Overdue Podcast, Ep. 734 – "Kidnapped by the Krampus" by Emily Shore

Release Date: December 22, 2025
Hosts: Craig and Andrew

Episode Overview

In this special "Happy Horny Days" installment of Overdue, Craig and Andrew both read and discuss Kidnapped by the Krampus by Emily Shore, a holiday-centric monster romance that lives up to the "explicit" warning. The episode dives into the book’s unique blend of folklore, body horror, and steamy content, while also unpacking its surprisingly complex lore and the author’s personal ties to the material. With their trademark mix of bemusement, analytic curiosity, and holiday spirit, the hosts deconstruct the book’s strengths, weaknesses, and—of course—the copious amount of Krampus sex.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiday Tradition and Format

• The annual "Happy Horny Days" episode features both hosts reading an adult book, often rich in explicit or outlandish content.
• This episode is not for kids ("Children, go play with your presents. This episode’s not for you." – Craig, 03:57).

2. About the Book and Author (06:52–15:14)

• Kidnapped by the Krampus (2023) by Emily Shore, part of the "Roars and Romances" series.

• Shore previously wrote YA fiction, notably the Uncaged series, and has since transitioned to dark/monster romance, partially as a personal and identity transformation during 2020–2021.

• Shore infuses her books with activist themes (notably anti-trafficking), polyamorous/queer perspectives, and combines Christian and pagan elements.

• The author’s note (16:27) flags triggers: dubious consent, Dom/brat dynamics, references to past trauma, but notes a core theme of "light in the darkness."

  "I'll warn you now. I kinked for Krampus Hard." – Author’s Note, read by Craig, 16:29
  "She mostly wrote YA in the early years and then gets into adult fiction. One of the first things out was Bride of the Corpse King." – Craig, 07:54

3. Folklore Deep Dive – Who is Krampus? (17:26–24:19)

• Krampus: Alpine/Norse "Christmas monster," tied to pre-Christian folklore but best known as St. Nicolas’ monstrous foil.

• Briefed on Krampusnacht (Dec. 5), Krampuslauf parades, and his American "Internet Krampus" resurgence.

• Notable historical detail: Krampus postcards (Krampuskarten) from late 1800s Austria/Germany, sometimes sexy, sometimes grim.

  "Krampus resurfaces in the 2000s ... by 2010s, we have holiday horror movies and Krampus ugly sweaters." – Craig, 21:14
  "It’s hard to disentangle Krampus from internet Krampus. He’s the internet’s Krampus." – Craig, 24:08

4. Book Structure and AI Illustration Debate (06:32–13:31)

• Chapters alternate between Twyla (human heroine) and Krampus (monster POV).

• The book uses AI-generated interior illustrations ("super detailed but the details don’t make any sense" – Andrew, 09:47). The hosts criticize the choice as ethically murky and creatively unsatisfying.

  "If you’re putting it in your published work, I really would like you to think twice about doing that. It just really—it rubs me in all the wrong ways." – Andrew, 13:01

5. Plot Summary and Analysis

Meet Twyla (30:12–33:42)

• Twyla is a snarky, self-deprecating woman with a troubled, cultish Christmas-hating childhood. She’s media staff, single, into cosplay and monster smut.
• She’s sent to cover Krampus World (a horror amusement park run by Krampus) for work and immediately starts horny inner monologuing.

Meet Krampus (34:19–36:02)

• Krampus is a supernatural, tongue-wielding BDSM demigod, cursed and manipulated by the villainous Klaus (Santa).
• He and Twyla are rapidly thrust together by Mephisto (Krampus’ assistant), and by fate/lust.

The Curse & Lore Overload (35:13–37:26)

• Klaus (Santa) stole Krampus’ soul tether in ye olden days, now blackmailing Krampus into terrifying kids.
• Krampus and his demons feed on human emotion from their scare attraction. The curse’s rules are fuzzy—something about true love’s escapist logic and soul-bonding.
• The plot alternates between intense sex scenes and info-dumpy, confusing lore ("Even in the last chapter, we're still finding out new stuff Krampus's body can do." – Andrew, 26:33).

The Sex Sandwich and Body Horror (27:00–29:07; 39:14–42:10; 65:02–69:28)

• The book opens and closes with marathon sex while the middle is Krampus/Klaus lore and world-building. Massive focus on Krampus’s supernatural, extendable tongue and genitals ("Her pleasure always comes first. Get it? Dom brat dynamics." – Author’s Note, 16:29).

• Explicit, fantastical stuff: tree-trimming with sex toys, food play with cookies and "eggnog" (Krampus semen), holiday-themed profanities, and body horror elements ("His boner so big it breaks the bones in her body" – Craig, 68:52).

  "His tongue is really long and prehensile and can do a lot of stuff." – Andrew, 28:11
  "You wouldn't believe the places this guy's tongue can go." – Craig, 27:13
  "She explores my demon dick with reverence … You taste like eggnog." – Craig reading, 51:16

The Eggnog Revelation (50:17–54:53)

• Twyla discovers Krampus’s cum tastes like eggnog, which becomes a recurring (and giggle-inducing) motif.

• The hosts go on a tangent discussing real-life eggnog and its suitability as a metaphor for Christmas joy, or lack thereof.

  "'It tastes—you taste like eggnog.' Surprise. I bob my brows, amused, pleased..." – Book, read by Andrew, 51:16
  "Do not buy the eggnog at the Krampus World gift shop. Is not pasteurized, is not safe to consume." – Andrew, 52:29

Klaus the Antagonist & Final Showdown (55:04–63:50)

• Klaus launches a zombie elf attack on Krampus Haven, tries to trick Twyla with a memory-erasing snow globe.
• Finale involves Twyla regaining her memories thanks to Krampus’s mom Hell, soul-tether drama, and Krampus eventually killing Klaus.
• Hosts struggle with the book’s action sequencing and timeline ("Book’s action is very hard to read" – Craig, 39:41; "I’m always feeling off center" – Andrew, 74:01).

Immortality, Marriage, and Christian Themes (64:01–73:21)

• In a supernatural afterlife, Twyla is given three choices; she picks immortal soul-binding to Krampus.
• Final act: Twyla and Krampus consummate their eternal marriage ("It's some real body horror stuff" – Andrew, 67:07), then share a tender nativity scene that unexpectedly pulls the birth of Jesus into the monster-smut universe ("Let’s all take a minute, take a breath between ejaculations to remember the reason for the season, truly." – Andrew, 71:49).

Wrap-Up, Reception, and Goodreads Reviews (74:20–80:21)

• Mixed reactions from readers: praise for avoiding a monster-to-prince copout, criticism of the world-building and pacing ("would have benefited from being a lot longer or a lot shorter" – Goodreads user Indy Hannah Jones, 79:03).
• Hosts acknowledge the book is mostly about the wild-goofy sex, but note there's some attempted emotional depth that doesn’t fully land.

Notable Quotes & Moments (Timestamps)

• On setting expectations:

  "Every year to celebrate the holidays … we talk about books where people get ram slammed, jammed, and hammed." – Andrew, 04:52

• On explicit content warning:

  "We'll be talking about a number of things including very adult content. Cussing. Genitalia mentions. Sexual content and behavior. Some very dubious consent." – Craig, 05:00

• On the book's structure:

  "It's like a sex sandwich where it opens with 30% that's constant sex and closes with like 10 or 20% that's constant sex. And does all this weird lore in the middle." – Andrew, 26:33

• On authorial intent and tone:

  "I'll warn you now. I kinked for Krampus Hard." – Author’s Note as read by Craig, 16:52

• On AI illustrations:

  "It immediately brings the entire rest of the work into question and I have to burn precious brain cycles on, is this AI or not?" – Andrew, 12:53

• On holiday innuendo:

  "'Holy holly berries.' … 'Deck my halls.' … 'Fuck my jingly balls.' " – Various, 28:39–28:45

• On the infamous eggnog:

  "Krampus, she exclaims, breathless, and touches the wetness dripping down her breasts. 'It tastes… You taste like eggnog.' … Surprise, I bob my brows, amused…" – Book, read by Andrew, 51:16

• On lore challenges:

  "Not only is it a lot, but it's still introducing new powers and aspects of Krampus in the last chapter … This book never stops challenging you." – Andrew, 26:33

• On body horror finale:

  "With a deep chuckle, I rise … then unleash my fur. Narrow ribbons of fur from my pelvis and legs that latch onto her legs like soft sucking tentacles..." – Book, read by Andrew, 67:07

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• The hosts had fun with the sheer audacity and ridiculousness of the book, acknowledging both its entertainment value and its narrative weaknesses.
• They critique the uneven pacing, lack of world development outside the bedroom, and the sometimes obtuse lore, while frequently circling back on the comedic excesses of the explicit content.
• The episode maintains respect for readers of all stripes, but relishes the chance to revel in Krampus’s over-the-top antics, and the book’s blend of holiday, horror, and horny.

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• [03:57] – Strong warning that this is an NSFW, adults-only holiday episode.
• [06:52]–[15:14] – Detailed discussion of Emily Shore’s career, tone, and authorial background.
• [17:26]–[24:19] – Krampus folklore crash course, including parade, postcard, and internet culture.
• [26:33]–[29:07] – Hosts introduce the “sex sandwich” structure and marvel at Krampus’s powers.
• [39:14]–[42:10] – Analysis of the book’s narrative stumbling blocks and action confusion.
• [50:17]–[54:53] – The “eggnog” revelation: laughter, culinary reflection, and disgust ensue.
• [64:01]–[69:28] – Climax (pun intended): immortal marriage, graphic sex, and the book’s bonkers finale.
• [74:20]–[80:21] – Goodreads reviews, reflection on monster-smut genre, and “meeting the book halfway.”

Tone Check

In classic Overdue style, Craig and Andrew toggle between open-mouthed incredulity, sympathetic parsing of authorial intent, and frank, profane humor. The conversation is loose, irreverent, and laden with holiday puns.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Read the Book

This episode is a wild, NSFW romp through monster romance territory—equal parts literary postmortem and roast, with a surprising amount of folklore and genuine curiosity about what monster-rom readers get out of these feverishly imaginative stories. Even if you’d never pick up Kidnapped by the Krampus, you’ll walk away with a vivid understanding of both its shlocky appeal and the questions it raises.

Memorable Closer

"You can send us your eggnog recipes at overduepod@gmail.com. If you’re Krampus, don’t send it. We know what it is." – Craig, 83:24

Next Week: The hosts lighten things up with American Girl doll books Meet Samantha and Meet Addie. Happy holidays from Overdue!