Santa Claws

Sombra Demons #1.5

by Sarah Spade

It's Mal's first Christmas, and I'm going to make it one to remember...
It’s been seven months since I made the impulsive decision to mate my monster, and I don’t think I could be happier. Malphas is a sweet soul in a delicious seven-foot frame, and even if our relationship is the definition of instalove, I don’t regret a second of being with my shadow demon.

I know he misses Sombra, though. And while we’re planning on visiting his realm in the new year, I’m hoping to distract him with the upcoming holiday season.

Mal marvels over the little things I take for granted every day. How will he react to snowflakes, tinsel, Christmas trees, and the legend of Santa Claus?

Or, as he thinks of the big guy in red, Santa Claws?

Despite not being the biggest fan of the holidays, I want him to enjoy our first Christmas together. Sharing with him my family’s traditions, creating some of our own… even figuring out the perfect gift for him. I can’t wait to surprise him with what I got Mal—

—though I’m pretty sure I’m the one who ends up the most stunned when I discover that mating on the night of the gold moon has consequences that no one warned me about…


* Santa Claws is a Christmas-themed holiday novella that is an extended epilogue to Mated to the Monster, Mal and Shannon's story. Written for mature readers, it's better if you read their full-length story first!

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Demons, Monster Romance, Paranormal, Monsters, Paranormal Romance

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2022

Reviews

[Mairi Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a supposed holiday spin off from the original work but I read quite fine. It's written in a way that you don't feel like something is missing or you can't understand because you haven't read the first one. It's a short fantasy story with a demon who is all cute with his mate.

[dreaming.of.ramen]

DNF @ 38%

It’s not the book. It’s me. While I read the original book (prequel) this is based on a year ago, I just couldn’t get into this. And after a month of being unable to complete such a short book, it was officially time to DNF so no review stars for this.

📕Tropes

🌷Novella
🌷Monster Romance
🌷Single POV

[Hilal Kahraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

elalemin şeytanı bile mutlu oldu yuva kurdu yazık…

[Brittney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow better than the original book. Not by a lot, but still, better.

[Angela Ferebee · Rating 3 out of 5]

2🌶

[effin surrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A follow up from Mated to the monster. Very reluctant to read this because of the h. Luckily, she’s not annoying in here. Short and sweet

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute little story. Foreseeable but OK.
I didn't like the repeating from stuff in the previous stories. That was annoying.
Looking forward to Kennedys book.

[Hello Kimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is sequel to Mated to the Monster, which takes place 7 months after Shannon and Malphus fully mate. In all honesty I only read this for Malphus (MMC), he is just so cute especially since he 7 foot demon who is trying to learn all about new human holidays. His quirks and curiosity makes him so lovable and makes me want to sing my own love spell if that means I get a giant sombra demon like him. The scene in which he goes out to rip out a fresh pine tree straight out of the ground to bring to Shannon, makes me want to go and lay on the freeway because it's too cute too handle.

I also like how Shannon is aware of Mal's curiosity and will do anything to allow him to explore it rather than suppress it. Despite being mates, having each other's essence, and making a vow to each other, they are still trying to grow together. Reassuring and addressing insecurities that I had questions from the first book.

Was this book life changing? no.

Was it extremely cute and full of fluff and smut? abso-freaking-lutly

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyline returns to Mal and Shannon, the couple from the first book in this series. Mal is still extraordinarily sweet and Shanon has pretty much adjusted to their bond. That is until she starts to develop shadow-like appendages. Freaking out at this development she seeks out Amy, who has been mated to Nox for fifteen years, in the hopes that she will know what is going on. Nox immediately discerns that Shannon is pregnant. No one seems to know what a hybrid pregnancy will involve (I personally want to know if the baby will be born with horns and red skin) Although not addressed, I think it would be better for Mal and Shannon to go to Sombra for the birth just in case any of those inhuman like characteristics occur. Wouldn’t be a shock to fellow demons whereas it would probably cause panic in a human hospital.

Christmas is mostly incidental as Shannon rediscovers her joy in the holiday while introducing it to Mal.

[Sanyah J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a Christmas novella based on the first book of the sombra demons series, Mated to the Monster. It focuses on the same couple, Shannon and Malphas. I’ve mention in the review of the first book that I was in love with him. I mean it even more now! He is so devoted and thoughtful in this book and the holiday cheer just makes it better! If that demon wanted to, he would! This demon will forever be in my heart. One of scenes was so sweet, I cried a little!

This book was only like 6 chapter and an epilogue. I will warn you though there is some pregnancy mentions, however, brief and near the end. Doesn’t disturb the story in my opinion. The pregnancy is important for the series, so I don’t mind it.

Finally, 4⭐️, 2🌶. Lots of fluff, Christmas cheer, and light spice. Pregnancy trope (actually relevant to the series)

[Kirstin Rocker · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎄 Review 🎄
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📚 Santa Claws by Sarah Spade
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3 1/2 ⭐ 3 🌶️
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📖 Summary
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This book continues following Shannon and Mel. He's experiencing his first Christmas and Shannon is determined to make all the holidays cheer the best for her monster even if she is what she'd consider a Scrooge. Mel is determined to make it just as special for her even though he can't be seen by the human world he will do what he must for his mate, even risk exposure.
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🎁 This was a adorable Christmas follow up with Shannon and Mel. It was adorable that he was doing all kinds of things to get Shannon what he thought were important gifts and etc to make the holiday special.

[Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A holiday novella that brings all the magic and sweetness of Christmas to the monster romance world, Santa Claws is pure festive delight. The playful dynamic between Shannon and Malphas is heartwarming, and watching Malphas experience the holidays for the first time is utterly charming. The humor, warmth, and holiday spirit come through in every page, with plenty of steam to keep things interesting. The twist at the end adds an exciting new layer to their relationship, and it’s the perfect little holiday treat for fans of the series. This novella brings the right mix of love, laughter, and a dash of supernatural magic.

[Kristy Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed that the author gave away the trope in the foreword of the book, so there was little to no surprise. there also weren’t any chapters from Mal’s POV which was a bummer. i finished it in a little under two hours. it was a cute continuation of “Mated to the Monster” but it’s not anything too special.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute!! I have read everything else already published in this universe so I wasn’t surprised by the events that occurred and or were alluded to, however!!! It was very Mal and Shannon. They’re my favorite monster couple of the series to far so any more looks into their lives I can get, imma gobble up!!

[Kayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly could have lived without only thing it added was that she got pregnant whoop whoop. Not even if it a boy or a girl what it looks like how long it took her to have because she’s essentially a trail runner. Didn’t gain anything really being as it was on months later not even years. Left me with questions I didn’t have before. But it was cute to see her teaching him about Christmas.

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute and simple, nothing amazing, but also nothing explicitly wrong with it. It’s more of the fact that nothing really happened, granted it’s a short book so that’s not surprising. However, it doesn’t feel right to give 5 stars because nothing really happened except for the big news, but it also doesn’t feel right to give a bad review, because it was bad so four stars it is.

[Lilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this I basically only a extended epilogue but I wanted it to be a bit longer like maybe getting to know if the kid is a boy or girl or what it’s name is or how long the pregnancy ended up being and I also wanted to maybe see them go to his plane

[Shannon - a.court.of.fantasies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such A Cute Read!

By the end of Mated to the Monster I knew I had to read this novella to keep their story going and I’m so glad I did! It’s lighthearted, fun, and the perfect conclusion to their story!

[Kollfen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tease

More. lol.

For a moment I though I will see the birth of their child or atleast what will happen once she has the baby. Idk. Instances where it’s a fantasy makes me want to imagine what will happen.

I am happy with how it went though. This is short and sweet but more.

[TheBookDragonReview · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable little Christmas novella. I read this in July lol as I wanted more of Mal and Shannon. Shannon introduces Mal to Christmas and Mal being Mal runs with it.
A cute happy ending too.
I really enjoyed this.

[Mary Brannian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Santa Claws


Tired of insipid damsels and effeminate heroes? Fed up with rote stories using worn out formulas? Then hang onto your panties, ladies, because Santa Claws is oh so delicious! A Christmas tale like no other!

[Moochie · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ - 2.25 bc this is better than the first book… i think? idek. for an extended epilogue it just felt like it didn’t give me anything new to the story. there was so much recap and the redundant facts and phrases grated on me

[Mariah Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love some good christmas stories

This story was a wonderful tie into the other books i wish i had read it in order! I should have looked into the series more i loved it and it added so much extra magic to the scene in book 3! Ahh

[Cecelia🐈‍⬛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

This was a Christmas novella extra from another book but I was able to understand everything without reading the first one! It was very cute & precious. Her teaching him all about Christmas and getting her Christmas spirit back was adorable and a perfect read for the holidays!

[Aer D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series but I'm not sure how to feel about this story. It was cute, a bit spicy, but feels like it could have had a little more to it. Maybe I'm just too Christmas obsessed but I wanted more silly Christmas shenanigans. Still an adorable aside in Mal and Shannon's story.

[Torie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was much better. We got to see an inside to after there bonding that the first book didn’t give. Glad this novella was released.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

I loved this Christmas edition with Shannon and Mal. It was a cute and relaxing read. It was also nice to get a follow up with them.

[Snowy · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute follow up

This is a cute follow up to the first book in the series. Made me smile in the simplicity and ease of affection.

[sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and cute

This was a cute read….an epilogue to Amal and Shannon. And since I don’t want to give anything away, I’ll say it’s centered around christmas…and sweet

[mynameisharini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Smut Chapters:

Chapter 1

Chapter 6