“Terrific. A wild ride….I loved it. It hooked me and I couldn’t put it down.”
—Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy
""Brom is that rare breed: a person who is skilled in more than one area of artistic expression. Here's hoping that he will continue to share his dark and often beautiful dreams with us for many years to come."" --Christopher Paolini, New York Times bestselling author of Eragon
Acclaimed author and artist Brom raised eyebrows and pulse rates with The Child Thief, his grim, brilliantly audacious, gorgeously illustrated reimagining of the Peter Pan legend. So what does this innovative fantasist do for an encore? He tinkers darkly with the beloved mythology of Santa Claus.
Set in Appalachia, Krampus the Yule Lord is a twisted fairytale about a failed West Virginia songwriter who gets ensnared on Christmas Eve in an eternal war between a not-so-saintly Saint Nick and his dark enemy Krampus, aka Black Peter, an ancient trickster demon. Krampus the Yule Lord is Gregory Maguire (Wicked) meets Susanna Clarke (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell) in the realm of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, as Clive Barker (Mr. B. Gone) works his dark sorcery from the shadows. Once again featuring Brom’s chillingly beautiful artwork throughout, Krampus the Yule Lord is a feast of wonder straight from the kitchen of Sweeney Todd.
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"An interesting re-telling of an aspect of the Christmas mythos incorporating the pagan idea of Krampus and Norse mythology. Set in West Virginia, Brom shares a view on how the world today would receive the idea of Krampus. This novel is a combination of a relatively quick read that is difficult to put down. I spent two nights staying up later than I should have in my journey through this book. Recommended reading for those who have an interest in the story of Krampus, or those twisted enough to enjoy a story of a Yule-tide pagan demigod who rewards the good and punishes the wicked."
— Christopher (4 out of 5 stars)
“Terrific. A wild ride...I loved it. It hooked me and I couldn’t put it down.”
— Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy“This...horror novel is perfect for anyone who disdains a cozy, sentimental holiday story.”
— Library Journal" Will write review when I wake up later on today haha such an awesome book, though! "
— Zach, 2/17/2014" i just read this book in the span of a day. the story was gripping, the illustrations fantastic. i already had an interest in. krampus and the yule tradition, this book magnified it. "
— Mack, 2/16/2014" I loved this so much! Brom has a way of making all of his characters kind of grey and morally ambiguous. There are no clear-cut good guys or bad guys, which is sort of awesome. One thing's for sure though, I'll be decorating a Yule tree and putting out offerings for Krampus this holiday season! "
— Heather, 2/14/2014" Dark, funny and sad. I enjoyed the blend of Norse mythology with the Santa Claus myth. If you can get past the cover, this is a great read. I couldn't put it down. It made me think of American Gods by Neil Gaiman but not as complicated. None of his books are for children but adults who still enjoy children's literature and mythology will enjoy his dark fantasy blend. "
— Jeffie, 2/8/2014" It is a bit of an old trope, the idea that some of the old gods are still kicking around, but Brom puts a together a nice sort-of-holiday spin on it. This tale of Santa's arch rival is mixed in with a story of personal redemption and hope. The end did seem a bit rushed, or maybe I just wanted more. "
— David, 2/4/2014" Oh help me Brom has done it again! I never thought that he could write another amazing story after reading The Child Theif. Krampus was an amazing book to read; filled with excitement, serious moments, and an amazing plot which helps to paint the perfect picture for the battle between Santa Claus and Krampus The Yule Lord. As silly as a book about Santa sounds, this book was just the opposite, and left me on the edge of my seat throughout, and craving more when it was over. "
— Devin, 1/30/2014" INCREDIBLE- definitely a favorite!!!!! "
— Emilia, 1/18/2014" What a treat .. I am loving this dark retelling of the Santa Claus story by Brom. Santa is not who we all thing and is his arch nemesis, the Yule Lord, the good guy after all? Reminded me of Peter Straub, early Stephen King ... just an absolute delight! "
— Tammy, 1/16/2014" This book wasn't perfect but I enjoyed it regardless - in fact, I love it. Again, none of the characters are flat and I felt the message of the story loud and clear. This holiday season, I'll be thinking of Krampus. Once again, Brom has made me want to believe in magic all over again. "
— Christianne, 1/9/2014" i REALLY enjoyed this book. It was very good, with interesting plot development and great artwork. Another hit for Brom. :-) "
— Teah, 1/3/2014" Childish topic mixed with excessive foul language. It's hard to reconcile the two extreams. "
— Brandi, 12/31/2013" Violent, gory, and heartwarming all at the same time. I will be sure to set out treats (and schnapps) for Krampus this year... :) "
— Pam, 12/8/2013" Okay and very quick fantasy read. Not great. Needs a proofreader. "
— Msslam, 12/7/2013" A dark, refreshingly original holiday fantasy, though not in any traditional sense. Filled with twists and surprises and interesting characters of the human and mythical variety. Loads of grim fun. "
— Sidney, 10/16/2013" Ok, this book was SUCH a romp - so much fun! Very well done - who knew Krampus was such a sympathetic character? Great, great read. "
— Jenn, 8/21/2013" Amazing!!!! Wonderful story filled with rich characters. Krampus is a wonderful incarnation that the Earth Mother needs back. Happy Yule.. Set out your shoes filled with treats and lets welcome back the old into the new world. "
— Tim, 4/2/2013" Entertaining, but a bit silly. "
— Tom, 1/22/2013" A fabulous Holiday read for adults. No one spins it like Brom. "
— Lisa, 11/21/2012" Fascinating look at the olde religion that Christianity pushed out of the way. We have Christmas trees but they were Krampus' first. He brought light to the darkness of the winter. I enjoyed it throughly. "
— Ann, 10/27/2012Brom has, over the past decades, lent his distinctive vision to all facets of the creative industries, from novels and games to comics and film. Along with The Child Thief, he is the author of the award-winning illustrated horror novels The Plucker and The Devil’s Rose. He is currently kept in a dank cellar somewhere just outside of Seattle.
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.