Bernie Mojzes

N.B. I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

A short exploration of the Krampusnacht tradition from the perspective of a bumbling everyman. Maybe it's because I don't have kids, but this felt more like a comedy-horror to me than a horror-comedy. Yes, there is horror: the cosmic horror of just "WTF is Krampus" in this story, pure dread during the abduction and the ensuing chase sequence, bleakness in the face of a hopeless situation... But, and this is show more probably a conscious choice by Mojzes, the narrative voice presents the story through the veneer of comedy. No doubt the narrator's coping with his traumatic experience, but the jokes (mostly dry humor instead of rollicking, laugh out loud comedy) tend to undermine much of the tension. If you want serious horror for serious people, this book isn't for you.

Likewise, if you need likeable characters to get into a story, you won't find them here. Sam (the narrator) is a bit useless, his wife Laura is outwardly resentful, and his daughter Mia's a brat. Krampus himself is a bit of nonentity; I won't spoil the real villain because the story's short enough for you to read it yourself if you care, but he's a real bastard. All that said, the characters served the story being told—in fact, the twist at the end wouldn't have worked had the protagonists been good people. On a personal note, I do think Laura's self-sacrifice would have been more impactful had she been given some redeeming qualities. In the text as-is, she's just as much of an aloof asshole as her husband and seems to view sex as a form of apology. This is less of a Krampusnacht tale and more of a story about the trauma caused by broken families. show less

Once Upon a Wintry Krampusnacht is an atmospheric and unsettling story that uses the Austrian tradition of Krampusnacht to explore childhood fear, memory, and ambiguity. One of the strengths of this very short novella is the sense of place, which is vivid and convincing. The key action at the Krampusnacht festival is handled with restraint, allowing unease to build naturally. Mia’s perspective feels authentic, and the decision to keep the supernatural elements ambiguous works well.

Where show more the piece could grow is in sharpening its emotional and narrative impact. At times the pacing lingers on description without advancing stakes. A shorter, tighter version without extraneous detail would be a stronger story. Mia’s internal arc remains somewhat understated, which softens the ending’s impact. The narrative voice needs to be stronger given that the story treads a fine line between the horrific and the absurd.

I enjoyed reading this short piece. It was a good concept, but not quite there on execution.
Thank you for the Library Thing Early Reviewers copy of this book. show less

Once Upon a Winter's Krampus Night" is an absolute gem of a book. Bernie Mojzes weaves a captivating, atmospheric story that perfectly balances the eerie chill of winter folklore with the cozy magic of a fairy tale. What truly elevates this book, however, is the stunning artwork by Linda Saboe. The illustrations are breathtaking and bring the dark, whimsical world of Krampus to life in the most beautiful way. It’s the perfect read for a cozy winter night by the fire. Highly recommended for show more anyone who loves folklore with a bit of an edge! show less

On a particularly dismal Thursday, two evil girls in an evil house by an evil lake are waiting for something--anything--to happen. Since nothing ever does happen in this evil environment, they are quite surprised when something does: a new thing arrives. It claims to be a boy, and it claims to be lost, but are they just to take it's word for it?

Bernie Mojzes's story could be called short--it's less than 50 pages, including the illustrations--but I would call it exactly as long as it needs to show more be. There is a delicate balancing act going on, writing a fairy tale-type story dark enough to appeal to older fans of the macabre without being so dark as to lose the younger ones. The sly humor that leavens the story helps in this, without detracting from the subtly menacing atmosphere. Linda Saboe's illustrations throughout the book add to this mix, blending strangeness and a touch of dark humor. I enjoyed my visit to this strange, dismal, evil land very much. show less