Sebastian GregoryCritiques

What a strange little novel, I'm not entirely sure if it was supposed to be YA or not, but definitely tons of adult subject matter. I thought it would be more like Neil Gaiman's novel, but alas, no one is like Gaiman. Still, it was entertaining. 3 stars.

This was a super creepy Christmas horror tale.

The Child Eater has got to be one of the scariest holiday monsters I've ever encountered. With his sack full of children and the knives on his belt jingling, this is a monster with teeth.

Highly recommended for fans of scary holiday stories!

I enjoyed this. The author has a way with words. The style and expression drew me in and I could ignore the few errors in the text. I even found myself clicking my teeth along with the boy towards the end. Having said that, I probably would have ended it a couple of sentences before the author did to keep the atmosphere open, it felt a little too neatly tied off, but that might just be me. I will read more by this author.

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Something is lurking in the shadows, and it's definitely not Santa Claus.

During the last centuries children have not been safe from a terrible monster, Der Kinderfresser (The Child Eater). This year he might disrupt Christmas for Katy, Jake and Emily, unless they keep their fireplace burning and their doors locked.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this story. The writing was very good, I'll certainly check more of his work. The story still felt like a Christmas story even though of course the horror theme isn't very Christmas in itself. It was very entertaining. Would recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Boy in the Cemetery by Sebastian Gregory
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

For more than 200 years the boy has guarded his cemetery. Over the decades he has seen ever so many come and go, come and go and never have any been able to sense his presence. In the beginning the cemetery was a welcome change, a solace in the face of his own sorrow and miserable life but as the years passed, the boy became very lonely. Assuming his half-life will continue on as it always has, he is surprised and excited to meet Carrie Anne. Though he has only limited means of communication, he conveys to Carrie Anne that she is welcome in his world and he is glad to have her company.

Carrie Anne is not just desperately unhappy, she is monumentally unhappy and there is absolutely nothing she can do to change her situation. Carrie Anne’s father is a monster of the highest order and in order to protect his dirty little secret, he has moved his family to a remote location. Carrie Anne’s mother is just as much a monster as her husband but in a very different way. Carrie Anne’s mother is aware of what her daughter has experienced at the hands of her husband but is too weak to do a damn thing about it. Protecting herself is far more important than protecting her daughter and so, she allows the nightmare to continue. Carrie Anne’s only solace is the comfort and peace she feels when exploring the cemetery near her new home.

The meeting between the boy and Carrie Anne is certainly unsettling but Carrie Anne understand immediately that the boy will not hurt her and in fact, should the need arise, he will protect her. Both see in the other a deep-seated sadness that has no simple solution. For the time the two have together they provide not only friendship but a measure of comfort and as Carrie Anne’s life continues to spin out of control, the boy becomes far more important to her. In fact, Carrie Anne’s life doesn’t just spin out of control, it tilts completely off its axis and Carrie Anne finds herself in the middle of a missing persons and double murder case.

The Bottom Line: The Boy in the Cemetery is a seriously dark read that I really didn’t see coming. From how the boy came to be the guardian of the cemetery to the story of Carrie Anne’s life is just one tragedy after the other. Both the boy and Carrie Anne have experienced things in their respective lives that no child should ever experience and in each other the two find a mate that is uniquely positioned to understand the other’s pain and desperation. Be aware, dear reader, this is neither a happy nor hopeful story but one that is very dark and quite good. Be prepared for the sadness, be prepared for the anger and, above all else be prepared for a read that will draw you in and not let you go until the bitter end. The Boy in the Cemetery is a sort of morbidly fascinating read that is set to continue and I must say, I think I’m on board with another trip to the dark side.

"...Greta?" whispered Mama, her hand covering her quivering and fretful lips.
From the dark and the embers and the silver slivers of light they saw their daughter-sweet succulent Greta, young and tender and plump. She stood by the fireplace and from it an elongated arm with black scales and lengthened fingers wrapped around the tiny girl's waist.
"Mama? Papa?" Greta replied with tears in her eyes. And with a terrible movement, as fast as darkness murders light, the arm disappeared up the chimney stack and away taking Greta with it, leaving only a cloud of wet soot where she once stood..."

Forgotten by time, over centuries as people grew to wise and old for the old stories. He is forgotten by modern man. But the people of old knew him and warned their children to be good. Not for the presents that old Saint Nick might bring. But what the other one would bring, what would come next, after you received your lump of dusty coal.

"...If Katie heard her brother and sister she did not acknowledge the. She stood frozen, staring at the birds, their thousand dead black eyes staring back.
"They're all facing the same way, look, as if flying from the forest," Katie murmured.
"Katie, wake up. Jake is terrified. We have to leave," shouted Emily.
It snapped Katie from her trance. She looked at Emily, slightly confused, and then at Jake. His face was a mask of wide-eyed, over-imaginative fear.
"Something scared them to death," Katie said..."

There is something else traveling the cold night before Christmas. Visiting the homes of those who did not behave. Visiting the children who are disobedient and rebellious. A creature that feeds on those. A creature that visits once a year, on the night before Christmas.

Review -

"...On the night before Christmas, lock the doors to the house
For a creature is stirring, sly as a mouse
He skulks on the roof, down the chimney with care
Keep the fire burning for the Child Eater's here..."

From the tales of Krampus to the true tales of the Brother's Grimm, fairy tales were not meant to entertain, but to teach and correct. With fear and blood and all that makes for the perfect Holiday treat.

A Christmas Horror Story is just that. Three young children left alone on Christmas Eve, their single mother pulling a double shift at the local hospital, come face to face with a creature as old as time. A creature forgotten and not feared in this modern world. But it will be, as it fills its black bag with children to feed to its boiling cauldron. The Child Eater is here.

This is a wonderful short tale, as brisk as it is complete. Spanning centuries, the story weaves its way to modern day and the plight of Katie and her siblings. The Child Eater is perfectly described. A true childhood monster that as we grow up; we convince ourselves could never exist, but in the dark of night, still make sure there is nothing under our bed. Or crawling down the chimney.

Sebastian Gregory has written a terrific little tale. Pick it up. Read it to your kids and watch their cute little faces go pale. After all, if they can believe there's a Santa, why not a Child Eater?

A really good little read.