Know that once upon a time there were goblins that roamed the earth when the nights were long and the winters were desolate. Know also that this was a time when a child appears as the one chosen to join with elves, reindeer, and men to end the time of goblin terrors. Know also that the goblins had heard of this child's coming.  In the telling of this fantasy about Kringle, the original Santa Claus, author Tony Abbott blends together pagan beliefs and fantasy with Christianity to create a new version of a timeless Christmas classic.

The re-casting of fairy tales and childhood treasures, if done right, can fill gaps and answer questions and create a story with a richly textured fabric. In Kringle magic happens in many ways--some are explained and some rely upon our own imaginations to complete the story.  This begins in northern Europe, around 500 A.D. when Kringle was 12. Like so many children, he was full of questions and his adopted mother told the richest tales of his birth, the brave deaths of his parents, the story of the sparrow, and the bell that rang his name. He lived with this brave guardian who knew he was special and moved him from place to place hiding from the goblins who were stealing all of the children. He loved her as though she was his mother.

"He was small for his age, poor boy, and thin. But bright. Far brighter than me, she thought. Just look at his face. There's a twinkle in it! His mother told me he would do things. Great things! She said. The gods alone know what that means. But the boy does think about everything, doesn't he." On one night after the retelling of a requested story Kringle rang his bell but this ringing happened at the same time a ruthless bunch of goblins were passing their ramshackle cabin. Both Kringle and Merwen, his guardian, sensed their presence and held their breath. The sudden silence alerted the goblins who stole into the cabin to attack and plunder whatever was available, but more than anything they wanted the boy associated with this particular bell. Somehow Merwen throws him out the cabin with his father's cape moments before the cabin explodes from the goblin's ice storm. (It seems goblins can create a lot of havoc with severe winter storms--the goblins were terrific evil doers.)

Kringle found himself alone and forced to embark on an epic journey that begins in the nearby abandoned Roman town, Castrum. Romans had been building in this cold northern land for over 400 years but their time had ended and they were returning to protect their home lands. When Kringle arrived as Castrum it was too late, the town was abandoned. Kringle continues through multiple adventures and at each stop along his journey he receives a gift, learns of something valuable, or meets a special someone and all of these work together for the big grand battle that invariably happens. This appears a typical fantasy journey with a young child in the role of a brave hero, but the use of this journey to provide a Santa-origin fairy tale furnishes a delightful tale for December reading. (It's obvious Abbott researched the various fairy tales and local legends prior to creating this fantasy adventure.)

Kringle is also a story of good and evil with the goblins representing the evil that comes out from the earth. Kringle, Merwen, the elves he meets, the reindeer that find him, and Alban the Roman who represented Christianity, and even a pirate captain all embody good.

Goblins have been stealing children for evil purposes and to power a mechanical dragon that will provide them access to earth's surface all year and not just during the longest nights and when the year ends. This would mean the end of life as everyone knew it and the beginning of the goblin's reign on earth. The Elves have runes, stones that possess magical powers, and the goblins are attempting to collect all of the runes--only a few remain in the hands of elves. Once they have them all success is almost guaranteed. 

Alban provides Kringle with the story of the birth of Christ and it turns out this happened on Yule Night, which is also the longest night.   Yule is when "the year is over. Tonight is the longest night, when the great Wheel of the Year slows to its end...It's the holy moment of the child's birth, too, you know." With the right rune in place it's also the night when time stops moving making it possible for nights to become unnaturally long and for magical events to happen.

Kringle provides an interesting telling of the Kringle/Santa Claus origin story. By blending together pagan beliefs with Christianity Abbott provides an epic fantasy story that explains some unanswered questions about Santa. This is full of elves, goblins, magic and many elements of fantasy. The pace is fairly quick. As Kringle grows into the man he's supposed to become, he is quickly transformed from the curious child to the quick-witted warrior/man who not only saves the world from goblins, but continues to protect children on Long Night. With gifts he keeps their spirits bright and hopeful, and with diligence he visits the site, every year, where the goblins attempt to invade the human world. This provides an explanation for Santa living in the North Pole and why elves disappeared, who and what are reindeer, how Santa can travel so far in such a short time, and more. I had these questions as a child, who didn't, and had I read this at the time where I entered the non-believing phase of childhood who knows what would have happened.

This seemed at times a little far-fetched and I reminded myself this was a Christmas fantasy written for young adults. This tale begins in 500 A.D. but for those who know, it continues today. I enjoy the imaginative interpretation of the Santa Claus stories and while I've cherished some of the creative stories that attempt to explain how the mantle of Santa is passed from one man to another, I found this a much more satisfying and refreshing origin tale.

Tony Abbott has written at least 35 books for young readers. This includes a lot of fantasy including the popular Droon series. This is my first Tony Abbott book but not my last. Comparisons of this to L. Frank Baum's Santa Claus really cannot be made. This stands out from all of the versions of which I'm familiar -- it's delightfully inventive.

Kringle is complex with many characters and elements. Greg Call's full-page illustrations enhance the historic feel with an old-fashioned style that mimics "wood-block prints" at the start of each chapter. Abbott skillfully weaves, as a maser storyteller should, details into legends of the northern European lands and into the history of the time that Kringle almost seems real. (Shhh, don't read this review aloud to young children - but do consider reading this book with your seven and eight year olds).  This is a book written for 9 to 12 year old readers, for fantasy fans and for those who eagerly anticipate the magic associated with Christmas time. Kringle looks and feels like a classic.

Recommended: Yes