"To begin with, Marley was dead. For that, Scrooge himself was responsible, though the miserable old miser would never care to admit it."

And thus begins A Christmas Twist, an adventurous steampunk tale that blends the best of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol from the fantastical mind of Brent Harris. This is the second of Brent's books to feature our hero, Oliver Twist, in an "alternate" history from the one that Mr. Charles Dickens envisioned. Oliver made a name for himself in the first book as a Victorian vigilante fighting to stop greed and corruption with the aid of a magical pocket watch that could send him back in time. This time, watch still in hand, Oliver has created a serious problem and must change the future by trying to redeem the one man in all of London who is probably beyond redemption - Ebenezer Scrooge. With the aid of Nell Trent and three not-so-helpful Christmas spirits, Oliver must figure out whose destiny must really be changed to prevent the city from being destroyed by spirits who have been wronged by the greed of the living.

Wow - I devoured this book in about 4 hours on Christmas Eve. It is a fast-paced read that will keep you turning the pages to see where it will go next. Think you know the story of A Christmas Carol? Think again. Brent has woven together his own special kind of magic to tell a tale that honors Dickens, while at the same time presents a unique and poignant look at a world filled with greed, corruption, and the choices that people must make.

I highly recommend this book for any fan of steampunk, alternate history, and excellent story-telling. ( )