Year of the Rabbit

From publisher blurb:

Decades ago, a monster named Nian roamed the land. Once a year, the monstrosity would wander down from the mountains, attack villages, and slaughter their inhabitants. One year a man, presumed a celestial, stood up to this beast and drove the part lion, part unicorn, part ox away. He shared his secret with the villagers and for many years they were safe… until now.