Book Review: KRAMPUS by Brom

Title: KRAMPUS: THE YULE LORD
Author: Brom
Category/Genre: Adult Horror/Fantasy
My Star Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Blurb:

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.

My Review:

What better way to get oneself in the Christmas spirit than to lose yourself in a tale about the anti-Santa Clause himself...Krampus.  Though classified as horror, I wouldn't consider this a particularly spine-tingling tale.  There are a few parts where things get bloody, but not necessarily scary.  I'd call it an engrossing dark fantasy novel, through and through.  Brom has managed to bring life to some of history's most notorious ancients.  Solid mythology is re-imagined in this tale, told from the view-point of many, though focused on the prospective of the one we know as the villain, Krampus.  Engaging secondary characters breathe excitement in an already active story-line, adding to the appeal.  Perhaps my favorite thing about this novel?  The way that even after I've finished, I'm still not sure if the true villain is Krampus or Santa...or maybe neither?