Rating: 10 out of 10
Spice Level: 0.5 out of 5
Cover: A+
Audiobook Narration: Outstanding Performances by Imogen Church & Rory Barnett
Synopsis
The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan reimagines the infamous Beast of Gévaudan legend in 1785 France. Sebastian Grave, an immortal monster-slayer sharing his body with a heart-eating demon, is summoned by his estranged lover, Antoine, when the Beast responsible for a massacre returns after twenty years. Their complicated history and Antoine’s cataclysmic secret unfold across three timelines spanning centuries of Sebastian’s existence, building toward a confrontation that could reshape pre-revolutionary France. Sullivan entangles atmospheric horror, dark fantasy, historical fiction, queer romance, and supernatural terror into this rebellious genre debut.
Strengths
This novel delivers masterful storytelling that is captivating from start to finish. Every character’s emotional journey is arduous and believable throughout, supported by thoughtful depth and lyrical writing. Each scene is crafted against a vivid atmospheric backdrop with wit, charm, and dark humor that cuts through the gore, especially in Sebastian’s snarky exchanges with his demon and the footnotes that add sardonic bite. The bittersweet ending leaves you wanting more from this remarkable world and protagonist.
Weakness
Absolutely nothing! Although … I am disappointed in Antoine. All I have to say to Antoine is, “Sir, how dare you.”
Verdict
Amazing! Now my favorite character is Livia the succubus. With lines like “The nun’s habit has been a lightning rod for almost every cock in town. I was as surprised as you are.” How could you not love her? However, I loved them all. I can’t even count how many times I laughed out loud. And I had no idea I needed a pre-French Revolutionary War historical horror fantasy lovers to nemesis queer romance in my life, and now it’s a favorite pick for my 2026 reads already. I’m sure there were things I missed, and I will revisit this repeatedly; the task doesn’t bother me. Three timelines can be hard to follow, but this one was fantastic, and I want more. There must be more! (10/10)
Tropes
Immortal protagonist
Monster hunter
Demonic possession/symbiotic demon entity
Queer romance (MM, forbidden/forbidden past lovers)
Ex-lovers reunion
Messy angst
Werewolf/beast legend reimagining (Beast of Gévaudan twist)
Morally gray/complicated characters
Multiple timelines
Dark humor and witty banter amid horror
Tragic love story
Pre-Revolutionary France
Class tension
Religion vs. science conflict
Redemption arc and internal monster struggle
Trigger Warnings
Graphic violence and gore
Blood and dismemberment
Cannibalism
Sexual content
Sexual violence (including references or depictions)
Gun violence
General brutality and body horror
Themes of possession, demonic elements, and religious persecution
Grief, guilt, and emotional trauma
Thank you to Cameron Sullivan, Tor Books, Macmillan Audio, Edelweiss, and Libro.fm. I received advance review copies for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Order Your Copy
Aber Stoat Books (print)
Bookshop.org (eBook)
Libro.fm (audiobook) 🎧
Similar Titles
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff (print | eBook | audiobook) 🎧
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (print | eBook | audiobook) 🎧
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (print | eBook |audiobook) 🎧
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (print | eBook | audiobook) 🎧
Devolution by Max Brooks (print | eBook | audiobook) 🎧
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid (print | eBook | audiobook) 🎧
More Titles by Cameron Sullivan
The Red Winter is the debut novel by the Australian author.
From the Publisher:
Publisher: Tor Books / Macmillan Audio
ISBN: 9781250362766 (print)/ 9781250402295 (audiobook)
544 pages / 16 hours 46 minutes
Narrator(s): Imogen Church & Rory Barnett
Fiction | Literary
Fiction | Fantasy | Historical
Fiction | Horror | Monsters & Creatures
Description:
In 1785, Professor Sebastian Grave receives the news he fears most: the terrible Beast of Gévaudan has returned, and the French countryside runs red in its wake.
Sebastian knows the Beast. A monster-slayer with centuries of experience, he joined the hunt for the creature twenty years ago and watched it slaughter its way through a long and bloody winter. Even with the help of his indwelling demon, Sarmodel - who takes payment in living hearts - it nearly cost him his life to bring the monster down.
Now, two decades later, Sebastian has been recalled to the hunt by Antoine Avenel d’Ocerne, an estranged lover who shares a dark history with the Beast and a terrible secret with Sebastian. Drawn by both the chance to finish the Beast for good and the promise of a reconciliation with Antoine, Sebastian cannot refuse.
But Gévaudan is not as he remembers it, and Sebastian’s unfinished business is everywhere he looks. Years of misery have driven the people to desperation, and France teeters on the edge of revolution. Sebastian’s arcane activities - not to mention his demonic counterpart - have also attracted the inquisitorial eye of the French clergy. And the Beast is poised to close his jaws around them all and plunge the continent into war.
Debut author Cameron Sullivan tears the heart out of history with this darkly entertaining retelling of the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan. Lifting the veil on the hidden world behind our own, it reimagines the story of Europe, from Imperial Rome to Saint Jehanne d’Arc, the madness of Gilles de Rais and the first flickers of the French Revolution.
Author Bio:
Cameron Sullivan was born in Perth, Western Australia. He grew up with the dark fantasy and horror icons of the '80s and went on to study classics and creative writing at the University of Western Australia. After several years working and studying in Italy and the UK, he returned to Australia and settled in Melbourne, which is the best place for Australians who actually enjoy the winter. He works as a copywriter and will easily lose a weekend to a good book, a new recipe or games of any kind, from tabletop DnD to pub trivia.
Please “heart” this post to help others find us!
Links in the post support our indie bookshop.