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mmoxie25's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Murder
kg18's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
clovetra's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
oh how i wanted to love this. BROM HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME.
tldr; this reads like a worse version of slewfoot (even though this came out before slewfoot SHUT UP I READ THAT FIRST)
now here’s the long story: i really didn’t like much about this book. let me go over what i did like. which is mainly isabelle. simply because she is pookie pie. she is the love of my life and she could get it. also i am a sucker for “eternal being being mesmerised by things we find boring in the modern day” trope. krampus is a himbo at times i said what i said.
there were also a few scenes i really adored. namely the moment in the general’s hideout. you know the one. also the little moment with krampus at the bar???? did not expect that in this book but wow was i happy to read about it. i loved those two scenes A LOT.
ummmm and that’s about all i can say i really loved about this book. so let’s go over what i didn’t love 😟
jesse. what an asshat. yes i recognise the story is very likely supposed to give him a strong redemption arc where he goes from an unlikeable protagonist to someone the reader roots for. but i did not give a flying fart about what happened to him. honestly there were many times i kinda wished he died. and so many situations jesse got out of seemed incredibly unrealistic. like it just threw me out of it all. idk it feels like his redemption arc… didn’t exist? where was his being a good guy? oh wow he helped krampus? therefore he is redeemed? nah im gonna need more than that actually.
krampus felt very much like samson from slewfoot. almost too similar for me to not keep referring back to samson and thinking “oh he was written so much better”. like at least samson’s motives made sense there. why the fuck is krampus doing anything beyond his own goals. actually scratch that, he isn’t doing shit, which brings me to another issue — it felt like most of this book was filler. nothing ever fucking happened. and if something massive was built up, it either was incredibly disappointing in reality, or instantly reversed by the necessity of the plot, making what i had just read pointless. like yes we’re doing this massive showdown where we’re supposed to be worried for krampus….. but also he’s fucking immortal. so why do i care if he gets hurt when you’ve sent up he kind of can’t die. 70% of this book is krampus bitching, 20% is jesse bitching, and the remaining 10% is where anything actually interesting happens. the plot is literally this: krampus and gang go to a location. they encounter shenanigans. they rest up. jesse winges about dillard. krampus and gang go to another location. wash rinse repeat. and krampus’ motivations beyond “spreading cheer” and “killing santa” don’t exist, meaning you have no idea why the fuck he’s just pissfarting around for most of the story.
can you tell i didn’t like the plot?
so much of this book is just slewfoot but written by someone who has never written a book ever in their life and has also never been taught fundamentals in literature. because why do both books feature a human who is first an unbeliever and is hard on their luck when x supernatural creature appears and decides to help the main character get revenge on all those who have wronged MC, then supernatural creature turns MC into one of them, murder murder, lots of lore dumps about their origins in folklore hell, even the way krampus & samson’s dialogue appear are so earily similar i wouldn’t have been surprised if a twist was that they were straight up the same guy.
i am so thoroughly disappointed and annoyed. disappointed because i know brom can do better, as evidenced by my love for slewfoot, and annoyed because i wasted so much time on a book that could’ve been like…. 100 pages shorter.
i’m actually pissed what the fuck was that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death
itsheyfay's review against another edition
I came, I saw, I DNF’d 🤷🏼♀️
Disappointed because I wanted more Krampus lore and I liked the Norse mythology element.
Disappointed because I wanted more Krampus lore and I liked the Norse mythology element.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Police brutality, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy
hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Meh, it was alright. This was my second Brom book (first was Slewfoot) and was a little let down. The artwork was way more interesting than the story for me. But making Krampus and Santa hot and enemies? A+, no notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
I can’t think of the word for it but like. Dirty cops/abuse of power. Ya get what I’m saying_all_by_my_shelf_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Who came first? Santa Claus or Krampus? It could be argued that they both sprouted from the same origins, but variations of Krampus far preceded any of the more humanized, charitable versions of Santa Claus.
From the beginning, Krampus represented the change of seasons, a nature and fertility god who chased away wicked spirits and assured a bountiful growing season in return for tribute.
Once Christianity came along, Krampus was cast, along with many other horned nature spirits, into the role of a demon or devil. Despite several attempts over the centuries by the church and some European governments to stamp out Krampus celebrations, Krampus and Yuletide have endured and, as with most pagan traditions, have been adopted (or as Krampus would argue, stolen) by and into their Christian counterparts, such as the bringing of evergreen trees and wreaths inside the home, and the leaving of gifts in socks or boots.”
Krampus is the second book I’ve read by BROM and it astounds me how much this author can get me to care about certain characters, especially those who have been related to the devil in some forms. With his stunning illustrations throughout, BROM gives off this sense of dread and angst for his characters through his storytelling. That’s the truest form of talent, in my opinion.
I really enjoyed this book. The only point where it lacked for me, was that some sequences went on a little too long just for storytelling (or filling the reader in on a plot point). I believe that some scenes could have been shortened, as they took me out of the story. A more show than tell approach would have sufficed more appropriately.
All in all, it was a solid book and I look forward to reading more from this peculiar and intriguing author.
I sure as hell will make sure to leave my shoes out with a tribute next Yule, tho hahah
From the beginning, Krampus represented the change of seasons, a nature and fertility god who chased away wicked spirits and assured a bountiful growing season in return for tribute.
Once Christianity came along, Krampus was cast, along with many other horned nature spirits, into the role of a demon or devil. Despite several attempts over the centuries by the church and some European governments to stamp out Krampus celebrations, Krampus and Yuletide have endured and, as with most pagan traditions, have been adopted (or as Krampus would argue, stolen) by and into their Christian counterparts, such as the bringing of evergreen trees and wreaths inside the home, and the leaving of gifts in socks or boots.”
Krampus is the second book I’ve read by BROM and it astounds me how much this author can get me to care about certain characters, especially those who have been related to the devil in some forms. With his stunning illustrations throughout, BROM gives off this sense of dread and angst for his characters through his storytelling. That’s the truest form of talent, in my opinion.
I really enjoyed this book. The only point where it lacked for me, was that some sequences went on a little too long just for storytelling (or filling the reader in on a plot point). I believe that some scenes could have been shortened, as they took me out of the story. A more show than tell approach would have sufficed more appropriately.
All in all, it was a solid book and I look forward to reading more from this peculiar and intriguing author.
I sure as hell will make sure to leave my shoes out with a tribute next Yule, tho hahah
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Murder
sophielillybeth's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Murder, and Alcohol
malissa18's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Great read for Christmas or Yuletide season! It was a fast paced read. It follows the main character Jesse who in the beginning really has no hope. That is until he sees a scuffle occur between “demons” and someone resembling Santa Claus. Jesse ends up with Santa’s magical sack. He is then brought into the fold of Krampus and his Belsnickels. Very creatively this is all tied into Mythology. Throughout the novel Jesse helps Krampus rediscover his reason for living and Krampus returns the favor. Although there is a lot of horror elements I found it to still be a very inspiring and positive story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Murder
mynumber3voice's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, and Alcohol
story_time_with_angela's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of the best audiobook narrations I’ve heard, and the physical book features amazing illustrations by the author. A very different perspective of Santa Claus! Loved the folk history and the idea of Yule. Loved Krampus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, and Death