Some debts can only be paid in darkness. A rising star in the field of folklore studies, Dr. Thea Bergmann is intelligent, driven, and prepared to go to any lengths to achieve her goals. When she discovers ancient texts in a Bavarian monastery, she believes she's found the key to academic immortality. But the words she speaks aloud are more than scholarly curiosity. They are a summoning. The Krampus is real. Not the sanitized Christmas demon of modern tradition, but an ancient force of karmic judgment, horned, chained, and utterly merciless. He comes for those who escape earthly justice, who build success on others' suffering, and who believe themselves above moral law. And Thea has called him directly. Now she has seven days. Seven confrontations with the colleagues she's destroyed, the careers she's stolen, and the lives she's ruined. Seven chances to earn forgiveness from people who have every reason to refuse it. Seven opportunities to prove her transformation is genuine or face eternal torment in the Shadow World. But as Thea discovers the full scope of her crimes, she realizes that seeking forgiveness may not be enough. Some sins require total destruction. Some transformations demand you die completely before you can be reborn. The Krampus is watching. The compact is clear. And Christmas Eve is coming. In this chilling psychological horror rooted in authentic Alpine folklore, one woman must choose between impossible redemption and necessary annihilation while an ancient demon judges whether humans are truly capable of change. For readers who loved The Historian, Mexican Gothic, and dark academic fiction that explores the price of ambition and the possibility of genuine transformation. "A masterful blend of folklore, horror, and moral reckoning. Mukhiya doesn't flinch from depicting both the protagonist's crimes and her genuine struggle toward transformation. The Krampus has never been more terrifying or more necessary." "This isn't just horror; it's a mirror. Uncomfortable, necessary, and ultimately hopeful in the darkest way possible." "Mukhiya transforms the Alpine Christmas tradition into a meditation on accountability, consequence, and whether we can ever truly escape what we've done. Haunting and unforgettable." Trigger Warnings: Academic misconduct, suicide (discussed), psychological horror, supernatural terror, intense moral reckoning Perfect for: Fans of folklore horror, dark academia, psychological thrillers, and stories about genuine transformation through accountability Angel Mukhiya crafts horror that forces introspection, folklore that respects tradition, and characters who face consequences honestly. The Krampus Diaries is a testament to the power of stories to prevent real harm by showing us what happens when we ignore ethical boundaries. Some monsters judge. Some demons punish. And some folklore is more real than we dare believe.