【 THE RED WINTER 】

Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Author: Cameron Sullivan
Published: February 2026
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 544 (paperback)

This was a very interesting book to read and I’ve had to have a long think after finishing it to work out how to sum up my thoughts. The short of it, is that this is extremely talented writing and very captivating tale, but one that has quite a soft ending.

I absolutely adored the reading experience and the way that Sullivan wove history into this book. The historical event of the beast of Gévaudan is a really fascinating one (look it up). And there’s nothing I love more than an author that takes something very real from history, and then decks it out in all the fun trimmings of fantasy. It is historical reimagining at its best.

One of my absolute favourite things about this is the way that Sullivan has create a god system. All the god we know of are present in various parts – but it’s the way that they can be consumed (quite literally) when they fall out of popularity or when a stronger (more popular) deity comes into being and quashes them. This was a very, very fun concept to play with, and a great example of the clever creativeness that is so enjoyable in this book.

There are about three timelines in this book – the ‘present’ day (1785), the past (when Sebastian first encounters the Beast of Gévaudan), and several centuries ago (where Livia takes over the storytelling). These all forge a story together as we cycle through the events in each one, painting an ever-more complete picture of what the heck is going on.

Livia’s perspectives were less frequent, but crucial to filling in the backstory as to why Sebastian feels the need to return to Gévaudan and see things through. It also gives us a chance to revel in the fun that is Livia’s character – I expect we will see more of her in books to come. But otherwise, it’s a fairly even split between the past and the present – swapping between Sebastian’s adventures with Antoine (in the past) or Antoine’s son, Jacques (in the now).

One of the other really great things about this is the world building. The way that the past is recreated and the way a sense of place is established is really fantastic. You feel like you are there and see and touch everything that Sebastian is experiencing. Which makes it so much worse when horrors start to occur.

And that brings me to the mystery of the book. The mystery, and the crux of the story, is trying to work out what is the Beast of Gévaudan and why (and how?!) has it reappeared? The encounters you will have along the way are awe-inspiring, horrifying and gory to say the least. There is also a surprising amount of confrontingly erect penises – reader beware.

There is much enjoyment to be had, as well, in the snarky, loving, twisted relationship between Sebastian and his demon, Sarmodel. They have a very peculiar relationship that you feel almost privy to, but not quite. They certainly make an unusual pairing and I’m so hoping we get to learn more about them (and how Sarmodel came to be! Also who he actually is!!) in future instalments.

I think I realised in the final few chapters of the book that this wasn’t destined to how the KA-POW finish I had anticipated. I know that Sullivan is planning to write more adventures with Sebastian and Sarmodel, so I was able to adjust my expectations to this being more of a chronicle rather than a climactic story. But even so, it did knock a star for me because I felt like things ended before I felt satisfied that they had ended (if that makes sense). So in that way, it wasn’t a disappointing ending but I suspect I won’t be alone in feeling a little empty after 500 pages of epic storytelling wraps up in a gentle goodbye.

The way that future books are handled, and the way that this will eventually read as a series, will greatly influence how ‘good’ of an ending this book is determined to have. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a historical retelling, great characters, gods at war – and who doesn’t mind settling in for the long game.

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Title: The Red Winter
Author: Cameron Sullivan
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A devastating love story.
A bewitching twist on history.
A blood-drenched hunt for purpose, power, and redemption.

In 1785, Professor Sebastian Grave receives the news he fears most: the Beast of Gévaudan has returned, and the French countryside runs red in its wake.

Sebastian knows the Beast. Twenty years ago, it nearly cost him his life to bring the monster down. Now, he 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. With the help of his indwelling demon, Sarmodel – who takes payment in living hearts – Sebastian must return to Gévaudan for a final reckoning, while the Beast is poised to plunge the continent into war.

In this dark retelling of the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan, Cameron Sullivan tears the heart out of history. He lifts the veil on the hidden world behind our own and reimagines the story of Europe, from Imperial Rome to Saint Jehanne d’Arc and the first flickers of the French Revolution.