The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slover
Fiction, Published November 2010
ARC Received from LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Challenges: Audio Book Challenge #18
Read December 2010, 160 pp.
Also listened to the audio version – Listen Free Here, narrated by Tim Slover & Robert Rowberry, unabridged, 4 hours
Verdict: 4/5
Book Blurb:
The magic begins in 1343, when the child Klaus is orphaned and adopted by a craftsman’s guild. The boy will grow to become a master woodworker with an infectious laugh and an unparalleled gift for making toys. His talent and generosity uniquely equip him to bestow hundred of gifts on children at Christmas – and to court the delightful Anna, who enters his life on a sleigh driven by the reindeer Dasher and becomes his beloved wife. Still, all is not snowfall and presents. Klaus will be shadowed by the envious Rolf Eckhof, who will stop at nothing to subvert him. By the end, Santa’s magic is at last unleashed, flying reindeer come to his aid, and an epic battle between good and evil is waged in the frosty Christmas skies.
At once an action-packed adventure, an inspiring story of commitment and faith, and a moving love story, The Christmas Chronicles is a beguiling tale destined to become a holiday favorite for the ages.
My Thoughts:
At once I wanted to grab a cup of chai latte (truly Christmas in a cup) or some hot chocolate and settle down in a cozy chair. The story begins with a man, eager to celebrate the coming season with his family, trying to convince them to ride up the mountain with him to gather pine boughs. They, of course, had other ideas of how they wanted to spend their day. So, he goes alone. He treks up the mountain and since the snow has come later that year, he is able to travel further up the mountain side than usual. Soon the narrator discovers a green tome, fallen from a sleigh racing down a magical road. This Green Book entails the story of how Klaus became a Saint and known to children all over the world. But it is also a story of believing, for it is that belief that keeps the true Christmas spirit alive.
Christmas Chronicles will definitely get into the Christmas spirit, and make sure you listen to the radio production as a special treat. You might want to read the book first before reading it to the younger audiences, there’s a few places in the story that might frighten them. These are done in a way so that the reader acknowledges that there is evil in the world, especially around Christmas time, there are those that try to bring others down, but we must remember to always “Be of good cheer!”
Spread the word!
Merry Christmas readers! Love, emmegail ♥
I’m sorry I missed this for this Christmas. I’m going to try to get a copy to pack you so I will have it for next Christmas.