The Bells

by Holly Michele

First published 2021

Edgar waits excitedly for Santa's arrival on Christmas night. When he hears bells ringing from the dark sky above, he races downstairs to welcome the jolly visitor. Instead of Santa climbing down the chimney, the terrifying Krampus emerges. The Christmas devil has come to cause trouble, but Edgar refuses to be frightened. He uses his clever way with words to outwit the monster, turning his writing skills into weapons against the supernatural threat. Edgar gets the better of the Krampus through quick thinking and verbal sparring. Just when the battle seems won, Santa finally arrives to restore order to the chaotic Christmas scene. This family story transforms Poe's famous poem about different types of bells into a holiday adventure where a young boy's intelligence triumphs over evil.

Genres: literary-fiction, christmas, 20th-century, fantasy, horror, 21st-century, 19th-century

Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, whimsical

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, supernatural-threat

Period: Christmas

40 pages · Paperback · Independently published

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