The Cursed Advent Calendar: A Christmas Countdown to Terror

by Bill Tarino

Introduction

An Antique Advent Calendar. A Town’s Forgotten Sins. A Man Racing Against Time.

When Alex Harper stumbles upon an antique advent calendar at a dusty estate sale, it feels like a small win in a string of ordinary days. Crafted with intricate detail and an eerie charm, the calendar seems like the perfect holiday decoration. But the moment Alex brings it home, the countdown to Christmas becomes something far more sinister.

Each night, a new door opens on its own, revealing a chilling scene from the town’s forgotten past - tragedies long buried in the snow of time. Fires, drownings, betrayals, and deaths haunt the miniature windows of the advent calendar. Yet these are more than glimpses of history - they are living, breathing nightmares. Each scene drags Alex into a harrowing reality where he must confront the ghosts of those lost and unravel the dark truths behind the town’s most horrific events.

But the calendar has its own agenda. It wasn’t just created to chronicle history - it was cursed to punish those who try to escape it. With every door opened, the stakes rise higher. The spirits grow angrier, the tragedies more personal, and Alex finds himself racing against an unseen clock to uncover the calendar’s origins and break its grip on his soul.

As Alex delves deeper into the mystery, he discovers the shadow of Elias Grayson, a brilliant but tormented clockmaker accused of witchcraft and betrayal over a century ago. Grayson’s curse ties the advent calendar to the town’s darkest sins, and his vengeful spirit won’t rest until justice - or vengeance - is served. To end the torment, Alex must do more than survive; he must face the ghosts of the past, untangle generations of lies, and hold the town accountable for the wrongs it tried to erase.

Will Alex break the curse before Christmas, or will he become another lost soul, forever bound to the calendar’s sinister countdown?

The Cursed Advent Calendar is a spine-chilling blend of supernatural suspense, psychological horror, and heart-pounding mystery. Fans of atmospheric thrillers like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, horror classics like The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, and holiday-themed horror like Krampus will be drawn to this gripping tale.

Why This Book Will Haunt

Combines the nostalgic magic of Christmas with the relentless terror of a cursed relic.
A protagonist forced to confront not only supernatural forces but also the weight of his town’s sins - and his own.
Perfect for readers who crave emotional depth with their thrills, as Alex’s journey is as much about redemption as survival.

This isn’t just a story of ghosts - it’s a tale of guilt, accountability, and the power of the truth to heal or destroy.

Order your copy of The Cursed Advent Calendar today to unlock the doors to terror. Perfect for fans of supernatural thrillers, haunting mysteries, and atmospheric horror with an emotional edge. Each chapter will pull you deeper into a tale you won’t forget - and might not escape.

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2024

Reviews

[Ashley Bounds · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book felt very rushed. Poorly edited. Was not a typical advent calendar with 24/25 chapters. The story talks about 12 doors on the advent calendar the character finds which is fine if you think of the 12 days of Christmas however three days are combined into one session and are told
In a matter of a page and the “11th” day of advent is completely skipped. Going from a combined “8, 9, and 10” doors to the final door “12”.

[Megan Longwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the overall concept of this book but the story felt very rushed.

[Courtney Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but rushed.