The Blade of Kringle

by Nathaniel Marunas

A disgruntled employee, dark elven magic, and a horde of cursed toys threaten to put an end to Christmas just as the North Pole is getting ready for the hap-hap-happiest time of year. The only things... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595141340
• ISBN13: 9781595141347
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Razorbill
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

The best 15 minutes you will spend reading this book

The best fifteen minutes I have ever spent reading a book centers around mutant ninja teddy bears conjured by an elf who just wanted to be noticed, and oh how was he noticed. Warning: Spoilers most likely. Go by the book, it's cheap, there are a ton of copies available and it is funny as all get out. The premise goes like this, elf wants to move up in the world, move away from laundry room, but just isn't ready to be promoted yet. Conjuring some magical mayhem, our down and out angry elf decided to bring to life a nut cracker to destroy something that only our angry disgruntled non-promotable elf could fix. Bring on the tragic yet comical series of events that makes Manga Claus one of the funniest things you will read this week. The nut cracker gets kicked into a fire, and from there the evil ninja soul proceeds to inhabit many of the fine teddy bears that Santa Makes. Ninja Teddy Bears, very good ninja teddy bears, who then proceed to wreak havoc across Santa's work shop. That is until Santa decides (and deadlines demand) an end to the mayhem, and proceeds to go totally ninja on a horde of teddy bears. In all good clean fun for everyone, kids will laugh, parents will laugh, and even casual passersby will laugh. This is one book that is completely worth picking up and enjoying, regardless of your age.

It starts with a disgruntle elf...

...but then most problems do. Dark magic, a horde of possessed ninja toys, blood, horror, screaming, explosions, well, you get the picture. Santa's workshop needs more security. Or at least they need more heavy machine guns. I'm not sure if this is for kids, but I sure enjoyed it!

Samurai Santa

Overall it is exactly what you would expect. If you think you would like it, you will - if you feel its not your thing, it certainly is not. Looking forward to similar titles from these guys.

A perfect gift for kids 8-14.

Santa Claus becomes an action hero in this clever tale that blends the traditional Santa legend with the fast-paced story structure of an action movie, and then delivers it all in a comic book layout. Although Santa holds two swords on the cover, most of the novel is edge-of-the-seat suspense rather than violence. Manga Claus is about a horde of marauding ninja teddy bears who take over Santa's factory at the North Pole. Their nefarious plot is inadvertently set in motion by a jealous elf with a grudge. The resulting struggle for control of the factory features multiple action scenes occurring simultaneously, and is reminiscent of the first Die Hard movie (a mega-hit in 1988 largely due to its story structure). Author Nathaniel Marunas has adapted this classic formula and given it an even better protagonist, Santa Claus! Most youngsters these days play ultra-sophisticated video games and read "manga-style" graphic novels. So it's fun to see Santa Claus make the jump into a contemporary role for kids. In addition to action, Manga Claus is a story with a moral. It includes poignant examples of redemption and forgiveness. Manga Claus is a perfect gift for boys 8-14 (and some girls may like it, too).