A Christmas Horror Story

4.5/5 stars Allow me to take down my Christmas tree and never think about anything Christmas or Santa Clause again...just kidding but seriously this books was creepy, amazing, horrifying and fantastic all rolled in one. WOW... I am loving this authors books.

Another quirky, creepy and fun read from an author I think is about to make a splash! His stories are all fantastic recreations of classic tales and really make you think! I loved this book!!

My Review:

What a brilliantly dark story, very well written. Prepare to meet a horrible creature who for years has come along the night before Christmas and to steal children. He lands on the roof and searches for a way in to get hold of his prey and whisk them away. We flit between the past and present day as we watch him on his travels. His mark is a lump of coal which he leaves.

We start in the present day where we meet Katie, Emily and Jake who are at home on the night before Christmas Eve. Their Mother is a nurse and is caught up at work with bad weather forecast. However they remain hopeful that she is will make it home in time. Their Father died a year ago after being involved in an accident. Since then Jake has carried round a book called Tome of the Dark and Mysterious and appears to cherishing almost like a bible.

We move between present day and the past, which includes a visit to 1944 and the Second World War, and also an orphanage in 1833. Both visits take place on Christmas Eve and as we hear the jingle of the Christmas bells approach as a reader I was left in no doubt that rather than Santa being on his way, something darker and more evil was about to arrive.

We follow all the children in their desperate attempt to escape this horrible creature. But much of the book revolves around Katie, Emily and Jake. As eldest sister Katie has to burden alot of responsibility for keeping them safe, but my little hero is Jake whose book and knowledge may just be what saves them from a nasty fate.

I have previously read The Boy in the Cemetery by Sebastian, which I loved. So when this book came out I knew I wanted to read it, and it hasn't let me down. I love his writing style which flows naturally and builds the tension as it comes to a climax. The books are very descriptive and I felt I could visualise this horrible creature which was on the prowl. I almost finished the whole thing in one sitting because I became so engrossed and just wanted to know what happens.

I fear I may still be a big kid at heart because I did actually come away wondering if there could be any element of truth to the story. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. This book wouldn't be for someone of a nervous disposition, or younger people. But it would be a good read for older teens, and adults too.

A great alternative to all the Christmas romance books out there. The story of this Christmas beast could stick and feature in word of mouth stories for years to come. We have had the Grinch, but this creature is far more sinister and I could easily read more about him.

I will be checking that I don't get a lump of coal in my stocking this year....if I do you will hear me scream in terror!

I would also like to comment on the cover, which is just brilliant. Carina really do come up with some of the finest book covers out there.

Thank you to Carina who provided a copy in return for an honest review.

"...Greta?" whispered Mama, her hand covering her quivering and fretful lips.
From the dark and the embers and the silver slivers of light they saw their daughter-sweet succulent Greta, young and tender and plump. She stood by the fireplace and from it an elongated arm with black scales and lengthened fingers wrapped around the tiny girl's waist.
"Mama? Papa?" Greta replied with tears in her eyes. And with a terrible movement, as fast as darkness murders light, the arm disappeared up the chimney stack and away taking Greta with it, leaving only a cloud of wet soot where she once stood..."

Forgotten by time, over centuries as people grew to wise and old for the old stories. He is forgotten by modern man. But the people of old knew him and warned their children to be good. Not for the presents that old Saint Nick might bring. But what the other one would bring, what would come next, after you received your lump of dusty coal.

"...If Katie heard her brother and sister she did not acknowledge the. She stood frozen, staring at the birds, their thousand dead black eyes staring back.
"They're all facing the same way, look, as if flying from the forest," Katie murmured.
"Katie, wake up. Jake is terrified. We have to leave," shouted Emily.
It snapped Katie from her trance. She looked at Emily, slightly confused, and then at Jake. His face was a mask of wide-eyed, over-imaginative fear.
"Something scared them to death," Katie said..."

There is something else traveling the cold night before Christmas. Visiting the homes of those who did not behave. Visiting the children who are disobedient and rebellious. A creature that feeds on those. A creature that visits once a year, on the night before Christmas.

Review -

"...On the night before Christmas, lock the doors to the house For a creature is stirring, sly as a mouse He skulks on the roof, down the chimney with care Keep the fire burning for the Child Eater's here..."

From the tales of Krampus to the true tales of the Brother's Grimm, fairy tales were not meant to entertain, but to teach and correct. With fear and blood and all that makes for the perfect Holiday treat.

A Christmas Horror Story is just that. Three young children left alone on Christmas Eve, their single mother pulling a double shift at the local hospital, come face to face with a creature as old as time. A creature forgotten and not feared in this modern world. But it will be, as it fills its black bag with children to feed to its boiling cauldron. The Child Eater is here.

This is a wonderful short tale, as brisk as it is complete. Spanning centuries, the story weaves its way to modern day and the plight of Katie and her siblings. The Child Eater is perfectly described. A true childhood monster that as we grow up; we convince ourselves could never exist, but in the dark of night, still make sure there is nothing under our bed. Or crawling down the chimney.

Sebastian Gregory has written a terrific little tale. Pick it up. Read it to your kids and watch their cute little faces go pale. After all, if they can believe there's a Santa, why not a Child Eater?

A really good little read.

All Kidding Aside, This Is A Scary Book

Sebastian Gregory has a fine track record as a writer of scary tales. His The Asylum for Fairy-tale Creatures is a reworking of some old Grimm tales and familiar fairy tale characters and is clever, gruesome, elegant, violent and unsettling. The Boy in the Cemetery is a children-in-peril ghost story with a number of gripping scenes and a dark undercurrent. This offering is a bit lighter, but it is not a jokey ghosty holiday-themed lark. The prologue alone, which opens the story by describing the abduction and disappearance of a little girl on Christmas Eve in 1514 is dark and dreadful.

In short, this isn't David Lubar Campfire Weenies material or even R.L. Stine "Goosebumps" kiddy thrills. This is effective, dark and unsettling. For what it's worth, I would suggest reading the sample that is available on the Amazon site. It stops short of the abduction but is loaded with enough creepy, dark, unnerving atmosphere that you'll get a sense of the author's style.

And this author has style to burn. There is no plodding, by-the-numbers story telling or predictable plotting. This is carefully made, slow building, tension filled, dark story telling with a palpable underlying sense of menace and dread. Children alone, threatened by a dark unknown evil creature, battling to survive - that's what you get here. There are no comic figures or humorous distractions. The characters are well-defined; the reader becomes invested in their welfare and then lurches along with them from peril to peril.

At least for me, and not to sound like a bluenose, this is a tough book to figure in terms of the appropriate reader age. There's no sex, torture, gore or that sort of thing. But there's no let up on or relief from the dark dread that grows throughout the story. The writing is sophisticated and there are a lot of small observations, throw-away lines, and bits of dialogue that are sharp and finely tuned. There is no silliness - no zombie hamsters or ghostly pratfalls. This is an old fashioned, efficient, moody, scary story. That's a good and rare accomplishment as long as you go into it with your eyes open, (or maybe with your eyes tightly closed).

Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

Bern, 1514. Six-year old Greta is excited to see what Santa Claus will bring her. But it's not Santa who is waiting for Greta.... Fast forward to 2014, where three children are home alone. All three begin to dream about the same terrifying creature that Greta encountered. The creature is back.... and he is coming.

A Christmas Horror Story By Sebastian Gregory

The blurb

On the night before Christmas, lock the doors to the house...
Forget the jolly old man in his red, big-buttoned suit. Because another creature is up on the roof, preparing for his annual visit to little children everywhere.

With a belt of knives round his waist, a writhing bag on his back and a Santa-sized appetite, he's a little... different to the St Nick you might be expecting.

And you can leave out all the carrots and mince pies you like... but it's you he's after.

A horrid Christmas to all, and a terrible night.

Every white Christmas has a dark side.

Don't miss A Christmas Horror Story, the gruesomely festive new story from Sebastian Gregory.

WHAT I SAY

I'd like to say again that Carina UK had done it again with this fab cover for this fab book Their covers alway make me want to read their books . The cover a bit creepy i felt what do you think ?

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Sebastian, got a weird and wonderful mind he can be very deep at times which like .
A Christmas Horror Story it a very creepy read i was hooked from the first few pages and so will you be it just a fab read it just hooks you into this fab wried plot

The story it written brilliantly. The book talks about different Christmas Eves all involving different children but all with the same outcome, what could that be a happy one ? It christmas time i hope so The last family are the main characters Katie, Emily and Jake. Emily and jake mum works at the hospital and a very bad snowstorm come . They now have no electricity and they have no way of any communication with their mum all phone are down the three are left alone at home. What will they do now ? Do they know what going to happen on Christmas Eve ?
no i say they are stuck the snow so deep but santa will be here soon so that keeps them happy but something far, far more sinister is on it way were have their christmas presents gone ? why there got coal ? What going on ? Omg the snow so deep what they going to do ? The are just stuck in the house . What can happen they are safe in home or are they ?

Seb's characters are fantastic you will love them all . They feel so real we meet a few children before we get two the three main characters i liked them all the main characters are Emily jake and Katie . Katie is the oldest and she has the responsibility of her younger brother and sister they seem so close which was nice they seem to get on so well which was nice to read about . Their relationship was just like all family one minute getting on then one minute some thing upsets them . They hate each other just like all kids . Jake was the youngest he was such a nice boy he loved to read what was he reading ? Emily was a bit more lively i thought a very happy girl i did feel maybe she order jake around at bit but in her way she was looking after him which was nice to read about . Katie looks after then both she had i felt took charge since their dad had die in a accident . She help her mum out as she worked so hard at the hospital . The seem a very close family which was so nice to hear . You just want to hear of a happy christmas with lots of gift for this lovely happy family unit .

The style of writing is so different to any other book i have read i just love the way Sebastian write his descriptions are spot on the plot just absolutely fantastic. It make you think about the plot long after you finish the book He knows how to get your imagination going and your mind .

As a children i would of hated this book as i did not like santa to come in my room i would put a chair near my door so he could not get in

i did let sophie she 11 read it too she said it was very creepy but she like it she said it would make a good christmas dvd what do you think she said it was very creepy but she enjoy it as santa not real away lol

It just a wonderful read like all Sabastian books i have read them all now i have loved them all he just so different to any other writer i just love his style and the way his mind works he just hooks me into his plots their are very different

Please read for your self i think you will enjoy as much as we did

5 stars read enjoy keep for next year

I like to thank net gallery & Carina uk for letting me review this fab book

Please check it out a must read christmas book

Publication Date -8th December 2014 Publisher - Carina UK Source - eBook (Provided via NetGalley)

Three children, Kate, Emily, and Jake are home on Christmas Eve. They are waiting for their mother to come home from work but a snow storm keeps mom from getting home. They hear funny noises that scares them. However the child eater is trying to get in the house as he is hungry. Does the child eater get them?

In these modern times, the myth of the child eater is not known to us. The child eater has been around since the 1500's. The story goes to 1514 at a home, then 1944' --the Second World War and 1833 at an orphanage. One is left with an ending that makes you wanting--I won't say more as I don't want to reveal it.

The story is a haunting, fantastic, creepy, wonderful horror story! It is written well as I could see the scenes described. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit that I am glad that as a child not to have known this story. Don't miss out, do read it.

Something is lurking in the shadows, and it's definitely not Santa Claus.

During the last centuries children have not been safe from a terrible monster, Der Kinderfresser (The Child Eater). This year he might disrupt Christmas for Katy, Jake and Emily, unless they keep their fireplace burning and their doors locked.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this story. The writing was very good, I'll certainly check more of his work. The story still felt like a Christmas story even though of course the horror theme isn't very Christmas in itself. It was very entertaining. Would recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5-SECOND SUMMARY: An ancient monster dressed as Santa terrorizes naughty children on Christmas Eve.

30-SECOND SUMMARY: For centuries, an ancient evil has targeted and kidnapped naughty children at midnight on Christmas Eve. Several stories of kidnapped children throughout the centuries are included between chapters, but the main story is of three siblings who are home alone and about to be its next victims.

REVIEW: For middle schoolers looking for creepy Christmas stories (not an easy task!), A Christmas Horror Story is sure to be a hit. This is well-written, creepy fun that will be especially popular among fans of Gaiman's Coraline, Black's Doll Bones, and even Stine's Goosebumps series. I especially love all the flashbacks to previous victims of the Evil German-speaking Santa-thing (called der kinderfresser, or The Child Eater).

I also loved the new version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," der kinderfresser-style! Super-cool!

The short length (66 pages) and appealing title and cover art will make this a popular choice with reluctant readers.

Unfortunately, this book is currently only available in e-book format. Not good for libraries (like mine) that don't have Overdrive or e-book lending! At least it's cheap--currently less than $5 on Nook and Kindle. It is not currently available via Follett or FollettShelf. So sad!

THE BOTTOM LINE: A must for all libraries serving middle school and high school students. It may be okay for some elementary readers as well, but elementary librarians are advised to read it themselves before circulating to young patrons.

STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: I would have no problems selling this one to my students if I can get my hands on a printed copy. My library is currently exploring Overdrive as an option for our students, and if I can get it there, I absolutely will! Another option is to buy a copy and load it onto one of my library ipads.

READALIKES: The Boy in the Cemetery (Gregory); Coraline (Gaiman); Skeleton Man (Bruchac)

RATING BREAKDOWN:

Overall: 5/5 Creativity: 5/5 Characters: 4/5--not a character-driven story, but the three main characters do have distinct personalities Engrossing: 5/5--it's short, and I read it in one sitting Writing: 5/5--strong writing with lots of grisly descriptions Appeal to teens: 5/5 Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:

Language: very mild--2 hells Sexuality: none Violence: medium--the der kinderfresser kidnaps, kills, and eats children Drugs/Alcohol: none

- See more at: http://www.readerpants.net/#sthash.8HFop0Sa.dpuf

'A Christmas Horror Story' by Sebastian Gregory is a dark, twisted tale of Christmas. I enjoyed it even into the dark days of Winter.

Beware of the thing that comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve. It's not who you are expecting as three snowbound children are about to learn.

Katy, Emily and Jake are home alone when their mom is stuck at work. They've recently lost their dad, so Christmas is looking pretty bleak. Add to that the strange book of tales that little brother Jake is reading about a Child Eater that stalks his prey on Christmas Eve. Before long the kids are running for their lives. Will they survive until Christmas? Should we all brick up our chimneys and hide?

It's a quick read, but Der Kinderfresser is is one of the most gruesome Christmas monsters I've run across. Sebastian Gregory writes a great page-turner and I like his style of intersecting childhood and terror. He did it well here and in 'The Asylum for Fairy-tale Creatures' (which I also loved). I didn't feel like this was a set story in which I could predict what was going to happen. That kept the tension high for me while reading.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Carina UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this frightfully wonderful ebook.

If you’re looking for a fun, happy, festive book then go elsewhere! This book is certainly not your typical festive fayre! If you like your stories mixing humour and horror with a great story line then you’ve found the ideal book. The child Eater is one of the nastiest, scariest, horrific monsters - complete with teeth! You’ll be really rooting for Katie, Emily and Jake against this sneak, swift, monster when their mother’s return is delayed by bad weather.

The monster carries a sack, like Santa Claus, but his doesn’t contain presents - it contains children! Will they children get away? The characters are brilliantly portrayed and the monster is much fiercer than the Grinch!

An amazing dark Christmas story that will have you looking at things during the festive season just a little differently after you’ve read it! Another great book by a very skilful and talented author.