Snowball: A Christmas Horror Story

by Andre Gonzalez

Be careful what you wish for this holiday season . . .

The holidays are a time for magic, cheer, and making memories. Brandon and Erin begin a new family tradition by introducing the elf on a shelf to their young children. When Erin brings home their newly purchased elf, little do they know the horror that awaits.

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, incidents occur around the house, some innocent, some sinister. As the days become less jolly, Brandon suspects an evil spirit haunting their home.

Questioning his own sanity, he recognizes a pair of crazy, gray plastic eyes always watching.

If you want to deck the halls with buckets of blood, then buy Snowball today!

Genres: Horror, Christmas, Holiday, Audiobook, Paranormal, Dark

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2019

About the author

Andre Gonzalez is the international bestselling author of the Wealth of Time Series, and co-owner of M4L Publishing.

After surviving the Aurora Theater Shooting in 2012, Andre was inspired to chase his lifelong dream of pursuing a career as an author. This tragedy gave him a new appreciation for life along with a drive to make the world a better place by publishing books readers all around the world can enjoy.

He has written over twenty time-travel, thriller, and horror books after spending many years reading and studying the works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Keeping readers up late and their hearts pumping faster than normal is his ultimate goal. Andre was the recipient of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2021 Independent Writer of the Year award.

When he’s not writing, you can find Andre buried underneath a long to-do list or chasing around his three hyper children. He and his wife are raising their family in their hometown of Denver, CO.

Author Website: www.andregonzalez.net

Reviews

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine Child’s Play, but with an 'Elf On A Shelf' terrorising a family home instead of a Chucky doll - that’s what Snowball is! The cover of the book sets that scene in the reader’s mind. But the main theme throughout the course of the book is about one man’s slow descent into (what he perceives as) madness during the run up to Christmas. Is Brandon truly going insane? Is it sleep deprivation? Is their house haunted? All these questions run through his mind, yet as he stares at Snowball the elf, he feels a sense of unease… Are the Armstrong family really being terrorised by an evil Christmas elf?

Snowball is predictable but it’s a fast-paced, engaging, festive horror read! It’s like if you watch the Leprechaun films as an example, you know they aren’t ever going to be cinematic masterpieces, but us horror fans get addicted to the tropes and the familiarity. Even if by now we can tell exactly certain plot-lines are going to unfold.

3.6 Stars 🎄🔪

tw:// animal death:(

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snowball by Andre Gonzalez
A Christmas Horror story.
Be careful what you wish for this holiday season…
Brandon and Erin begin a new family tradition for Christmas with an Elf on the Shelf she found at a resale shop. Strange incidents occur around the house that have an evil slant. When the dog is found dead, Brandon suspects an evil spirit. He also fears for his own sanity as those beady eyes of the elf always seem to be watching. Then the neighbors are found dead. What is happening?

Bloody horror without relief. Absolutely not a happy ending though the elf is laughing.
Don’t read this in the dark or if you have one of those toys.

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good creepy elf, especially as someone who generally loathes dolls and the Elf on the Shelf toy with every fiber of my being, and Snowball more or less delivered! This was really more of a 3.5-star read for me, as it just kept leaving me wanting a bit more. I feel like the majority of the book was about building suspense and Brandon's dread, but the ending was rushed and anti-climactic, and the scenes in which Snowball actually acted out were surprisingly dull. That said, the writing was solid, and I definitely did build up a bit of a connection with the family, so I certainly found myself dreading the inevitable here. Snowball won't go down as a favorite, but if you're looking for a quick holiday horror novella, I'd give it a try!

✨ Content warnings for: violence, gore, animal death (descriptive), child death (vague), murder

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[Alicia Huxtable · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book here is the exact reason why I don't like dolls, or elf on the shelf. Definately a great horror to get into the christmas spirit with. Andre Gonzalez never disappoints

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy read with my good friend, Mel. This was basically Chucky at Christmas as the evil Elf on the Shelf.

TW: animal cruelty/death

[Ga.selle (Semi-hiatus) Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

... the sensation of an invisible presence in the room washed over him. His gaze locked on the pair of plastic eyes, and he wondered if they once had a soul behind them. They didn’t have the neutral appearance of a toy, and Brandon believed he saw life swimming behind its mindless stare.
"Unless you’ve fully lost it, he thought. Perhaps you have a split personality doing things you don’t even realize. One day at a time. You’re going crazy."

⚠️ Graphic content, violence, murder, massacre, gruesome animal death


Creepy and gory.. evil Christmas elf 🔪🩸
Gives me Child's play 'Chucky' and the Gremlins vibes

E-📖

[Mikala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Creepy!!! Kind of gives me paranormal activity vibes where little by little the spooky events start intensifying until you can't explain them away anymore

I think this has realllly good pacing!!! 👍

Animal cruelty TW

Okay.....the elf talking to Brandon mmm. I don't know about that lol. 😬 it takes what was scary and makes it comical lol.

Overall this was really fast paced and entertaining!

GOD that ending UGHHHH that was rough

[Crystal Staley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - super fun story for the holiday season

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You better, watch out!, You better not cry......you better NOT bring Snowball in YOUR house or you're all going to DIE!!!

Wow, forget those crute but oh so creepy looking The Elf of The Shelf character dolls that are SO SO SO freaking popular every year around the Holidays, because you never know if one of THOSE nice ones, might be realated to this one, and his name is Snowball!

I just listened to this audio book last night and finished it in one sitting, and I had a blast with it! Not only did I like Gonsalez's writing style, but I loved what he did to these characters in such a short time. Both of these young parents; Erin and Brandon think nothing of converting their ENTIRE house, yes, including the bathrooms, into a 'living, breathing snow globe interior of their home' every single Christmas. But this year is going to be different......Snowball comes to visit and KILL!!

Take the badness of Chucky, that terror knife wielding Zulu warrior demon doll from 'Trilogy of Terror' and combine them and you have the scariest looking, eyeball falling out of his head Christmas Demon Doll; Snowball. Yes, that is what their young daughter names him after her mother Erin purchases him at their local Thrift Store and welcomes him to their home. Things and family pets, and members of the family are going to be disintegrated this Christmas!

Ho! Ho! Ho! you are Gone! Welcome to the holiday Horror of 'Snowball' by Andrea Gonzalez!
This is a very quick read or listen, and it is not for everyone. Yes there is child death, along with the death of a family pet, BUT I loved it!!! This is what you expect from a book that has the subtitle;
A Christmas HORROR Story on its cover.

Will highly recommend this and look for another excursion into horror by him!
5 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪

[Gal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun story! An elf-on-the-shelf with a little Chucky spice.

A perfect horror book for Christmas. Though not as intense as I wanted it to be, the few horrific scenes really did a number on me. I was invested from the very start to the very end. I read it in one sitting which never happens these days and that should tell you all about this book.

Rating: 4/5
Reading purpose: Winter TBR

[Shan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy read this with a friend. Chucky and Christmas meet, that’s the best way to describe the essence of this book. For a quick read and something creepy, it’s okay. But, overall, I found it to be a boring read. I don’t think it was entirely written well either, yet, I kept going eager to find out what happens to the Armstrong family. So for that reason it’s a 3/5 for me.

[Kauthami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot was simple but creepy. Enjoyed how the tense atmosphere was built up. However, the ending felt rushed. A good horror book for the festive season nevertheless.

[Escapereality4now · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not buy an Elf on the Shelf from a thrift store… or any doll for that matter 😆.

Erin purchases an elf at their local Thrift Store and welcomes him to her family’s home. Her daughter names the elf Snowball. It is not a cute doll, either. Why would she bring that doll home?! I mean Snowball is the scariest looking, eyeball-falling-out-of-his-head Christmas Doll. I digress 😆. Erin and Brandon proceed to participate in this fun Christmas tradition of moving the elf around the house as the kids sleep.

Soon, things go wrong. Very very wrong. Brandon begins to question his sanity. The events get more ominous as Christmas draws near. This book was a
great time. It is a short ride into a Christmas nightmare. Highly recommend.

[Nancy L. Irick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like Snowballs anymore!

I loved this book. It brought out every emotion in me. Especially anger at that demon elf. This is a great read. I highly recommend you get a copy for your self. The ending will freak you out!!!

[Genelle Themann · Rating 5 out of 5]

And here I thought clowns were evil and creepy...

Christmas holidays are supposed to be full of love and good cheer. However, for Brandon Armstrong the stress of the holidays combined with work, wife and kids puts him in a truly vulnerable position where he starts imagining strange happenings in his house during the nights. Strange soon cycles toward deadly for his dog and neighbors. What could be so evil that the happenings start causing Brandon to question his sanity. What has changed in his household to cause these horrendous disturbances.

I received an ARC of this book from the author. As with every book written by Mr. Gonzalez, it is strange, disturbing, and utterly fantastic!! He is an exceptional storyteller with a wickedly wacky tilt.

[DeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! This was quite a creepy Christmas story, but I loved it. I read it in one sitting (which isn’t really that difficult, right?) As far as I know, they didn’t have the “elf on the shelf” when my son was a child. Thank goodness! After reading this, I wouldn’t have one in my house! Way to go Andre! Great read for Halloween.

[Riann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story was very creepy and some parts were downright terrifying! I liked how how each chapter was the days counting down to Christmas like a malevolent Advent Calendar. I was especially shocked by the ending. There is something very unnerving about the juxtaposition of Christmas and horror. I will no longer look at Elf on the Shelf in the same way.

[Tonya Bryant Gillon]

What an interesting thing to do. And elf on the shelf for the kids to enjoy every day until Christmas! But wait, what is going on? You have got to read it to find out what all happens in this story, enjoyed it so much read it in one sitting I could t put it down.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a page turner and a thrill ride. The family get an elf on a shelf. They named it Snowball. Strange things occur after Snowball is placed in the house. You will not be disappointed with this Christmas count down horror story.

[Clive Willcocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Andre, which I thoroughly enjoyed, although I did not see the ending coming. Highly recommended.

[Jerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for a quick and creepy fun read.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has got to be one of my favorite covers! Snowball is so creepily cute! LOL

The story was fun. It was eerie that the dog in this story dies on the same day my dog Pumba passed away this yesterday which was December 19th. How eerie is that?! 😔

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book.

[Brian Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that cute little "Elf On A Shelf" that you put out with the other decorations at Christmas? Take a good look at his eyes next time, and make sure there's not an evil gleam in them.
When Brandon and Erin's family begin their annual holiday countdown to the big day, strange things begin happening around their house. Every day something odd occurs, and it seems to center around Snowball, the new elf that Erin brought home. The incidents get more ominous as Christmas draws closer... is it coincidence or something truly malevolent?
If you're thinking about settling down for a long winter's nap, don't read this book first. But if you want a short, taut, scary ride into a nightmare, then I totally recommend "Snowball". A great story that will make you think twice before displaying your elf on a shelf this season.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written holiday short, that will have you at the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down and found myself gasping out loud at some of the situations in the story. Well told holiday story with a Christmas elf infusing the creepiness into the lives of a completely unsuspecting family. You'll be missing out if you don't one-click this book. If this is the first time you've read this author, you should also check out his other books. You will not be sorry. I received an ARC copy, this is my unsolicited review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never got into the Elf on the Shelf but if I had, I would now get rid of it. Terrifying and creepy!!
But had to keep reading until the end. And what an ending!! Definitely a different kind of Christmas story. Well thought out and well written.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowball: A Christmas Horror Story by Andre Gonzalez is a great book to read a change of pace and you won't look at christmas much the same way. I recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about horror in thier stories.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[NanaShauna Joesten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read about the christmas story with snowball had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and truely had me baffled. It has twists and turns that really makes this a great read. I definitely recommend.
Shauna Joesten

[Kelsi - Slime and Slashers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down for GR. This was a very fun, thematic read! Super quick and easy to get through in a sitting or two! Not the greatest thing ever written, but certainly an appropriate and entertaining read around the holidays!