Santa the Barbarian

Santa The Barbarian, the debut middle-grades book from author John Eder, will captivate young readers with its thrilling and lavishly illustrated origin Story of Santa Claus. Nikolai, a young Viking warrior, is enlisted on a mission to free children enslaved by the evil changeling Rathi. His allies include Vlarni the raven, Donner the Reindeer King, and the spirit of Fenris, a wolf whose coat gives the power of invisibility. Along the way he meets Katja, the love of his life. What begins as a rescue mission turns into much more, a centuries-spanning saga of Nikolai and Katja's search for the true meaning of their lives. He broke into the castle, killed the king, stole the treasure. He was twelve years old. As he grew, he and his Viking comrades brutalized the ancient world with fire and steel. He's quick with a sword, cunning, greedy, drunk, and his best friend is a raven. His name is Santa Claus. How does Nikolai, the barbaric Viking warrior, become kind, gentle Santa? Across the seas of time, from frozen tundra to deep forest, through myth, magic, and the quest for lost love, let the answers be revealed Santa The Barbarian gives readers the wonder and thrill of a classic adventure tale, as well as revealing the secrets of the beloved Christmas icon: why climb down a chimney? Why cookies and milk? Why a red suit? The story is told from Nikolai's point of view, featuring over 40 black and white illustrations by the author, making this a truly beautiful celebration of the life of one of the world's most cherished figures."