The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan
Timeless Tale Warms the Heart With its Holiday Spirit
Dec 1, 2008
In Forever, the Land of the Immortals, Santa Claus rules over a wondrous kingdom of centaurs, fairies, and immortals – human beings whose good deeds and love for humanity have granted them an eternal life in paradise. It is from this land that Santa Claus flies from every Christmas Eve to deliver Christmas gifts and grant the wishes of children everywhere.
When one boy sends Santa Claus a Christmas letter offering to grant Santa his wish, however, the child’s holiday spirit and generosity results in a miracle for Santa Claus and his wife – the birth of their daughter, Princess Holly Claus, the first child born in Forever.
A Terrible Curse
Unfortunately, Holly’s birth also attracts the attention of Herrikhan, an evil warlock who freezes Holly’s heart, leaving her unable to survive in warm temperatures. Herrikhan’s curse also seals the gates of Forever, preventing immortals from aiding the mortal world and keeping new souls from entering paradise.
Brought up in an eternal winter wonderland to keep her heart from melting, Holly grows into a beautiful and compassionate young woman sustained by the love of her family and animal friends. Yet life is also difficult for Holly – many immortals see her as the cause of the curse and she herself feels responsible for her people’s plight. Moreover, as a child born into an immortal life, Holly feels she has not truly earned her place in Forever.
Love Conquers Time
Determined to prove her worth and break the curse, Holly discovers a hidden path to the mortal world and travels with her animal friends to Victorian New York. There, her kindness moves her to aid the city’s homeless children while her magical skills at doll making help her spread holiday spirit at a troubled toy store.
But Herrikhan has followed Holly to New York, with a plot to gain Holly’s heart and conquer Forever. Soon, Holly must draw upon all her courage to stop the warlock and save both her family and her new mortal friends before time runs out.
A New Christmas Classic
Published by the Julie Andrews Collection, Brittney Ryan’s The Legend of Holly Claus offers a modern Christmas classic that can enchant audiences with good old fashioned storytelling. Holly’s compassion and decency are matched only by the loneliness she feels at being the only child in Forever and the challenges created by her frozen heart, making her a sympathetic and admirable character. The book also draws from many real-life stories and legends – indeed, the immortals in Forever include Bach and Robin Hood.
Although published in 2004, the book’s beautiful design and writing style evokes the feel of Christmas classics such as Miracle on 34th Street. Much of this is due to Laurel Long’s illustrations, which would not look out of place in the late nineteenth century children’s periodical The St. Nicholas Magazine.
Holly Claus: The Christmas Princess
Storytellers will be happy to know that The Legend of Holly Claus has been adapted into a picture book, Holly Claus: The Christmas Princess which retells the story with full-color illustrations by Laurel Long and Jeffrey K. Bedrick. Ryan also plans to write all-new Holly Claus books in the future.
Readers can also visit Holly Claus on a special website and even write letters to Holly via an address provided by Ryan in the back of the book. Letter writers will receive responses from Holly Claus.
Ryan, Brittney. The Legend of Holly Claus. NY: Julie Andrews Collection/HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN 0-06-058511-0
Ryan, Brittney. Holly Claus: The Christmas Princess. NY: Julie Andrews Collection/HarperCollins, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-06-144022-9
Do you like fairy tales with strong heroines and a humorous twist? Then check out reviews of Rapunzel's Revenge, Once Upon a Curse, and Ozma of Oz.
