I was provided with a gratis copy by the editor.

I'm in a holiday kind of mood and this fun anthology made me even more so. Mrs. Claus gives old Saint Nick's wife (or future wife) a long-deserved chance to stand in the spotlight. The stories are incredibly diverse, with Mrs. Claus everything from a valkyrie to a witch to a space colonist. As with any anthology, I related to some stories more than others--but this time around, there were a few stories I absolutely loved:

"Wight Christmas" by Laura VanArendonk Baugh - various calendar holidays plays cameos in this creative twist on a Christmas story.

"Unexpected Guests" by Andrew Wilson - Mrs. Claus defends the castle while her husband is away

"Shouldering the Burden" by M.L.D. Curelas - a special holiday delivery to right some old wrongs

"Red to Hide the Blood" - Hayley Stone - LOVED this take with the missus as a white-haired Alaskan huntress; it has a distinct urban fantasy vibe, in a rural setting ( )

This is a fun collection of stories centered around Mrs. Claus, who is often neglected in Christmas tales. The stories range from the humorous, to the dark and tragic. Some are more successful than others but on the whole it is a great collection. "Wight Christmas" was one of my favorites. I was less impressed with "Moves Like Jagger" but on the whole the stories were a lot of fun. This is the second book I've read from World Weaver Press and so far I'm impressed with their offerings. ( )

NOTE: I was provided with an e-ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Short review: Three and a half stars for the collection overall. A few good stories, with several that might have benefited from one more revision to tighten-up, clarify, and sand off the rough edges.

This is a collection of short stories all focused on the character of Mrs. Claus, and specifically interested in subverting the “traditional” ideas of her as helpmeet, cookie baker, hot chocolate providing, second fiddle to the Great Man Santa.

First off, this is a very eclectic collection of stories. Each one takes a different angle and there are several different genres or sub-genres represented (thriller, scifi, etc.) and many different tones from comedic to grimdark. But readers should be aware that this volume is missing one of the major genres often associated with Christmas, which is the historical romance. The cover art may make it look like a romance collection, and there are stories with a romantic undertone, but that’s really not th focus.

Standouts were:

Wight Christmas by Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Mrs. Claus, a valkyrie, tracks down a toy shipment saboteur with another member of the Council of Holidays. Some lovely humor in this one, and a strong and vital Mrs. Claus. I’d definitely read more in this vein from the author.

The Asylum Musicale by C.B. Calsing
Well crafted dark fae horror story. Not really my cup of tea, but definitely one of the best stories in the collection.

Christmas Magic by Jennifer Lee Rossman and Agatha Sings to the Scorpions by Jeff Keykendall
Two very different science fiction stories that really get at the heart of Christmas. Keykendall's story is more polished and serious, while Rossman's is charming and fun.
( )

Review copy received via Library Thing early reviews.A mixed bag of short stories focusing upon Mrs Claus, demonstrating her independence within the folklore of Santa Claus. From a board meeting with representatives of holidays old and new in attendance, to two humans trapped in a nether world only awakening to be Santa and Mrs Claus for one long night, the tales certainly cover many possibilities. ( )

Some of these stories were great; others not so much. Overall I enjoyed the book; always fun to see another side of Santa! ( )