I wish parts of this book were done differently. It would have been more intriguing if the arranged marriage was between Hex and Coal. I also couldn't tell if this book was supposed to be funny since it would take itself so seriously with the politics. Still a quick and interesting read but I wish a few things were different.

First of all, this cover is gorgeous and is one of the main reasons why I wanted this arc. Second, the title is great. Third, this book checked all my marks in “this is a great fucking book” checklist and I canNOT wait to have this on my own shelf and at the library I work at.

I started this book strong, but lost steam somewhere around 56%. I went in really wanting Nightmare-Before-Christmas-but-make-it-sexy vibes, but that is not the vibe of this book. It's much more akin to Red, White, and Royal Blue, if that book was set in a contemporary Holiday fantasy world. I think the concept is so fun and fresh, and the politics of it all were super interesting...but it was fairly repetitive in that regard, and not fleshed out enough. I loved the friendship and banter between Coal, Kris, and Iris. I thought the writing was mostly really good. It was fairly insta-love, which I was not expecting. It's definitely more a sweet romance than a sexy romance. Lots of angst. I'm glad that we got to see Coal work through his issues and find his self-worth, but it's pretty...melodramatic? Which is fun, but it's just not what I was looking for or what I thought this book would give me. I also just couldn't quite get a handle on Coal as a character, and for that matter, I don't feel like we got enough of Hex either. The tone is a little off, and there definitely could have been more worldbuilding, but I think that's probably from the author switching from YA fantasy to NA romance. I just think this book didn't quite know what it wanted to be, but overall, I enjoyed it. It's cute and the premise is fun!

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC!

I was so excited for this book when I saw it on “Recently Added”, you best believe, I requested for it immediately!! As a person who loved The Nightmare Before Christmas and watches it nearly everyday from Halloween to Christmas, this is 5 SKELLINGTON STARS!!!

Coal, fitting nickname because he’s a “screw-up”, presents himself as very human and does nothing but fumble the Christmas bag, if you will. He’s endearing and Hex seems to too! I actually really love this book because I can’t say too much about it otherwise it’s just such a spoiler. I love books like this because the writing is just that good for me to hand a book to someone and say, “you just have to read it. I swear by it!”

I also love how Coal had so many Christmas puns. He’s the embodiment of Christmas spirit and I love how Hex fell for him—ahh, I’m just rambling now! I love this book, and I guarantee that everyone else will love it too (as long as you love the holidays and romantasy rolled in one)!

A melodramatic mess full of poor character choices, odd sentence structure, and boring prose. The premise of the story is very interesting, with Holiday royalty vying for the top billing of joy, but the story fell flat. Nicholas, aka "Coal," is unlikeable and cringe, and Hex remains a mystery for most of the novel. I really dislike the insta-love trope, and that features prominently in this book. The side characters are generic and bland.

I was hoping to enjoy this book a lot more than I did. The cover is adorable and the story seems interesting at first glance, but odd grammar and unnecessary group text conversations bogged down my reading experience.

This was ok! The romance scenes had some really heart-stopping moments and the MC had an enjoyable and interesting POV. The author's transition from high fantasy to frothy romance is really apparent in the uneven tone and weird worldbuilding. Tonally, she never quite manages to decide whether this stuff is Serious and Important Geopolitics or fun background to a love story, nor does she successfully develop the middle ground where things can both be a little silly and have real heart. This indecisiveness makes some of the scenes jarringly ridiculous, not in the fun way but in the "what, really? c'mon" way. It also manifests in how half-baked the holiday magic system is—there's an awareness of the necessity of acknowledging the diversity of traditions across the globe and the ways that spirituality, culture, and place all overlap to produce holidays but the waffling between Real Stakes and absurdity means that negotiation is truly sloppy and ill-formed. For example, is Christmas's creeping power supposed to be representative of global Christian hegemony? Coal does mention colonialism as an element of why holidays fall in and out of practice and in real life Christmas does overshadow other winter traditions in a lot of the western world. But then why is Hanukkah not one of the holidays Christmas forces out? Then Coal says that they "don't get involved in the religious parts of their holidays" as a hand-waving gesture to faith, but how can you separate the cultural and faith-based aspects of holidays like Christmas and Easter? Is she saying that Hanukkah, Diwali, Ramadan and such don't have cultural and heritage components which is why they're excluded—they're just "religious" holidays? Again, I wouldn't care if she just used the "christmas prince" thing as window dressing to a cute romance, but the uneven development of the universe and the stakes makes me have to negotiate it American-Gods-style, and there's no there there but a weird focus on Christian traditions that the author knows is somewhat inappropriate but can't quite figure out.

What a (sleigh) ride, pals!

Court rivalries (Christmas, Halloween, Easter? Oh my!), killer puns, and a duo I love— this book is a ray of cheerful sunshine that will have you giggling one moment and gasping the next. It’s steamy, laugh-out-loud funny, and action-packed— a perfect holiday romance.

Coal, our Christmas Prince, and Hex (our Halloween pal) are such a lovely duo as they work together and come to terms with their pasts.

You’ll love the adventurous fun (sleigh racing, anyone?!) paired with the court politics.

You’ll also wonder where Hex sources all his beautiful vests… no? Just me?

Thank you to Tor/Bramble for a copy to review!

I have to confess that I did not expect to get so drawn into this book but the cover and blurb comparing it to RWRB and Nightmare Before Christmas intrigued me. It is an angsty new adult romance, and I spent a lot of time wanting to throw something at Coal’s father, but what kept me was the banter, lovely (read: awful) Christmas puns, and the echoes of Charlie Brown’s complaints about Christmas commercialism. It’s a quirky and fun holiday read!

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

I’m not opposed to swearing, but it’s kind of awkward when there is a swear word (or multiple) in every other paragraph. This doesn’t feel like an intelligent well-crafted book I want to invest time in. Instead, it just feels repetitive and forced for “shock value” or “voice” or something…

I only made it ten pages. Dropping five stars and calling it a day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.