Dear Santa

Name: Dear Santa
Price: 4.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781925825237

✍️ Amy Laurens

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$4.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A five-year-old's Christmas wish for brains turns into a horror story.

This collection presents a single narrative where a young boy's letter to Santa contains a macabre request. The plot hinges on the timing of the delivery and the potential fulfillment of his desire for intellectual clarity in his family. Laurens uses the framework of Christmas Eve to build suspense, focusing on the immediate threat of the holiday arriving without resolution. The story examines the gap between a child's literal interpretation and the adult world's complexity. It is a standalone piece that challenges the reader's comfort with holiday myths.

Key Themes

Christmas horror child perspective Santa Claus

Literary Context

The book sits within the tradition of American horror fiction, specifically subverting Christmas folklore. Published in late 2019, it engages with the cultural figure of Santa Claus, transforming a symbol of generosity into a potential agent of dread for readers familiar with holiday narratives.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Stephen King's short fiction · Claudia Gray's horror works

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Inkprint Press 📅 2019 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781925825237

📝 Description: Dear Santa

Amy Laurens delivers a chilling tale in Dear Santa, published by Inkprint Press. The narrative centers on Tommy, a five-year-old boy who writes a Christmas letter with a disturbing request for more brains to help his family understand him. With only one day remaining before the holiday, the urgency of delivery becomes critical. The story explores the consequences of such a wish coming true, playing on the classic trope of Santa Claus bringing gifts that are far from what was hoped for. Laurens constructs this horror through the innocent perspective of a child, contrasting it with the dark reality of his request. The book draws on traditional Christmas folklore but twists it into a supernatural nightmare. It is suitable for readers who enjoy short, punchy horror stories that subvert holiday expectations. Those seeking lighthearted seasonal fiction or long-form epics may find this brief narrative too intense or too short for their tastes. The text relies on the tension between childhood innocence and adult fears. The story does not offer comfort but rather a warning about the dangers of unspoken desires. It remains a tight, focused piece of supernatural fiction that leaves the reader questioning the nature of Santa's gifts. The ending lingers with the implication that Tommy may receive exactly what he asked for, turning a beloved tradition into a source of dread.

💎 Our verdict on Dear Santa

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Laurens constructs a chilling narrative by juxtaposing the innocent voice of a five-year-old against a macabre request for intellectual clarity. The story effectively uses the urgency of Christmas Eve to build suspense, transforming a simple letter into a supernatural nightmare. By twisting classic holiday folklore, the book creates a sense of immediate threat and dread. It suits readers who prefer intense, brief horror over lighthearted seasonal fiction. The text relies heavily on the tension between naive desires and complex adult realities, leaving a lingering impression of unease. While not for those seeking comfort or epic length, it delivers a potent subversion of holiday tropes that will resonate with fans of dark fantasy and psychological terror who appreciate concise, impactful storytelling.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy short, punchy horror stories that subvert holiday expectations and challenge the comfort of seasonal myths. It appeals to those interested in psychological horror where a child’s literal interpretation of a wish creates immediate tension and dread. The narrative offers a tight, focused experience for anyone seeking a chilling tale that plays on the gap between childhood innocence and adult fears without offering resolution or comfort. It is perfect for readers who appreciate supernatural fiction that turns beloved traditions into sources of unease, specifically those who enjoy stories about unspoken desires and their dangerous consequences during high-pressure moments like Christmas Eve.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Laurens constructs a chilling narrative by juxtaposing the innocent voice of a five-year-old against a macabre request for intellectual clarity. The story effectively uses the urgency of Christmas Eve to build suspense, transforming a simple letter into a supernatural nightmare. By twisting classic holiday folklore, the book creates a sense of immediate threat and dread. It suits readers who prefer intense, brief horror over lighthearted seasonal fiction. The text relies heavily on the tension between naive desires and complex adult realities, leaving a lingering impression of unease. While not for those seeking comfort or epic length, it delivers a potent subversion of holiday tropes that will resonate with fans of dark fantasy and psychological terror who appreciate concise, impactful storytelling.