stephanien's review
fast-paced
4.5
Santa vs. Satan is the fourth installment in the Custer Falls Extreme Horror series, and will definitely take you on a bloody and depraved ride, one from which you will never view Santa Claus the same way again. I have not read the previous books in this series, but it didn't seem to matter as I had no trouble understanding what was happening.
For such a short book, this was a complex story, well-written, fast-paced, full of fascinating characters, and a fantastic plot. At first, I had no idea how the characters connected to each other, but as the book progressed, it all made sense. Because the story focuses a lot on body horror as well as graphic sex, the story does revolve around some pretty depraved and graphic descriptions around different scenarios involving all the characters, including Santa. So many vile images that will take a while to get out of my head.
I don't think I've ever read a book with such a vile Santa before, one who is looking for a new Mrs. Claus, and who brutalizes his elves and other workers with such ease and contempt. And poor Danny, all he wanted was a drone so he could film an amateur horror film with his friends, but got caught up in the depravity because he went where he should not have gone, against his instincts. If there is a lesson in this story, don't go where you should not go and if it's glowing and it looks like a pentagram, stay the hell out.
Verdict
Santa vs. Satan has definitely ruined by childhood version of Santa, but this was such a fun and twisted read. The dual story lines blended seamlessly, coming together in an epic showdown that I couldn't even guess the resolution, with supernatural elements, rituals, monsters, and a conclusion I loved, made this a book you will want to read if you love extreme horror. I have read worse when it comes to extreme, but it was the writing style that made it so epic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gore, and Body horror
More...