The Christmas Trials — William Carroll

When seventeen-year-old Morgan Hartwell receives an unexpected invitation to compete for the role of Santa Claus, she must leave behind everything she's ever known to journey to the North Pole. There, she joins four other candidates-a Swiss clockmaker, a Russian businessman, a Kenyan baker, and a centuries-old elf-in a series of magical trials designed to test not just their skills, but the depth of their compassion and dedication to bringing joy to the world.As Morgan navigates flying reindeer, enchanted workshops, and impossible challenges, she discovers that the trials are testing something deeper than magical ability or leadership potential. Each candidate must grapple with what it truly means to carry the hopes and dreams of children everywhere, while learning that the greatest magic often lies in choosing love over rules, connection over competition, and service over self.Set against the backdrop of a richly imagined North Pole filled with ancient traditions and modern heart, this is a story about growing into your destiny, the courage to choose compassion even when it costs you everything, and the discovery that sometimes the most extraordinary adventures begin when you stop trying to be perfect and start trying to be genuinely yourself.A heartwarming tale that reimagines the Santa Claus mythos for a new generation, exploring themes of belonging, sacrifice, friendship, and the transformative power of believing-both in magic and in yourself.