A Satan Carol

Oct 21, 2012 The Chaotic Reader rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural, horror

My review of A Satan Carol is posted on The Chaotic Reader.

Sep 11, 2012 Lisa Brown-gilbert rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Satan Carol by author Alan Kessler is not just another horror tale replete with the blood, gore, extreme violence or horrific monsters that usually populate horror novels. Instead, this story brings the thought provoking horrors that arise from human nature, free will and giving into the devil’s manipulation. I found the title alone - intriguing and once I started reading, I was immediately drawn into this absorbing book. I enjoyed this tale of the devil and his machinations to become God of...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Liz Winn rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Kessler’s A Satan’s Carol, Satan was always God’s favorite son – that is, until his annoying brother, Jesus, came into the picture. Now he spends most of his time in the world of his own creation, a bizarre facsimile of Earth called Shinyland 7 where his human subjects do what humans do best – make each other totally and completely miserable.

Even though he’s been cast aside in favor of the “Chosen One,” Satan still has hopes to please his father and convince him that he, too, is capable of do...more In Kessler’s A Satan’s Carol, Satan was always God’s favorite son – that is, until his annoying brother, Jesus, came into the picture. Now he spends most of his time in the world of his own creation, a bizarre facsimile of Earth called Shinyland 7 where his human subjects do what humans do best – make each other totally and completely miserable.

Even though he’s been cast aside in favor of the “Chosen One,” Satan still has hopes to please his father and convince him that he, too, is capable of doing good. As Jesus Christ was mankind’s savior, Satan plans to father a son who will become the messiah for Shinyland 7. In his efforts, Satan manages to produce one son, Pal, but the child is soulless and inanimate, hardly worthy of catching God’s attention, let alone capturing the attention of the unwashed multitudes. To secure his son’s rightful place as messiah, Satan next searches for the Golden Soul, a singular, special soul that will, in essence, make Pal a “real boy.”

Free will plays a big part in the story. In Kessler’s fictional universe, free will belongs to everything – including the Golden Soul. So, naturally, even Satan’s best laid plans go awry. The Soul has no interest in Pal, but instead sees greater promise in the unborn child of Katie Katz, the spoiled daughter of a lawyer. This puts a slight hitch in Satan’s plans, but it’s nothing he hasn’t dealt with before – after all, he can be very persuasive with people when he wants to be.

Instead of giving his story a fast-paced plot, Kessler slowly, but carefully, traces the psychological paths of a group of characters who are pawns in the devil’s master plan.

I’ll just go ahead and say it: Everyone in the story is pretty much damned, or is otherwise in serious danger of becoming damned. Most are just plain, ordinary people who fight against Satan’s influence: the girl, Katie, who is considering an abortion; her father, a repentant criminal attorney who considers suicide after a lifetime of wrong-doing; a pesky, deeply religious farmer who keeps muddling with Satan’s plans – just to name a few. Others have become Satan’s willing minions, including a seriously creepy abortion doctor who sold his soul in exchange for acceptance into medical school.

It’s not a story for everyone, but for lovers of the creepy, surreal, unconventional, and strange, definitely an original and interesting read. Recommended for fans of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King.(less)

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Apr 04, 2012 Critique de Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: A Satan Carol
Author: Alan S. Kessler
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing (December 26, 2011)
Available: $5.99 at Barnes and Noble
Rating: 4.5 stars
Rater: Lauri (Critique de Book Reviews)

Plot Summary:
This book tells the story of several characters and their individual lives, and tragedies -- all of whom come together in the end. This is true horror – religious horror – with a plot that encompasses exactly what a horror plot should. Here, the devil is out to steal the world.

The good...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alan Steven Kessler's "A Satan Carol" is a fictional story with some basis on Christian religious beliefs. I've found it to be an enjoyable spiritual horror story that gives insight into why bad things happen to good people, why good things happen to bad people, and where God is during all this.

The main character is God's first born child, Satan, who fell from grace. Jesus is his younger brother who has their father's favor. Satan wants to win God's love back by create his own "world" called Sh...more Alan Steven Kessler's "A Satan Carol" is a fictional story with some basis on Christian religious beliefs. I've found it to be an enjoyable spiritual horror story that gives insight into why bad things happen to good people, why good things happen to bad people, and where God is during all this.

The main character is God's first born child, Satan, who fell from grace. Jesus is his younger brother who has their father's favor. Satan wants to win God's love back by create his own "world" called Shinyland 8 where he is God so his father will acknowledge him for once. After all, he would have created his world with no help, it wasn't given to him like Jesus' world was given to Jesus. To carry out his plan he knew he would have to secure "The Golden Soul" for his son Pal who lives in Shinyland 7 (another one of Satan's worlds) and in medical need.

The story starts off in Ireland in 1848 during the Great Famine, where Satan is sure he will secure the "Golden Soul" for his son. However even being Satan doesn't make it a sure thing because the soul wasn't given to Pal. Satan then puts another plan in place to once again secure this soul. Not because he cared deeply for Pal or his parental concern for his son but because it was crucial for Pal to have this soul so he can heal himself and put Satan's plan into place of being the God of Shinyland 8. Spreading his evil to get what he wants to the end of the story, a hundred and eighty years later in Massachusetts.

I found the chapters are well organized as they introduce new people or new events keeping with the time from past toward present day. I did have a bit of problem connecting the first chapter with the others however at the end it became very clear how they are related. I also had a bit of a time stomaching some of the scenes. I found them quite cruel and grotesque from watching the child dying from starvation while telling him he will be dead soon to the eating of fried rat's fetuses. I sure wouldn't recommend reading this while eating which also means that Mr. Kessler did achieve his goal in excellence in scene description.

Torture, torment, hallucinations, and visions are throughout the story. After all, this is a story about Satan. I found I wondered if the hallucination was just that or if the person really was dreaming or seeing it for real. Then again, so did the character. Some characters were even convinced they were going mad. If it wasn't made clear which one it was at the time I read it, it becomes clear shortly after so I was never really lost or confused for long.

Satan would stop at nothing to get what he wants but even he had rules to go by. He couldn't force man into doing what he wanted since man had freewill. He can bribe, promise, and blackmail all he wanted but the choice was up to man to accept or reject and he found plenty to accept. No surprise there but just when I thought I knew where this story was going and what was coming next, a twist. I found the ending a total surprise.

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Feb 29, 2012 Mayra rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Satan Carol by spiritual horror author Alan Steven Kessler combines elements of the macabre and parody/satire to explore the concepts of free will and evil. Not having read in this horror subcategory before, I was intrigued when I received a copy of this ebook for review.

The story begins in 1848 Ireland during a time of intense famine. A poor, nearly starved boy dies in the countryside, releasing a ‘golden soul,’ a special soul full of kindness and healing power. Had he lived, he would have i...more A Satan Carol by spiritual horror author Alan Steven Kessler combines elements of the macabre and parody/satire to explore the concepts of free will and evil. Not having read in this horror subcategory before, I was intrigued when I received a copy of this ebook for review.

The story begins in 1848 Ireland during a time of intense famine. A poor, nearly starved boy dies in the countryside, releasing a ‘golden soul,’ a special soul full of kindness and healing power. Had he lived, he would have infected generations with goodness.

The tale then moves 180 years later to Christmas Eve in Massachusetts, where we encounter Katie Katz, a troubled, pregnant 14-year old who’s planning an abortion. Revolving around her are various characters who are interconnected in some way, either by family ties or by Mr. Green—aka the Devil—who has an agenda and will stop at nothing to tempt them and play with their conscience.

Among these characters are Katie’s father, Harvey Katz, a top notch lawyer who defends rapists and killers, does drugs and treats women like objects; her grandfather Orem, who’s cursed with prophesies and visions no one believes; Fritz Mueller, a gruesome doctor who performs abortions and uses the fetuses to extract a serum that could affect people’s growth. There are others, too, such as Katie’s mother and Harvey’s assistant.

Through the generations, Mr. Green has been following these people since birth, trying to shape their destinies to suit his purposes. At the top of his agenda, of course, is the golden soul and the way it could affect his son Pal. Though we have an idea that all the characters are pawns in Mr. Green’s evil games, it isn’t until the middle that we get a clearer picture of what’s really going on.

Mr Green tries to convince and trick his victims with dreams and hallucinations, but in the end, they have free will. As the plot evolves and the characters opt to follow the right path, Mr. Green grows increasingly frustrated. In fact, he becomes exhausted and whiny, prone to temper tantrums. After all, it isn’t easy bending the fabric of time and trying to be everywhere at once.

Who is the ghost of Christmas Eve? Is it Pal, Satan’s son? Is it Katie’s unborn child? Or is it the golden soul itself? Will Satan get his way in the end?

A Satan Carol moves back and forth in time and is told from multiple points of view. It is a well-written story with a heavy message that will especially appeal to Christian readers. Though some of the segments are gruesome and bordering on the bizarre, at times Kessler uses dark, twisted humor to lighten the prose. The story explores the universal theme of good versus evil with a particular focus on the power of free will. Kessler writes with a lot of attention to detail and some of the paragraphs are quite long, especially in the first half of the book. The pacing is faster in the second half, with less exposition and lots more dialogue.

A Satan Carol is an out-of-the-ordinary read that invites self pondering. Recommended for readers of horror and Christian fiction who’d like to try something different.
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Feb 27, 2012 April Steenburgh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Consider a Satan who is less of an incarnation of evil unto itself and more a victim of his circumstance. Satan was the favored one until Jesus came along, and he has never gotten over the change in his circumstance. Like any child who has been neglected, Satan has taken to...acting out. He has fathered a child to act as his prophet, but his child has no soul and Satan must manipulate within the rules of free will to lure a precious Golden Soul to his son.

I am generally not a fan of overtly reli...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Michelle Geaney rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Satan Carol by Alan Kessler is a unique read from start to finish. Not really a fan of this type of writing, I loved this book. I found myself thinking about it
after putting it down.

The book begins during Ireland's Great Famine, where a young boy suffering from the famine, dies and thus releases his golden soul. From here we meet an array of characters: each and every one
completely different, including Mr Green who is, it turns out, Lucifer. [The Devil]. Mr Green wants this soul for his son P...more

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Mar 16, 2012 The TBR Pile *Book review site* rated it 2 of 5 stars

Full Review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...

This sounded like something different, something a little bit quirky and obtuse and something that I might well be able to get my teeth into but, right from the start, I found this very difficult to get on with. Starting in Ireland during the days of the Potato Blight, the book then jumps back and forth across several generations as the Devil, forever referred to as the mysterious Mr.Green, attempts to manipulate events and circumstances to ob...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Ghostleegirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay, I have to say that this book was just really weird. (Here, I said it, I can't carry on now...

It took me awhile to wrap my head around what what going on with this book, but it was well worth it. The author did an amazing job of giving out a bunch of loose ends, then tying them all up into a lovely neat little package at the end. The majority of characters aren't particularly likeable, but you end up feeling something for each of them.

Told from the point of view of Satan, the reader almost...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Tiffany rated it 2 of 5 stars

A Satan Carol was a very different read to say the least. Typically I would not choose to read a book with a religious undertone, but I have to say that I did enjoy the book. Kessler did a great job of throwing out several different stories with many different characters, each spread over a huge span of time, but then tying them all together showing the characters all working towards one purpose, which is the quest of Mr. Green (who is Satan himself) to get the Golden Soul to his son. I love tha...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Sarah Baethge rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Satan Carol by Alan S. Kessler is a many faceted story that is told as we are shown several different angles of what can ultimately be seen as one plot. The story starts in historic Ireland, where we watch Meg, a poor famine stricken mother doing everything she can to try providing for Liam, her sickly child. Her landlord, a Mr. Green, is little help. As the situation continues to grow worse for her, the story leaves her and moves on until her tale, and that of her child are almost forgotten....more

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Mar 20, 2012 C.V. Hunt rated it 3 of 5 stars

A Satan Carol desperately wanted to grab my attention. The description of the book had me hooked at the word horror, but I failed to find any gut twisting horror in the story. Granted, it is about Satan, and there are a few bloody or obscene sections, but I don’t think this really fell into the horror category. If I had to classify it anywhere it would be dark satire.

Satan, aka Mr. Green, is jaded by God’s love for another son, Jesus. And in a search to find happiness for himself, Satan has dec...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Randy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A SATAN CAROL was a bit of an odd duck for me, a religious/horror satire. If you think about it, the two go together well.

Satan, Mr. Green in the novel, is jealous of his younger brother Jesus. "Better press!"

He wants the Golden Soul for his son Pal, born virtually a vegetable, so that he can go forth and be a prophet for his father. The Golden Soul went to someone destined to make the world better. He missed a chance once before, the opening sequence of the book 180 years in the past. In the p...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Georgina Morales rated it 4 of 5 stars

At first sight and after reading the synopsis, I wasn’t so sure this would be a nice fit for me, nor a proper horror book. Boy, was I wrong. Let’s start by saying that A Satan Carol is a very original story and Alan Kessler may very well be the next big thing. I loved this book with its twisted characters and offbeat pace. It’s been a while since a book has kept me guessing until the very end. But it’s not only the story that’s original, the way in which the author tells it added much to my sens...more At first sight and after reading the synopsis, I wasn’t so sure this would be a nice fit for me, nor a proper horror book. Boy, was I wrong. Let’s start by saying that A Satan Carol is a very original story and Alan Kessler may very well be the next big thing. I loved this book with its twisted characters and offbeat pace. It’s been a while since a book has kept me guessing until the very end. But it’s not only the story that’s original, the way in which the author tells it added much to my sense of not really knowing what was happening, that I needed to get my bearings somehow. Delightful indeed.

The book starts in 1848 Ireland and tells the story of a mother desperate to find food to save her very special son from the famine sweeping the whole country, except for the rich landowners and the British aristocracy. The tone is very bleak and though there is no monster hiding in the dark, I felt the impending doom, fear, and desperation. The story then jumps a hundred and forty years into the future to a series of characters with highly varied backgrounds. Kessler keeps jumping from one time to another, from character to character without revealing too much about their connection or where he’s going. He relies on his mesmerizing narrative to keep pulling the reader further into the actions of what seems like a bunch of crazy, dysfunctional people.

The pace is slow but always interesting, very dark and atmospheric; so much so, that after a few pages, a truly disturbing feeling got under my skin and stayed there. As the book advances, the pace picks up and the tone becomes lighter; as if the more the reader understands, the more we can peek under Kessler's dark veil. Then the story turns even stranger and the characters more twisted. More than a few times I found myself flinching away from the pages or closing my eyes and rubbing my forehead in a fruitless attempt to erase from my mind the horrible image Kessler invoked.

A Satan Carol is a piece with so many qualities that it's a must for anyone craving an intelligent story that will make them think, cringe, and sweat. It is very well thought through, extremely original with a great mix of religious ideas and horror traits. And let’s not forget the powerful narrative that never releases you from its grip. Remember The Devil’s Advocate? Well, if you enjoyed that movie –and who didn’t?-- this book is right up your alley.

I have a couple of minor complains, though. First, there were a few problems with punctuation. Usually, of all possible editorial mistakes, punctuation would be the thing that bothered me the least, but because the author chooses to be so cryptic, and his style is very dark and hardly traditional, these small mistakes can make for a very confusing paragraph. My second complaint? The book’s ending. Now, is there ever a truly satisfying ending? I don’t know. We all think we can do better than what was done, so it is all very subjective. In my humble opinion, the book is three chapters too long. Right at the end of chapter eighteen there’s resolution for each of the issues raised throughout the story. The need to go on, I think, is merely that need deep inside every author to be the one who dictates the fate of each of his characters. The thing is, sometimes the openness of an ending suits a story better.

Now, with that out of the way, I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this book and how much I recommend you to read it. You’re really missing out if you don't read this book. (less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Sophie Dusting rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Review:
Plot & pace - An ambitious, entertaining debut novel, full of innovative ideas. The opening chapters are a jumble of different short-stories, with each surrounding new characters, settings and contexts. It's the year 1848 where we meet Meg on her daily struggle for food and money during the Irish famine. Her boy, a prophet/Messiah, has the 'Golden Soul', the ability to perform miracles. Yet, the boy dies, famished by poverty. Fast forward 180 years and in chapter two, Katie enters...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Soul rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Penned by Alan S. Kessler “A Satan Carol” is a fictional horror novel, with very unique writing style this book shows its readers a plan/plot which spans centuries, this plan evolve around many protagonist each with their own story, but as the book progresses their individual story seems just a part of the big puzzle, a puzzle when solved will complete quest of The Satan himself.

“Of all creation’s bounty realized, God’s greatest gift, the gift by Him most prized, is the freedom He bestowed upon...more Penned by Alan S. Kessler “A Satan Carol” is a fictional horror novel, with very unique writing style this book shows its readers a plan/plot which spans centuries, this plan evolve around many protagonist each with their own story, but as the book progresses their individual story seems just a part of the big puzzle, a puzzle when solved will complete quest of The Satan himself.

“Of all creation’s bounty realized, God’s greatest gift, the gift by Him most prized, is the freedom He bestowed upon the will.” - Dante, The Paradiso.

These lines bring out the reason why god chose to give us Free will, but is it really why? Or is it because, Free will is the reason God can absent Himself from our lives without feeling guilty. Is free will a gift to humanity, or is it a gift God gave Himself? Freedom is useful if its compost for growing something new, and the Satan is using this freedom to create a new world where he will be known as The Savior.

Over the course of the book The Satan (a.k.a Mr. Green), using his charming personality manipulate the
characters, always acting from behind the curtains and pulling the strings so as to get what he wants, A Golden Soul.

The book deals with daily life of characters. How some of them chose the wrong path, a path against morals, path of wrong over right, they forgot the ethics just for the sake of some material benefit be it money, recognition or sex. But there were some people who despite all the lures, temptations sticked to the lessons of morality.

Book explains some people might delude themselves thinking their life gone all wrong because of the mischiefs by Satan but they forget one always has choice. The book contains some Animal mutilation, cannibalism because of which reader’s discretion is advised.

The book “A Satan Carol” has lot to offer but only to those who are ready, thus justifying it’s surtitle of being “A Spiritual Horror Story for Secular Readers”. As a reader I enjoyed the story and learned lots of things, one thing above all which I would like to share with all of you, “Family matters & Money does not always equates to Happiness”. This book is a deserving candidate for 4 out of 5 starts.
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May 17, 2012 WiLoveBooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, favorites, review-copy

I wasn't sure if this would be for me, but it was something different so I thought I would give it a try. I had a little trouble getting into it in the beginning, not sure where the story was going, but it didn't take long to get wrapped up in the story. I was soon interested in figuring out how the various people and events would interconnect.
Mr. Green, aka Satan, likes to meddle in people's lives, but can't affect their free will. You see him manipulate people to try to get the outcome he wan...more

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Apr 24, 2012 David Marshall rated it 1 of 5 stars

As an atheist, I found this mechanistic, superficial and repetitive. It's a shame. In the past, the religiously inclined could write very well about their faith but this is just dire.

http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...

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Wjlevin The author chose an archetypal system and based a story on it. As a reader, you are invited into the author's quirky world, and you are asked to try a...more
Apr 27, 2012 03:14am

David Marshall I always believe in making my cherished beliefs clear when writing reviews so that readers can judge the honesty of those reviews. Would that all othe...more
Apr 28, 2012 10:32am

David Marshall Since Wjlevin has only commented on my review, I assume he is a sock puppet for the author. Further, since no-one else has risen to my bait on the lud...more
May 21, 2012 11:50pm

Dec 10, 2012 Sadrina marked it as to-read

Shelves: recommended

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Jul 15, 2012 Lady Book Voodoo & Hoodoo Review rated it 5 of 5 stars

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