I really enjoyed this book. It had most of what I personally enjoy in a horror book. Great character development, a story that moves along and doesn't get too mired down in unnecessary descriptive writing or trying to keep the suspense building at the expense of keeping one interested, a plot that I don't have to really work at suspending my disbelief. But ultimately I have to remove a star because I wasn't completely blown away... and that's what I require for my 5 star reviews. Not that this wasn't a lot of fun to read... really clever and imaginative story here folks, so if like me you haven't already read this (I don't know what took ME so long truthfully) give it a go. If you like Stephen King, you'll like this. Imagine that!

What kind of disappointed me and hence resulted in my removal of a star is the villain of this tale, Charles Manx, as despicable and amusing as was, wasn't quite explained enough so that I got an understanding of what he was, and why Christmasland. What was Christmasland really? Why the vampire-like children with the teeth? Why were his daughters there? What did he need them for after the draining of their life force? I didn't get it and maybe I missed something. And I kind of didn't like the ending. So like father, like son? haha