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Steampunk Fairy Tales
Hauntings and Humbug: A Steampunk Christmas Carol
Humbug! This Christmas, Ebony Scrooge will learn the true meaning of the holiday season. It’s Christmas Eve in Victorian London, and Ebony Scrooge is hard at work tinkering weapons of mass destruction and avoiding all things Christmas. When the spirit of her deceased partner, Jacqueline Marley, warns Ebony that she will be visited by three ghosts, Ebony writes the visitation off as a dream. But on this Christmas Eve, the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future must try to pull off a miracle, restoring Ebony’s heart before it’s too late.
Hauntings and Humbug is a retelling of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol , set in New York Times bestselling author Melanie’s Karsak’s steampunk universe.
Hauntings and Humbug is a retelling of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol , set in New York Times bestselling author Melanie’s Karsak’s steampunk universe.
100 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2019
53 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Karsak
90 books1,720 followersNew York Times and USA Today best-selling historical fantasy author Melanie Karsak is the author of the Celtic Blood series, Steampunk Red Riding Hood, Steampunk Fairy Tales, the Road to Valhalla Series, and other works of fantasy and fiction. The author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 19, 2025
“When we were young, we were dreamers. Now we are awake to the truth of the world. It is a cold, hard, and lonely place. Only those who are willing to do what it takes can survive. Dreams are for fools..”
Hauntings and Humbug is a gender-reversed, A Christmas Carol Retelling, novella with a steampunk twist.🎄☃️❄️
Apparently, this novella is part of a Steampunk Fairy Tale series which is pretty fun. I stumbled upon these on Goodreads while searching for some relevant holiday reads and thought I’d give it a try.
Expect: Tinkering, Victorian London, the 3 spirits, a small Charles Dickens Easter Egg, a familiar story, and a focus on grief/trauma.
⚙️🧭🗝️🎩⚙🚂
“Some people cannot withstand grief. It changes them. Forever.”
~🎠~
“If you hadn’t broken it, we never would have seen how beautiful it is within.”
What I liked: I appreciated how this novella reflects on the grief many people suffer from during the holidays. It can be so hard for so many, and holiday depression is very much a real and common occurrence.
What I didn’t like: It seemed too similar to the original in a way so was a bit too predictable; however, it was also very fitting for this story to take place in a Steampunk universe!
Overall, my rating is 3.75 ☆ (rounded up) as it was a fun little choice of a holiday read, and I think eventually I’ll try out another novella in the series!
Hauntings and Humbug is a gender-reversed, A Christmas Carol Retelling, novella with a steampunk twist.🎄☃️❄️
Apparently, this novella is part of a Steampunk Fairy Tale series which is pretty fun. I stumbled upon these on Goodreads while searching for some relevant holiday reads and thought I’d give it a try.
Expect: Tinkering, Victorian London, the 3 spirits, a small Charles Dickens Easter Egg, a familiar story, and a focus on grief/trauma.
⚙️🧭🗝️🎩⚙🚂
“Some people cannot withstand grief. It changes them. Forever.”
~🎠~
“If you hadn’t broken it, we never would have seen how beautiful it is within.”
What I liked: I appreciated how this novella reflects on the grief many people suffer from during the holidays. It can be so hard for so many, and holiday depression is very much a real and common occurrence.
What I didn’t like: It seemed too similar to the original in a way so was a bit too predictable; however, it was also very fitting for this story to take place in a Steampunk universe!
Overall, my rating is 3.75 ☆ (rounded up) as it was a fun little choice of a holiday read, and I think eventually I’ll try out another novella in the series!
November 17, 2025
Missus Ebony Scrooge owns a tinker shop with her late partner Jacqueline Marley. Homage and innovation work together to create a new spin on a traditional favorite Christmas story. Ebony visits three ghosts and learns her lessons. Brass gear and steam atmosphere set the mood for a steampunk Victorian London. I chuckled when she demonstrated with her clockwork automaton named Dickens. This was a pleasant revisiting of a classic with plenty of new elements while staying true to the themes of the original.
December 22, 2023
I really enjoyed this retelling of A Christmas Carol. Ebony Scrooge has suffered loss and loneliness. No one can reach past the walls she has built, not even her sweet niece Fawn. When three spirits visit her, she learns of forgiveness and love. I really enjoyed learning Ebony's past and watching her soften and open herself to those around her. With a steampunk spin, this book was heartwarming story with a touch of fantasy. I loved it!
December 24, 2023
'Hauntings and Humbug' was a perfect Christmas read. It is a gender inverted retelling of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' with a steampunk twist, although I think that description undersells it. This is more than a retelling with women playing the male leads pantomime style. It's a complete reimagining of the ideas behind 'A Christmas Carol' which starts by thinking about what it would mean if Marley and Scrooge had been women working in a partnership in Victorian England, which immediately prompts three important changes to the story.
The first change is that the story has to be told in an alternative version of Victorian England in which women were allowed to own and operate businesses and, if you're going to have an alternative Victorian England, why not make it a Steampunk one and have Marley and Scrooge working as tinkers creating automata that start as fairground rides and, as the money becomes tight, evolves into the manufacture of automated weapons platforms.
The second change is that the events that have shaped Ebony Scrooge and led her to become a woman who has locked herself away from the world all relate to being a woman: the accidental death of her parents, the death of her daughter, the death of her sister in childbirth and the failure of her marriage, have all mauled Ebony and left her crippled by grief and anger. I found Ebony's traumas and her reaction to them far more engaging than Scrooge's mild regrets for loss of an early romance in favour of a career and his distress at how few people turned up at his funeral.
The third change is to how the three Spirits of Christmas manifest to Ebony. They serve the same purpose as the ones in 'A Christmas Carol' but these Sprits embrace both who Ebony is and the Steampunk creations that inhabit her imagination. I found the changes refreshing. They kept me engaged with the story and they told me more about Ebony.
'Hauntings and Humbug' kept the almost fairytale tone of 'A Christmas Carol' but still managed to deliver an emotional punch that was more powerful than the original story. I thought Melanie Karsak did a great job and depicting grief and what it does to us and seeding the hope that it can be something that we can prevent from tyranising us and stopping us from living a full life.
The first change is that the story has to be told in an alternative version of Victorian England in which women were allowed to own and operate businesses and, if you're going to have an alternative Victorian England, why not make it a Steampunk one and have Marley and Scrooge working as tinkers creating automata that start as fairground rides and, as the money becomes tight, evolves into the manufacture of automated weapons platforms.
The second change is that the events that have shaped Ebony Scrooge and led her to become a woman who has locked herself away from the world all relate to being a woman: the accidental death of her parents, the death of her daughter, the death of her sister in childbirth and the failure of her marriage, have all mauled Ebony and left her crippled by grief and anger. I found Ebony's traumas and her reaction to them far more engaging than Scrooge's mild regrets for loss of an early romance in favour of a career and his distress at how few people turned up at his funeral.
The third change is to how the three Spirits of Christmas manifest to Ebony. They serve the same purpose as the ones in 'A Christmas Carol' but these Sprits embrace both who Ebony is and the Steampunk creations that inhabit her imagination. I found the changes refreshing. They kept me engaged with the story and they told me more about Ebony.
'Hauntings and Humbug' kept the almost fairytale tone of 'A Christmas Carol' but still managed to deliver an emotional punch that was more powerful than the original story. I thought Melanie Karsak did a great job and depicting grief and what it does to us and seeding the hope that it can be something that we can prevent from tyranising us and stopping us from living a full life.
December 10, 2022
This is a charming retelling of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, with a steampunk flavour and gender-flipped major characters. Ebony Scrooge might not be as cantankerous and disagreeable as Ebenezer Scrooge of Dickens fame, but she isn't a happy person and is more than willing to spread her bitterness around. Ebony Scrooge and her partner Jacqueline Marley had opened a whimsical "tinker" shop that produced mechanical objects and toys. Somewhere along the line, life happened, dreams died and Ebony turned to making mechanical weapons for the black market to make ends meat. Enter the ghost of Jacqueline Marley and the three Christmas spirits. The characters are nicely drawn, but the world building could have used more steam-punk. A lovely addition to the Christmas reading repertoire.
December 16, 2019
Melanie Karsak has put her own twist on one of my all time favorite stories: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The original story’s paranormal and time-travel elements are tweaked with steam, automatons and considerable charm in Hauntings and Bumbug.
This time the main characters are female and though the old grouch is not exactly evident, Ebony Scrooge is not a happy woman. Enter the spirits. We all know the story. So, no surprises here. But as someone who has read the original over and over again, I truly appreciated Ms. Karsak’s thoughtful deference to the classic tale while introducing the feminine perception.
This time the main characters are female and though the old grouch is not exactly evident, Ebony Scrooge is not a happy woman. Enter the spirits. We all know the story. So, no surprises here. But as someone who has read the original over and over again, I truly appreciated Ms. Karsak’s thoughtful deference to the classic tale while introducing the feminine perception.
December 15, 2024
The good: short, easy read, made me cry
I don’t know why I started the review that way because I don’t actually have a list of “the bad.”
The plot followed beat-for-beat with the original, and I guess I was hoping for a twist besides just in setting/characters. But still a fun Christmassy read.
I don’t know why I started the review that way because I don’t actually have a list of “the bad.”
The plot followed beat-for-beat with the original, and I guess I was hoping for a twist besides just in setting/characters. But still a fun Christmassy read.
December 23, 2020
This was an emotional retelling of A Christmas Carol. I enjoyed Ebony Scrooge and the people in her life.
December 19, 2020
I read this as included in the Wicked Winters anthology
This is a gender-flipped version of The Christmas Carol. Mrs. Ebony Scrooge slaves away in her mechanic shop even on Christmas Eve itself to get an important job done. She is visited by her deceased former partner Jaqueline Marley telling her that she needs to mend her miserly ways or it will be too late, and that she will be visited by three spirits before the night is through.
This was a fascinating take on The Christmas Carol that has had so many versions done I’ve quite lost count. This does make the point that we reflect differently on the characters given what sex they are. Ebony is more tempered this time, with her harshness stemming from personal pain (masterfully written scenes), rather than the original Scrooge’s general feeling of not being loved (causing this reader to have more empathy for her than the original Ebenezer). It was also interesting seeing which characters the author chose to render as female and which she kept male considering there really weren’t any female characters in the original tale except for Bob Cratchit’s wife and daughter. As in, if all the main players are female this time around, why have Tiny Tim remain male? And the men collecting for the poor also remained men this time around. And Ebenezer’s sister remained female this time around (would there not have been as much sympathy if it had been a brother instead?) The ghosts also retain their original sexes. The Steampunk details felt more like scene dressing than plot points (as seems to be the problem with a lot of the Steampunk labeled stories on the indie market). I did like that the scenes from the past were different this time, showing us what she had lost adding a lot more depth and character background history, though the scenes from the present and the future were as to be expected. I personally would have liked more originality rather than borrowing quite so much from the classic. I would have liked actually being able to guess about some of the events rather than have all of the outcomes as expected.
This is a gender-flipped version of The Christmas Carol. Mrs. Ebony Scrooge slaves away in her mechanic shop even on Christmas Eve itself to get an important job done. She is visited by her deceased former partner Jaqueline Marley telling her that she needs to mend her miserly ways or it will be too late, and that she will be visited by three spirits before the night is through.
This was a fascinating take on The Christmas Carol that has had so many versions done I’ve quite lost count. This does make the point that we reflect differently on the characters given what sex they are. Ebony is more tempered this time, with her harshness stemming from personal pain (masterfully written scenes), rather than the original Scrooge’s general feeling of not being loved (causing this reader to have more empathy for her than the original Ebenezer). It was also interesting seeing which characters the author chose to render as female and which she kept male considering there really weren’t any female characters in the original tale except for Bob Cratchit’s wife and daughter. As in, if all the main players are female this time around, why have Tiny Tim remain male? And the men collecting for the poor also remained men this time around. And Ebenezer’s sister remained female this time around (would there not have been as much sympathy if it had been a brother instead?) The ghosts also retain their original sexes. The Steampunk details felt more like scene dressing than plot points (as seems to be the problem with a lot of the Steampunk labeled stories on the indie market). I did like that the scenes from the past were different this time, showing us what she had lost adding a lot more depth and character background history, though the scenes from the present and the future were as to be expected. I personally would have liked more originality rather than borrowing quite so much from the classic. I would have liked actually being able to guess about some of the events rather than have all of the outcomes as expected.
December 16, 2022
We've all either read Dickens' story or seen a movie, television, or stage production of "A Christmas Carol." Ebeneezer Scrooge is synonymous with Christmas; his redemption is a cautionary tale for the ages.
Now meet Ebony Scrooge, the ghost of her dead partner Jacqueline Marley, and three spirits, not exactly ghosts.
Melanie Karsak has remained true to the message of the Dickens original while making it her own. Rather than a counting house, Scrooge works alongside Bailey Cratchit, her capable apprentice, on a decidedly un-Christmassy project. Bailey is the sole breadwinner for her large family while her husband, Robert, sits at home with a broken leg. As with any steampunk tale, there are goggles, gears, and tinkering.
Spend an evening with Ebbie Scrooge as she finds the true meaning of Christmas.
Now meet Ebony Scrooge, the ghost of her dead partner Jacqueline Marley, and three spirits, not exactly ghosts.
Melanie Karsak has remained true to the message of the Dickens original while making it her own. Rather than a counting house, Scrooge works alongside Bailey Cratchit, her capable apprentice, on a decidedly un-Christmassy project. Bailey is the sole breadwinner for her large family while her husband, Robert, sits at home with a broken leg. As with any steampunk tale, there are goggles, gears, and tinkering.
Spend an evening with Ebbie Scrooge as she finds the true meaning of Christmas.
November 24, 2024
3.5 stars. I cried. I love retellings of A Christmas Carol, and this one was magic. My only issue that dropped it from 4 or 4.5 stars was the ending. It was so abrupt, and the last line gave such a tonal shift that it felt like it was from another book. Even with the last line removed, it definitely felt like there was going to be a bit more tying up loose ends and working things out. Lots of things were managed, but some were not satisfactorily when compared to the ones that were. So, the ending was a bit off, but I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of it. Without the last line, it may have been 4 stars. With an epilogue to the following Christmas holding the same tone as the rest of the novella, it could have been 4.5 stars.
It was such a unique retelling that I wanted more. More carousel horses, little mechanical fairies, and handsome highlanders. What a charming and touching story.
It was such a unique retelling that I wanted more. More carousel horses, little mechanical fairies, and handsome highlanders. What a charming and touching story.
December 14, 2023
A creative twist on the classic story
I’m always down for a good Christmas Carol retelling and this one is a nice change of pace. It’s a gender swap which is fun but also takes full advantage of the steampunk setting, leading to some great descriptions
Where I find it falls a bit flat is Scrooge herself. She comes across as a little grumpy but not nearly the cold hearted shrew that needs intervention from spirits. It made her change feel far less of a magical moment.
That said though, I do like the differences placed into her past and how they use it to explore relationships. There is an emphasis on confronting and processing trauma which is beautiful to see.
A definite must read for the holidays!
I’m always down for a good Christmas Carol retelling and this one is a nice change of pace. It’s a gender swap which is fun but also takes full advantage of the steampunk setting, leading to some great descriptions
Where I find it falls a bit flat is Scrooge herself. She comes across as a little grumpy but not nearly the cold hearted shrew that needs intervention from spirits. It made her change feel far less of a magical moment.
That said though, I do like the differences placed into her past and how they use it to explore relationships. There is an emphasis on confronting and processing trauma which is beautiful to see.
A definite must read for the holidays!
December 13, 2024
4.5 stars
I didn't expect a steampunk retelling of A Christmas Carol to make me cry on the treadmill this morning, but here I am.
I loved this gender-swapped ACC. There are so many little nods to the original, and so many new elements to the story that helped it feel unique while also feeling familiar.
Ebony Scrooge has lived a life of sorrow, and it has made her hard and protective of her heart.
The three ghosts help her confront the grief that has overwhelmed her, helping her find the light again.
"I had allowed myself to fall into a pit of despair and had never recovered. I had thrown myself into my work to numb myself to the world around me. But when I blocked out the pain, I had also blocked out the joy. To my own doom."
I didn't expect a steampunk retelling of A Christmas Carol to make me cry on the treadmill this morning, but here I am.
I loved this gender-swapped ACC. There are so many little nods to the original, and so many new elements to the story that helped it feel unique while also feeling familiar.
Ebony Scrooge has lived a life of sorrow, and it has made her hard and protective of her heart.
The three ghosts help her confront the grief that has overwhelmed her, helping her find the light again.
"I had allowed myself to fall into a pit of despair and had never recovered. I had thrown myself into my work to numb myself to the world around me. But when I blocked out the pain, I had also blocked out the joy. To my own doom."
December 27, 2024
What a delightful take on Charles Dicken's a Christmas Carol. Steampunk meets classic literature.
I really enjoyed this read. At first I was unsure but the more I read the more I absolutely loved the uniqueness to this classic tale.
The author slipped in so many tiny details that made this read feel so real and left me in absolute tears at the end.
I'm really looking forward to looking into more Novels/Novellas by this author. The only thing I didn't like was how directly it hit me emotionally. Great writing! Highly recommend.
I really enjoyed this read. At first I was unsure but the more I read the more I absolutely loved the uniqueness to this classic tale.
The author slipped in so many tiny details that made this read feel so real and left me in absolute tears at the end.
I'm really looking forward to looking into more Novels/Novellas by this author. The only thing I didn't like was how directly it hit me emotionally. Great writing! Highly recommend.
December 28, 2021
A Reimagining of A Christmas Carol
I absolutely loved this book! It was a fantastic retelling of A Christmas Carol from female perspectives. Ebony Scrooge is a brilliant character. I found her to be relatable.
When I say relatable, I am referring the moments when Ebony feels Christmas is the reason why everything bad happens in her life. Some Christmases, “bah-humbug” is very fitting.
I plan to read this lovely novella every Christmas!
I absolutely loved this book! It was a fantastic retelling of A Christmas Carol from female perspectives. Ebony Scrooge is a brilliant character. I found her to be relatable.
When I say relatable, I am referring the moments when Ebony feels Christmas is the reason why everything bad happens in her life. Some Christmases, “bah-humbug” is very fitting.
I plan to read this lovely novella every Christmas!
December 27, 2021
2.5 stars rounded to 3
December 12, 2020
I fancy myself something of a “Christmas Carol” connoisseur. Each holiday season I enjoy watching or reading reimagined versions of Charles Dickens’ classic tale of Christmas rebirth in parallel to revisiting the original in its various forms. Layered on top of this, I have also been drawn to all things Steampunk the past few years – movies, art, fiction. Thus, when the merging of these two elements in Melanie Karsak’s “Hauntings and Humbug” was recently brought to my attention, I got my hands on a copy as quickly as I could.
Karsak does an excellent job of weaving a new account while keeping true to the original Dickens framework. I was impressed with the new depths of story found in lead character Ebony Scrooge, which strayed from some of the classic Ebenezer themes. I was hesitant as the steampunk narrative could be very tricky to mix into the storyline. Too many gadgets, clockworks, and automatons, and the attempt becomes a mere novelty. Too subtle an incorporation of these cliché steampunk tropes and it seems like it was an afterthought. Karsak manages to thread this needle to give the story just enough so as not to make steampunk THE story, but rather flavoring the more human narrative unfolding in the pages.
A dynamic I did not expect was that Karsak has recast all of Dickens’ major characters as women. This choice opens the door to fresh interpretations of the overarching narrative and delivers a powerful message concerning traditional gender roles in the steampunk culture that she creates. Ebony Scrooge and Bailey Cratchit throwing themselves into machine design, mechanisms, and technology serves as subtle inspiration to women in STEM of all ages. The showcasing of using technology for the good of humanity is also a welcome subplot.
If there is one facet of this story that I found lacking it was in world building. Karsak does a wonderful job of character development, but they all seem to largely live in the same London that Charles Dickens set “A Christmas Carol” in nearly 200 years ago. More could have been done to show how the steampunk world of Ebony Scrooge differed from the Victorian London that we are all familiar with. As Ebony walks the streets, are there steam powered vehicles passing by on the cobblestone? Are there complex mechanical devices thrown into everyday life which are taken for granted in homes, shops, and in neighborhoods? How has the steampunk era affected Christmas traditions? Gas lit decorations? Elaborate mechanical music boxes playing carols? It seems that a lot could have been done to blend steampunk and Christmas while still not overdoing it as suggested above. Aside from Scrooge’s and Cratchit’s work life, the steampunk element did not permeate the environment that they found themselves in.
Overall, I enjoyed this Steampunk Christmas Carol. At just under 100 pages, it is a quick captivating read that delivered the vibe I was hoping for. (Note that Dicken’s original text is not much longer!) I will credit “Hauntings and Humbug” for turning me on to Karsak’s writing, and I look forward to checking out some of her other steampunk stories.
Karsak does an excellent job of weaving a new account while keeping true to the original Dickens framework. I was impressed with the new depths of story found in lead character Ebony Scrooge, which strayed from some of the classic Ebenezer themes. I was hesitant as the steampunk narrative could be very tricky to mix into the storyline. Too many gadgets, clockworks, and automatons, and the attempt becomes a mere novelty. Too subtle an incorporation of these cliché steampunk tropes and it seems like it was an afterthought. Karsak manages to thread this needle to give the story just enough so as not to make steampunk THE story, but rather flavoring the more human narrative unfolding in the pages.
A dynamic I did not expect was that Karsak has recast all of Dickens’ major characters as women. This choice opens the door to fresh interpretations of the overarching narrative and delivers a powerful message concerning traditional gender roles in the steampunk culture that she creates. Ebony Scrooge and Bailey Cratchit throwing themselves into machine design, mechanisms, and technology serves as subtle inspiration to women in STEM of all ages. The showcasing of using technology for the good of humanity is also a welcome subplot.
If there is one facet of this story that I found lacking it was in world building. Karsak does a wonderful job of character development, but they all seem to largely live in the same London that Charles Dickens set “A Christmas Carol” in nearly 200 years ago. More could have been done to show how the steampunk world of Ebony Scrooge differed from the Victorian London that we are all familiar with. As Ebony walks the streets, are there steam powered vehicles passing by on the cobblestone? Are there complex mechanical devices thrown into everyday life which are taken for granted in homes, shops, and in neighborhoods? How has the steampunk era affected Christmas traditions? Gas lit decorations? Elaborate mechanical music boxes playing carols? It seems that a lot could have been done to blend steampunk and Christmas while still not overdoing it as suggested above. Aside from Scrooge’s and Cratchit’s work life, the steampunk element did not permeate the environment that they found themselves in.
Overall, I enjoyed this Steampunk Christmas Carol. At just under 100 pages, it is a quick captivating read that delivered the vibe I was hoping for. (Note that Dicken’s original text is not much longer!) I will credit “Hauntings and Humbug” for turning me on to Karsak’s writing, and I look forward to checking out some of her other steampunk stories.
December 28, 2020
A steampunk version of A Christmas Carol?! Yes, Please! This was a delight to read and this makes me excited to read other things by Melanie Karsak! If you like a A Christmas Carol and steampunk things check this out!
December 13, 2020
Hauntings and Humbug is a gender-swapped retelling of A Christmas Carol in a steampunk setting. I absolutely loved it. It's a very quick but satisfying read. It brought out all my emotions. It's so full of heart and made me tear up a couple times.
For some reason, retellings of A Christmas Carol always wind up being some of my favorites. This one is right up there. I loved the steampunk twist. I never would've thought to place this story in a steampunk setting, but it worked so well. Like it was made for it.
If you're looking for a unique and heartwarming Christmas story, I highly recommend this one. It'll pull at your heartstrings and leave a smile on your face.
For some reason, retellings of A Christmas Carol always wind up being some of my favorites. This one is right up there. I loved the steampunk twist. I never would've thought to place this story in a steampunk setting, but it worked so well. Like it was made for it.
If you're looking for a unique and heartwarming Christmas story, I highly recommend this one. It'll pull at your heartstrings and leave a smile on your face.
December 5, 2020
This is a steampunk retelling of A Christmas Carol. I don’t actually like the original but I loved this book. Ebony Scrooge has not had an easy life and has become bitter with each passing year. Her dreams of a whimsical mechanical shop have died and she has turned to making weapons for the blackmarket. After being visited by three ghosts she realizes how far she has turned away from everyone. She sets about to turn her life around and be a better person and aunt.
I loved the twist on the characters, the situations, and that she is a tinkerer. Ebony has had a rough go at it and lost basically all of her family. I felt really bad for her but could see why she turned her back on the world. I enjoyed every minute of this story and would love to see her pop up in a future book.
I loved the twist on the characters, the situations, and that she is a tinkerer. Ebony has had a rough go at it and lost basically all of her family. I felt really bad for her but could see why she turned her back on the world. I enjoyed every minute of this story and would love to see her pop up in a future book.
January 10, 2020
Steampunk female version of Charles Dickens classic. Loved it! Super fast read but the author did a wonderful job with the supporting female characters. Am going to read more by this author. Highly recommended.
June 11, 2020
Touching!
What a very sweet take on a classic christmas story. It brought me to tears. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale :)
What a very sweet take on a classic christmas story. It brought me to tears. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale :)
December 23, 2022
A quick and enjoyable steampunk read that takes the basic story we all know and reworks it for a gender-swapped alternate London where automatons roam and zeppelins float in the smoggy air.
Ebony Scrooge isn't quite the horrible curmudgeon of the original tale; she's a sympathetic retelling sort of protagonist, but it's interesting to see where she's coming from. People can be grouchy with good reason, seasonally so or not, and it turns out those three spirits are going to have a fair bit of backstory to uncover. Twisted up with the paranormal steampunk elements of Karsak's original universe (of which you don't need to know anything of to enjoy this stand alone), it makes for a suitably touching and modern take on the tale.
Downsides would be proof reading issues: typos, inconsistencies, and Americanisms (yes I know it's fictional, but why make it London if you mix up the use of British words?) Modern slang and speech patterns can also pop up weirdly alongside the otherwise good pop-culture appropriate historical language.
Overall it was a good, enjoyable, quick seasonal read that wasn't sickeningly twee or devoid of all hope. Just right for someone who might want to utter a "Humbug" of their own every so often come Christmastime!
Ebony Scrooge isn't quite the horrible curmudgeon of the original tale; she's a sympathetic retelling sort of protagonist, but it's interesting to see where she's coming from. People can be grouchy with good reason, seasonally so or not, and it turns out those three spirits are going to have a fair bit of backstory to uncover. Twisted up with the paranormal steampunk elements of Karsak's original universe (of which you don't need to know anything of to enjoy this stand alone), it makes for a suitably touching and modern take on the tale.
Downsides would be proof reading issues: typos, inconsistencies, and Americanisms (yes I know it's fictional, but why make it London if you mix up the use of British words?) Modern slang and speech patterns can also pop up weirdly alongside the otherwise good pop-culture appropriate historical language.
Overall it was a good, enjoyable, quick seasonal read that wasn't sickeningly twee or devoid of all hope. Just right for someone who might want to utter a "Humbug" of their own every so often come Christmastime!
December 5, 2024
Thankyou.
A Christmas Carol is my favourite festive story...And film.
My son died in 2021. He would be almost 4 now. My mum died suddenly at 58 in 2018. Christmas was her favourite time of year. I have struggled with Christmas since they died, couldn't find the magic. For my other children, I've done the best I can. This year I have no festive spirit. I haven't even wanted to try.
I started this book, hoping to find something.
I finished it in tears. I didn't expect a mother's grief to be at the heart of the story. I almost stopped reading because it hurt so much. I'm so glad I didn't. My heart is beating again. I'm going to try properly this year. This book is beautiful and incredibly written. You caught grief and loss so well.
I have some festive spirit back and although I'll still feel my little Tyrs physical loss... I know him and my mum are always with is in spirit. Yule blesdings and thank you again.
A Christmas Carol is my favourite festive story...And film.
My son died in 2021. He would be almost 4 now. My mum died suddenly at 58 in 2018. Christmas was her favourite time of year. I have struggled with Christmas since they died, couldn't find the magic. For my other children, I've done the best I can. This year I have no festive spirit. I haven't even wanted to try.
I started this book, hoping to find something.
I finished it in tears. I didn't expect a mother's grief to be at the heart of the story. I almost stopped reading because it hurt so much. I'm so glad I didn't. My heart is beating again. I'm going to try properly this year. This book is beautiful and incredibly written. You caught grief and loss so well.
I have some festive spirit back and although I'll still feel my little Tyrs physical loss... I know him and my mum are always with is in spirit. Yule blesdings and thank you again.
December 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this retelling of A Christmas Carol. I loved all the characters and thought the steampunk aspect was especially clever. There were a couple of pretty sad parts that made me tear up, but it was all worth it for the happy ending. I enjoyed the ghost of Christmas Future showing the effects of Ebony's tinkering on the world in general. I thought it was a pretty clever thing to include in the story. 4/5 stars, highly recommend for the Christmas season!
December 10, 2021
Great retelling
A Christmas carol is the one and only book I re-read every year, when I came across this title I wasn’t so sure about it, but it stayed true to the meaning of the story without being a copy cat. It was unique and well written. There are many retellings of a Christmas carol or stories inspired by but this is one I enjoyed and would re read again.
A Christmas carol is the one and only book I re-read every year, when I came across this title I wasn’t so sure about it, but it stayed true to the meaning of the story without being a copy cat. It was unique and well written. There are many retellings of a Christmas carol or stories inspired by but this is one I enjoyed and would re read again.
February 24, 2023
This was the best retelling of Dickens A Christmas Carol that I have ever read. It just felt right for the main character to be female and bitter with the losses of the world and the struggling mother with a sick child. Melanie Karnak made this a more relatable tale with her twisting in the remaking and made it an even better story.
March 23, 2023
Wonderful retelling of Charles Dickens' classic
Great story about opening a heart to love and joy after having closed it for years. I loved the steampunk setting with a touch of magic. I have enjoyed many of Melanie Karsak's books. She proves it it is possible to tell clean, real and uplifting stories.
Great story about opening a heart to love and joy after having closed it for years. I loved the steampunk setting with a touch of magic. I have enjoyed many of Melanie Karsak's books. She proves it it is possible to tell clean, real and uplifting stories.
December 25, 2024
Steampunk, gender swap version of "A Christmas Carol."
It's great for someone who loves the Christmas classic. While the story is definitely not unique, the setting is pretty unique.
Content warnings: loss of loved ones, loss of child (illness), abusive spouse (side character), mention of suicide, graphic depiction of dead body
My rating: 3.5/5
No Spice (Not a romance)
It's great for someone who loves the Christmas classic. While the story is definitely not unique, the setting is pretty unique.
Content warnings: loss of loved ones, loss of child (illness), abusive spouse (side character), mention of suicide, graphic depiction of dead body
My rating: 3.5/5
No Spice (Not a romance)
December 31, 2024
A different taken on A Christmas Carol!
Ebony Scrooge had so many hardships befall her around Christmas that she had closed her heart. Her story is a retelling of A Christmas Carol and a very interesting read!
If you love the story of Ebenezer Scripts then you should enjoy this version.
This is my honest review.
Ebony Scrooge had so many hardships befall her around Christmas that she had closed her heart. Her story is a retelling of A Christmas Carol and a very interesting read!
If you love the story of Ebenezer Scripts then you should enjoy this version.
This is my honest review.
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