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Nicholas: The Chrysalis of Winter Solstice

by Christopher J. Wyatt

A fantastical reimagining of Nicholas

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A fantastical reimagining of Nicholas

Nicholas receives the Chrysalis of Winter Solstice, a gift that assigns him a divine role and sets him on a path toward becoming the figure known by names such as Father Christmas, Sinterklaas, and Santa. The journey links his parents’ example of generosity with a larger, demanding purpose, while placing him amid plague, conflict, and questions about the nature of the world around him. Primordial magic, unusual creatures—including the cardinal Gandomine—and the possibility of time manipulation give this alternative-history story a mythic framework for exploring how a familiar legend might have begun.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teens and young adults interested in alternative-history fiction
  • Readers curious about imaginative retellings of the origins of Santa Claus
  • Those who enjoy stories combining folklore, magic, and a journey of purpose

Themes

Generosity and kindnessGrief and lonelinessPurpose and responsibilityLegend, history, and imaginationMagic and transformation

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Discover how a gift sparks a life-changing journey of goodness, kindness, loveliness, and joy.

 

TheNonesuch have given Nicholas a primordial gift- The Chrysalis of Winter Solstice. Such a present bestows a divine role and heavy burden that guides him to the creation of a magnanimous legend. We all know him well by many names- Father Christmas, Sinterklaas, Santa- to name a few.

 

But to get from point A to point B, there is no straight line that provides the shortest distance. Breathing new life into such a phenomenon involves controversy, warfare, disease, death, and even the manipulation of time.

 

Nicholas was taught the ways of goodness by loving parents who performed acts of generosity. Those reading will feel the dire grief that Nicholas faces after losing his folks to a dreadful plague. They will understand the loneliness that sparks his determination to seek his role and true purpose. Continuing the acts of kindness that his parents started, he will face a life-long task that goes way beyond his good intentions. Readers will live inside of his personal struggles, his sadness, his happiness, his accomplishments, and his failures. The mind of Nicholas will bend and twist, as will the mind of the reader. Both will question: are these realistic or imaginary places, buildings, fellow antagonists and protagonists, including the evil embedded creatures? Further questions might arise: are there such things as frigorific wafers? Could be... they do prevent 'frigorificitus', according to Bitty Bitey, who owns Bitty Bitey Baker's Bake. This primordial magic and those who wield it- real? These animals and these special talents they possess- are they real too? Especially Gandomine, a rare cardinal with rather unique characteristics and abilities that Nicholas must depend on to succeed. These events never took place, another might claim... or did they? Perhaps the making of such a magnanimous legend is not what was initially written, what we thought, or were told. This story may just convince you otherwise.

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