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The Truth About Elves
As a bartender in Las Vegas, Curtis seems to have the dream life. He’s single, lives close to the Strip, and only has to worry about when to pick up the next extra shift. No one knows the truth about what happened ten years ago, and no one knows how he spends three months every year: as a part-time elf for Santa Claus.
When Curtis went to the Arctic Circle the first time, he thought he could escape the unthinkable. Now, the anniversary of the worst day of his life is coming up, and he’s been asked to do the unbelievable. If Curtis wasn’t a man of his word, he would turn his back on the whole thing. But Mr. C. took Curtis in when he had nowhere else to go, and now the boss is calling in a favor—the kind that will make Curtis face the memory of the unimaginable.
If you’ve ever wondered whether holiday magic is real, come find out. Embrace the season and the power of forgiveness along with Curtis as he discovers The Truth About Elves.
When Curtis went to the Arctic Circle the first time, he thought he could escape the unthinkable. Now, the anniversary of the worst day of his life is coming up, and he’s been asked to do the unbelievable. If Curtis wasn’t a man of his word, he would turn his back on the whole thing. But Mr. C. took Curtis in when he had nowhere else to go, and now the boss is calling in a favor—the kind that will make Curtis face the memory of the unimaginable.
If you’ve ever wondered whether holiday magic is real, come find out. Embrace the season and the power of forgiveness along with Curtis as he discovers The Truth About Elves.
126 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2021
7 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Ekta R. Garg
15 books40 followersArmed with her MSJ in magazine publishing from Northwestern University, Ekta started her career in niche publishing in 2005 and has written and edited about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films. She became a freelance editor in 2011 and currently is a writing contest judge for the Florida Writers Association and the Saturday Writers chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild. Ekta also conducts writing workshops for her local library and hosts Biblio Breakdown, a podcast where she examines books to offer writing exercises.
Ekta began reviewing books for Bookpleasures.com in 2011 and reviews for them as well as her own site. She blogs at The Write Edge (http://thewriteedge.wordpress.com) and posts original writing, book reviews, and her adventures with the craft.
Her award-winning holiday novella, _The Truth About Elves_, and her original fairy tale for grownups, _In the Heart of the Linden Wood_, are available from Atmosphere Press.
Ekta began reviewing books for Bookpleasures.com in 2011 and reviews for them as well as her own site. She blogs at The Write Edge (http://thewriteedge.wordpress.com) and posts original writing, book reviews, and her adventures with the craft.
Her award-winning holiday novella, _The Truth About Elves_, and her original fairy tale for grownups, _In the Heart of the Linden Wood_, are available from Atmosphere Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 22, 2021
In a Nutshell: This had a very creative concept but unfortunately, the writing style and my expectations didn’t match the author’s imagination.
Story:
Where the book appealed to me:
😍 It was quick. About 120 pages long. So it won’t take too much of your reading time.
😍 For the first time ever, I saw an Indian character in a Santa Claus story in an elf named ‘Prerna’. Woohoo!
😍 The prologue was fabulous. If the entire story had proceeded as the prologue did, this would have been a five star read for me.
😍 The concept is great. Imagine having elves who aren’t short and pointy-eared but regular humans who volunteer at the North Pole for a quarter of the year. Such a unique idea!
😍 The idea of having a holiday book centred around grief and loss is also very different.
Where the book disappointed me:
😕 The writing style needed a bit of fine-tuning. It sometimes contains telling instead of showing. There is a frequent back and forth in the timeline, not just with the accident and the present time period but also with various flashback events that Curtis mulls over in the present. In spite of this, or probably because of this, the story feels quite jumpy and there's no smoothness or sleekness to the narrative flow. (From the author’s bio, I can see that she has a lot of writing experience and even offers writing exercises on her podcast. So I’m not really sure what went wrong here, but in all honesty, I found the content more cluttered than structured.)
😕 There are a few plot points that aren’t explained. The only one I can reveal without going into major spoilers is this: how did Curtis become an elf? We know he had an accident, and we know he started working as an elf after that. But how did he sign up, especially when it is specified that regular humans aren’t even aware of this job profile and don’t know of Mr. C’s actual existence? If one of Santa’s people approached him to join the elves as some kind of redemptive support (which is certainly possible), it would have been such a lovely addition to the story.
😕 One big reason for my disappointment is that bane of all humanity: expectations. From that gorgeous cover, I thought this would be a magical Christmas story focussed on elves and/or Santa. Well, there was a little bit of magic and some elves, and Santa of course. The blurb too didn’t help. It mentions holiday magic and Santa and elves, but it doesn’t say that the story is focussed more on grief and loss than on joy and contentment. I’m not docking off stars for this reason because this particular feedback is more from my assumptions about the story because of the cover and blurb.
😕 The title leads you to believe that elves are a major part of the story. They are. But because the way the book defines elves—elves are Santa’s human helpers and not those magical creatures you have encountered in other Christmas books-- you feel like you are reading a story about regular humans than about elves. Except for a couple of Santa’s interference in Curtis’s life (where the magic is only hinted at), there’s no magic in the book. Every part of the Christmas night is explained in terms of human experience. (Scheduling, planning, material management, work shifts, plane travel, warehouses…) Basically, the story turned a potential holiday fantasy into a regular drama.
As is evident, I loved the idea of the story but didn’t quite enjoy the execution of it. As with every Christmas story, there is a strong moral coming out: coming to terms with your grief, accepting it, and moving on. But because this moral is entirely human, the title is misleading.
I am not sure who the right target audience for this book is. It's not for younger kids or preteens, regardless of what the title suggests. There is reference to death and sex, and of course, they’ll be disappointed to see no magical little men in the story. Teens could find it boring as it's more about the angst of an adult, and the protagonist is also an adult in at least his late twenties if not his early thirties. Adults might not even pick it up because of the cutesy title and cover that are more indicative of a children's story. That leaves us with the YA audience. As there is an element of coming-of-age to the story in spite of Curtis’s being older than the typical age of YA leads, this could work for YA readers. I hope this works for them because every book needs a target audience.
I was very muddled between 1 star and 2 stars for this book, but my prerequisite for a 1 star rating is that it was a waste of my reading time. But at just a little more than 120 pages, I didn’t really waste much time on this read. It certainly had tremendous potential. (And I am a bit more generous towards indie books.) Where it loses is in the poor writing, plot structuring, and deceptive blurb/cover/title. So I’ll go with 2 stars and send my best wishes to the author for her next writing venture. If only this had worked out better for me.
My thanks to Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for the ARC of “The Truth About Elves”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Curtis works as a bartender in Las Vegas for 9 months and in the Arctic Circle as Santa's helper for the remaining quarter of the year. This has been his life for the past ten years. Prior to that, he was an airline pilot, but a bad plane accident changed the course of his life. During his latest assignment in the North Pole, where Curtis is disgruntled at having been called during a different quarter than his regular schedule, Mr. C (the Claus himself) agrees to give him a different assignment. Unbeknown to Curtis, this assignment involves him having to confront his past. Will he finally be able to put all the grief inside him to rest?
Most of the story comes to us from Curtis’s first person point of view.
Where the book appealed to me:
😍 It was quick. About 120 pages long. So it won’t take too much of your reading time.
😍 For the first time ever, I saw an Indian character in a Santa Claus story in an elf named ‘Prerna’. Woohoo!
😍 The prologue was fabulous. If the entire story had proceeded as the prologue did, this would have been a five star read for me.
😍 The concept is great. Imagine having elves who aren’t short and pointy-eared but regular humans who volunteer at the North Pole for a quarter of the year. Such a unique idea!
😍 The idea of having a holiday book centred around grief and loss is also very different.
Where the book disappointed me:
😕 The writing style needed a bit of fine-tuning. It sometimes contains telling instead of showing. There is a frequent back and forth in the timeline, not just with the accident and the present time period but also with various flashback events that Curtis mulls over in the present. In spite of this, or probably because of this, the story feels quite jumpy and there's no smoothness or sleekness to the narrative flow. (From the author’s bio, I can see that she has a lot of writing experience and even offers writing exercises on her podcast. So I’m not really sure what went wrong here, but in all honesty, I found the content more cluttered than structured.)
😕 There are a few plot points that aren’t explained. The only one I can reveal without going into major spoilers is this: how did Curtis become an elf? We know he had an accident, and we know he started working as an elf after that. But how did he sign up, especially when it is specified that regular humans aren’t even aware of this job profile and don’t know of Mr. C’s actual existence? If one of Santa’s people approached him to join the elves as some kind of redemptive support (which is certainly possible), it would have been such a lovely addition to the story.
😕 One big reason for my disappointment is that bane of all humanity: expectations. From that gorgeous cover, I thought this would be a magical Christmas story focussed on elves and/or Santa. Well, there was a little bit of magic and some elves, and Santa of course. The blurb too didn’t help. It mentions holiday magic and Santa and elves, but it doesn’t say that the story is focussed more on grief and loss than on joy and contentment. I’m not docking off stars for this reason because this particular feedback is more from my assumptions about the story because of the cover and blurb.
😕 The title leads you to believe that elves are a major part of the story. They are. But because the way the book defines elves—elves are Santa’s human helpers and not those magical creatures you have encountered in other Christmas books-- you feel like you are reading a story about regular humans than about elves. Except for a couple of Santa’s interference in Curtis’s life (where the magic is only hinted at), there’s no magic in the book. Every part of the Christmas night is explained in terms of human experience. (Scheduling, planning, material management, work shifts, plane travel, warehouses…) Basically, the story turned a potential holiday fantasy into a regular drama.
As is evident, I loved the idea of the story but didn’t quite enjoy the execution of it. As with every Christmas story, there is a strong moral coming out: coming to terms with your grief, accepting it, and moving on. But because this moral is entirely human, the title is misleading.
I am not sure who the right target audience for this book is. It's not for younger kids or preteens, regardless of what the title suggests. There is reference to death and sex, and of course, they’ll be disappointed to see no magical little men in the story. Teens could find it boring as it's more about the angst of an adult, and the protagonist is also an adult in at least his late twenties if not his early thirties. Adults might not even pick it up because of the cutesy title and cover that are more indicative of a children's story. That leaves us with the YA audience. As there is an element of coming-of-age to the story in spite of Curtis’s being older than the typical age of YA leads, this could work for YA readers. I hope this works for them because every book needs a target audience.
I was very muddled between 1 star and 2 stars for this book, but my prerequisite for a 1 star rating is that it was a waste of my reading time. But at just a little more than 120 pages, I didn’t really waste much time on this read. It certainly had tremendous potential. (And I am a bit more generous towards indie books.) Where it loses is in the poor writing, plot structuring, and deceptive blurb/cover/title. So I’ll go with 2 stars and send my best wishes to the author for her next writing venture. If only this had worked out better for me.
My thanks to Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for the ARC of “The Truth About Elves”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
November 2, 2021
What's this? A Christmas review in November?! That's right!
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of The Truth About Elves by Ekta Garg from the publisher. This is a story of, not your typical, elves. They aren't magical, small and work in green suits and pointy hats but instead are just normal human beings who have suffered trauma. Mr. C has an operation in the Arctic that goes round all-year to prepare for the festive season and Curtis, an elf involved in an accident years ago, always spends the anniversary of this in a state of constant drunken slumber. This year, that all changes when he is assigned a different shift that he wants so desperately to be free of.
The cover for this is definitely full of festive cheer that promises a premise that grabs you from the start. The story tugs on the heartstrings when we begin to realise this isn't a typical festive story but instead a bittersweet telling of Curtis, who battles his guilt and shame for years. This is a book that can move us in ways that foretell secrets and healing and Garg deserves praise for telling an enchanting story for adults.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of The Truth About Elves by Ekta Garg from the publisher. This is a story of, not your typical, elves. They aren't magical, small and work in green suits and pointy hats but instead are just normal human beings who have suffered trauma. Mr. C has an operation in the Arctic that goes round all-year to prepare for the festive season and Curtis, an elf involved in an accident years ago, always spends the anniversary of this in a state of constant drunken slumber. This year, that all changes when he is assigned a different shift that he wants so desperately to be free of.
The cover for this is definitely full of festive cheer that promises a premise that grabs you from the start. The story tugs on the heartstrings when we begin to realise this isn't a typical festive story but instead a bittersweet telling of Curtis, who battles his guilt and shame for years. This is a book that can move us in ways that foretell secrets and healing and Garg deserves praise for telling an enchanting story for adults.
December 10, 2021
This was my first Christmas read this year and it's going to be a hard one to beat. I was fascinated with the magic of the Circle and the inner workings of the preparations that go into The Night Of. An endearing behind the scenes tale of Christmas that will truly warm your heart. What a wonderful, wholesome book.
Thank you Atmosphere Press and @netgalley for the eARC in return for an honest review.
Thank you Atmosphere Press and @netgalley for the eARC in return for an honest review.
October 16, 2021
I liked this book/novella, story was good,not your usual Christmas story but kept my interest and liked ending. I think with a bit fleshing out with more back story and detail would be 5 stars not just the 4 I gave but since this is a first book. Kudos. Thank you to Net Galley the author and the Publishers for giving me opertunity to read this Advance Reader Copy.
December 19, 2022
Not what I expected. I assumed it would be all about Christmas elves at the North Pole.
While there is some of that, most of the story is about the elves in their real life.
A short story with heart. Worth the read if you are looking for something a little different
While there is some of that, most of the story is about the elves in their real life.
A short story with heart. Worth the read if you are looking for something a little different
June 22, 2023
The weather may be warm, the sun may be shining, and the temps are hot enough to make you perspire, yet here I am admittedly loving a Christmas book!
Every year Curtis finds someone to cover his bartending gigs on the Las Vegas strip as he packs up and spends one quarter of the year working for Santa Claus. Curtis is an elf. Unlike the movies, elves don’t have pointy ears, don’t go around wearing only tights and pointy hats, and certainly aren’t all height challenged. Instead, they look just like us but commit to working three months each year preparing for the Night Of. However, this year Curtis is stuck working his quarter shift during the anniversary of the worst day of his life. A day he typically prefers wallowing in self-pity, holed up in his apartment. He’s willing to do anything to get out of working for Santa Claus that day, even if it means completing a favor for the big man himself.
Author Ekta R. Garg has crafted an imaginative and creative spin on the stereotypical Christmas-time books we often see. Garg uses the depth of human lives, interactions, and experiences to create a more relatable and realistic holiday read. People are more nuanced than the cheery holiday movies portray. Families are more complex than the huddled-around-the-fire families of Hallmark shows. And Santa’s workshop is certainly busy all year-round prepping for the big day, more so than the Christmas songs lead us to believe. “The Truth About Elves” captures all these holiday distinctions in a sadly relatable, wholly encaptivating way.
In fact, I hope to see more of Prerna, Santa Claus, and the elves’ adventures. Within “The Truth About Elves” Ekta R. Garg invites us into the deepest depths of her main character and peels back the layers as Santa Claus invites them into his workshops year after year, assigning elves to various roles and positions, even having them pop into the “real world” to leave notes and messages. This realistic story encompasses the holiday spirit while providing the profound intensity of the real world, pointy hats off to Ekta R. Garg and this magical read.
Every year Curtis finds someone to cover his bartending gigs on the Las Vegas strip as he packs up and spends one quarter of the year working for Santa Claus. Curtis is an elf. Unlike the movies, elves don’t have pointy ears, don’t go around wearing only tights and pointy hats, and certainly aren’t all height challenged. Instead, they look just like us but commit to working three months each year preparing for the Night Of. However, this year Curtis is stuck working his quarter shift during the anniversary of the worst day of his life. A day he typically prefers wallowing in self-pity, holed up in his apartment. He’s willing to do anything to get out of working for Santa Claus that day, even if it means completing a favor for the big man himself.
Author Ekta R. Garg has crafted an imaginative and creative spin on the stereotypical Christmas-time books we often see. Garg uses the depth of human lives, interactions, and experiences to create a more relatable and realistic holiday read. People are more nuanced than the cheery holiday movies portray. Families are more complex than the huddled-around-the-fire families of Hallmark shows. And Santa’s workshop is certainly busy all year-round prepping for the big day, more so than the Christmas songs lead us to believe. “The Truth About Elves” captures all these holiday distinctions in a sadly relatable, wholly encaptivating way.
In fact, I hope to see more of Prerna, Santa Claus, and the elves’ adventures. Within “The Truth About Elves” Ekta R. Garg invites us into the deepest depths of her main character and peels back the layers as Santa Claus invites them into his workshops year after year, assigning elves to various roles and positions, even having them pop into the “real world” to leave notes and messages. This realistic story encompasses the holiday spirit while providing the profound intensity of the real world, pointy hats off to Ekta R. Garg and this magical read.
April 20, 2022
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the free novella/novel*
This is a very short book (or rather a novella) about Curtis. Curtis is a former pilot who is deeply traumatised. Curtis is also an elf who works for Mr C (aka Santa Claus). None of the world building is explained, we learn nothing about Elves really (despite the title) and while Curtis's story was wholesome it was also predictable. Overall, the story did not work for me and I was annoyed.
1.5 stars
This is a very short book (or rather a novella) about Curtis. Curtis is a former pilot who is deeply traumatised. Curtis is also an elf who works for Mr C (aka Santa Claus). None of the world building is explained, we learn nothing about Elves really (despite the title) and while Curtis's story was wholesome it was also predictable. Overall, the story did not work for me and I was annoyed.
1.5 stars
October 6, 2021
Curtis was a pilot until a fateful day, when his life changed, and he walked away from his family. His family was grieving and he felt responsible. He worked in Vegas, but for 3 months out of the year he would go to the Arctic Circle and help Mr. C. This year he was supposed to go in the third quarter because this was the 1oth anniversary of the tragic accident. Mr. C. changed it to the 4th quarter and Curtis had no choice but to go when Mr, C said.
When he got there, the other elves, were there and getting their assignments. One of the rules was to be polite, so they had to say hello, tell them who they were and what they did, how long they had been coming here. As we read the book we find this is a way of healing, and until an elf is ready, then he or she comes every year for 3 months. Curtis thought he would be coming the rest of his life, and he was mad at Mr. C for making him come the last quarter when he just wanted to be home alone on the anniversary of the tragic accident.
The story that unfolds is one of Mr. C. trying to help Curtis find his way back to his family, and he sets things in motion.
The book is different, but it offers a glimpse of the elves, coming year after year, because grief doesn't have a timetable, When you lose someone close to you, the anniversary is difficult to go through alone, so Mr C, brings them to be with others, and it can begin the process of healing. I didn't think it was a Christmas story, I thought it was a story of the spirit of Christmas. It is a short book, filled with seeing things in a different way.
I received an ARC from Atmosphere Press through NetGalley.
When he got there, the other elves, were there and getting their assignments. One of the rules was to be polite, so they had to say hello, tell them who they were and what they did, how long they had been coming here. As we read the book we find this is a way of healing, and until an elf is ready, then he or she comes every year for 3 months. Curtis thought he would be coming the rest of his life, and he was mad at Mr. C for making him come the last quarter when he just wanted to be home alone on the anniversary of the tragic accident.
The story that unfolds is one of Mr. C. trying to help Curtis find his way back to his family, and he sets things in motion.
The book is different, but it offers a glimpse of the elves, coming year after year, because grief doesn't have a timetable, When you lose someone close to you, the anniversary is difficult to go through alone, so Mr C, brings them to be with others, and it can begin the process of healing. I didn't think it was a Christmas story, I thought it was a story of the spirit of Christmas. It is a short book, filled with seeing things in a different way.
I received an ARC from Atmosphere Press through NetGalley.
October 4, 2021
More of a novella than a novel, but I really enjoyed this holiday offering. Because it was so short, the world building was a bit skimpy - with a few more hundred pages, the way Mr C and the elves really ‘work’ could have been fleshed out. I’d like to read more about this world.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.
December 7, 2021
This fun little book does a fantastic job of telling a dense, emotional story in a novella format. The truth about Elves, "Mr. C," and human nature is slowly revealed in compelling and engaging ways. A must read between Thanksgiving and New Years!
September 28, 2021
This is a cute, and also heartfelt story of Curtis, a former airline pilot, turned bartender in Las Vegas, who also works for Mr. C. as one of his elves, helping to prepare for the big night when the toy deliveries are made all over the world.
A bit of fantasy plays into this story, however, the heart of the story is Curtis. As a pilot, he landed a plane during extremely bad weather on a highway, rather than a runway. The consequences of that one act, shaped his life for the next ten years. His biggest time of fulfillment comes once a year working as an elf helping with Christmas. preparations up north for Mr. C.
Unexpectedly, one year his usual shift, in the summer, got moved to the winter, and it fell on the anniversary of the tragic plane landing. Curtis tells Mr. C. he must go home early because he can't handle the grief that overcomes him on that date. Being the wise man, we know Mr. C. to be, he has other plans for Curtis that are life-changing.
This is a quick, heartfelt, easy to read story that reminds us of what is important, including forgiveness, as well as forgiving ourselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
A bit of fantasy plays into this story, however, the heart of the story is Curtis. As a pilot, he landed a plane during extremely bad weather on a highway, rather than a runway. The consequences of that one act, shaped his life for the next ten years. His biggest time of fulfillment comes once a year working as an elf helping with Christmas. preparations up north for Mr. C.
Unexpectedly, one year his usual shift, in the summer, got moved to the winter, and it fell on the anniversary of the tragic plane landing. Curtis tells Mr. C. he must go home early because he can't handle the grief that overcomes him on that date. Being the wise man, we know Mr. C. to be, he has other plans for Curtis that are life-changing.
This is a quick, heartfelt, easy to read story that reminds us of what is important, including forgiveness, as well as forgiving ourselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
September 23, 2021
Thanks to Atmosphere Press for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
A very short book, easy to read in just one sitting, so if you’re after a quick read, this is definitely for you.
I thought it was going to be a happy little Christmas novella about elves working at the North Pole with Santa. But it was a lot deeper than that. It’s all about forgiveness, forgiving others, but most importantly forgiving yourself, especially when things happen that are out of your control.
I suppose, even if it doesn’t actually revolve much around the North Pole or Christmas, in my opinion, it does still show the magic that the very belief of Santa Claus can bring. It also portrays elves in a completely different way. We tend to imagine elves as small people, with rosy cheeks and pointy ears, always happy. In this, elves are just everyday people who just so happen to spend 3 months of the year working at the North Pole. And I think that’s amazing. The idea that our very best friend or next door neighbour could be working for the big man himself. That definitely adds a magical sparkle to everyday life.
A very short book, easy to read in just one sitting, so if you’re after a quick read, this is definitely for you.
I thought it was going to be a happy little Christmas novella about elves working at the North Pole with Santa. But it was a lot deeper than that. It’s all about forgiveness, forgiving others, but most importantly forgiving yourself, especially when things happen that are out of your control.
I suppose, even if it doesn’t actually revolve much around the North Pole or Christmas, in my opinion, it does still show the magic that the very belief of Santa Claus can bring. It also portrays elves in a completely different way. We tend to imagine elves as small people, with rosy cheeks and pointy ears, always happy. In this, elves are just everyday people who just so happen to spend 3 months of the year working at the North Pole. And I think that’s amazing. The idea that our very best friend or next door neighbour could be working for the big man himself. That definitely adds a magical sparkle to everyday life.
November 26, 2021
Definitely would read again. Imaginative story and easy read.
October 19, 2021
Curtis was an airline pilot who during very bad weather lands the plane on a highway instead of the runway.
What happens due to that landing changes his life.
Curtis now is a bartender in Las Vegas, he also works for Mr. C as one of his elves.
A story of learning how to forgive yourself first as well as forgiving others.
Not your typical elf story.
You never know if the person you are standing next to, or your co worker is an elf working for Mr. C.
A cute short story with a little Christmas magic.
Thank you NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the opportunity to read this book.
What happens due to that landing changes his life.
Curtis now is a bartender in Las Vegas, he also works for Mr. C as one of his elves.
A story of learning how to forgive yourself first as well as forgiving others.
Not your typical elf story.
You never know if the person you are standing next to, or your co worker is an elf working for Mr. C.
A cute short story with a little Christmas magic.
Thank you NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the opportunity to read this book.
September 28, 2021
So this was a fairly quick read. I thought in the first chapter it was promising but after that it went downhill fast for me.
I think the title and cover of this book would be very misleading because it is honestly not really a Christmas story. Just because it is set partially at the North Pole doesn’t make it a Christmas story. And to be perfectly honest I think I would have liked the story more without the “Santa Claus” and “elves” tie in.
We never found out how Curtis aka Josh came to be an elf. There was no mention anywhere of how he went from the “accident” to all of a sudden being an elf. It seemed rather odd. Another thing I didn’t like was that the story surrounding the accident was very unclear. We know that at some point Curtis’s nephew died, because of Curtis apparently, but the details are extremely vague and we never found out how Josh died or how exactly Curtis caused it. There were also some verbiage issues. There were several times that something that clearly should have been written past tense was written present participle along with a few spelling errors throughout.
All in all I am being generous with two stars because I do think the story has potential but would need a serious re write as well as better editing.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I think the title and cover of this book would be very misleading because it is honestly not really a Christmas story. Just because it is set partially at the North Pole doesn’t make it a Christmas story. And to be perfectly honest I think I would have liked the story more without the “Santa Claus” and “elves” tie in.
We never found out how Curtis aka Josh came to be an elf. There was no mention anywhere of how he went from the “accident” to all of a sudden being an elf. It seemed rather odd. Another thing I didn’t like was that the story surrounding the accident was very unclear. We know that at some point Curtis’s nephew died, because of Curtis apparently, but the details are extremely vague and we never found out how Josh died or how exactly Curtis caused it. There were also some verbiage issues. There were several times that something that clearly should have been written past tense was written present participle along with a few spelling errors throughout.
All in all I am being generous with two stars because I do think the story has potential but would need a serious re write as well as better editing.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2021
This is a story with an interesting take on Elves and how they function
Mr C takes care of people who are broken and helps them to get back on the right track
This is a story about forgiveness- forgiving yourself and others , accepting their support and moving on
The sort and the hurt felt was written well and you quickly feel sympathy for Curtis and want him to move on . Even though this is a short story, it is well developed
I am extremely grateful to have received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mr C takes care of people who are broken and helps them to get back on the right track
This is a story about forgiveness- forgiving yourself and others , accepting their support and moving on
The sort and the hurt felt was written well and you quickly feel sympathy for Curtis and want him to move on . Even though this is a short story, it is well developed
I am extremely grateful to have received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 6, 2021
This is a short and quick read, but well worth the pages and time. The Truth About Elves is a beautiful take on our favorite "little" helpers from the North Pole and I love the idea that it's just normal people needing a place to go before they are ready to be fully back in society; I think we could all use a little help from Mr. C now and then.
This was beautifully written and well thought out.
This was beautifully written and well thought out.
August 18, 2024
[b]TITLE: The Truth About Elves by Ekta R. Garg[/b]
[b]Introduction:[/b] As the holiday season approaches, finding a novella that perfectly blends the magic of Christmas with heartfelt storytelling can be a delightful treat. Ekta R. Garg’s The Truth About Elves does just that. This novella offers a unique and engaging story for adult readers, capturing the spirit and warmth of the holidays in a refreshingly concise format.
[b]Synopsis:[/b] The book introduces us to Curtis, a man who leads an unusual double life working part-time for Santa as an elf. Curtis's routine is upended when Santa asks him to do a favor he’s not keen on performing. However, feeling indebted to Santa, Curtis agrees, embarking on a journey that unexpectedly takes him back to a place he’s longed to return home. The story delves into themes of duty, self-discovery, and the emotional toll of living up to others' expectations.
[b]Summary:[/b] Curtis is a character many can relate to, grappling with internal conflicts and finding his way through them. The novella touches on themes like duty, sacrifice, and the concept of home. As Curtis takes on Santa’s challenging request, he learns the importance of fulfilling promises and the profound ties that connect us to our loved ones and our past.
[b]Critique:[/b] Garg’s storytelling prowess shines throughout this novella. Her experience in niche publishing and as a writing contest judge is evident in her polished prose and tight narrative structure. Garg masterfully balances fantastical elements with genuine human emotions, creating a fanciful and deeply moving story. Curtis's character development feels authentic, and the emotional depth of his journey is portrayed with sensitivity and insight. Despite its brevity, the novella packs a significant emotional punch, making every page count.
[b]Conclusion:[/b] The book is a beautifully crafted novella that captures the magic of the holiday season while exploring meaningful themes of duty, home, and the lengths we go to for those we care about. Garg has penned a timeless story that will likely become a favorite in holiday reading collections. If you’re looking for a heartwarming and thoughtful holiday read, this book is perfect.
[b]Rating:[/b] I give the book [i]3 out of 5 stars:[/i] I praise it for its unique perspective, emotional depth, and engaging narrative. Overall, it’s well-regarded for its originality and thought-provoking approach, making it a solid choice for those looking for a deeper, more reflective holiday read.
The Truth About Elves
[b]Introduction:[/b] As the holiday season approaches, finding a novella that perfectly blends the magic of Christmas with heartfelt storytelling can be a delightful treat. Ekta R. Garg’s The Truth About Elves does just that. This novella offers a unique and engaging story for adult readers, capturing the spirit and warmth of the holidays in a refreshingly concise format.
[b]Synopsis:[/b] The book introduces us to Curtis, a man who leads an unusual double life working part-time for Santa as an elf. Curtis's routine is upended when Santa asks him to do a favor he’s not keen on performing. However, feeling indebted to Santa, Curtis agrees, embarking on a journey that unexpectedly takes him back to a place he’s longed to return home. The story delves into themes of duty, self-discovery, and the emotional toll of living up to others' expectations.
[b]Summary:[/b] Curtis is a character many can relate to, grappling with internal conflicts and finding his way through them. The novella touches on themes like duty, sacrifice, and the concept of home. As Curtis takes on Santa’s challenging request, he learns the importance of fulfilling promises and the profound ties that connect us to our loved ones and our past.
[b]Critique:[/b] Garg’s storytelling prowess shines throughout this novella. Her experience in niche publishing and as a writing contest judge is evident in her polished prose and tight narrative structure. Garg masterfully balances fantastical elements with genuine human emotions, creating a fanciful and deeply moving story. Curtis's character development feels authentic, and the emotional depth of his journey is portrayed with sensitivity and insight. Despite its brevity, the novella packs a significant emotional punch, making every page count.
[b]Conclusion:[/b] The book is a beautifully crafted novella that captures the magic of the holiday season while exploring meaningful themes of duty, home, and the lengths we go to for those we care about. Garg has penned a timeless story that will likely become a favorite in holiday reading collections. If you’re looking for a heartwarming and thoughtful holiday read, this book is perfect.
[b]Rating:[/b] I give the book [i]3 out of 5 stars:[/i] I praise it for its unique perspective, emotional depth, and engaging narrative. Overall, it’s well-regarded for its originality and thought-provoking approach, making it a solid choice for those looking for a deeper, more reflective holiday read.
The Truth About Elves
March 13, 2025
This book, The Truth About Elves by Ekta R. Garg, offers a refreshing take on the traditional Christmas narrative. It reimagines elves as relatable beings with human features rather than the typical mystical creatures with pointy ears. Similarly, Santa is not the stereotypical, jolly figure we're used to; he's a more complex character. The story is rich in themes of guilt, loss, and family, offering a unique perspective on the holiday season.
The book is centered on the protagonist, Curtis, who used to be a great pilot with a loving family and a woman, Kendall, whom he loved so much that he wanted to marry her. But one day, during Christmas, when the family is to reunite, a tragedy takes place that costs him the life of someone he holds dear. Because he was somewhat part of why the tragedy happened in the first place, he was overrun by guilt and could not bear the loss. Trapping himself in a world of self-guilt and blame, he loses other relationships dear to him and ends up alone, working for Mr. C. Several years have passed, and he still hasn't gotten over the loss. Mr. C intervenes by changing his work; triggering events might be the key to setting him straight again.
I loved several things about the book, especially how the author portrayed the protagonist's guilt. I could feel what he felt, and I would have done the same thing he did if I were in his shoes. I also liked how the author portrayed Mr. C as Santa and how much work he has to put into successfully delivering presents on Christmas Eve. When I was done reading this book, I started to see Christmas and Santa from a different point of view.
On the downside, while reading the book, it took a while before we could hear the full story of the protagonist, as I kept wondering what happened to him. Also, the start of the book placed a lot of emphasis on what it was like to work for Mr. C, and the actual story started when I was at the center of the book. Aside from this, this book is beautifully written and has a solid plot.
The book was well-edited but could have been flawless. I encountered a few minor errors while reading it, but they did not impact my reading experience. I rate this book four out of five stars. I'm removing a star only because of the downsides I mentioned earlier. I recommend this book to people who like stories about Christmas and holidays.
The book is centered on the protagonist, Curtis, who used to be a great pilot with a loving family and a woman, Kendall, whom he loved so much that he wanted to marry her. But one day, during Christmas, when the family is to reunite, a tragedy takes place that costs him the life of someone he holds dear. Because he was somewhat part of why the tragedy happened in the first place, he was overrun by guilt and could not bear the loss. Trapping himself in a world of self-guilt and blame, he loses other relationships dear to him and ends up alone, working for Mr. C. Several years have passed, and he still hasn't gotten over the loss. Mr. C intervenes by changing his work; triggering events might be the key to setting him straight again.
I loved several things about the book, especially how the author portrayed the protagonist's guilt. I could feel what he felt, and I would have done the same thing he did if I were in his shoes. I also liked how the author portrayed Mr. C as Santa and how much work he has to put into successfully delivering presents on Christmas Eve. When I was done reading this book, I started to see Christmas and Santa from a different point of view.
On the downside, while reading the book, it took a while before we could hear the full story of the protagonist, as I kept wondering what happened to him. Also, the start of the book placed a lot of emphasis on what it was like to work for Mr. C, and the actual story started when I was at the center of the book. Aside from this, this book is beautifully written and has a solid plot.
The book was well-edited but could have been flawless. I encountered a few minor errors while reading it, but they did not impact my reading experience. I rate this book four out of five stars. I'm removing a star only because of the downsides I mentioned earlier. I recommend this book to people who like stories about Christmas and holidays.
June 20, 2023
The weather may be warm, the sun may be shining, and the temps are hot enough to make you perspire, yet here I am admittedly loving a Christmas book!
Every year Curtis finds someone to cover his bartending gigs on the Las Vegas strip as he packs up and spends one quarter of the year working for Santa Claus. Curtis is an elf. Unlike the movies, elves don’t have pointy ears, don’t go around wearing only tights and pointy hats, and certainly aren’t all height challenged. Instead, they look just like us but commit to working three months each year preparing for the Night Of. However, this year Curtis is stuck working his quarter shift during the anniversary of the worst day of his life. A day he typically prefers wallowing in self-pity, holed up in his apartment. He’s willing to do anything to get out of working for Santa Claus that day, even if it means completing a favor for the big man himself.
Author Ekta R. Garg has crafted an imaginative and creative spin on the stereotypical Christmas-time books we often see. Garg uses the depth of human lives, interactions, and experiences to create a more relatable and realistic holiday read. People are more nuanced than the cheery holiday movies portray. Families are more complex than the huddled-around-the-fire families of Hallmark shows. And Santa’s workshop is certainly busy all year-round prepping for the big day, more so than the Christmas songs lead us to believe. “The Truth About Elves” captures all these holiday distinctions in a sadly relatable, wholly encaptivating way.
In fact, I hope to see more of Prerna, Santa Claus, and the elves’ adventures. Within “The Truth About Elves” Ekta R. Garg invites us into the deepest depths of her main character and peels back the layers as Santa Claus invites them into his workshops year after year, assigning elves to various roles and positions, even having them pop into the “real world” to leave notes and messages. This realistic story encompasses the holiday spirit while providing the profound intensity of the real world, pointy hats off to Ekta R. Garg and this magical read.
Every year Curtis finds someone to cover his bartending gigs on the Las Vegas strip as he packs up and spends one quarter of the year working for Santa Claus. Curtis is an elf. Unlike the movies, elves don’t have pointy ears, don’t go around wearing only tights and pointy hats, and certainly aren’t all height challenged. Instead, they look just like us but commit to working three months each year preparing for the Night Of. However, this year Curtis is stuck working his quarter shift during the anniversary of the worst day of his life. A day he typically prefers wallowing in self-pity, holed up in his apartment. He’s willing to do anything to get out of working for Santa Claus that day, even if it means completing a favor for the big man himself.
Author Ekta R. Garg has crafted an imaginative and creative spin on the stereotypical Christmas-time books we often see. Garg uses the depth of human lives, interactions, and experiences to create a more relatable and realistic holiday read. People are more nuanced than the cheery holiday movies portray. Families are more complex than the huddled-around-the-fire families of Hallmark shows. And Santa’s workshop is certainly busy all year-round prepping for the big day, more so than the Christmas songs lead us to believe. “The Truth About Elves” captures all these holiday distinctions in a sadly relatable, wholly encaptivating way.
In fact, I hope to see more of Prerna, Santa Claus, and the elves’ adventures. Within “The Truth About Elves” Ekta R. Garg invites us into the deepest depths of her main character and peels back the layers as Santa Claus invites them into his workshops year after year, assigning elves to various roles and positions, even having them pop into the “real world” to leave notes and messages. This realistic story encompasses the holiday spirit while providing the profound intensity of the real world, pointy hats off to Ekta R. Garg and this magical read.
December 2, 2021
4 1/2 stars
This is a book that’s less about Christmas and more about coming to terms with the consequences of your actions. Curtis, a commercial airline pilot, flies his plane fully aware of possible danger due to bad weather. He decides that he can handle whatever the weather sends his way. As you can guess, the plane crashes, and someone is killed, someone close to Curtis. The book deals with guilt, grief, loss, and PTSD, and family. There’s nothing religious or preachy in this book.
After the accident, Santa Clause, Mr. C. as he’s called in the Arctic Circle, recruits Curtis to be an elf. Elves in this book are not the stereotypical kind we’ve become familiar with. They are normal men and women who work to help Mr. C. prepare for Christmas, but for just one quarter of the year. Very few elves remain working for the full year. Curtis usually works his one quarter in the autumn, then returns to his normal life in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he’s a bartender..
This is a sweet story that just happens to involve Santa and his elves. I’m not saying that Santa doesn’t have a big role to play in Curtis’s life. He definitely does. He’s responsible for helping Curtis find his way out of his grief and moving on. I will say that I would have liked to see this story developed a little more. Not that it isn’t good as it stands, it’s just that I think it has more potential. I’d have loved to learn more about some of the other characters, seen more of Curtis interacting with the other elves or his ex-girlfriend when she wasn’t an ex, getting a better sense of what everyone does under Mr. C’s direction. I would also have like to see how Mr. C. arranged to recruit Curtis. The book is good as it stands, well written, clear, and entertaining; I just would have liked a bit more.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
This is a book that’s less about Christmas and more about coming to terms with the consequences of your actions. Curtis, a commercial airline pilot, flies his plane fully aware of possible danger due to bad weather. He decides that he can handle whatever the weather sends his way. As you can guess, the plane crashes, and someone is killed, someone close to Curtis. The book deals with guilt, grief, loss, and PTSD, and family. There’s nothing religious or preachy in this book.
After the accident, Santa Clause, Mr. C. as he’s called in the Arctic Circle, recruits Curtis to be an elf. Elves in this book are not the stereotypical kind we’ve become familiar with. They are normal men and women who work to help Mr. C. prepare for Christmas, but for just one quarter of the year. Very few elves remain working for the full year. Curtis usually works his one quarter in the autumn, then returns to his normal life in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he’s a bartender..
This is a sweet story that just happens to involve Santa and his elves. I’m not saying that Santa doesn’t have a big role to play in Curtis’s life. He definitely does. He’s responsible for helping Curtis find his way out of his grief and moving on. I will say that I would have liked to see this story developed a little more. Not that it isn’t good as it stands, it’s just that I think it has more potential. I’d have loved to learn more about some of the other characters, seen more of Curtis interacting with the other elves or his ex-girlfriend when she wasn’t an ex, getting a better sense of what everyone does under Mr. C’s direction. I would also have like to see how Mr. C. arranged to recruit Curtis. The book is good as it stands, well written, clear, and entertaining; I just would have liked a bit more.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
April 30, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Truth About Elves is an odd holiday (?) novella about healing and family and emotional growth by Ekta R. Garg. Released 19th Oct 2021 by Atmosphere Press, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.
I'm not at all sure who the target audience is for this book, but as a short read, I did find it well written and engaging. The subject matter is deep (trauma from loss of a child/family member, PTSD, grief) and there is some non-graphic sexual content, so it's not really a kid book (along with the fact that the main protagonist is a 30 something guy working through a lot of life-changing trauma).
There's not a linear plot, the book shifts timeline often and it felt choppy and uneven in places as a result. There's a lot of discussion and description of the whole Christmas eve present delivery and of Mr C himself. The elves are mostly human seeming and the whole elf shtick is traumatized people working through their grief until they're ready to re-integrate into their lives "before".
The language is clean and there's no graphic NSFW content. One strong positive which I liked is that the characters are quite diverse ethnically and it's not an anomaly, they're just written in as real people, not props.
For me personally, the whole elves as folks working through trauma never got off the ground. It's not a fun happy bouncy read and that's fine, but there's very little magic with the magical realism. It's a very very short read, so I certainly didn't feel the time spent was wasted. There were some plot elements which felt contrived and yanked me out of my suspension of disbelief, but again, not egregiously so.
Three and a half stars. It's not polished, but it is certainly competently written and readable.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Truth About Elves is an odd holiday (?) novella about healing and family and emotional growth by Ekta R. Garg. Released 19th Oct 2021 by Atmosphere Press, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.
I'm not at all sure who the target audience is for this book, but as a short read, I did find it well written and engaging. The subject matter is deep (trauma from loss of a child/family member, PTSD, grief) and there is some non-graphic sexual content, so it's not really a kid book (along with the fact that the main protagonist is a 30 something guy working through a lot of life-changing trauma).
There's not a linear plot, the book shifts timeline often and it felt choppy and uneven in places as a result. There's a lot of discussion and description of the whole Christmas eve present delivery and of Mr C himself. The elves are mostly human seeming and the whole elf shtick is traumatized people working through their grief until they're ready to re-integrate into their lives "before".
The language is clean and there's no graphic NSFW content. One strong positive which I liked is that the characters are quite diverse ethnically and it's not an anomaly, they're just written in as real people, not props.
For me personally, the whole elves as folks working through trauma never got off the ground. It's not a fun happy bouncy read and that's fine, but there's very little magic with the magical realism. It's a very very short read, so I certainly didn't feel the time spent was wasted. There were some plot elements which felt contrived and yanked me out of my suspension of disbelief, but again, not egregiously so.
Three and a half stars. It's not polished, but it is certainly competently written and readable.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 8, 2021
I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me read and review an advanced copy of this novella.
The operation at the North Pole goes year-round, but in this story the elves only work for three months of that time. The elves, who are real people, leave their day jobs from all over the world, and they travel to work at Santa’s operation during their assigned quarter. Yes, there are still Santa and Mrs Claus, reindeer, and the yearly ‘Night of’, but the rest of the story is very modern.
The main story in this book is about Curtis, an elf for eight years (yes, elves come and go), who had an accident in his past and still deals with anxiety and stress. While being assigned to wrapping presents, Curtis tries to get an appointment with Mr C. When Curtis asks to be released from his assigned quarter, Mr C. sends him back to Salt Lake City for a temporary assignment back in the ‘regular’ world. There, he must confront his fears of the past and rejoin the life he once had before the accident.
Will Mr C.’s instincts be correct and will Curtis find joy at Christmas, or will he continue being miserable for the rest of his life?
This was an interesting take on the Santa Claus story, maybe showing how each of us could be an elf and help spread some Christmas cheer.
The operation at the North Pole goes year-round, but in this story the elves only work for three months of that time. The elves, who are real people, leave their day jobs from all over the world, and they travel to work at Santa’s operation during their assigned quarter. Yes, there are still Santa and Mrs Claus, reindeer, and the yearly ‘Night of’, but the rest of the story is very modern.
The main story in this book is about Curtis, an elf for eight years (yes, elves come and go), who had an accident in his past and still deals with anxiety and stress. While being assigned to wrapping presents, Curtis tries to get an appointment with Mr C. When Curtis asks to be released from his assigned quarter, Mr C. sends him back to Salt Lake City for a temporary assignment back in the ‘regular’ world. There, he must confront his fears of the past and rejoin the life he once had before the accident.
Will Mr C.’s instincts be correct and will Curtis find joy at Christmas, or will he continue being miserable for the rest of his life?
This was an interesting take on the Santa Claus story, maybe showing how each of us could be an elf and help spread some Christmas cheer.
December 4, 2023
Hi, so this book made me cry.
It’s been ten years since a tragic plane crash changed Curtis’s life forever. A crash so traumatic for him that he changed careers and left his friends and family behind so he could start fresh in a new city. He’s a bartender working on the Vegas strip but for three months out of the year he has another, way cooler job: as Santa’s elf.
Now you’re probably wondering, “hey Lara, how did this make you cry?”. Well besties that’s because this book, that looks like a fluffy little holiday book on the outside, is really more of a book about trauma and the forgiveness.
One of the things I think this book does the best is the way that Curtis’s backstory is revealed to us. The author does this a little bit at a time, like little puzzle pieces falling in place. By about the halfway point my heart was broken for him and all I wanted was for him to find his happiness and find his way back home.
My only real complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed. I would have loved to see it drawn out a little bit more so we can see more of the reunion that Curtis has with the people he loves most. I do think that the ending itself was perfect for him but just would have loved to see more detail.
But yes, holiday tears were shed. Thank you to the author and Shannon over at R & R Book Tours for including me in this tour!
It’s been ten years since a tragic plane crash changed Curtis’s life forever. A crash so traumatic for him that he changed careers and left his friends and family behind so he could start fresh in a new city. He’s a bartender working on the Vegas strip but for three months out of the year he has another, way cooler job: as Santa’s elf.
Now you’re probably wondering, “hey Lara, how did this make you cry?”. Well besties that’s because this book, that looks like a fluffy little holiday book on the outside, is really more of a book about trauma and the forgiveness.
One of the things I think this book does the best is the way that Curtis’s backstory is revealed to us. The author does this a little bit at a time, like little puzzle pieces falling in place. By about the halfway point my heart was broken for him and all I wanted was for him to find his happiness and find his way back home.
My only real complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed. I would have loved to see it drawn out a little bit more so we can see more of the reunion that Curtis has with the people he loves most. I do think that the ending itself was perfect for him but just would have loved to see more detail.
But yes, holiday tears were shed. Thank you to the author and Shannon over at R & R Book Tours for including me in this tour!
November 26, 2021
A very very quick read, this book comes in at just about 120 pages. I was able to read this in an afternoon. If you’re looking for a really quick read, this fits the bill. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting though.
Curtis works at the North Pole as an elf. He’s just a regular person, all the elves are. Because Santa saved him somehow, he helps Santa out once a year whenever he is asked to. But this year he’s asked to be there on a date that he normally spends alone: it’s the 10 year anniversary of the worst day of his life.
Santa offers him a way out and Curtis winds up filling in as a high school guidance counselor. But that job is in his hometown, the place he ran from.
Santa is definitely pushing for Curtis to find closure with what happened. He’s still feeling a lot of guilt for something that wasn’t really his fault.
This book was quite sad a lot of the time. It was about Curtis’ grief and him trying to find a way through it. I feel like I wanted something like The Santa Clause when I read the book description and that’s not remotely what this book was like.
It could be said that the book was about a gift from Santa Claus though.
I read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thanks!
Curtis works at the North Pole as an elf. He’s just a regular person, all the elves are. Because Santa saved him somehow, he helps Santa out once a year whenever he is asked to. But this year he’s asked to be there on a date that he normally spends alone: it’s the 10 year anniversary of the worst day of his life.
Santa offers him a way out and Curtis winds up filling in as a high school guidance counselor. But that job is in his hometown, the place he ran from.
Santa is definitely pushing for Curtis to find closure with what happened. He’s still feeling a lot of guilt for something that wasn’t really his fault.
This book was quite sad a lot of the time. It was about Curtis’ grief and him trying to find a way through it. I feel like I wanted something like The Santa Clause when I read the book description and that’s not remotely what this book was like.
It could be said that the book was about a gift from Santa Claus though.
I read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thanks!
December 4, 2023
Thank you to the author and RR Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It has a festive vibe but it's sort of dark. There is an off-page death mentioned, so please take caution before reading this if that's a trigger for you.
This is a very quick read. The author's writing is easy to follow. It's written in first person from Curtis's POV for 90% of the book and third person from Prerna's POV for a brief time. I wasn't the biggest fan of Curtis's inner monologue. I found him to be insufferable at time. And I also found some things to be a bit confusing, especially regarding character relationships, but that confusion is cleared up later on in the story. I enjoyed all the North Pole imagery and how the author put their own spin on how Santa's workshop operates. I thought the modern touches of coffee machines and computers and Santa using an aircraft fleet for deliveries was clever.
I looooved the ending of this novella. Everything came full circle and made my heart warm. I do wish it was a bit more festive since it's marketed as a holiday read and does have some scenes at the North Pole (or in this story - The Arctic Circle). It took a much darker turn than I expected. But overall, great novella!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It has a festive vibe but it's sort of dark. There is an off-page death mentioned, so please take caution before reading this if that's a trigger for you.
This is a very quick read. The author's writing is easy to follow. It's written in first person from Curtis's POV for 90% of the book and third person from Prerna's POV for a brief time. I wasn't the biggest fan of Curtis's inner monologue. I found him to be insufferable at time. And I also found some things to be a bit confusing, especially regarding character relationships, but that confusion is cleared up later on in the story. I enjoyed all the North Pole imagery and how the author put their own spin on how Santa's workshop operates. I thought the modern touches of coffee machines and computers and Santa using an aircraft fleet for deliveries was clever.
I looooved the ending of this novella. Everything came full circle and made my heart warm. I do wish it was a bit more festive since it's marketed as a holiday read and does have some scenes at the North Pole (or in this story - The Arctic Circle). It took a much darker turn than I expected. But overall, great novella!
December 4, 2023
Oh guys…. This one is SO good. I met this author at a local holiday vendor event. I almost walked right by, but the cover art was so enticing. To be honest, there was just something about the author that called me to stop. To be even more honest, I caught myself instantly judging a book by its cover. I assumed it would be some super cheesy grocery store Christmas novel, but it is so far from cheesy. Though short, it is chock full of lore, world-building and character development. It is cozy at times, stressful at times, but somehow always heart-warming. I have just reached what feels to be the climax, and I feel as though SO much story has been woven in. It seems like the book should be much bigger than it is. Ekta has done a wonderful job of giving all the background and backstory we could need before really plunging us into Curtis’s crisis, and it is definitely a crisis of the soul. Ekta has a gift. She is not only a story-teller but a story weaver. This whole read has been seamless despite being in and out of two seemingly separate worlds. I am already so eager to read her next book Heart of the Linden Wood, which is also available now.
December 7, 2023
✨Okay, so I am a collector of Christmas/seasonal reads, and this year, I’ve added a layer to that and have started going into the ones I’ve come across blind. I’m not exactly sure what I thought The Truth About Elves was going to be, but it was something else entirely.
✨Unexpected in a really beautiful way, this book explores the themes of grief, loss, and family in a way that beautifully encompasses their heightened difficulty during the holiday season. In some ways, this was a hard read as the story follows the MC-and elf named Curtis.
✨Ekta creates an entirely new mythos about elves, one which beautifully explores the spirit of Christmas traditions alongside the heavier and harder themes of the book, and while Curtis’s story was sometimes hard to hear, it was never too much, balanced beautifully by the lighter elements of the story.
✨And ultimately, this book is hopeful. There is no holiday or author magic to undo the sad parts of the story, but instead, they build toward healing, hope, and forgiveness. It was a beautiful story for Christmas, compulsively readable, and a great contrast to some of the fluffier reads of the season while still offering the hope and optimism I most need in this darkest part of the year.
Thanks RR Booktours and the author for the chance to read this in exchange for my review!
✨Unexpected in a really beautiful way, this book explores the themes of grief, loss, and family in a way that beautifully encompasses their heightened difficulty during the holiday season. In some ways, this was a hard read as the story follows the MC-and elf named Curtis.
✨Ekta creates an entirely new mythos about elves, one which beautifully explores the spirit of Christmas traditions alongside the heavier and harder themes of the book, and while Curtis’s story was sometimes hard to hear, it was never too much, balanced beautifully by the lighter elements of the story.
✨And ultimately, this book is hopeful. There is no holiday or author magic to undo the sad parts of the story, but instead, they build toward healing, hope, and forgiveness. It was a beautiful story for Christmas, compulsively readable, and a great contrast to some of the fluffier reads of the season while still offering the hope and optimism I most need in this darkest part of the year.
Thanks RR Booktours and the author for the chance to read this in exchange for my review!
October 2, 2021
First I want to say that the book cover is gorgeous and the person that designed it did a fantastic job tying to the story.
The story - well, it was very difficult for me to get interested in this book. I think the plot is creative and a great idea, but for me, it just did not come to paper to begin with. The first half left me wanting so much more. That stated, by mid story I was really enjoying where the plot was leading. Honestly, once the main character was in SLC, I enjoyed the book so much more than the fantasy part.
My rating is a blending of my feelings for the first half and the second half. I think since this is a novella, details are missing, due to keeping it a short length and that takes away from the story.
I want to thank Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I read the Kindle version. When I posted my review the only option is paperback version.
The story - well, it was very difficult for me to get interested in this book. I think the plot is creative and a great idea, but for me, it just did not come to paper to begin with. The first half left me wanting so much more. That stated, by mid story I was really enjoying where the plot was leading. Honestly, once the main character was in SLC, I enjoyed the book so much more than the fantasy part.
My rating is a blending of my feelings for the first half and the second half. I think since this is a novella, details are missing, due to keeping it a short length and that takes away from the story.
I want to thank Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I read the Kindle version. When I posted my review the only option is paperback version.
October 11, 2021
This is a fun little story. It isn't really a book more of a novella. I completed it in one sitting of about an hour and a half - I am a quick reader.
Curtis lives in Vegas & lives the life - he works in a bar, earns great money & has the dream life. Yet once a year he disappears for 3 months. He goes to work at the North Pole - elves aren't quite who you thought they were!
I loved this book. Yes, okay there is a Christmassy, feel good theme going on here. However, it is certainly not your standard Christmas "feel good" book. There is a bit of depth and it did make me think.
The whole concept of people taking time out of their lives to work for Father Christmas is wonderful. The picture of the North Pole which is painted in this story brings what is a fairy tale (apologies if that comes as a surprise to anyone) into the modern world.
This story made me smile & I loved it. I was sad it wasn't longer but with hindsight I am not sure that would have worked. A great read, sit back & enjoy something a bit different.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
Curtis lives in Vegas & lives the life - he works in a bar, earns great money & has the dream life. Yet once a year he disappears for 3 months. He goes to work at the North Pole - elves aren't quite who you thought they were!
I loved this book. Yes, okay there is a Christmassy, feel good theme going on here. However, it is certainly not your standard Christmas "feel good" book. There is a bit of depth and it did make me think.
The whole concept of people taking time out of their lives to work for Father Christmas is wonderful. The picture of the North Pole which is painted in this story brings what is a fairy tale (apologies if that comes as a surprise to anyone) into the modern world.
This story made me smile & I loved it. I was sad it wasn't longer but with hindsight I am not sure that would have worked. A great read, sit back & enjoy something a bit different.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
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