Fright Before Christmas (hc) by Jeff Belanger

Fright Before Christmas is folklorist Jeff Belanger's tour of the darker side of the winter holidays. This hardcover gathers the monsters, spirits, and cautionary figures that haunt the season across cultures, from the horned Krampus to the Scandinavian Tomten, the Anatolian Karakoncolas, Belsnickel, the Icelandic ogress Gryla, and the Yule Cat.

Across roughly 200 pages, Belanger traces the history and lore behind each figure and explores why these unsettling characters have long accompanied the year's coldest, darkest nights. It is a lively read for anyone drawn to the shadow side of Yuletide tradition.