seeking refuge from a blizzard, she takes shelter in an Inn that is not open to the public, though the question of whether her hosts can be trusted lingers.

The story leans into its eerie premise with striking imagery, including towering nutcrackers and an unsettling army of snowmen, creating a distinctly haunting atmosphere.

The author excels at building a vivid setting, immersing the reader in both the sinister charm of Yule and the unsettling reinterpretation of the North Pole. Character development is another strength; as the narrative progresses, the emotional investment in Halley and those around her grows, making their fates compelling to follow.

While the plot unfolds in a somewhat predictable manner, the journey itself remains engaging—the intrigue lies less in what happens and more in how events come together. The horror elements are handled with restraint for much of the book, with blood and gore largely confined to the final quarter, which may appeal to readers who prefer atmosphere over constant intensity.

One lingering question centers on the story’s underlying mythology. The contrast between Santa’s benevolent role in the wider world and his apparent cruelty toward this town and his “elves” feels underdeveloped and somewhat inconsistent, leaving a noticeable gap in the narrative’s internal logic.

Overall, this is a well-crafted and atmospheric horror novel with strong setting and character work, even if its plot follows familiar beats. I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's very disappointing to have to give this a low rating, as Christmas horror is a particularly fun subgenre, and Kevin Johnson has come at it from an original angle. He has created a world where Santa is an accepted, universal reality and has (implausibly) been a source of global goodwill and relative peace. To the surprise of no one having picked up a horror novel, however, Santa may not be as jolly as he seems. We explore Santa's secret dark side through the eyes of Holley as she explores the mysterious, eternally Christmasy town of Yule.

Holley's journey comes with some satisfying twists and several scenes of festively bloody action. What it lacks, unfortunately, is solid characterization and mythology. In order to facilitate a twist, essential background of the POV character of Holley is withheld from the reader. As is often the case, this is frustrating, because our entire understanding of her motives and who she is falls apart at the reveal. While this could perhaps be forgivable with a strong stable of supporting characters, those are lacking here. We get only the barest outlines of characters: sarcastic gay man, hard-hearted evil village headwoman (with a tragic background), and cute dorky kid.

All of this would have been almost irrelevant if the overall story was fun, gross, or surprising. It's not. Save the aforementioned twist -- which is slightly surprising -- the rest of the story is quite basic with nothing being especially frightening or shocking. I was particularly surprised by the lack of any world building about a world with a recognized Santa. It seems almost irrelevant to have that bit of background, given that the book takes place wholly in a secret, Christmas cult village. Why pique my interest about Santa-inspired world peace if you're going to do nothing with it??

I like Johnson's big idea here, and love that he swung for the fences. I'd happily check out future work from him, but this was not a home run debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Willaim Morrow for the ARC. It was fun to experience Christmas horror in the spring!

[Taylor Boutwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of ‘Twas the Night.

This story puts a dark twist on the classic Santa Claus myth by asking: What if Santa was evil?
The story follows Halley, a journalist investigating the disappearance of a large number of children. Her search leads her to Yule, Maine, a secluded town deep in the woods that she suspects is connected to the missing children.

Once Halley arrives, she quickly realizes that the residents of Yule are far from normal. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the town's horrifying arrangement:they sacrifice children to Santa in order to keep Christmas alive for the rest of the world. Determined to put an end to the cycle, Halley sets out to destroy Santa, only to discover that he's a much more formidable enemy than she anticipated.

For me, this felt more like a thriller with horror elements sprinkled in rather than a true horror novel. There were only a couple of gory scenes. I was especially intrigued by the reveal that Halley was once one of Santa's elves who escaped with the help of the reindeer she had been training.

Unfortunately, once the story began building toward its big confrontation, it lost momentum for me. The author seemed to be setting up an intense showdown between Halley and Santa, but there was a lot of unnecessary filler along the way. Instead of increasing the tension, parts of the story felt drawn out, making the ending less impactful than I had hoped.

This had the potential to be a great horror take on Santa Claus, but I wanted the story to lean harder into the horror, and what made Santa become the person he is. Yes, we get some history of mythology but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested. The premise was strong; I just don't think the execution fully delivered.

[Renae Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the title of this work, all I could think about was the well-beloved Christmas poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas." But looking at its cover and knowing its genre, it was evident to me that this was not going to be a sugar and spice and everything nice kind of read.

And I was right. This is an unorthodox work, an alternative look at Christmas and holiday cheer. Rather than merriment, it offers a vision of the season where things are not so merry and certainly not so bright. The story is set in a remote and hidden village appropriately named Yule, a place where it seems no one leaves and everyone is beholden to tradition. It is a stark place, where horrifying expectations escalate with the passing of time and the citizenry remains indebted to those traditions, as nightmarish as that might seem.

The main character is a reporter, determined to the point of extreme stubbornness. These are traits that make for a good investigative journalist but not so smart a thinker when it comes to personal safety. It is her sole mission to uncover a dark truth, and we are along for the ride as things stranger than fiction become reality.

Kudos to the author for developing such a rich setting and for the creative ingenuity in crafting those small details that enrich the imagination. This was my first time looking at the holiday from this perspective, and it left an impression. 'Twas The Night is a high-stakes thriller with a suspenseful edge, elevated by a nightmarish plot, and Halley sits at the vortex of it all.
As I journeyed through the pages, one penultimate question stalked me: what if Christmas and its holiday cheer came with a steep price, one so ugly you would question its very necessity?

[Amanda Popken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

'Twas the Night is a holiday horror - a genre that I haven't explored before. On the surface, the story is about Halley, a journalist investigating a series of missing children. Her search leads her to the town of Yule, a village that seems almost cultlike in it's worship of Santa.

I rated this 3 stars because I thought the premise was interesting. I never really explored a holiday horror, and the idea of a world where Santa is an accepted real figure was intriguing. The book kind of lost that cool factor pretty fast though, and I was disappointed it wasn't really a focal point of the book. I get the book is about Yule, but Halley spends some time outside of it, and there are brief mentions of how Santa is a central part of daily life. Would just be cool to hear more about that part.

The characters were fine, some of the dialogue felt clunky. Like the conversation wouldn't really be happening if you were actually in the scene. Side characters felt a bit like a caricature or exaggerated.

Overall, I liked it but I wouldn't read it again.

[PJ Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

I will admit that this one took me some time to get through, but that was a “me” problem. The first and second “act” could probably be about 20 pages shorter, as it got slow at times, but by the third “act” I was absolutely hooked. There is quite the twist about halfway through that I did not see coming that completely changed the tone of the story for me in a very good way.

This is a unique story that fans of Stephen King, Stephen Graham Jones, and the X-Files will enjoy. I am a Dad and only get a few minutes after the kids are asleep to leisure read, and that’s only if I still have the energy. I finished the last 100 pages or so of this book in two nights because I just couldn’t stop—the lead up to the ending is incredible, although the payoff at the end, while satisfying, was a bit abrupt.

Bravo, Mr. Johnson. I hope there are more stories on the way!

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC!

[Josh Escandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for an eARC of 'Twas the Night by Kevin Johnson. 'Twas the Night was such a delightful action-packed, bloody adaptation of a Christmas tale. All of the characters surrounding the main character of Halley were so memorable and made reading the novel such a breeze. I enjoyed the unique take on Santa Claus and was elated with how Halley's journey played out. The ending really left an exclamation point on what came before it and made me think long and hard about it once I was finished. For readers who love holiday horror, pick 'Twas the Night up at all costs.

[Joseph Laughery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young reporter whose investigation of a series of missing children leads her to the village of Yule, Maine, preparing for their Christmas traditions. Halley and her investigation are very unwelcome, and it quickly turns horrifying and bloody.
This is a fun and entreating cast of characters, the story has lots of gruesome action, with a good twist. A dark, cold, and exciting Christmas story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, would be a great read for fans of horror around the holidays or anyone who would like to imagine a darker take on the Christmas story.
Thank you, Willian Morrow, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Steve Edholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gotta say, I love a good creepy fun horror Christmas story, even if it's read in April!

This was a creative world that was created. So much of Santa's backstory is just accepted and this leans hard into the weird to make a truly great and horrifying version of Santa.

You can tell Kevin did his research on all things Santa as there was some great Santa origin knowledge that was dropped in here that was fascinating to research.

This book never really slows down too much. I think there are some threads kind of left to dangle and never be answered, but for the most part this story is tight and well done.

Really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!

[Amber Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I will never look at Santa the same way.

This was an awesome, Christmas themed horror. I loved the terrifying monster that was Santa. This story was filled with absolute gory carnage. I found myself rooting for Halley, even when her chaos caused the death of a great character. There were some twists and turns throughout, which was a pleasant surprise. I’d love for there to be a second book, but I did also love how it ended. Not every story has a happy ending.

Read this around Christmas? Maybe Halloween for the creep factor? Or anytime really! It was a great read that included creepy scenes, a scary god like monster, with witty characters to boot.

Definitely recommend this one!

[Lindsey Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! ’Twas the Night is the perfect horror read for the Christmas season. Forget milk and cookies, this Santa has a much bigger appetite, and it isn’t for sweets. He’s a glutton for punishment, blood, and absolute carnage.

Let’s just say I’ll be making a serious effort to stay on the nice list during the second half of the year because I want absolutely nothing to do with that version of Santa.

It was such a fun, fast read, and I loved how it took all the cheesy, nostalgic Christmas traditions and twisted them into something delightfully creepy. If you like your holiday stories with equal parts festive spirit and nightmare fuel, this one absolutely delivers.

[Marie’s Book Barn Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, mysterious book with a Christmas theme, and I really enjoyed it!

The twists and turns were amazing and kept me wanting more, I also liked the Krampus feel to it too.

I loved the dark and funniness throughout the book as well, the dark humor was done very well in my opinion and it was a top tier thing about the book for me.

Loved the spooky and mysterious elements to this book and it think it was blended really well with the Christmasy theme too.

I had a great time reading and I’d highly suggest adding it to your TBR list for sure.

Thank you, NetGalley, William Morrow, and Kevin Johnson for the early copy! It was really fun reading!

[Rich Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! I love the christmas-horror genre and this book did not fail to represent.

The first half of the book read more like a crime novel. A little gritty and mysterious. At the halfway point it kicked up the horror and started throwing blood and just the right amount of Yuletide references at you. I appreciated the folklore backstory as well as all the backstory reveals around the protagonist. Some were a little far fetched but I didn’t mind it. I chalked it up as more tongue in cheek sundries. Christmas horror stories shouldn’t take themselves too seriously, right?

Thanks to NetGalley and the powers that be for the e-book ARC!

[LauraxChristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 👌
I have read A LOT of Christmas books, but nothing quite like this! As a thriller lover who let's Halloween bleed into Christmas for as long as possible, this totally checked all of my horror and Christmas loving boxes. Halley's backstory was horrifically creative. Mardi's as well! I mean good grief, the poor woman even until the end and even with all her attitude. I appreciated the dry humor lines between Halley, Bob and Barry. Santa has never terrified me, but if I heard this story as a child I would be petrified. This was a very enjoyable holiday horror.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC!

This isn't my typical genre, but I had a lot of fun with it. The idea of considering something like Santa who is generally so happy and jolly as sadistic and a murderer - that never crossed my mind! The story kept me guessing, and the premise was an interesting one. It reads very much like a satire and an idea of the real world and how we worship deities and the like. I could definitely see this being turned into a series/movie, and I'd definitely watch it if so. I'm glad that I requested it, because I likely wouldn't have read it otherwise.

[mariela · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc ♡

I had so much fun with this! A fun little silly little Christmas horror book that I think people will enjoy when the holidays come around! It isn't so horrifying throughout the story but has its gorey moments. It is more mystery that allows you to keep reading and figure out what is happening in the novel. I enjoyed the writing and the world built that I was surprised at the end when I saw this was a debut lol. I will definitely continue reading Kevins silly little ideas.

[Nique Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love and adore Christmas horror. Holiday horror is not always something that people venture into, but I think Kevin Johnson did an awesome job executing this. Black Christmas is one of my favorite movies, and while the premise of this book is different, it gave those perfect vibes. The horror and suspense I felt while reading is not something that always happens for me. I would recommend this book to my book club, full stop.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I really like the plot of this book, I mean, Santa as a bad guy? I love books like this! This one was pretty good, just not cohesive in some parts. One second the main character is staying in the lighthouse, the next paragraph she's outside...what, why did she change her mind? Overall I liked the plot of this, not sure how I feel about the ending, but it was...fine.

[Divergent_Librocubicularist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely outstanding Christmas horror! What a FUN read!! I especially loved the tie-ins to the best and worst parts of the history of Santa Claus and his reindeer! 

Amazing character development, I really came to love a few of them! I thoroughly enjoyed Kevin's writing style. I wouldn't change a single thing about this book if given the chance. Love to see a unique subgenre like this that you just don't find much of. Violent and bloody is exactly how I like my Christmas stories!

[Joy Geppert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There were plenty of twists and turns.

I loved how the reactions from characters and the scenarios they were put in were not like scenes from a movie. You break an arm? It doesn’t magically heal so that you can use it again.

Also, it takes a lot for a book to make me cry. I was very thrown off when I felt tears in my eyes after a particular characters death.

I would definitely recommend this book to others.

[Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat! Thank you to the publisher for giving me an early copy of this.

Great book to read to help cool off on a hot day.

Halley is determined to find the mysterious village of Yule. She says it's to help locate missing children, but her purpose runs deeper than that. It has to do with Santa Claus, his reindeer, and his journey around the world on Christmas Eve, but there are no presents for the people in the mysterious village of Yule, only terror.

[Renee collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for letting me arc read this! This follows Halley a reporter or is she? Yule is a town that has a very unique way of celebrating Christmas that’s for sure! Normal Santa is good this one is very bad! I couldn’t put this book down it was so good! I love a good Christmas horror book and this one hit the spot for sure. I highly recommend this book if you’re a horror junkie like me!

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was so fun 😂 I don't even know how else to explain it except that this was such a wild ride and I was eating it up the whole time. The town of Yule was giving all the red flags, but you still want to know every single one of its secrets. If you're into creepy Christmas stories, cults, small-town secrets, and a version of Santa that is definitely not here to spread holiday cheer... just read it. I had the best time with this one.

[Alora Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was wild with a capital W. I in no way shape or form could have told you how this novel was going to go, but I did know just from the description that I HAD to read it. Missing kids, a Santa Claus cult, and a weird ass town in Maine. This is a book where you just have to sort of buckle in for a ride of insanity. I won’t give away the plot but I definitely don’t want Santa to visit my house, okay? I think this is a strong debut and I can’t wait to see what the author does next. This will be out in October of 2026. If you’re looking for Christmas themed horror make sure to add this to your list.