The Dead of Winter is a non fiction book that explains about all those dark traditions and fold tales surrounding the darkest parts of our year, the winter. I found reading this book fascinating and insightful as it takes us on a journey through the centuries and all over the world. From Krampus to those mid winter traditi0ns and Christian Martyrs, it will leave you shivering and not from the cold!

Antonia Beamish who narrated the audio version has a wonderful storytelling voice, which is both lulling and interesting,

Thank you Netgalley, Granta publishers and W. F. Howes Ltd ( audio version ) for the arc of this compelling book


5 stars

1.5 soggy stars.

When I read the description of this new compilation, I was deeply intrigued and very excited to read it. Sadly, it was a huge disappointment.

Had this account been written by an actual Witch or practicing Pagan (who understands the energies and traditions involved), this could have been incredibly valuable and inspiring. Unfortunately, it was written by a university researcher who views everything through a deeply Christian lens, and travels around to different ritual celebrations as a complete tourist (and writes her experiences down as if she were a traveller of old who has been invited to partake in the most non-Christian, uncivilized rituals for no other reason than to tell her civilized friends about it upon her return).

I am giving 1.5 stars for the great research. I so rarely actually rate books this low (1-2 stars), but while this writing may have been solid enough to be a research paper, people absolutely need to STOP co-opting the belief systems of others for profit.

Further, this could have been an even better book with the inclusion of similar and differing rituals from across both Eastern snd Western Europe, rather than a handful of cherry-picked locales.

Much gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher Hachette Audio, for an Audio-ARC of this book, in exchange for my (probably much TOO honest) review.

"In Salzburg I catch sight of a Krampus at a Christmas market prowling under a glittering tree, and watch as he stalks his prey – a small child trying to persuade his mother to buy him sweets. Perhaps it’s just that I’ve spent too long immersed in the darkness of the season, but to me at least, there’s no contradiction between the glittering fairy lights and the horned, shaggy monster. In a world of snow and Christmas magic, he looks right at home."


Out of all that were mentioned, I find Grýla, Lucy and Krampus stood out the most. Learned a little bit more about Krampus including the other names he goes by: Perchte , Klaubauf, Kramperl, Ganggerl and Toifi. The superficial differences between the monsters yet traditions surrounding them are almost identical, and you’d be hard pressed to tell them apart on a dark night. How dangerous, violent and terrifying the Krampus run/parade can get that even the regular spectators aren’t entirely safe.
Fascinating..menacing..lovely bedtime read
If you tend to like the darker side or aspects of folk lore and other winter tales. The narration is good and read it with a digital copy as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio 🖤


3.45✨

Super fun book of short stories (short... myths, monsters, and fairy tales, I should say) about all the things that go bump in the night around Christmastime. Krampus, of course, plays a prominent role, but he was far from the only creature to make an appearance.

As an avid lover and researcher of mythology, fairy tales, and legends myself, I had heard of most of these tales and creatures before. But it was nice to have a tome where they're all in one place, and there WERE at least a couple that were new to me.

I originally gave it a 3.5-star rating rounded up to 4, but after reflection, I had to drop it back down to 3 simply because I felt like some of the tales could have been more fleshed out. Also, the writer put a LOT of herself and her travels into the book, which is fine. There is nothing inherently wrong about that, but at times, it did kind of take away from the magic of the tales themselves.

Still, if you want to know more about all the fun and creepy things that haunt your Christmas (and winter) dreams, I recommend giving this one a read.

In The Dead of Winter, historian Sarah Clegg dives into the eerie traditions lurking behind our modern Christmas cheer. She introduces us to Europe’s dark holiday legends—like Krampus, who punishes naughty kids in Austria, and Mari Lwyd, a ghostly horse visiting Welsh doorsteps. Clegg’s deep research and her knack for storytelling make each chapter feel like opening a spooky advent calendar. Her insights into how pagan rituals shaped Christmas reveal a fascinating blend of fear and festivity at the heart of winter celebrations.
Clegg also explores social tensions in these traditions, such as the Lord of Misrule’s topsy-turvy role reversals. Adding to the book’s charm, she recounts her firsthand experiences at events like Krampus runs, which add vivid, personal detail. While her focus on European lore leaves some global traditions unexplored, *The Dead of Winter* is a rich, unique read. It’s perfect for those looking to spice up the season with a little holiday horror and a deeper appreciation of the festive season’s hidden layers.

A wonderfully spooky deep-dive into the scarier traditions of the winter holiday season, the book is the perfect thing for transitioning between Halloween and Christmas!

The warm and fuzzy Christmas as we know it is a creation of the Victorians and Coca-Cola's marketing team. Before the 19th century, much darker traditions existed, from England's terrifying "guisers" who wore animal skulls and demanded money and food, to the perchtas (witches) who rampaged through the night on a wild hunt. There's also Krampus, St. Nicholas' demonic helper, who threatens misbehaving children with switches, and the Yule Cat, Iceland's child-eating feline monster. In this essay, I will draw similarities between these dark Christmas creatures' insistence on obedience and that of the Christian church... Just kidding. That is another book entirely.

I read this on audio and liked that author Sarah Clegg read the introduction and the epilogue. Narrator Hannah Curtis read the rest, and she has the perfect voice for this spooky chronicle of folkloric traditions from across Europe (primarily the UK and northern Europe).

For example: You may be aware of St. Lucia, the Nordic figure that sees angelic blond girls dressed up with crowns of candles, but did you know that in the past, she was said to punish naughty children by gutting them, stuffing them with straw and sewing them back up again? We also learn about the Lord of Misrule, a figure, often a servant or peasant, who was given free reign over Yuletide festivities -- and a lot of misbehavior, including drunkenness and sometimes violence. (Given that my usual reading material is romance, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the Lord of Misrule makes an appearance in KJ Charles' Masters in This Hall.)

There are some horrifying monsters discussed in this book, but nothing more chilling than the humans who used these folkloric traditions to persecute and subjugate women. The church-led witch hunt casts its shadow over proceedings, particularly the perchtas' freedom and revelry. This could have been a book on its own.

This is a slim book, so we don't spend much time on any one tradition, but it is a fabulous overview of the darker side of the holidays. It's brought to life by Clegg's attendance at some events that are still going on -- or in resurgence -- today, from a guiser event at a posh gastropub to a frankly terrifying Krampus parade in Germany. These traditions aren't what they once were, but they live on.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance listening copy.

I have already recommended this one to my friends and posted about it all over Facebook. It is wonderful! I love the history and the explanation of the creepy things. I love old timey creepy traditions. The narration was absolute perfection! I was all about her voice and the way she told these stories.

Tired of candy canes and sugar plums? Today, we see Christmas as the ultimate kid friendly, family holiday, but in centuries past, Christmas was anything but jolly. Clegg explores the dark side of the season, Krampus, the Belsnickke, and more, this is a delightfully creepy listen for the darkest days of the year

l love learning about how our tame, commercialized holiday traditions stem from much darker, interesting practices. In The Dead of Winter, Sarah Clegg travels through Europe experiencing the vestiges of tradition that remain invoking long dark, cold winters and the revels therein. The prose is atmospheric and alive. She touched a little on the vilification of pagan tradition, but there could have been a bit more on that. I wish there was more of everything really. I would have read much more on this topic.

The bits read by the author at the beginning and end were better than the main narrator, but she was still pleasant to listen to. Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette for the ALC!

Christmas is a dark time, quite literally and for millennia, Europeans have been contending with the darkest, coldest days of the year. This book is an exploration of the histories and myths of the dark creatures in European Yuletide folktales from Krampus in Germany, to Mari Lwyd in Wales, to La Befana in Italy and many more in between.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more had it been written less as a travelogue and more as a history. That said, it is a fun book of legends, most of which I’d either not heard of or had only heard of in passing which will have me diving deeper to learn more. It was a good transitional book from spooky to holiday season reading and a great antidote to the saccharine sweet vision of the holidays that may ring false to many.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and Net Galley who provided early audiobook access in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very informative book on the history of the dark sides of Christmas. All the lore and myths throughout the years from many different cultures.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

What kind of Christmas bubble have I been living in? Other than the Grinch and the Krampus movie, I had never thought of or, much less heard of any of the creatures, customs, or history of anything in this book. Absolutely loved it! Gives more of a research & observation vibe than a short story collection but that's what makes it much more creepy! Narrator was great as well, easy to understand, pace was good. Highly recommend to extend the spooky vibes at Christmas time!

I don't know what I expected going into this book, but it was not a book written like non-fiction.
To be honest I was bored. Although the subject was interesting it was not executed in a way I really enjoyed.
The cover is beautiful,

I loved this so much. I thought it was going to be historical, and it was, but it was also personal, dark, suspenseful, and hilarious. The author writes from her own experiences traveling around and doing research, and there were so many traditions covered, including some I'd heard of but didn't know much about. I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys learning more about the world. The narration was wonderful and easy to understand. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

Are you ready for Christmas but not quite ready to give up on Halloween yet? This is the perfect book for you.

Clegg's imagery is so vivid and beautiful that I wish this had been a documentary instead of a book. She walks you through her own visits and experiences with the monsters of Christmas as well as giving the historic backgrounds. My only complaint is that it could have been longer.

Hannah Curtis' narration is perfection!

This Audiobook was easy to listen to, which is a main requirement for audiobooks. The narrator was easy to understand and the flow of the book was great giving both the history of and the current winter traditions. She takes us on a journey and through her writing gives us a glimpse of these wonderful traditions and lore.

The Dead of Winter
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was initially challenging for me to get into. After several attempts, I decided to push through, and I’m glad I did—it has taught me a great deal. As both a historian and librarian, I can see how older readers, especially those with an interest in history, might appreciate the insights it offers about the origins of Christmas and other holidays. However, given that we live in the Bible Belt, where many patrons may be resistant to the idea of pagan influences, I suspect this book could be a hard sell to certain audiences.
While I originally hoped for a deeper focus on Christmas, the book instead explores a variety of holidays and their traditions. It’s an enlightening read for anyone curious about the historical roots of different celebrations, which was certainly my interest. Although I’m glad I read it, I don’t feel inclined to revisit it in the future.

Ok, so imagine you’re all curled up with a cozy blanket, the lights are twinkling, and you’re about to dive into the perfect Christmas read. But—plot twist—this book isn’t about chestnuts roasting or sleigh bells ringing. Nope. It’s about the spooky, downright creepy side of Christmas that no one really talks about! I'm talking dark magic, mythical creatures, and traditions that’ll make you wonder how anyone decided these would fit in with merry cheer and mistletoe. I was seriously glued to every page. Five stars, without a doubt! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The coolest thing about this read is that it dives deep into all these super old European Christmas traditions, and let me tell you, they are wild. Like, who knew there was a literal horse skull in a hooded cape prancing around Wales, or that Krampus, a half-goat demon with his own fan base, would run wild in Austria? Every chapter just reveals another one of these offbeat holiday icons, and each one is honestly more fascinating than the last. It’s like this twisted advent calendar, but instead of candy, you’re getting introduced to a lineup of the most unexpected winter guests.

And, the way the author describes these experiences? Ugh, it's giving total wanderlust with a side of spine-tingling vibes. I mean, she actually goes to these festivals to watch and participate in these creepy celebrations herself. I was like, "Girl, you are so brave." Her storytelling here makes you feel like you’re right there in the chaos, bells jangling and all. Her style is kind of academic but in a totally digestible way, so it feels like you're learning something without the school vibes, if you know what I mean.

Honestly, one of my favorite parts is how she breaks down why all these dark traditions even exist in the first place. It’s not just about the monsters or the creepy masks—she dives into why these customs have stayed around for so long. And the way she explains it? Just makes you want to look at your holiday season with fresh, spooky eyes.

Now, you’d think all these eerie traditions would be super grim, but the author manages to keep it fun. Like, there are some laugh-out-loud moments, and she has this quirky humor, especially in the footnotes! (Who knew footnotes could be funny, but here we are.) If you’re a holiday enthusiast who also has a thing for haunted houses or ghost stories, this is totally for you. It’s such a good mix of festive vibes and folklore that honestly make you question if you even know the real Christmas spirit at all. It’s the perfect book for those long winter nights when you want something a little... darker.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion—this was honestly such a blast! 🎄👻

This book is absolutely fascinating. Tracing so many modern practices during the winter season to their origins, this is history at its wildest and most interesting. The darkness of the season clearly mirrors the potential darkness in humanity, and Clegg does an amazing job diving into this.