Ronin - (Claus Universe) by Tony Bertauski (Paperback)

About the Book

Not Rudolph. Not Blitzen. Something far bigger.

Book Synopsis

WELCOME TO KRINGLETOWN. PLEASE KEEP YOUR HANDS INSIDE THE REALITY SHOW AT ALL TIMES.

Ryder Mack is fifteen. No family. No phone. No clue why a reality-TV millionaire named Billy "Big Game" Sinterklaas has dragged him to a sprawling winter compound: Kringletown. Sounds normal, right? Marketed as a sanctuary for troubled teens, it's actually a live broadcast, complete with drones, directors, and chipper "nicies" who never, ever break character. Nothing creepy about it.

But while Ryder's being staged as wholesome holiday content, something else is watching. Not a camera. Not a drone. Something follows him through dreams and drifts of snow. It moves like a shadow. And it's not alone.

The deeper Ryder gets, the more the glitter peels away. Kringletown isn't charity. It's a plan. A brand. A centuries-old scheme rooted in forgotten legends and bloodlines older than Christmas itself. Turns out Ryder isn't just a misfit dumped on a billionaire's doorstep. He's connected to something ancient. Something primal.

With millions watching and secrets closing in, Ryder has to choose who he can trust before Billy Sinterklaas turns him into the centerpiece of his grand design. Because this "Big Game" doesn't stop at ratings. It wants Christmas itself.

Ronin: The Last Reindeer is The Truman Show meets The Hunger Games with a mythic holiday twist. A dark, thrilling tale of found family, conspiracy, and survival. Not everyone gets a second chance at home. Ryder just might have to fight for his.

Review Quotes

"This is a great imagining of how Santa Claus came to be."

"It was the perfect holiday book!"

"Forget everything you know about Santa Claus!"

"I have always liked alternate Santa stories and this one is extremely good."

"Fantasy at its best. Just a good book to smile about."

"This is a WINNER."