The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

Author : Cameron Sullivan

Book : The Red Winter

/ Fantasy , Historical Fiction/

Publication date : February 24, 2026

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Blurb:

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.

My thoughts:

I'm an emotional wreck after finishing The Red Winter, and I'm pretty sure my heart was one of the many in that story that was mercilessly devoured. Like the famous meme: 'That book destroyed me !' *throws the book into your hands* Here, you have to read it! The Red Winter is a gripping, dark, and gritty story filled with magic, monsters, and gods, and a wonderful new take on the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan. Sebastian Grave is a warlock with centuries of experience hunting monsters, but joining the hunt for the beast that terrorises Gévaudan is personal. With the help of his guest demon Sarmodel, they plunge into a blood-filled chase to uncover who or what is behind all the slaughter. Absolutely immersive and gripping writing, and I adored the humour that was spot on, with heartwarming relationships and characters. The connection between Sarmodel and Sebastian was like an intimate bond, not like the usual demon possessing a body, which gave it a pretty unique vibe that I fell in love with. The story spans decades, interwoven with historical elements and a snowball effect that links to the present day, and was executed brilliantly. Furthermore, the footnotes made it even more fun and intimate, as if you have a personal storyteller sitting with you, sharing little secrets. The romance thread was imbued with so much passion and love that I felt every heartbreak and flutter of the heart Sebastian experienced. In some cases, so childlike that you wonder how it's possible with all the gore and darkness surrounding them. That ending... it'll take a while for me to recover from that heartbreak, and believe me, the simple phrase "Sim Sala Bim" won't be the same for me ever again😭💔 I can't recommend this book enough.