Terror Under The Tree: The Cursed Nutcracker

Name: Terror Under The Tree: The Cursed Nutcracker
Author: Martha Wickham

An evil curse on a loved holiday cannot go on forever. When the Miller family go to an old cabin for Christmas, the caretaker lets Mark and Jessica know it's not quite perfect, but they are determined to have a nice time. Strange presents appear and Ben sleepwalks to the attic. When the nutcracker seems to have a mind of it's own it's time to leave, but he won't let them leave and the road says no. They are snowed in. Until the roads open it's a battle with a force that turns the fireplace flames green and puts her kids in a trance. They didn't realize an evil curse would make them famous, and how much fame can they handle? Jessica Miller wants to tame the cabin forever, and her family does as well. They have her back as they return, enjoy many more Christmases, and watch the old cabin thrive.

Get Your Copy

Amazon

Reader Reviews

★★★★★

S.V. Claybaugh

The Cursed Nutcracker is No Joke

The cover caught my attention first. Well done to the cover artist, love the holiday spookies. The beginning with the Miller family in the car in the middle of the snow gave the perfect vibe of Christmas vacation about to go wrong. Though the caretaker's introduction felt smooth, his ominous warning felt abrupt as it was still at the beginning. Wish it build up a bit more at the start. This book kept an even pace. Not fast, or slow. Nothing lingered or was drawn out. I felt and heard every creak in the walls, every whisper, and crunch in the snow outside the cabin. I also felt the mother's increasing weariness and the father's fading optimism with every page. (Seriously, the couple could use a bit of honesty if they are dealing with possessed Christmas toys) I tensed up with every black out in the middle of nowhere. I shivered every time inanimate objects move on their own with the intent to screw with people minds and scare the ever-loving soul out of humanity. Every time I reached the end of a chapter, I'm itching for more until the final conclusion. Even after the horror is over, the Miller family never allowed the experience to dampen their lives. In fact, it enriched them and their story left an impact on folklore and the modern world itself. Best part is the lesson it imparts on the readers; changes mean you are living, and even when a beautiful moment no matter how imperfect is gone, you can cherish the memory it leaves behind and look forward to something just as great. This book really checks off the tropes of 'Family in New Location', 'Haunted', 'Houses Are Living Entities' and 'Only One Smart Person in the Group Actually Has a Sense for Danger.' This has the potential of becoming the next Blumhouse film or be directed by Guillermo del Toro for future nightmare holidays. I hope, while I'm still alive, that this makes it onto the big screen as another holiday horror to add to the collection.

★★★★★

Ronnie

Interesting read

I wanted to have more of a Crampus feel. It was still a good read. Always interesting to read horror adaptations of any story.