It’s December! And that means Christmas all the time everywhere all over everything. So… what better thing to post about than Christmas-themed sci-fi/fantasy books?!
I haven’t actually read all of these, and some of these I have read but didn’t love, but everyone has different taste! So these aren’t so much personal recommendations as just me bringing some Christmas books to your attention so that you all can decide which ones might be just right for putting you in the holiday spirit!
*If you’re considering buying any of these books from Amazon US, I’d appreciate it if you use my affiliate links! It will help support this blog at no additional cost to you! Or, if you like audiobooks and prefer to support local businesses, I’ll include my referral link for Libro.fm membership for available books!*
The Coal Elf by Maria DeVivo (The Coal Elf Chronicles Series)
This is the first in what sounds like a fun YA series about elves in the North Pole who mine the coal given to bad kids.
Amazon // Goodreads
Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker by Gregory Maguire
This one is inspired by the Nutcracker, but about the toymaker, Drosselmeier. I have to admit, I don’t recall it being very Christmassy, but it’s kind of wistful and melancholic, and it has a very atmospheric, fairytale-esque feel.
Amazon // Goodreads // Available on Libro.fm // My Review
Vampire Claus by Robert Winter
This novella is a M/M romance about a vampire and human who meet on Christmas Eve and attempt to deliver gifts to children by Christmas morning.
Amazon // Goodreads // Available on Libro.fm // My Review
A Vampire Christmas Carol by Sarah Gray
This one, from what I understand, is about Scrooge having to fight a bunch of vampires in order to save himself and the people he once cared about.
Amazon // Goodreads
Claus by Tony Bertauski (Claus Series)
This one is supposedly a unique twist on the legend and backstory of Santa and his elves. It’s the first in a series with different characters in each book, and from what I understand it can be read as a standalone.
Amazon // Goodreads
Snowed by Maria Alexander (Bloodline of Yule Trilogy)
This one is a YA paranormal first-in-series with a unique take on Christmas legends. It wasn’t quite for me, but others have enjoyed it.
Amazon // Goodreads // My Review
Winterspell by Claire Legrand
This is kind of a YA retelling of the Nutcracker, but as a paranormal/high fantasy/steampunk mash-up with faeries and other realms and magic.
Amazon // Goodreads // My Review
Mending Noel by Charlie Cochet (North Pole City Tales Series)
This is the first in a whole series of light, fun M/M novellas about different characters in the North Pole.
Amazon // Goodreads // My Review
The Three Sisters by Sonia Halbach (Krampus Chronicles Series)
This one is a sweet, fun YA Christmas adventure inspired by the ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas poem about teens in an underground city that reminds me of Santa’s North Pole. It’s the first in a series but works relatively well as a standalone.
Amazon // Goodreads // My Review
Scrudge & Barley, Inc. by John Inman
Don’t judge this one by the silly (albeit pretty) cover because it’s actually a really touching M/M retelling of A Christmas Carol!
Amazon // Goodreads // My Review
More SFF Christmas Books
Book Recs: 10 Christmas-Themed Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books
Book Recs: 10 Christmas-Themed Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books (2)
Book Recs: 10 Christmas-Themed Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books (3)
Book Recs: 10 Christmas-Themed Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books (4)
Book Recs: 10 Queer Christmas-Themed Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books
All the SFF Christmas Books I’ve Reviewed
I rarely read books with a real Christmas setting, haha. I have heard of Winterspell but was put off by some of the negative reviews for that one. But I love this list. Spreading a little christmas love in these genres. 😀
I didn’t read Christmas books until I started blogging, and now I like to read a couple each year lol. I mean, I didn’t think Winterspell was perfect? But I was still glad I read it. Thanks!
I don’t often read holiday-themed books, although I did read a bunch of them this year, just for a change. I was a bit intrigued by Hiddensee, but Maguire’s last book was such a miss for me that I’m reluctant to try this one.
Hiddensee is one on the list that I haven’t read but would like to. I haven’t read any of Maguire’s books, but I get you, I’m also hesitant to try another book by an author if I didn’t like the first one I read.
I’m laughing so hard at Scrudge & Barley, Inc, lol! Im very curious to read Hiddensee since I’m a huge Gregory Maguire fan. Such a fun post!
Both the title and the cover for Scrudge & Barley are kind of silly lol, but the actual story is, well, a little silly at times, but also surprisingly touching! I haven’t read any Gregory Maguire, but I’d like to give Hiddensee a try! Thanks 🙂
I always want to read Christmas books, but I never do. I have a couple of them on my Kindle and I would love to read one or two this year. I’ve heard Winterspell is a lot fun. I may have to check it out! Thanks for the recommendations!
They’re fun to read around Christmas time 🙂 I enjoyed Winterspell! Glad I help you find some books!
Damn you!!! I have downloaded so many holiday themed stories already and I haven’t read even one of them yet! lol but I see a few I might grab.
For What It’s Worth
Hahaha adding to other people’s impossible TBRs brings me such joy XD Get crackin’ on those Christmas books already! 😉
Ooh nice. Coal Elf sounds awesome, frankly, because why not? bad, bad kids 🙂
Winterspell I’ve always like that cover, and while I’m not a Nutcracker fan the mash up of that with faeries and steampunk does appeal to me.
Love this topic.
Right? It’s a fun idea!
I feel like you don’t necessarily have to like the original to like a retelling, but obviously it still depends on your taste.
Thanks!
Thanks for all the ideas. I do really love holiday themed reads. I need to grab some more!!
-Lauren
Glad I could help you find some!
Vampire Claus and Snowed actually sound really good! This is not a list I expected to see lol
You should know by now that I can find SFF books for any theme or topics 😉 It’s my special book blogger talent, haha.
Wow! I haven’t read a single one of these titles but I’m pretty sure a few of them are on my tbr thanks to you. 😉 I remember your review of Scrudge & Barley Inc so that means it made an impression. Winterspell also sounds particularly interesting. Thanks for the recs, Kristen! You’re going to make me get in the holiday mood. LOL
Scrudge & Barley is such a great one! I enjoyed a lot of things about Winterspell as well. Haha, yay, just call me Kristen Kringle 😉
I’m always looking for non-traditional Christmas reads so I’m loving this list and found a few to add to my wishlist. I really enjoyed Snowed and the Krampus one as well. Both were good reads. I’m going to have to check out the vampire Christmas Carol one – it sounds too good to pass up. The one where they are mining for coal sounds interesting as well!
Yay, glad I could help! The Vampire Christmas Carol one does sound like fun lol. So does the coal elf one!
I feel like there are so many contemporary romance Christmas book, but way less fantasy and sci-fi, so it’s great you did a post about this! I toured one of Tony Bertauski’s books once, so I did know of that series. And you reviewed three of Charlie Cochet’s book, so that one looks familiar too. I am pretty sure you reviewed or posted about some of the books on that last line before. That red cover looks familiar and I remember I read your review for Scrudge & Barley, Inc.
I am actually not sure if I’ve ever read a sci-fi or fantasy book with a Christmas theme. I know I read some contemporary romances and a cozy mystery or two set around Christmas. But I can’t remember any sci-fi and fantasy books, although I might’ve read a few and just don’t remember them now.
Yeah, I always struggle to find SFF Christmas books, so I thought maybe other people would find a list of recs helpful! I haven’t tried the Bertauski series, but it sounds pretty cool. And yes, I did just review the first three books in the Charlie Cochet series 🙂 I’ve reviewed all the books in the bottom row lol.
Seems like there are quite a few contemp Christmas reads out there, and I’ve also seen a couple cozy mystery ones. It’s nice that are at least a few Christmas books out there in most genres!
Oh I got lots of recs of this theme (winter Holiday reads) for my Recommend Me Books Feature. These books look new though. Thanks for the recs. I’m not familiar with sci-fi/fantasy books. ?❤️
It’s hard to find SFF Christmas books! But I’m glad you got lots of great contemp recs! It’s nice that there are Christmas books for all genres 🙂
Christmas reads, yay! I was planning on reading a few Christmas reads in the few days before Christmas to get me in the Christmas mood but since I haven’t even bought any yet I don’t think that’s happening. I do have Winterspell on my TBR , though. I’ve heard plenty of good things and it’s not overly Christmas-y so maybe it would be fitting for a December read? I don’t know.
Well here you go, I have helped you find some to choose from 😛 Yeah, if you’re looking for something wintery but not too Christmassy, Winterspell is a good choice!
I don’t really read seasonally so I am afraid this list is mostly wasted on me 🙁 BUT I do love A Christmas Carol and I love vampires so A Vampire Christmas Carol sounds golden to me. You’ll probably catch me reading it during spring or something 😛
Lol I know other bloggers who read Christmas book year-round. Personally I stick to reading them in Nov/Dec! The Vampire Christmas Carol sounds fun, haha.
Pingback: Dancing Out of December 2017 – A Dance With Books