About The Book
Nicholas “Coal” Claus, heir to Christmas, finds himself stuck in a PR-driven holiday spectacle, including an arranged marriage to Iris, the Easter Princess. Things spiral when Coal’s mysterious one-night fling, Hex, the Prince of Halloween, becomes his rival in a competition for her hand. Amid chaos, forbidden chemistry, and holiday drama.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4ihyH0p

My Rating

I had high hopes for this book, especially since people compared it to Red, White & Royal Blue and The Nightmare Before Christmas. While I haven’t read Red, White & Royal Blue, this felt like how I imagine that book would be. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much of a The Nightmare Before Christmas vibe—it’s more of a reimagining than a retelling.

The story is a fun M/M romance with a bit of a marriage-of-convenience twist (but not with who you’d expect). The main trope is forced proximity, which was enjoyable, but I struggled with the main character, Coal, the Prince of Christmas. He’s supposed to be rebellious and carefree, but he came off more as a sensitive prankster. The author seemed to want him to be emotionally closed-off, but he didn’t come across that way to me at all.

On the other hand, I really liked Hex, the Prince of Halloween. He’s serious but has a playful side that made him really interesting. Honestly, I think the story would’ve worked better from his point of view—or, even better, a dual perspective. Coal’s narration didn’t quite do it for me, and I think seeing Hex’s side would’ve added more depth to the romance.

“Ah-ah, no arguing, Christmas Prince. You are the one who sought me out for Halloween’s undeniable better qualities.”

One part I really loved was Coal’s relationship with his brother Kris and their friend Iris. The sibling dynamic between the three of them was one of my favorite parts of the book. I do wish we got to know Iris a bit better, but the three of them shared such great moments. Honestly, their friendship and banter was probably my favorite aspect of the book. It even topped the romance for me.

As for the plot—it was fine but nothing special. It felt a bit too long in places, and I was hoping for a more standout story. That said, the world-building was really well done. The author took the essence of The Nightmare Before Christmas and made it their own, which I thought was very creative. However, keep in mind that it might not give you those nostalgic Nightmare Before Christmas feelings.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t wow me either. I wanted more from the characters, the story, and especially the banter. And yes, if you’ve read any of my book reviews before, you know that me wanting more banter is a crazy thing to say. Still, if you’re looking for a queer holiday romance with a fantasy setting, it’s worth checking out. Just don’t go in with too many expectations either way.

In the comments, let me know if you watch The Nightmare Before Christmas at Halloween or Christmas. Don’t forget to hit the follow button so you can stay updated on book reviews and other bookish posts!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny