Melanie Karsak has dominated my holiday reads this year and I believe that Goblins and Snowflakes: An Elves and the Shoemaker Retelling is the best one yet. It’s cozy and whimsical with a hint of creepiness and that’s my favorite type of story. This review will be spoiler free.

Synopsis:

Never bargain with goblin men.
Scarlette Rossetti thought her stay at Strawberry Hill Castle during the Christmas holiday would pass by uneventfully. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Enticed by the delights of the nearby village of Twickenham, Scarlette’s life would change in unimaginable ways.

She never expected to be drawn magnetically to The Two Sisters Doll Shop and Toy Emporium.

Scarlette didn’t guess that tinkering clockwork gnomes could have supernatural consequences.

And she didn’t know that one should never, ever, bargain with goblin men.

But during the Christmas season, magic is always brewing.

My Thoughts:

• Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This novella was the perfect winter read. It’s set in a cozy village during the Christmas season. There’s plenty of snow, delicious treats, romance and… goblins. There was a creepy element to this story that I wasn’t expecting but really enjoyed. The goblins were truly unsettling.

If you read my last review for Peppermint and Pentacles, also by Melanie Karsak, you might remember that it’s part of the Steampunk Red Riding Hood series and follows the escapades of the Red Cape Society. The Red Cape Society is basically law enforcement for supernatural creatures and in this novella, we see the start of the organization and meet the founding members. I love when authors tie their books together like that.

I truly have nothing bad to say about this. Karsak knows how to write an excellent, fully fleshed out story while keeping it at novella length. During the hectic holiday season, I prefer novellas so the three I’ve read from her have been exactly what I wanted.

Final Thoughts:  

I think my next few reads from this author will be her Steampunk Red Riding Hood series. Since I’ve read Peppermint and Pentacles and this prequel, of sorts, I feel that’s the next logical step. I’d love to know what you’re reading. I also hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading and have a great day!