What do you think?
Rate this book
The Christmas Goblin
Before there was Santa Claus and before there was Krampus, there was The Christmas Goblin. But the world has forgotten all about him. This is his story.
On a cold, dark world, Christmas Eve in the middle of a storm, an old lady has a story to tell her three grandchildren. It seems the world has forgotten about The Christmas Goblin but she has not. On this new planet with another Christmas Day about to dawn, she might just wake him up. Will her story stir belief in The Christmas Goblin once again?
On a cold, dark world, Christmas Eve in the middle of a storm, an old lady has a story to tell her three grandchildren. It seems the world has forgotten about The Christmas Goblin but she has not. On this new planet with another Christmas Day about to dawn, she might just wake him up. Will her story stir belief in The Christmas Goblin once again?
56 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2021
8 people want to read
About the author
M.G. Mason
16 books93 followersHello, I'm MG Mason, real name Matt.
I was born in Swindon in the 1970s but currently living on the Cornish south coast.
I'm a web content writer by trade but fiction is my first love.
How would I describe my work? Well, a friend once asked "have you considered writing a book in one genre without throwing two other genres into the same story?" Until that point I hadn't realised just how much mashing up genres defined my work.
They were right of course. But what else can you expect from a scifi nerd with an archaeology degree?
These days, when not writing for businesses or fiction, I'm usually found somewhere in Cornwall with a camera attached to my face.
I was born in Swindon in the 1970s but currently living on the Cornish south coast.
I'm a web content writer by trade but fiction is my first love.
How would I describe my work? Well, a friend once asked "have you considered writing a book in one genre without throwing two other genres into the same story?" Until that point I hadn't realised just how much mashing up genres defined my work.
They were right of course. But what else can you expect from a scifi nerd with an archaeology degree?
These days, when not writing for businesses or fiction, I'm usually found somewhere in Cornwall with a camera attached to my face.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 24, 2023
(3 and a half stars is my score but you can't give half points and 3 felt too low)
I absolutely loved the concepts in this book. It's mostly divided up into two short stories told by a grandmother on Christmas eve. The first tale was a little uneventful for me while the second felt more engaging, however since this is aimed at young children the slow and simple pace makes complete sense.
The Goblin itself is a fun and novel character I'd love to see more of. Overall this is a really imaginative festive tale I definitely recommend for kids and grown-ups alike
I absolutely loved the concepts in this book. It's mostly divided up into two short stories told by a grandmother on Christmas eve. The first tale was a little uneventful for me while the second felt more engaging, however since this is aimed at young children the slow and simple pace makes complete sense.
The Goblin itself is a fun and novel character I'd love to see more of. Overall this is a really imaginative festive tale I definitely recommend for kids and grown-ups alike
December 26, 2025
A cosy Christmas tale, perfect for curling up on the sofa with a mince pie and a hot chocolate. There's a satisfying twist at the end, the story of the Christmas Goblin itself is well done and the light Sci Fi setting around the goblin tale was a nice fit.
January 21, 2020
The Christmas Goblin is a very cute children’s holiday story. We begin two hundred years in the future on a planet called Zeem with an unnamed grandmother and her three grandchildren. A sand storm is raging outside at bedtime on Christmas Eve and they settle in to hear a story. Kaven, the oldest, doesn’t want to hear stories about snow since they will never see it again, but her younger siblings, Samia and Shen, are happy for any story. After settling their argument, everyone settles in to hear Grandma’s stories of the Christmas Goblin.
The first story is about a young boy who is charged with taking gingerbread to his grandmother in the woods. This is very reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood, except instead of a wolf, he finds a goblin who needs to go to the bathroom sitting on a troll. The question placed before our young protagonist is whether he should help the goblin and risk being late getting home or run home so that he doesn’t get in trouble.
The second story is about a snotty, spoiled girl who can’t wait for Christmas. She treats others with contempt and has an unfortunate encounter with a young chimney sweep. When a large Christmas gift is delivered, she must decide if she is going to wait until Christmas or open it and deny she had.
Mason’s last story of the Christmas Goblin brings us back into the present when the sirens blare, driving everyone to the shelter. Kaven is racing to her parent’s shelter when she has to decide whether she is going to help someone else or save herself first.
The stories were lovely on their own, and I enjoyed each one but there was a sense of wanting just a little more in each story. The characters felt one sided and there only to act as the required actor. In short, it could have been any character rather than these characters. They needed a little more depth.
This would be a very good book to read to a child (five or six years old) during a snowstorm or Christmas Eve…or whenever they have been acting up throughout the year.
The first story is about a young boy who is charged with taking gingerbread to his grandmother in the woods. This is very reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood, except instead of a wolf, he finds a goblin who needs to go to the bathroom sitting on a troll. The question placed before our young protagonist is whether he should help the goblin and risk being late getting home or run home so that he doesn’t get in trouble.
The second story is about a snotty, spoiled girl who can’t wait for Christmas. She treats others with contempt and has an unfortunate encounter with a young chimney sweep. When a large Christmas gift is delivered, she must decide if she is going to wait until Christmas or open it and deny she had.
Mason’s last story of the Christmas Goblin brings us back into the present when the sirens blare, driving everyone to the shelter. Kaven is racing to her parent’s shelter when she has to decide whether she is going to help someone else or save herself first.
The stories were lovely on their own, and I enjoyed each one but there was a sense of wanting just a little more in each story. The characters felt one sided and there only to act as the required actor. In short, it could have been any character rather than these characters. They needed a little more depth.
This would be a very good book to read to a child (five or six years old) during a snowstorm or Christmas Eve…or whenever they have been acting up throughout the year.
December 26, 2025
This is an interesting concept for a kids' Christmas story, which in Mason's typical style refuses to fit in any single genre.
There is the sci fi element of the grandmother telling her three grandchildren stories as a storm rages outside the habitat they live in, far away from earth. Then there is the fairytale element that rings particularly loudly in the first story, which is incredibly reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood (with a difference, of course). And then we have the "moral story" elements that The Christmas Goblin brings - as in, be good and good will come to you, but be unkind and you will lose something you love.
It was fun to read about a different mythical creature connected to Christmas, and seeing the echoes of him throughout each story and the main narrative. Knowing the author's love of baking, I was amused at the importance gingerbread played within the stories. All in all it is a fun little read for December.
There is the sci fi element of the grandmother telling her three grandchildren stories as a storm rages outside the habitat they live in, far away from earth. Then there is the fairytale element that rings particularly loudly in the first story, which is incredibly reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood (with a difference, of course). And then we have the "moral story" elements that The Christmas Goblin brings - as in, be good and good will come to you, but be unkind and you will lose something you love.
It was fun to read about a different mythical creature connected to Christmas, and seeing the echoes of him throughout each story and the main narrative. Knowing the author's love of baking, I was amused at the importance gingerbread played within the stories. All in all it is a fun little read for December.
October 21, 2018
I wasn't too sure what to expect when this book started but it soon pulled me in. I read it aloud to my 8yr old and he sat entranced throughout. Love the idea of the story being based on a story being told by a grandparent to grandchildren. This definitely has the potential to become a christmas tradition.
November 4, 2018
My 8-year old daughter devoured this in one evening! It is set 200 years in the future on Christmas Eve, when a grandmother is telling her three grandchildren stories of the Christmas Goblin. The Christmas Goblin rewards good children but not naughty ones. She loved it and would thoroughly recommend to her friends.
January 4, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this Christmas story to my two sons (11 and 9) the youngest was especially captivated by it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a short Christmas tale for their children.
November 28, 2022
The Christmas Goblin brings a great message: "Do good, and the universe will be good back to you."
A short, cozy story that tells of two different encounters with The Christmas Goblin. It's warm and has all the Christmas Comforts you could want.
Once again, Matt has delivered a delightful story, this time aimed at younger readers!
A short, cozy story that tells of two different encounters with The Christmas Goblin. It's warm and has all the Christmas Comforts you could want.
Once again, Matt has delivered a delightful story, this time aimed at younger readers!
June 24, 2025
A fantastic piece, I assume. I'll update this when I actually read it
December 28, 2025
Wonderful multi-scenery story sitting somewhere between fantasy, historical fiction, and Sci-Fi(-ish) due to that. Sweet, with some tongue-in-cheek moments, and the typical writing style of 'a Mason story', which I personally very much enjoy. I also like a good story with a moral, be it a Christmas story or any other kind of fable, parable, or allegory.
Suitable for all ages, I think (I have no kids, so maybe not the best judge for that, I can only say I'd had read it as a kid, but I read basically anything, encyclopedias and classics of all sorts included, when I was a kid).
There are a few typos in this story, but nothing too big of a deal - none of them trips you seriously up - and it also aren't many.
Suitable for all ages, I think (I have no kids, so maybe not the best judge for that, I can only say I'd had read it as a kid, but I read basically anything, encyclopedias and classics of all sorts included, when I was a kid).
There are a few typos in this story, but nothing too big of a deal - none of them trips you seriously up - and it also aren't many.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews