The Haunted Rose: Claus: Legend of the Fat Man By Tony Bertauski Book Review

Title- Claus: Legend of the Fat Man

Author- Tony Bertauski

Source- ebook test read sent from author

Pages- 329

Publication Date- July 20th 2012

Goodreads Summary-

Some legends are forged in fire.
Others are born in snow.

In the early 1800s, Nicholas, Jessica and Jon Santa attempt the first human trek to the North Pole and stumble upon an ancient race of people left over from the Ice Age. They are short, fat and hairy. They slide across the ice on scaly soles and carve their homes in the ice that floats on the Arctic Ocean.
The elven are adapted to life in the extreme cold.
They are as wise as they are ancient. Their scientific advancements have yielded great inventions -- time-stopping devices and gravitational spheres that build living snowmen and genetically-modified reindeer that leap great distances. They’ve even unlocked the secrets to aging. For 40,000 years, they have lived in peace.
Until now.
An elven known as The Cold One has divided his people. He’s tired of their seclusion and wants to conquer the world. Only one elven stands between The Cold One and total chaos. He’s white-bearded and red-coated. The Santa family will help him stop The Cold One.
They will come to the aid of a legendary elven known as… Claus.

~Review~

Cover Thoughts-

Matches the frozen tundra setting of the book perfect. :) I'm not sure what the man is carrying to make those tracks but it looks cool and enticing to read.

First Thought-

I have never ever heard of anything like this. Sci-fi? Santa? This has got to be a must read.

What I liked-

The originality and creativity was endless. It took a classic old tale of Santa Claus and Jack Frost and pushed it aside and made a whole new outlook. I sincerely loved it. My absolute overall favorite scene was what I call the smashing scene. "hey there, fella," he said. "You ready to party?" I just couldn't stop laughing after that. The Cold One (Jack) is convinced everyone loves him and that his day has finally come to destroy the ones that got away. Really he believes he just the coolest kid on the block. I honestly felt bad for him though. Tony describes Jack so well its like I went through everything with Jack. Poor guy was bullied all his life being blue and all. And Claus, his brother, got all the attention. He is smart, good looking (well better than being blue), and pretty much the elven's role model. Now theres a third guy he begins a total different guy from Claus and his last name happens to be Santa. He is a total different guy. There is no Santa Claus in this story. He is stolen from his wife and son and captured by Jack. Jack wants to steal all his memories and send him to the human world to rid it of stupid humans. Claus is the only scientist who can do it and Jack is the one forcing him to do it. This tale is humorous, adventurous, and scientific. The ending will blow you away and possibly make you cry.

What I disliked-

I have no real complaints. This is quite possibly the best scientific festive read ever (and probably the only). The only thing I could possibly dislike is the elvan/elven confusing mess. At first I thought it was a spelling error but then the whole book contained it. I had to contact the author and question it. He said it is like woman/women. Then all the pieces fell into place. Even that is creative. He made up the term elvan/elven. I love it!

Overall Readability-

I'm actually not one for reading books with holiday feelings when its not around the holiday but this is different. I don't even read much Sci-fi but I really loved this book. One of a kind I tell you! It's fast, funny, adventurous, and scientific tale on love, loss, and the growing heart of a grinch (or is it shrinking?). I guess you will just have to find out.

My Final Thought-

*Cries ugly why must this happen tears* Santa & Claus I get it now! *whimpers* Don't Die!

5 out of 5 Haunted Roses