One Christmas Eve in a small hollow in Boone County, West Virginia, a magical sack falls from a flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer . . . plunging struggling songwriter Jesse Walker into a terrifying and mysterious battle involving Santa Claus and the terrifying Yule Lord, Krampus. The lines between good and evil become blurred as Jesse discovers many dark secrets about the cherry-cheeked Santa, including how half a millennium ago the jolly old saint imprisoned Krampus and usurped his magic. But Santa’s time is running short, for the Yule Lord is determined to have his retribution and reclaim Yuletide. If Jesse can survive this ancient feud, he might have the chance to redeem himself in his family’s eyes, save his own broken dreams . . . and help bring the magic of Yule to the impoverished folk of Boone County.