All sagas begin in fire. All hope begins in shadow.
What if the origins of Santa Claus were born not from festive magic, but from persecution, grief and the extraordinary power of kindness?
Love Books Tours is delighted to celebrate The Blood of Winter by S. C. Kincaid, published by Amberroot Press, with a five-day Bookstagram tour running from 11th–17th November 2026, excluding weekends.
The first installment in Aelf-King: The Twelve-Tide Sagas, this 292-page dark fantasy novel reimagines the origins of Santa Claus through the witch trials of the 1600s.
Combining historical fantasy, folklore, persecution and an unusual exploration of compassion, the novel introduces readers to Cristóph, a young man whose mysterious connection to the earth may change the world around him.
Throughout our tour, seven wonderful Bookstagrammers will be sharing their thoughts and helping introduce this intriguing new fantasy trilogy to readers.
About The Blood of Winter
A dark fantasy trilogy that tells the origin of Santa Claus through the witch trials of the 1600s.
All sagas begin in fire. All hope begins in shadow.
They burned his mother for singing to the earth.
Cristóph was raised beneath a hill, taught to hear the Song of the Earth.
When the hunters come, they take the one person who understood him and leave him a locket and a country full of smoke.
He walks east into a kingdom busy burning people like her.
He leaks frost when he is frightened, and he cannot stop mending things: a gap in a hedge, a child nobody will claim.
On the road, he falls in with Elizabeth, a condemned healer who has learned that the only rational answer to a burning world is to owe nobody anything.
She keeps waiting for him to turn dangerous.
He keeps being kind instead.
Which is worse, because kindness cannot be planned for.
Behind them, a churchman reads the frost the boy left in the cobbles the way another man reads a footprint.
Patient. Unhurried. Certain he is doing God’s work.
Love Books Tours | Full Bookstagram Tour Schedule
11th–17th November 2026 | Five Tour Days | Seven Hosts
We’re delighted to welcome seven wonderful Bookstagrammers to celebrate The Blood of Winter.
Please visit their Instagram pages throughout the tour, discover their reviews and help introduce this dark fantasy to more readers.
Wednesday, 11th November 2026
@thebookhide
Thursday, 12th November 2026
@bluefairybugsbooks
@romareadsbooks
Friday, 13th November 2026
@sg2_reads
Monday, 16th November 2026
@readingwithbeagles
@pages_of_adventure_
Tuesday, 17th November 2026
@litriezewander
A huge thank you to all seven of our wonderful Crewbies for supporting this tour!
Your thoughtful reviews and creative posts help authors connect with readers and bring new stories into the spotlight.
Meet the Author | S. C. Kincaid
S. C. Kincaid is the author of Aelf-King: The Twelve-Tide Sagas, a dark fantasy trilogy that explores the origins of Santa Claus against the backdrop of the witch trials of the 1600s.
The trilogy begins with The Blood of Winter, introducing readers to Cristóph and a world shaped by persecution, ancient magic and unexpected kindness.
Published by Amberroot Press, the trilogy consists of three novels:
Book One: The Blood of Winter
Publication Date: 10th November 2026
Book Two: The Crown of Summer
Publication Date: 20th November 2026
Book Three: The Song of Midnight
Publication Date: 1st December 2026
Together, the books form a dark fantasy saga that offers an unusual interpretation of one of the world’s most familiar legendary figures.
A Dark Reimagining of Santa Claus
For many readers, Santa Claus is associated with warmth, generosity, childhood wonder and the festive season.
The Blood of Winter approaches the origins of this familiar figure from a dramatically different direction.
Rather than beginning with a cheerful winter setting, S. C. Kincaid introduces a world marked by fear, religious persecution and the witch trials of the seventeenth century.
At the centre of the story is Cristóph, a young man whose life has been shaped by an extraordinary connection to the natural world.
His journey begins with devastating loss.
Yet the story’s central tension is not simply whether he can survive.
It is whether he can continue choosing compassion in a world that seems determined to punish it.
Cristóph and the Song of the Earth
Cristóph was raised beneath a hill, where he learned to hear the Song of the Earth.
This unusual upbringing connects him to forces that others may not understand.
When hunters take his mother, his world is shattered.
Left with a locket and the memory of everything he has lost, Cristóph begins travelling east.
His journey takes him through a kingdom where people associated with practices like his mother’s face persecution.
But Cristóph is not an ordinary young man.
When he is frightened, frost escapes from him.
He also possesses an instinctive desire to mend what is broken, whether that means repairing a hedge or helping an abandoned child.
These qualities create an intriguing contrast between the violence of the world around him and his determination to offer kindness.
Elizabeth: A Healer Who Has Learned Not to Trust
During his journey, Cristóph meets Elizabeth, a condemned healer.
Elizabeth has survived by learning to expect very little from other people.
In a world where kindness can be exploited and trust can become dangerous, she believes the safest approach is to owe nobody anything.
Cristóph challenges that understanding.
She expects him to become dangerous, particularly given the strange abilities he possesses.
Instead, he continues to help others.
His behaviour is difficult for Elizabeth to understand because it does not fit the rules she has developed for survival.
Their relationship introduces a compelling contrast between caution and compassion.
A Churchman Following the Frost
As Cristóph and Elizabeth travel, danger follows.
A churchman is tracking the frost Cristóph leaves behind.
He studies these traces as carefully as another person might examine footprints.
Patient and determined, he believes his pursuit is justified by his faith.
This creates an atmosphere of growing tension as Cristóph’s mysterious abilities become both a defining part of his identity and a potential threat to his safety.
The pursuit also reflects the wider atmosphere of persecution that shapes the novel’s historical fantasy setting.
Witch Trials and Historical Fantasy
The witch trials of the 1600s provide a dark backdrop for The Blood of Winter.
The novel uses this period of persecution as the setting for a fantasy story about fear, difference and the consequences of suspicion.
Cristóph’s mother is condemned for her connection to the earth, while Elizabeth’s identity as a healer places her in danger.
Their experiences highlight the vulnerability of people who are perceived as different or threatening.
By combining historical themes with magical elements, S. C. Kincaid creates a world where supernatural abilities can be both extraordinary and dangerous.
The setting also provides a dramatic contrast to the kindness that Cristóph continues to show.
The Power of Kindness in a Cruel World
One of the most striking elements of the novel’s premise is Cristóph’s determination to help others.
Despite losing his mother and travelling through a dangerous kingdom, he continues to repair what is broken.
His actions may seem small compared with the violence surrounding him.
Yet these moments of compassion form an important part of the story’s central conflict.
Elizabeth has learned to survive through emotional distance.
The churchman pursues Cristóph with absolute certainty in his beliefs.
Cristóph, meanwhile, continues to choose kindness.
The novel explores how compassion can become a powerful and unpredictable force in a world shaped by fear.
Aelf-King: The Twelve-Tide Sagas
The Blood of Winter launches a three-book dark fantasy saga published by Amberroot Press.
The series offers a distinctive origin story for Santa Claus, combining folklore, historical fantasy and a central character whose connection to winter is both mysterious and deeply personal.
Readers who enjoy connected fantasy trilogies can look forward to the continuation of the saga in The Crown of Summer and The Song of Midnight.
With all three books scheduled for publication between November and December 2026, the series offers an opportunity to follow Cristóph’s story across a complete trilogy.
Themes Explored in The Blood of Winter
Persecution and fear
The witch trials provide a setting in which suspicion and prejudice create danger for those perceived as different.
Grief and loss
Cristóph’s journey begins with the devastating loss of his mother.
Kindness and compassion
Despite his experiences, Cristóph continues to help others.
Trust and survival
Elizabeth’s guarded approach to life contrasts with Cristóph’s willingness to care.
Magic and nature
The Song of the Earth and Cristóph’s mysterious connection to frost introduce the novel’s supernatural elements.
Faith and certainty
The churchman’s pursuit raises questions about conviction and the consequences of unquestioned beliefs.
The origins of a legend
The trilogy offers a dark fantasy interpretation of the beginnings of Santa Claus.
Who Might Enjoy The Blood of Winter?
This novel may appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Dark fantasy.
- Historical fantasy.
- Fantasy inspired by folklore.
- Unusual origin stories.
- Witch trial settings.
- Atmospheric journeys.
- Stories about persecution and survival.
- Morally complex characters.
- Fantasy exploring compassion and humanity.
- Connected fantasy trilogies.
Readers should be aware that the story includes themes of persecution, witch trials, violence and the loss of a parent.
Book Details
Title: The Blood of Winter
Author: S. C. Kincaid
Series: Aelf-King: The Twelve-Tide Sagas, Book 1
Publisher: Amberroot Press
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Fantasy
Pages: 292
Publication Date: 10th November 2026
Bookstagram Tour: 11th–17th November 2026
Tour Duration: Five weekdays
Tour Hosts: Seven
Where to Buy The Blood of Winter
Would you like to discover the beginning of Cristóph’s extraordinary journey?
The Blood of Winter is available to explore through the following link:
Buy The Blood of Winter:
This is the first book in Aelf-King: The Twelve-Tide Sagas, with two further instalments scheduled for publication in November and December 2026.
Follow the Bookstagram Tour
We’re delighted to support S. C. Kincaid and Amberroot Press as we celebrate The Blood of Winter.
Throughout our five-day Bookstagram tour, seven wonderful hosts will be sharing their thoughts and helping introduce this atmospheric dark fantasy to readers.
Please visit their Instagram pages, discover their reviews and support the author throughout the campaign.
Follow the author: @StephenCKincaid
Follow Love Books Tours: @LoveBooksTours and @LBT.Crew
At Love Books Tours, we’re passionate about helping authors connect with readers and celebrating imaginative storytelling across every genre.
A huge thank you to S. C. Kincaid, Amberroot Press and our wonderful Crewbies for making this tour possible.
Would you read a dark fantasy trilogy exploring the origins of Santa Claus?
Authors / Publishers
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