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The way this is a Christmas book is the way Die Hard is a Christmas movie, is it takes place at/around Christmas. Other than that it’s a lovely read that only has an expected amount of violence from Krampus when the villain of the story makes contact with him. And even then he doesn’t end up dead. Overall this book is a great read and flows almost effortlessly. The way it switches perspectives reminds me of an earlier read “A Letter To The Luminous Deep”.

This is a prequel book so you can read it before Legends & Lattes, but only until the epilogue and best to read L&L through. Such a nice relaxing story to see how Viv changed and grew before L&L, and how even in the middle of a quest there can be peace and growth.

The good old cliché of two people fake dating but ending up falling in love gets me. All the while it takes place in both theater and D&D environments is a combo straight to my heart. The characters do change a bit but in ways you’d expect and the main character takes a good chunk of responsibility that most won’t.

Got to love how long it takes for them to figure out what the key is, but when they do it’s that funny oh we’re dumb bit. The writing and pacing of this book is so well done that the story built and grew at the perfect pace and even the climax wasn’t a drastic big one, but it had that perfect climax wave.

DNF review. Got through 12 chapters and it was just difficult to follow as the pace changes often and so does the scenery. If you like trying to figure out all new things at once then this book is for you. It tosses you right into the middle of a more political infighting situation than anything and with barely any world building before it. You’re trying to figure out multiple characters, situations, and world building all at once. Basically you’re trying to drink from a fire hydrant at full blast.

I agree with my wife that this basically a fantasy version of Die Hard; but even so it’s a wonderful read. Had to take a point off for the writer not actually writing the wedding scene at the end or at least having the last chapter take place after the wedding.

I had to use the audiobook to finish this as think the main problem for me was the font size in the hardcover book was just too small. Making me focus on focusing instead of absorbing information. Overall the story progressed slowly but it’s very detailed, so if there’s a second book to this, then I hope it won’t be as detailed.

Have to take a half star off for how certain twists were revealed, then brushed under the rug just as quickly they came to light, and that it feels like there’s an attempt to leave things open so that a book two could happen but not well done enough. Overall this was a magical experience mixed in with reality of the world and consequences.

When you read the acknowledgment when you finish the book, a lot of the one liners and scenes make sense. If you like D&D or fantasies of that sort, then this book will take you on a trip of comical proportions.