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The Red Winter
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.
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.
544 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2026
788 people are currently reading
54422 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 624 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Certainly one of the most well-crafted werewolf stories I've ever read, to the point where calling it a mere werewolf story feels like a disservice to this book. This worked perfectly as a dark and bloody fantasy novel for me, full of unholy magic and eldritch beings. From the first page I knew that this would be my taste entirely and I wasn't wrong about that. I was immediately intrigued when I got introduced to the main character Sebastian Graves, a man of many talents and professions. He is a professor and a lawyer, a doctor and a graverobber, a ghost whisperer and an alchemist, and probably everything else that one can think of. You see, he has plenty of time for everything, because he is basically immortal through his union with a dark being. He is very willingly possessed by a creature called Sarmodel, so there are basically two main characters for the price of one. As someone who loves characters talking to things inside their heads, this was the first big win for me already. But the plot was promising right from the beginning too. Sebastian is summoned to Gévaudan to kill the violent Beast that he thought he had vanquished some twenty years ago. We learn all about Sebastian's first hunt for the Beast and his relationship with Antoine, the son of a baron who accompanied him back then. The story is also very gay, if I haven't mentioned. We also get a story line about the hunt in present day, and while I first was worried about these two parts of the book being repetitive, I actually found it to be very well structured. The timelines were often mirroring each other and it was important that the events of the past provided information that could be used in the present. There is also a plot beginning centuries before the first hunt and glimpses into the modern-day world, so it was a unique mix of eras that was intriguing all by itself. But the majority of the story takes place in a historical France rich with fantastical elements, ranging from simple hedge witches to ancient beings bound by contracts. There were many religious themes discussed and I found it truly fascinating how the book managed to combine everything from nature spirits to Christianity to various ancient mythologies.
At the core this story develops a fictional origin for the real-life mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan and I was fascinated by the mix of history and fantasy. All my knowledge about the Beast so far came from that one season of Teen Wolf, so I also feel like I learned something here. The book feels smart to me anyway, because Sebastian is a main character with vast knowledge and life experience. But he, too, doesn't have the answer to everything and he also always remains a bit of a mystery. It was impressive how much I rooted for him and his maybe-demonic inner companion, really. The story is mostly dark and violent, but it's also full of tender character moments and, unexpectedly, a lot of humor. People and animals were dying gruesomely left and right, but I couldn't help but laugh at Sarmodel's dry comments or Sebastian being done with everyone around him. I must compliment the author for juggling with my emotions so well. I am most surprised that this is a debut, because the writing and structure were both very strong and felt advanced. I found it to be dragging a tiny little bit during the middle part, but overall there is nothing to complain about here. I can only hope that there will be more and I think the ending definitely made room for a sequel. Sebastian lived through centuries and traveled around the entire world, so there are plenty of stories to tell, surely.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
At the core this story develops a fictional origin for the real-life mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan and I was fascinated by the mix of history and fantasy. All my knowledge about the Beast so far came from that one season of Teen Wolf, so I also feel like I learned something here. The book feels smart to me anyway, because Sebastian is a main character with vast knowledge and life experience. But he, too, doesn't have the answer to everything and he also always remains a bit of a mystery. It was impressive how much I rooted for him and his maybe-demonic inner companion, really. The story is mostly dark and violent, but it's also full of tender character moments and, unexpectedly, a lot of humor. People and animals were dying gruesomely left and right, but I couldn't help but laugh at Sarmodel's dry comments or Sebastian being done with everyone around him. I must compliment the author for juggling with my emotions so well. I am most surprised that this is a debut, because the writing and structure were both very strong and felt advanced. I found it to be dragging a tiny little bit during the middle part, but overall there is nothing to complain about here. I can only hope that there will be more and I think the ending definitely made room for a sequel. Sebastian lived through centuries and traveled around the entire world, so there are plenty of stories to tell, surely.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Éditeur
Absolutely get the audiobook if you can! The narrators have so much range and humour, they completely elevate the story.
I've watched and read a lot of interpretations of the Gévaudan lengend. There are so much books, movies, theories out there that at this point I thought I was not interested in them anymore.
Trust me when I say this one deserves your time. It's different, original, and so well made.
It is both a perfectly constructed and deep fantasy story and one of the funniest one I had the pleasure to discover in a long time.
I loved my time with this book
Thank you Macmillan audio for this ARC.
I've watched and read a lot of interpretations of the Gévaudan lengend. There are so much books, movies, theories out there that at this point I thought I was not interested in them anymore.
Trust me when I say this one deserves your time. It's different, original, and so well made.
It is both a perfectly constructed and deep fantasy story and one of the funniest one I had the pleasure to discover in a long time.
I loved my time with this book
Thank you Macmillan audio for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
if you are interested in this book, i HIGHLY recommend the audiobook! it was an absolutely phenomenal romp, and the narrator was fantastic. the audio was also very helpful regarding the numerous hilarious footnotes.
if i could give this ten stars, i absolutely would. this is, without a doubt, a favorite read of 2026.
i have read many, many beauty and the beast retellings, or stories that have been loosely inspired by the fairy tale, but i do believe this is the first time i’ve read a queer retelling (not to mention that it fits perfectly with the sudden uptick in queer/gay werewolf stories in late 2025/early 2026!).
the red winter contains very smart and witty analyses on religion and society, as well as class imbalances (this story does take place in 18th century france). there is witchcraft, magic, a sarcastic demon and an extremely humorous succubus, and of course, there is The Beast.
again, i highly highly recommend the audio — the narrator was simply fantastic.
i’m completely blown away at the fact that this was a debut. this book is so multifaceted, and i cannot wait to see what else cameron sullivan writes!
——
need this palette cleanser and seeing nothing but good reviews so i’m hopeful
if you are interested in this book, i HIGHLY recommend the audiobook! it was an absolutely phenomenal romp, and the narrator was fantastic. the audio was also very helpful regarding the numerous hilarious footnotes.
if i could give this ten stars, i absolutely would. this is, without a doubt, a favorite read of 2026.
i have read many, many beauty and the beast retellings, or stories that have been loosely inspired by the fairy tale, but i do believe this is the first time i’ve read a queer retelling (not to mention that it fits perfectly with the sudden uptick in queer/gay werewolf stories in late 2025/early 2026!).
the red winter contains very smart and witty analyses on religion and society, as well as class imbalances (this story does take place in 18th century france). there is witchcraft, magic, a sarcastic demon and an extremely humorous succubus, and of course, there is The Beast.
again, i highly highly recommend the audio — the narrator was simply fantastic.
i’m completely blown away at the fact that this was a debut. this book is so multifaceted, and i cannot wait to see what else cameron sullivan writes!
——
need this palette cleanser and seeing nothing but good reviews so i’m hopeful
Currently reading
February 26, 2026To memory, I've read three stories* in all my life based on the Beast of Gévaudan and the bar is higher with me than most, because:
a. One of my favourite real historical crime mysteries,
b. Already read another wolf shapeshifter retelling of another famous legend,
c. Whaddaya mean, a M/M take on the Beast of Gévaudan? Gimme yesterday!
The bar is, indeed, up there in space doing parkour with comms satellites. We shall see how this goes...
________________________
*Don't even think of asking me which ones, I know y'all are nosy but I don't remember the titles. One was a Beauty & Beast retelling, though. Probably none of them was worthwhile, or I'd remember more...
a. One of my favourite real historical crime mysteries,
b. Already read another wolf shapeshifter retelling of another famous legend,
c. Whaddaya mean, a M/M take on the Beast of Gévaudan? Gimme yesterday!
The bar is, indeed, up there in space doing parkour with comms satellites. We shall see how this goes...
________________________
*Don't even think of asking me which ones, I know y'all are nosy but I don't remember the titles. One was a Beauty & Beast retelling, though. Probably none of them was worthwhile, or I'd remember more...
January 4, 2026
Oh my god, I am so unwell. Did I finish this book or did it finish me?
The Red Winter is a queer, dark, historical fantasy (and is easily going to be one of my favourite reads of the year oh my god it consumed me). From Tor:
“Written as a memoir by the immortal narrator Sebastian, it’s full of sorcery, demons and debauchery, but most of all it’s a love story about one man who will live for ever and the nobleman he fell in love with, but may have made into a monster.”
This one is for the readers who:
· have an interest in the mythological origins of gods and the occult
· prefer books about love, rather than romances
· like books where the author trusts the reader
· enjoy morally complicated characters
· like queer love stories that emotionally devastate you
· are drawn to genre-defying books
We follow Sebastian, a man who willingly shares his body with a demon. Sebastian is recounting his and Antoine's story, which is also the story of The Red Winter and the hunt for the Beast that plagues Antoine's village. I could talk for days about the world building and magic system here tbh. I genuinely enjoyed every part of it and the scope of the world Sullivan created, but the characters stole the show for me. The dynamics between the characters are messy, nuanced, and unique. I want to say more about the world and characters, but there is so much mystery and intrigue and longing and foreboding tragedy in the story that it's best to uncover this for yourself.
Sebastian's character is driven by his and Sarmodel's need to feed off of spiritual energy, but his narration still remains so full of humanity; Sarmodel is very much not human, but is still full of love for Sebastian. And the dynamic between them! Genuinely hilarious duo that also had me weeping at the bond between them at one point.
(It also contains one of my favourite tropes: Sebastian and Sarmodel dont seem particularly threatening from their own first person POV, but when we swap POVs for part of the story, we see just how intimidating and ruthless they can be.)
Apart from this book ripping my heart out, this was such a beautifully crafted story. The prose left me hanging on every word, the themes really worked for me, and it featured incredibly tight plot work (which, considering there were 3 alternating timelines and a few subplots in each, is impressive). It also dabbles in so many different genres: an epic fantasy feel, historical fiction setting, a heart-wrenching romance, horror elements, a unique tone with well-delivered with and humour. I have absolutely no idea how this is Sullivan's debut book, but I am distraught I can't read more of his work.
While this was Antoine's story, and the romance between Sebastian and Antoine is truly the heart of it, there is definitely scope for more in this universe and Sebastian certainly has a lot more to tell us. I am nicely requesting/pledging my anima to whichever entity will listen that there will be more!
Thank you SO much to Tor for the ARC! The Red Winter releases on the 24th of February 2026.
The Red Winter is a queer, dark, historical fantasy (and is easily going to be one of my favourite reads of the year oh my god it consumed me). From Tor:
“Written as a memoir by the immortal narrator Sebastian, it’s full of sorcery, demons and debauchery, but most of all it’s a love story about one man who will live for ever and the nobleman he fell in love with, but may have made into a monster.”
This one is for the readers who:
· have an interest in the mythological origins of gods and the occult
· prefer books about love, rather than romances
· like books where the author trusts the reader
· enjoy morally complicated characters
· like queer love stories that emotionally devastate you
· are drawn to genre-defying books
We follow Sebastian, a man who willingly shares his body with a demon. Sebastian is recounting his and Antoine's story, which is also the story of The Red Winter and the hunt for the Beast that plagues Antoine's village. I could talk for days about the world building and magic system here tbh. I genuinely enjoyed every part of it and the scope of the world Sullivan created, but the characters stole the show for me. The dynamics between the characters are messy, nuanced, and unique. I want to say more about the world and characters, but there is so much mystery and intrigue and longing and foreboding tragedy in the story that it's best to uncover this for yourself.
Sebastian's character is driven by his and Sarmodel's need to feed off of spiritual energy, but his narration still remains so full of humanity; Sarmodel is very much not human, but is still full of love for Sebastian. And the dynamic between them! Genuinely hilarious duo that also had me weeping at the bond between them at one point.
(It also contains one of my favourite tropes: Sebastian and Sarmodel dont seem particularly threatening from their own first person POV, but when we swap POVs for part of the story, we see just how intimidating and ruthless they can be.)
Apart from this book ripping my heart out, this was such a beautifully crafted story. The prose left me hanging on every word, the themes really worked for me, and it featured incredibly tight plot work (which, considering there were 3 alternating timelines and a few subplots in each, is impressive). It also dabbles in so many different genres: an epic fantasy feel, historical fiction setting, a heart-wrenching romance, horror elements, a unique tone with well-delivered with and humour. I have absolutely no idea how this is Sullivan's debut book, but I am distraught I can't read more of his work.
While this was Antoine's story, and the romance between Sebastian and Antoine is truly the heart of it, there is definitely scope for more in this universe and Sebastian certainly has a lot more to tell us. I am nicely requesting/pledging my anima to whichever entity will listen that there will be more!
Thank you SO much to Tor for the ARC! The Red Winter releases on the 24th of February 2026.
January 14, 2026
A reimagined, queer werewolf story set in 1700s France just before the French Revolution.
Professor Sebastian Grave of Larnaca has an indwelling demon, Sarmodel. As the footnote explains:
1. We have both agreed that “joined” is the most acceptable term for my/our condition—“possessed,” “demoniac” and “abomination” are inaccurate and most offensive.
Monsieur Jacques Avenel d’Ocerne, Son of the Baron d’Ocerne, comes begging for Sebastian’s help as the Red Winter, a Beast, attacks their lands once again in 1785. Then, we get flashbacks to when Sebastian helped the Baron in 1766 and the love and devastation that blossomed then.
We also get another flashback to do with Jehanne d’Arc and Sebastian’s adventures with a succubus, also his housemaid.
This was witty and filled with dark humour and bleak snark. The way it was narrated, Sebastian’s outlook, the historical backdrop reminded me of Empire of the Vampire.
Of course, my love! Watch as I ensnare an Olympian with the Crippling Yoke, on horseback, in the middle of a bridge covered in dogs, with the Archangel shooting a musket over my shoulder, I snapped back. Shall I stand on my head and fart the Pater Noster as well?
The rapport between the demon and Sebastian was fun and dark and deadly.
This story had so many unique elements and an incredible writing style… until around the 60% mark where I felt it lost its flair. It did become more violent and gruesome, but that wasn’t what put me off.
It almost read like the first half had been over with a fine tooth-comb, and the latter half was less deliberate.
I also felt slightly unsatisfied by the ending. It almost set up for a sequel with the amount of questions left, but this seems to be a standalone (edit Jan 2026 - apparently, there will be more).
Despite my minor qualms, this is an incredible debut. It read like a tried and tested dark fantasy author.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Professor Sebastian Grave of Larnaca has an indwelling demon, Sarmodel. As the footnote explains:
1. We have both agreed that “joined” is the most acceptable term for my/our condition—“possessed,” “demoniac” and “abomination” are inaccurate and most offensive.
Monsieur Jacques Avenel d’Ocerne, Son of the Baron d’Ocerne, comes begging for Sebastian’s help as the Red Winter, a Beast, attacks their lands once again in 1785. Then, we get flashbacks to when Sebastian helped the Baron in 1766 and the love and devastation that blossomed then.
We also get another flashback to do with Jehanne d’Arc and Sebastian’s adventures with a succubus, also his housemaid.
This was witty and filled with dark humour and bleak snark. The way it was narrated, Sebastian’s outlook, the historical backdrop reminded me of Empire of the Vampire.
Of course, my love! Watch as I ensnare an Olympian with the Crippling Yoke, on horseback, in the middle of a bridge covered in dogs, with the Archangel shooting a musket over my shoulder, I snapped back. Shall I stand on my head and fart the Pater Noster as well?
The rapport between the demon and Sebastian was fun and dark and deadly.
This story had so many unique elements and an incredible writing style… until around the 60% mark where I felt it lost its flair. It did become more violent and gruesome, but that wasn’t what put me off.
It almost read like the first half had been over with a fine tooth-comb, and the latter half was less deliberate.
I also felt slightly unsatisfied by the ending. It almost set up for a sequel with the amount of questions left, but this seems to be a standalone (edit Jan 2026 - apparently, there will be more).
Despite my minor qualms, this is an incredible debut. It read like a tried and tested dark fantasy author.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars
I love obsessing over crumbs of a doomed love story in my high fantasy. Darkly charming, unflinchingly bloody, and tragically romantic, The Red Winter was exactly what I wanted it to be.
The Red Winter Professor Sebastian Grave, an immortal arcane warlock. Visiting various points in Sebastian’s life, Cameron Sullivan presents a unique twist on the hunt for the first werewolf and the first stirrings of the French Revolution. This story captured my heart with the first snarky footnote.
This is far more than a werewolf story. The world is haunted by eldritch beings, all-consuming gods, war personified, and heart-eating angels(?). The narrative with a retrospective tone and snarky direct-to-reader footnotes, has the feel of a historical account. This writing style and the way that the different timelines weave together was really engaging. Sebastian is a darkly witty narrator. His dynamic with his indwelling demon, Sarmodel, was so entertaining.
I really think The Red Winter is best summarized by its tagline: power is a hungry beast. Arcane magic, wealth, nobility, religion, love, etc. This book explores many different manifestations of power and the way that different characters face its draw. Greed and the struggle for power devours the town of Gévauden just as much as the Beast. The parallels between the beastly threat and the political/societal unrest threatening the town were incredibly impactful.
The Red Winter conceptualizes theology, religion, and godhood in really intriguing ways. Following a character who has lived as long as Sebastian provides an interesting analysis of religions' evolving role in society. I was also really intrigued by the ways that magic and religion intersected in the story.
Threaded throughout this dark, bloody fantasy tale is a devastating love story that will haunt me for years. Sebastian and Antoine’s relationship is, in many ways, a driving force behind the events of this novel.
This had the impact of a five star but there were just a few tiny things that held my rating back that half star. What threw me off the most was the rather abrupt ending. It makes sense as the story is framed as a snippet of Sebastian’s long life. But the minimal resolution was an odd note to end the book on. It’s not a matter of assuming this is a standalone as I suspect there will be another book. Rather I expected a little more payoff or conclusion.
I also found myself wanting to know a bit more about Antoine’s character in both timelines. It did not keep me from being emotionally invested in his relationship with Sebastian, but it feels like there was a bit more potential with his character.
A queer historical fantasy of love, power, and redemption, The Red Winter is an incredibly strong debut. I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you so much Tor for the advanced reader copy!
Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books
I love obsessing over crumbs of a doomed love story in my high fantasy. Darkly charming, unflinchingly bloody, and tragically romantic, The Red Winter was exactly what I wanted it to be.
The Red Winter Professor Sebastian Grave, an immortal arcane warlock. Visiting various points in Sebastian’s life, Cameron Sullivan presents a unique twist on the hunt for the first werewolf and the first stirrings of the French Revolution. This story captured my heart with the first snarky footnote.
This is far more than a werewolf story. The world is haunted by eldritch beings, all-consuming gods, war personified, and heart-eating angels(?). The narrative with a retrospective tone and snarky direct-to-reader footnotes, has the feel of a historical account. This writing style and the way that the different timelines weave together was really engaging. Sebastian is a darkly witty narrator. His dynamic with his indwelling demon, Sarmodel, was so entertaining.
I really think The Red Winter is best summarized by its tagline: power is a hungry beast. Arcane magic, wealth, nobility, religion, love, etc. This book explores many different manifestations of power and the way that different characters face its draw. Greed and the struggle for power devours the town of Gévauden just as much as the Beast. The parallels between the beastly threat and the political/societal unrest threatening the town were incredibly impactful.
The Red Winter conceptualizes theology, religion, and godhood in really intriguing ways. Following a character who has lived as long as Sebastian provides an interesting analysis of religions' evolving role in society. I was also really intrigued by the ways that magic and religion intersected in the story.
Threaded throughout this dark, bloody fantasy tale is a devastating love story that will haunt me for years. Sebastian and Antoine’s relationship is, in many ways, a driving force behind the events of this novel.
This had the impact of a five star but there were just a few tiny things that held my rating back that half star. What threw me off the most was the rather abrupt ending. It makes sense as the story is framed as a snippet of Sebastian’s long life. But the minimal resolution was an odd note to end the book on. It’s not a matter of assuming this is a standalone as I suspect there will be another book. Rather I expected a little more payoff or conclusion.
I also found myself wanting to know a bit more about Antoine’s character in both timelines. It did not keep me from being emotionally invested in his relationship with Sebastian, but it feels like there was a bit more potential with his character.
A queer historical fantasy of love, power, and redemption, The Red Winter is an incredibly strong debut. I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you so much Tor for the advanced reader copy!
Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books
February 27, 2026
my favourite book of 2026 just dropped
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I would like to thank Edelweiss and Tor for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
STUNNING. RTC once I stop feeling sad and bereft that it's over. I'm sort of a mess rn over this, Sebastian, the whole vibe, my heady engagement with all the footnotes, the simp love story, the gory excitement, the way I'm emotionally gearing up to reread the beginning because I can't stand to let any of this story go yet
But also to circle back and check in with Sebastian who is most assuredly alive but I just want to make sure he's alright...like a weirdo... but also because I adore the fool (sigh)
STUNNING. RTC once I stop feeling sad and bereft that it's over. I'm sort of a mess rn over this, Sebastian, the whole vibe, my heady engagement with all the footnotes, the simp love story, the gory excitement, the way I'm emotionally gearing up to reread the beginning because I can't stand to let any of this story go yet
But also to circle back and check in with Sebastian who is most assuredly alive but I just want to make sure he's alright...like a weirdo... but also because I adore the fool (sigh)
March 1, 2026
« I struck the spark, but the tinder is all yours, my lord. »
Wow, what an ambitious concept and amazing ideas! I’m stunned that this was a debut.
The mmc is bounded with a demon that doesn’t feel like your typical demon. The writing was comical and serious at the same time. I sincerely liked the mmc (Sebastian) & his demon (Sarmodel) very much but I wish we knew more about them… I guess this will be remedied in the sequel. (I had initially thought this was a stand-alone but the author confirmed there were other books coming out in his acknowledgments).
I sincerely liked the blend of historical fantasy & horror. I wish we saw more of Lydia because she was soooo interesting!
My only complaint is that this novel tried to do too much. A LOT of concepts, themes & stuff going on were thrown in there and some were briefly mentioned but ended up being super important in the end. I think the mmc ended up knowing more than the reader and that made me feel like I was being kept out of the loop.
I liked that things weren’t necessarily easily fixed or convenient. It was refreshing to read that sometimes things just don’t pan out how you want them to go and you need to adapt.
Wow, what an ambitious concept and amazing ideas! I’m stunned that this was a debut.
The mmc is bounded with a demon that doesn’t feel like your typical demon. The writing was comical and serious at the same time. I sincerely liked the mmc (Sebastian) & his demon (Sarmodel) very much but I wish we knew more about them… I guess this will be remedied in the sequel. (I had initially thought this was a stand-alone but the author confirmed there were other books coming out in his acknowledgments).
I sincerely liked the blend of historical fantasy & horror. I wish we saw more of Lydia because she was soooo interesting!
My only complaint is that this novel tried to do too much. A LOT of concepts, themes & stuff going on were thrown in there and some were briefly mentioned but ended up being super important in the end. I think the mmc ended up knowing more than the reader and that made me feel like I was being kept out of the loop.
I liked that things weren’t necessarily easily fixed or convenient. It was refreshing to read that sometimes things just don’t pan out how you want them to go and you need to adapt.
February 25, 2026
2/24/26: Happy pub day to this awesome book!
It's actually insane to me that this is a debut. I wish I had a demon inside my head to say bitchy one-liners and encourage my lust, maybe that would get me out of the house more often.
Spurred on by an old keepsake, immortal Sebastian Grave recounts the hunt of the Beast of Gévaudan in late-1700s France. The tale that follows is a whirlwind of demons, angels, curses, betrayal, and a relentless, passionate love affair with a baron's son that brings Sebastian back into the clutches of the beast time and time again.
*vague energetic gesturing* IS THAT DESCRIPTION NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO READ THIS? Oh! the drama of it all! Okay, I'll calm down. This was so cool, I love books about immortals because there is an inherent sense of doom every time rooted in the curse of outliving everyone you will ever dare to love. Sebastian at least has Sarmodel, the demonic entity that shares a mind and occasionally a body with him (in more ways than one ;) ) and adds some great moments of humor in an otherwise pretty dark story. Livia, the succubus and Sebastian's housekeeper, is also a delight even though when we get her POV her story becomes pretty grim. Of course, Sebastian's relationship with Antoine was just *chef's kiss* not because it was perfectly romantic but because it was tangled and messy and I am a desperate sucker for angst of any kind. I'm in love with the world building, and this is ostensibly a standalone but I think the ending leaves it potentially open to hearing more about Sebastian's very long life, including hopefully his origins.
My only problem is just a matter of preference. I don't really like action/battle scenes and there were a lot towards the end that went on for a while and broke some momentum for me. Still cried like a baby at the end, though!
All's said, I need more of this bisexual immortal and his goofy demon comrades in my life. I really think this is going to be a standout fantasy release for the beginning of 2026 because it's just amazing, and I will be keeping an eye out for Cameron Sullivan's next book!
Thank you to Cameron Sullivan and Tor Books (my love) for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
pre-review: historical fantasy and a devastating queer love story *slams credit card on table* if I didn't get a copy of this for free I would pay you so much for it
It's actually insane to me that this is a debut. I wish I had a demon inside my head to say bitchy one-liners and encourage my lust, maybe that would get me out of the house more often.
Spurred on by an old keepsake, immortal Sebastian Grave recounts the hunt of the Beast of Gévaudan in late-1700s France. The tale that follows is a whirlwind of demons, angels, curses, betrayal, and a relentless, passionate love affair with a baron's son that brings Sebastian back into the clutches of the beast time and time again.
*vague energetic gesturing* IS THAT DESCRIPTION NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO READ THIS? Oh! the drama of it all! Okay, I'll calm down. This was so cool, I love books about immortals because there is an inherent sense of doom every time rooted in the curse of outliving everyone you will ever dare to love. Sebastian at least has Sarmodel, the demonic entity that shares a mind and occasionally a body with him (in more ways than one ;) ) and adds some great moments of humor in an otherwise pretty dark story. Livia, the succubus and Sebastian's housekeeper, is also a delight even though when we get her POV her story becomes pretty grim. Of course, Sebastian's relationship with Antoine was just *chef's kiss* not because it was perfectly romantic but because it was tangled and messy and I am a desperate sucker for angst of any kind. I'm in love with the world building, and this is ostensibly a standalone but I think the ending leaves it potentially open to hearing more about Sebastian's very long life, including hopefully his origins.
My only problem is just a matter of preference. I don't really like action/battle scenes and there were a lot towards the end that went on for a while and broke some momentum for me. Still cried like a baby at the end, though!
All's said, I need more of this bisexual immortal and his goofy demon comrades in my life. I really think this is going to be a standout fantasy release for the beginning of 2026 because it's just amazing, and I will be keeping an eye out for Cameron Sullivan's next book!
Thank you to Cameron Sullivan and Tor Books (my love) for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
pre-review: historical fantasy and a devastating queer love story *slams credit card on table* if I didn't get a copy of this for free I would pay you so much for it
January 11, 2026
This is a unique and quirky work. It's a historical fantasy book with dark elements and humorous dialogues. It's a kind of retelling of the French folktale of the Beast of Gevaudan. The main character, Sebastian Grave, is an interesting man that shares his life with Sarmodel, a hilarious demon. There's also a funny succubus named Livia, and the appearance of famous figures such as Archangel Michael and Jehanne d'Arc. It's an interesting book, and the audiobook is amazing! I think it's really worth it, because the dramatization is stunning.
Thanks so much to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for this free advance listening copy of The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan, to be published on February 24th, 2026.
Thanks so much to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for this free advance listening copy of The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan, to be published on February 24th, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
For everything that worked well for me there was something else that made it not so refreshing or enjoyable. It was well written - descriptive passages and engaging dialogue, but I was not a fan of the format in how this historical fantasy was written. The alternating between the then and the now between three different timelines, simply to give depth to the history was difficult, with the added annoyance of footnotes, which, was a bit of modern tongue-in-cheek, that also takes away an element of surprise to Professor Sebastian Grave's eventual fate. 😕
Almost Van Helsing-esque in nature, the Magician, a man of unnatural gifts - never defined, never explained, Sebastian was a protagonist omniscient of millennia that transcends time and space, in which we're left to assume he has all power and all knowledge. 🧐 It is deliberately ambiguous, which was a fault for complaint at first, until I accepted the author's reasons for it being as such. In a strangely odd way, it felt fitting to his own personal growth and eventual understanding and acceptance of himself.
“What victory can you claim from this misery?”
The annoyingly witty and clever footnotes were distracting inserts, along with the addendum that served as a means of explanation to an already existing lore that felt a bit like cheating. 😮💨 Having the story retold also took away the element of surprise for Sebastian's fate for even when his life was in danger it was a constant reminder that he really is in no real danger; although, with the story being retold that is a given already. Still, they were too juvenile for me to appreciate the whimsy behind them.
Livia and Sarmodel - his co-lackeys, his familiars, his co-conspirators were... Livia, for all her salacious tendencies, as a narrator of one of the povs kept horrendously stale, sadly. I was not a fan of the amorous, amorphous, sexual dalliances that were shed light on, despite their well-supposed intentions. 🤨 Sarmodel was unlikeable, but I realized that they are meant to be, so cannot really blame them for their true nature. Their rapport with Sebastian was bittersweet, saying the right things at the wrong moments, one who behaved inappropriately, but not really at fault for it.
The creative spin behind the truth of The Red Winter - grander and larger in theory than just that of the corporeal presence of the savage Gevaudan beast - left me feeling slightly duped; it was rather misleading and unrewarding. 🙎🏻♀️ All that gore and terror - a build up that flummoxed at the end - frustratingly so. It ends on a note that hints of a potential continuation, which, even if for naught, it still did not tie up convincingly enough the plot points for the relevant plot, itself!
“There was always magic with you.”
As for Sebastian and Antoine sim sala bim Was it a bittersweet romance of convenience, or ill-fated, destined for tragedy? The longing, the hope, the despair, the desire, the betrayal, the kinship of a kindred spirit in 1766 of one who was so similar to themselves. 'Dare to know'. 🥺 I wished for a better end, but who can outrun fate or even history. There were some beautiful and meaningful exchanges that certainly left a memorable impression on me.
Even if my romantic heart was saddened by their doomed love story, it was not enough to assuage that disgruntled unsatisfied feeling, for getting this far without a concrete resolution. 🙂↔️ Despite how one will argue ultimately it was some greater game we were not seeing, I still felt that we deserved a more fitting closure. Rather than stacking it away as another story in it-perhaps one I will write down someday, which felt a cheap disservice to myself, as a reader.
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“I saw only horror behind me and more horror ahead; I had seldom felt more wretched. I wept there in the darkness. For misery, for despair, for the sheer futility of still being there.”
For everything that worked well for me there was something else that made it not so refreshing or enjoyable. It was well written - descriptive passages and engaging dialogue, but I was not a fan of the format in how this historical fantasy was written. The alternating between the then and the now between three different timelines, simply to give depth to the history was difficult, with the added annoyance of footnotes, which, was a bit of modern tongue-in-cheek, that also takes away an element of surprise to Professor Sebastian Grave's eventual fate. 😕
Almost Van Helsing-esque in nature, the Magician, a man of unnatural gifts - never defined, never explained, Sebastian was a protagonist omniscient of millennia that transcends time and space, in which we're left to assume he has all power and all knowledge. 🧐 It is deliberately ambiguous, which was a fault for complaint at first, until I accepted the author's reasons for it being as such. In a strangely odd way, it felt fitting to his own personal growth and eventual understanding and acceptance of himself.
“What victory can you claim from this misery?”
The annoyingly witty and clever footnotes were distracting inserts, along with the addendum that served as a means of explanation to an already existing lore that felt a bit like cheating. 😮💨 Having the story retold also took away the element of surprise for Sebastian's fate for even when his life was in danger it was a constant reminder that he really is in no real danger; although, with the story being retold that is a given already. Still, they were too juvenile for me to appreciate the whimsy behind them.
Livia and Sarmodel - his co-lackeys, his familiars, his co-conspirators were... Livia, for all her salacious tendencies, as a narrator of one of the povs kept horrendously stale, sadly. I was not a fan of the amorous, amorphous, sexual dalliances that were shed light on, despite their well-supposed intentions. 🤨 Sarmodel was unlikeable, but I realized that they are meant to be, so cannot really blame them for their true nature. Their rapport with Sebastian was bittersweet, saying the right things at the wrong moments, one who behaved inappropriately, but not really at fault for it.
The creative spin behind the truth of The Red Winter - grander and larger in theory than just that of the corporeal presence of the savage Gevaudan beast - left me feeling slightly duped; it was rather misleading and unrewarding. 🙎🏻♀️ All that gore and terror - a build up that flummoxed at the end - frustratingly so. It ends on a note that hints of a potential continuation, which, even if for naught, it still did not tie up convincingly enough the plot points for the relevant plot, itself!
“There was always magic with you.”
As for Sebastian and Antoine sim sala bim Was it a bittersweet romance of convenience, or ill-fated, destined for tragedy? The longing, the hope, the despair, the desire, the betrayal, the kinship of a kindred spirit in 1766 of one who was so similar to themselves. 'Dare to know'. 🥺 I wished for a better end, but who can outrun fate or even history. There were some beautiful and meaningful exchanges that certainly left a memorable impression on me.
Even if my romantic heart was saddened by their doomed love story, it was not enough to assuage that disgruntled unsatisfied feeling, for getting this far without a concrete resolution. 🙂↔️ Despite how one will argue ultimately it was some greater game we were not seeing, I still felt that we deserved a more fitting closure. Rather than stacking it away as another story in it-perhaps one I will write down someday, which felt a cheap disservice to myself, as a reader.
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2026
A fun fantasy debut from an Aussie author!
Sebastian is our reluctant hero, returning to finish unfinished business from 20 years ago. Back then, he helped to hunt the Beast of Gevaudan as it terrorised the countryside - now it's returned and the son of his estranged lover has come to beg him back to finish the job.
It sounds messy but it's actually a bundle of fun, jumping between the present and the past, alongside snippets of history relevant to the story. Certainly never a dull moment, this one is packed with action, mystery, intrigue and charm. There's an eclectic cast of characters supporting Sebastian, and they add energy to the story with their unique personalities.
The writing is easy to follow, and the pace is fast but not blindingly so. There are quiet moments in which we get to know the characters and learn to love (or loathe) them.
There's also a fantastic story around the beast itself, and the magic of this particular world is brilliant.
An incredibly satisfying fantasy, featuring characters I'd happily read more of. Highly recommend for fans of high fantasy looking for something a little different.
With thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC
Sebastian is our reluctant hero, returning to finish unfinished business from 20 years ago. Back then, he helped to hunt the Beast of Gevaudan as it terrorised the countryside - now it's returned and the son of his estranged lover has come to beg him back to finish the job.
It sounds messy but it's actually a bundle of fun, jumping between the present and the past, alongside snippets of history relevant to the story. Certainly never a dull moment, this one is packed with action, mystery, intrigue and charm. There's an eclectic cast of characters supporting Sebastian, and they add energy to the story with their unique personalities.
The writing is easy to follow, and the pace is fast but not blindingly so. There are quiet moments in which we get to know the characters and learn to love (or loathe) them.
There's also a fantastic story around the beast itself, and the magic of this particular world is brilliant.
An incredibly satisfying fantasy, featuring characters I'd happily read more of. Highly recommend for fans of high fantasy looking for something a little different.
With thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC
January 12, 2026
I’m sorry, but what? Debut author you say?? Cameron Sullivan absolutely nailed this one and I was so impressed with not only this novel but the audiobook narrators as well.
The Red Winter is a historical fantasy retelling of the beast of Gévaudan - centering around the hunt for a werewolf like beast terrorizing the people of France. This is told from the memoirs of our main character Sebastian, who happens to be a practitioner of the arcane arts, with an in dwelling demon named Sarmodel (a witty one at that!). There’s three distinct storylines you’re following in which you get top tier world building and intriguing flashbacks. There’s a queer romantic subplot that’s absolutely delectable. Sebastian must partake in some gruesome monster slaying while avoiding the inquisitive eye of the French clergy. France is on the brink of revolution while this whole tale unfolds.
This was gory, dark, witty, extremely entertaining, and one of the best audiobook performances by dual narration that I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. Oh and there’s a succubus! Who doesn’t enjoy a cheeky succubus? I loved every moment of this. Originally I’d say this was a 4.75 but the audio bumped it up to a 5 for me.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Tor for this advanced listener copy.
The Red Winter is a historical fantasy retelling of the beast of Gévaudan - centering around the hunt for a werewolf like beast terrorizing the people of France. This is told from the memoirs of our main character Sebastian, who happens to be a practitioner of the arcane arts, with an in dwelling demon named Sarmodel (a witty one at that!). There’s three distinct storylines you’re following in which you get top tier world building and intriguing flashbacks. There’s a queer romantic subplot that’s absolutely delectable. Sebastian must partake in some gruesome monster slaying while avoiding the inquisitive eye of the French clergy. France is on the brink of revolution while this whole tale unfolds.
This was gory, dark, witty, extremely entertaining, and one of the best audiobook performances by dual narration that I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. Oh and there’s a succubus! Who doesn’t enjoy a cheeky succubus? I loved every moment of this. Originally I’d say this was a 4.75 but the audio bumped it up to a 5 for me.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Tor for this advanced listener copy.
Want to read
April 7, 2025HELLO?? QUEER HISTORICAL FANTASY BY TOR?
January 20, 2026
Whoa, this ish was wild.
It starts off feeling sort of Sherlock-ish, but Sullivan’s voice morphs it into something unique and refreshing. This sort of Robert Jackson Bennett vibes, but it’s hard to compare this book to books.
This is Sullivan’s debut and he comes out swinging in this crazy mashup. Mythology, historical fiction, horror, humor, fantasy, folk lore and love is love is love?
Just, yes- more please.
This kinda what I wanted The Devils to be last year.
Livia stole the show for me- but tbh- all the characters are just as strong as the impressive world building.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC. The dual narration felt like a theatrical experience.
I hope we see more of this world- because this desperately needs a sequel. 🤞
4.5/5
Audio narration 5/5
It starts off feeling sort of Sherlock-ish, but Sullivan’s voice morphs it into something unique and refreshing. This sort of Robert Jackson Bennett vibes, but it’s hard to compare this book to books.
This is Sullivan’s debut and he comes out swinging in this crazy mashup. Mythology, historical fiction, horror, humor, fantasy, folk lore and love is love is love?
Just, yes- more please.
This kinda what I wanted The Devils to be last year.
Livia stole the show for me- but tbh- all the characters are just as strong as the impressive world building.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC. The dual narration felt like a theatrical experience.
I hope we see more of this world- because this desperately needs a sequel. 🤞
4.5/5
Audio narration 5/5
March 2, 2026
Joe Abercrombie’s ‘The Devils’ if it was French. I ended up enjoying this way more than I had expected. Tragedy and strong character arcs are definitely my thing.
Witty prose, gruesome battle scenes, fascinating magical system that allows all the different myths and magical systems of our world to be layered upon one another, I haven’t read many books like this one. The push and pull of these arcane forces throughout time was so interesting, with our main oppositions in this book being the Archangel Michael and the Roman God Mars.
There was an element of the humour that was quite crude which i didn’t enjoy. Usually I enjoy dirty humour and I think sex is a really interesting element of the human condition to explore but I mostly found it distasteful in this one. I haven’t seen anyone else mention it, though, so it may just be me.
The addendums told from Livia’s POV were a real highlight. It’s clear by comparing her and Sebastian’s POV chapters that they’re both unreliable narrators so it was interesting to have them play against each other.
So glad this seems to be a series as there’s so much of Sebastian’s story that can be explored.
Witty prose, gruesome battle scenes, fascinating magical system that allows all the different myths and magical systems of our world to be layered upon one another, I haven’t read many books like this one. The push and pull of these arcane forces throughout time was so interesting, with our main oppositions in this book being the Archangel Michael and the Roman God Mars.
There was an element of the humour that was quite crude which i didn’t enjoy. Usually I enjoy dirty humour and I think sex is a really interesting element of the human condition to explore but I mostly found it distasteful in this one. I haven’t seen anyone else mention it, though, so it may just be me.
The addendums told from Livia’s POV were a real highlight. It’s clear by comparing her and Sebastian’s POV chapters that they’re both unreliable narrators so it was interesting to have them play against each other.
So glad this seems to be a series as there’s so much of Sebastian’s story that can be explored.
August 19, 2025
SO THIS RULED??????????????????????
I could not put this down, I was looking forward to every lunch break so that I could read more. I have long been interested in the case of la bete du gevaudan, it blends many areas that fascinate me. I was beyond excited to come across a queer historical dark fantasy inspired by the tale, and even more excited that it was SO good. I absolutely loved this.
The vibes? Gothic Terry Pratchett.
I was equally intrigued by all 3 timelines. I found Sebastian to be a wonderful MC, I adored him. Also, I thought it was an very interesting way to incorporate multiple pantheons and mythologies into a cohesively blended human history. Sarmodel -- loveeeee. As much as the love and story between Sebastian and Antoine was emotional and interesting, I was just so in love with the love story between Sebastian and Sarmodel. Their dynamic was everything to me. I know this is such a far out read I should have a more well-thought out and well-written review. But the fact of the matter is that I just loved this so much that I'm kind of speechless.
If you like historical horror, interesting magic systems, doomed love, snarky buddy cop antics, stories that are so grand but are ultimately, at their heart, about human nature and connection -- this one is for you. I cannot recommend it enough. It is definitely my favorite book I've read this year so far.
Thanks to tor and netgalley for an arc in exchange for honest review.
I could not put this down, I was looking forward to every lunch break so that I could read more. I have long been interested in the case of la bete du gevaudan, it blends many areas that fascinate me. I was beyond excited to come across a queer historical dark fantasy inspired by the tale, and even more excited that it was SO good. I absolutely loved this.
The vibes? Gothic Terry Pratchett.
I was equally intrigued by all 3 timelines. I found Sebastian to be a wonderful MC, I adored him. Also, I thought it was an very interesting way to incorporate multiple pantheons and mythologies into a cohesively blended human history. Sarmodel -- loveeeee. As much as the love and story between Sebastian and Antoine was emotional and interesting, I was just so in love with the love story between Sebastian and Sarmodel. Their dynamic was everything to me. I know this is such a far out read I should have a more well-thought out and well-written review. But the fact of the matter is that I just loved this so much that I'm kind of speechless.
If you like historical horror, interesting magic systems, doomed love, snarky buddy cop antics, stories that are so grand but are ultimately, at their heart, about human nature and connection -- this one is for you. I cannot recommend it enough. It is definitely my favorite book I've read this year so far.
Thanks to tor and netgalley for an arc in exchange for honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ALC REVIEW
Narration: Imogen Church and Rory Barnett
Time: 16Hr 46MIN
MacMillan Audio- Release February 24,2026
This book gave me the feels of the Witcher. Set in the 18th century of France, it was a unique twist on history and a rollercoaster of a ride the horror, the monster hunt, the political intrigue, and the doomed love will leave you on the edge of your seat. The narrators did a good job, and I would check your triggers with this book.
Thank you, Netgalley and MacMillan Audio, for this ALC. Opinions are my own
Narration: Imogen Church and Rory Barnett
Time: 16Hr 46MIN
MacMillan Audio- Release February 24,2026
This book gave me the feels of the Witcher. Set in the 18th century of France, it was a unique twist on history and a rollercoaster of a ride the horror, the monster hunt, the political intrigue, and the doomed love will leave you on the edge of your seat. The narrators did a good job, and I would check your triggers with this book.
Thank you, Netgalley and MacMillan Audio, for this ALC. Opinions are my own
February 25, 2026
3.5⭐️ for a debut novel, I had fun in this world. Dark, Gay (which is what really kept me in the story), a magical world blended with religion, folklore, and historical fiction. However, for me that was all that it was sometimes fun, and sometimes a lot of meandering. The last 10% is what I can only describe as… underwhelming. I really thought that characters like, Sebastian Grave, Antoine, Livia, and Sarmodel fell a little flat for me. A bit one dimensional, especially our MC. The queerness of this book really carried it. French men with angst. While, characters like Livia & Jeanne D’arc had SO MUCH potential fell instead in the shadows of men & were treated sort of poorly within the book. Sort of as tool for the progression of the plot? (Maybe this is to showcase the misogyny with women within time period) With that being said, the Addendum chapters dragged a bit for me. Livia is such a brilliant and funny morally grey character. She had so so much potential to shine more. Especially, when Sarmodel, another morally ambiguous witty character was the high light of the pages. I hope to see more of Sullivans writing because I have a feeling it’ll only improve. Overall a good read.
January 26, 2026
The Red Winter is solidifying my love for historical fantasy. With multiple timelines set during the French Revolution, Cameron Sullivan tells the story of the Sebastian Grave, a monster slayer accompanied by his indwelling demon Sarmodel, as he is forced to revisit his past and the beast of Gévaudan from the Red Winter as it returns to the French country side in 1785.
This is such an impressive novel, especially for a debut. The prose is genuinely beautiful with a thoughtful narrative by the protagonist. The book truly stands out in balancing plot and character development by breaking up the story using different timelines to tell an interesting story while simultaneously explaining the complex life and relationships of Sebastian Grave. There is so much more underlying the initial story to discuss but part of what I really enjoyed was the unfolding depth as the book progressed, especially with an alternative point of view on Sebastian Grave from a succubus.
Overall, this is a strong, both character and plot-driven historical fantasy with a confident voice. If you enjoy historical fantasy and layered perspective, and feeling all the emotions, I would say you definitely need to get your hands on this book!
Thank you to @torbooks and @macmillan.audio for providing me with an early copy, the narrators were phenomenal!
This is such an impressive novel, especially for a debut. The prose is genuinely beautiful with a thoughtful narrative by the protagonist. The book truly stands out in balancing plot and character development by breaking up the story using different timelines to tell an interesting story while simultaneously explaining the complex life and relationships of Sebastian Grave. There is so much more underlying the initial story to discuss but part of what I really enjoyed was the unfolding depth as the book progressed, especially with an alternative point of view on Sebastian Grave from a succubus.
Overall, this is a strong, both character and plot-driven historical fantasy with a confident voice. If you enjoy historical fantasy and layered perspective, and feeling all the emotions, I would say you definitely need to get your hands on this book!
Thank you to @torbooks and @macmillan.audio for providing me with an early copy, the narrators were phenomenal!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Let me fill this wheelbarrow with stars and pour them at the feet of Cameron Sullivan.
A historical fantasy full of horror, doomed love, and unpaid debts. I felt like a fly on the wall with the audio and ebook. The writing style is addicting and the narrators set the perfect tones for each snarky remark.
A historical fantasy full of horror, doomed love, and unpaid debts. I felt like a fly on the wall with the audio and ebook. The writing style is addicting and the narrators set the perfect tones for each snarky remark.
December 2, 2025
my rating is 4.5
Wow! I really enjoyed this debut historical epic fantasy story. So big in scope, timelines/POV's and really intriguing characters. The world building is important to the story and is done really well by Sebastian as he looks back on the past during his writing of the memoir.
Sebastian Grave is a killer character. He's queer, a monster hunter and immortal. He has a 'friend' who lives within him. Let's not call that a possesion, joined just sounds better! Sarmodel is a demon and he loves living hearts (eating them, if that wasn't clear). He also has some excellent dialogue, rapport and banter with Sebastian. I love them!
This is a brutal beast hunting story but it's also about love, loss and redemption. It's a little gory and spicy too!
A werewolf has been killing it's way through France and Sebastian has been hired to help. There are many dark twists, battles and shocks that happen, especially toward the end.
I found the emotion and relationship between Sebastian and Antoine so full of longing that it hurt my heart. This has everything I want in an epic fantasy (and a side of horror)
I was so happy to be approved for the ALC of the audiobook for this title. The narrators Rory Barnett and the wonderful Imogen Church brought all the nuanced emotion I could ask for. What a performance!
Thank you to NetGalley, Tor and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this terrific title. My thoughts are my own.
Wow! I really enjoyed this debut historical epic fantasy story. So big in scope, timelines/POV's and really intriguing characters. The world building is important to the story and is done really well by Sebastian as he looks back on the past during his writing of the memoir.
Sebastian Grave is a killer character. He's queer, a monster hunter and immortal. He has a 'friend' who lives within him. Let's not call that a possesion, joined just sounds better! Sarmodel is a demon and he loves living hearts (eating them, if that wasn't clear). He also has some excellent dialogue, rapport and banter with Sebastian. I love them!
This is a brutal beast hunting story but it's also about love, loss and redemption. It's a little gory and spicy too!
A werewolf has been killing it's way through France and Sebastian has been hired to help. There are many dark twists, battles and shocks that happen, especially toward the end.
I found the emotion and relationship between Sebastian and Antoine so full of longing that it hurt my heart. This has everything I want in an epic fantasy (and a side of horror)
I was so happy to be approved for the ALC of the audiobook for this title. The narrators Rory Barnett and the wonderful Imogen Church brought all the nuanced emotion I could ask for. What a performance!
Thank you to NetGalley, Tor and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this terrific title. My thoughts are my own.
March 2, 2026
Phew, I for sure thought I was going to love this and the beginning had all the potential. I loved the writing and setting but then everything fell flat for me. This was excruciatingly long for me and if I LOVED the characters maybe that wouldn’t have been a bad thing. Am I crazy to say this could have been 150 pages shorter? It felt so bloated with not enough happening. Now, I did think the writing was well done and I enjoyed the humor, horror elements, and the footnotes. I was most interested in the queer relationship but even that couldn’t help me love the rest more.
3.25⭐️
3.25⭐️
January 2, 2026
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5stars)
⭐ 4.5 stars
This debut is dark, Gothic, and surprisingly funny, blending history, monsters, and a tragic love story into a gripping, immersive fantasy.
What I liked:
The writing has a scholarly, witty tone, reminiscent of Emily Wilde: Encyclopedia of Fairies, but much darker and Gothic. I loved the multi-timeline storytelling and how real history is woven into the fantasy. The banter between Sebastian, his demon, and the succubus adds humor and a fun misfit dynamic. At its core, the tragic, forbidden love story gives the book real emotional weight.
What didn’t work for me:
Some of the mythology was confusing — multiple names for demons and creatures aren’t fully explained. With three timelines, there were moments where I had to pause to keep track.
If you love Gothic historical fantasy, monster hunters, and dark, clever storytelling, this is a February release to watch for.
⭐ 4.5 stars
This debut is dark, Gothic, and surprisingly funny, blending history, monsters, and a tragic love story into a gripping, immersive fantasy.
What I liked:
The writing has a scholarly, witty tone, reminiscent of Emily Wilde: Encyclopedia of Fairies, but much darker and Gothic. I loved the multi-timeline storytelling and how real history is woven into the fantasy. The banter between Sebastian, his demon, and the succubus adds humor and a fun misfit dynamic. At its core, the tragic, forbidden love story gives the book real emotional weight.
What didn’t work for me:
Some of the mythology was confusing — multiple names for demons and creatures aren’t fully explained. With three timelines, there were moments where I had to pause to keep track.
If you love Gothic historical fantasy, monster hunters, and dark, clever storytelling, this is a February release to watch for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
** Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this ALC in exchange for an honest review **
I will preface this review with a small fact about myself: when I was a kid, my family was gifted a DVD of the French film Le Pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf), and while this film might be no masterpiece, I did watch it over and over again — it was my introduction to the Beast of Gévaudan, and needless to say, I was fascinated.
The premise of Cameron Sullivan' debut novel, The Red Winter, centres around this moment in the history of the French region of Gévaudan, through the lens of historical fantasy and with a story that goes as far back as Ancient Rome. It's an ambitious endeavour, and Sullivan succeeds at creating a gripping storyline surrounding these events. However, The Red Winter is also a novel that left me unsatisfied by the time I reach its end — I had unanswered questions and there's much about it that I wish had been different.
Let's begin with what I liked: Sullivan clearly did his search and does a convincing job at selling the 18th century France setting, and while there were some anachronisms (such as speech patterns that are inevitably modernised for the sake of the reader) some of these are well justified by fantasy elements like Sebastian's own longevity. The exploration of his emotions surrounding his former relationship with Antoine was honestly refreshing to read, since it's not often that we see fantasy novels focusing more on a character's healing journey after a relationship than on discovering a new love. Sebastian's bisexuality and romantic interests are a vital aspect of the plot, and I really enjoyed the thought that went into considering how the fact that he's immortal affects his relationships with others — especially with the "demonic" entity that possesses him, Sarmodel, and the emotional aspects to their codependency. On that note, Sarmodel was one of my favourite characters, and for the most part, a delight to read.
I say "for the most part" because this relationship of codependency and Sarmodel himself are also part of one of the biggest problems that I had with The Red Winter. The magic system in this novel is generally very loose; things are explained when they need to be explained and usually only when they're of service to the plot. This is fine and something that a lot of fantasy and historical fantasy does, but given that we're told that Sebastian and Sarmodel have been together for centuries (since Ancient Roman times or even before), I couldn't help but constantly wonder why they weren't as powerful as the narrative wants the reader to believe. There's the fact that Sebastian does not often allow Sarmodel to consume souls, yes, but Sebastian also seems to know very little about the actual extend of Sarmodel's power, which is hard to believe being how long they have been bound to one another and how much time he has had to research and learn — we're talking almost two thousand years or even more!
Of course, having a protagonist that is all-powerful is generally rather boring and a disservice to the plot, and I can see why Sullivan may have wanted to avoid this, but this discrepancy in Sebastian and Sarmodel's relationship and Sebastian's skill-level could have been fixed in many ways, including not making him as old as he is from the get-go. I would have much preferred this, since I also didn't find that Sebastian read like someone who has roamed this earth for almost two millennia.
I also find that making Sebastian "younger" would have helped with how Christian his perception of the world is (as well as the fantasy in the setting as a whole). The Red Winter is full folklore and fantastical elements, but at their core, the way that they're presented is very much inspired by Christian demonology, with demons and angels being central to the story, and even the Roman god that is the main antagonist actually being a demon. This can be an interesting approach, but the figure of Mars gets simplified and watered down to being "war-loving entity"(my assumption is that Mars was chosen specifically due to being so closely associated to wolves, and while I did like this approach to the werewolf trope, I wish that the characterisation had had nuance beyond "war gets off from death and chaos", but instead we have a werewolf monologuing about murder and getting raging boners mid-rampage), which takes away the majority of his traits a Roman deity. In general, all demon's motivations are presented in a very simple way other than Sarmodel's, and sadly, this includes Livia as well.
Livia is the third most important character after Sebastian and Sarmodel, and the third member to their team. Livia is also a succubus, and you can be sure that every single time she interacts with our protagonists, this will be brought up and played for laughs, "slut-shaming" her for something that is simply part of her demonic nature. Sebastian is sympathetic towards Sarmodel's nature, but not Livia's, even though she has been with him for centuries as little more than a slave to do his bidding. This results in Sebastian coming off pretty terribly, and frankly, the treatment of Livia gets incredibly tired, especially when she's the only woman in the novel who has a major role beyond pushing the plot forward, and even more so when other women are also painted in a negative light: there's the greed demon who also happens to be female and possesses an innocent girl (who dies) when Sebastian knowingly summons her as a glorified bloodhound, and then, there's also Jeanne d'Arc. In this setting, Jeanne d'Arc is not a woman who did amazing things by her own volition, but instead a village girl who was foolish enough to accidentally become possessed by the demon that was the god Mars, and everything that Jeanne did in history was actually this demon's doing — thus, making the reasons for her trial and execution be true.
Sullivan could have done a much better job with the treatment of women in this story, since even when countering the way these three women are used, demonised, insulted, tormented, and treated as incompetent with those that are presented in a positive light (the healer and her daughter, as well as the entity they serve, and to an even lesser extent, Antoine's wife), none of these are present for much of the story and most of them die horribly. Often, they also die in ways that serve no purpose in the story beyond just showing how horrible the beast is, which by then we've already seen time and again with the murder of men.
Now, concerning the beast itself, werewolves being associated with the Beast of Gévaudan is nothing new, but I did like the approach that Sullivan took when it came to this and with justifying the spread of lycanthropy through Antoine's bloodline. It was interesting and refreshing, especially with how Antoine's broken promise factored into it.
This review and rating will likely make it seem like I didn't enjoy the novel, and while there was a lot about it that either confused or annoyed me, making it so I'm unlikely to ever reread it, I did enjoy myself though a lot of it, and that was in part thanks to the audiobook narrators. Both Rory Barnett and Imogen Church we a delight to listen to, and I liked the fact that Sebastian and Livia's POVs had different narrators. There was a bit of a discrepancy in tone between them (especially in Sebastian's dialogue) and at times it did result to be somewhat jarring, but it sounded like they were going for having Livia mock the way Sebastian spoke when narrating what he would have said, which I found to be very in-character for her.
So, all-in-all, I found The Red Winter to be a novel that was full of very interesting concepts, but that could have done with more polishing. It's a debut, so that also has to be considered, and truth be told, I remain hopeful that Sullivan's next novel might take into account the problems with this one, do a better job with the way women are portrayed, and have a setting that is more tightly put together. I'm curious to see what he brings us next!
(My actual rating for this is closer to a 2.5, since I do think that the narrators deserve a higher rating than a 2)
I will preface this review with a small fact about myself: when I was a kid, my family was gifted a DVD of the French film Le Pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf), and while this film might be no masterpiece, I did watch it over and over again — it was my introduction to the Beast of Gévaudan, and needless to say, I was fascinated.
The premise of Cameron Sullivan' debut novel, The Red Winter, centres around this moment in the history of the French region of Gévaudan, through the lens of historical fantasy and with a story that goes as far back as Ancient Rome. It's an ambitious endeavour, and Sullivan succeeds at creating a gripping storyline surrounding these events. However, The Red Winter is also a novel that left me unsatisfied by the time I reach its end — I had unanswered questions and there's much about it that I wish had been different.
Let's begin with what I liked: Sullivan clearly did his search and does a convincing job at selling the 18th century France setting, and while there were some anachronisms (such as speech patterns that are inevitably modernised for the sake of the reader) some of these are well justified by fantasy elements like Sebastian's own longevity. The exploration of his emotions surrounding his former relationship with Antoine was honestly refreshing to read, since it's not often that we see fantasy novels focusing more on a character's healing journey after a relationship than on discovering a new love. Sebastian's bisexuality and romantic interests are a vital aspect of the plot, and I really enjoyed the thought that went into considering how the fact that he's immortal affects his relationships with others — especially with the "demonic" entity that possesses him, Sarmodel, and the emotional aspects to their codependency. On that note, Sarmodel was one of my favourite characters, and for the most part, a delight to read.
I say "for the most part" because this relationship of codependency and Sarmodel himself are also part of one of the biggest problems that I had with The Red Winter. The magic system in this novel is generally very loose; things are explained when they need to be explained and usually only when they're of service to the plot. This is fine and something that a lot of fantasy and historical fantasy does, but given that we're told that Sebastian and Sarmodel have been together for centuries (since Ancient Roman times or even before), I couldn't help but constantly wonder why they weren't as powerful as the narrative wants the reader to believe. There's the fact that Sebastian does not often allow Sarmodel to consume souls, yes, but Sebastian also seems to know very little about the actual extend of Sarmodel's power, which is hard to believe being how long they have been bound to one another and how much time he has had to research and learn — we're talking almost two thousand years or even more!
Of course, having a protagonist that is all-powerful is generally rather boring and a disservice to the plot, and I can see why Sullivan may have wanted to avoid this, but this discrepancy in Sebastian and Sarmodel's relationship and Sebastian's skill-level could have been fixed in many ways, including not making him as old as he is from the get-go. I would have much preferred this, since I also didn't find that Sebastian read like someone who has roamed this earth for almost two millennia.
I also find that making Sebastian "younger" would have helped with how Christian his perception of the world is (as well as the fantasy in the setting as a whole). The Red Winter is full folklore and fantastical elements, but at their core, the way that they're presented is very much inspired by Christian demonology, with demons and angels being central to the story, and even the Roman god that is the main antagonist actually being a demon. This can be an interesting approach, but the figure of Mars gets simplified and watered down to being "war-loving entity"(my assumption is that Mars was chosen specifically due to being so closely associated to wolves, and while I did like this approach to the werewolf trope, I wish that the characterisation had had nuance beyond "war gets off from death and chaos", but instead we have a werewolf monologuing about murder and getting raging boners mid-rampage), which takes away the majority of his traits a Roman deity. In general, all demon's motivations are presented in a very simple way other than Sarmodel's, and sadly, this includes Livia as well.
Livia is the third most important character after Sebastian and Sarmodel, and the third member to their team. Livia is also a succubus, and you can be sure that every single time she interacts with our protagonists, this will be brought up and played for laughs, "slut-shaming" her for something that is simply part of her demonic nature. Sebastian is sympathetic towards Sarmodel's nature, but not Livia's, even though she has been with him for centuries as little more than a slave to do his bidding. This results in Sebastian coming off pretty terribly, and frankly, the treatment of Livia gets incredibly tired, especially when she's the only woman in the novel who has a major role beyond pushing the plot forward, and even more so when other women are also painted in a negative light: there's the greed demon who also happens to be female and possesses an innocent girl (who dies) when Sebastian knowingly summons her as a glorified bloodhound, and then, there's also Jeanne d'Arc. In this setting, Jeanne d'Arc is not a woman who did amazing things by her own volition, but instead a village girl who was foolish enough to accidentally become possessed by the demon that was the god Mars, and everything that Jeanne did in history was actually this demon's doing — thus, making the reasons for her trial and execution be true.
Sullivan could have done a much better job with the treatment of women in this story, since even when countering the way these three women are used, demonised, insulted, tormented, and treated as incompetent with those that are presented in a positive light (the healer and her daughter, as well as the entity they serve, and to an even lesser extent, Antoine's wife), none of these are present for much of the story and most of them die horribly. Often, they also die in ways that serve no purpose in the story beyond just showing how horrible the beast is, which by then we've already seen time and again with the murder of men.
Now, concerning the beast itself, werewolves being associated with the Beast of Gévaudan is nothing new, but I did like the approach that Sullivan took when it came to this and with justifying the spread of lycanthropy through Antoine's bloodline. It was interesting and refreshing, especially with how Antoine's broken promise factored into it.
This review and rating will likely make it seem like I didn't enjoy the novel, and while there was a lot about it that either confused or annoyed me, making it so I'm unlikely to ever reread it, I did enjoy myself though a lot of it, and that was in part thanks to the audiobook narrators. Both Rory Barnett and Imogen Church we a delight to listen to, and I liked the fact that Sebastian and Livia's POVs had different narrators. There was a bit of a discrepancy in tone between them (especially in Sebastian's dialogue) and at times it did result to be somewhat jarring, but it sounded like they were going for having Livia mock the way Sebastian spoke when narrating what he would have said, which I found to be very in-character for her.
So, all-in-all, I found The Red Winter to be a novel that was full of very interesting concepts, but that could have done with more polishing. It's a debut, so that also has to be considered, and truth be told, I remain hopeful that Sullivan's next novel might take into account the problems with this one, do a better job with the way women are portrayed, and have a setting that is more tightly put together. I'm curious to see what he brings us next!
(My actual rating for this is closer to a 2.5, since I do think that the narrators deserve a higher rating than a 2)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you so much Tor books for the physical arc in exchange for an honest review!
What a wild ride! I can't believe this is a debut!
Set in the French countryside in 1785 (but also told through multiple timelines) The Red Winter tells the story of Professor Sebastian Grave, a monster hunter, with an in-dwelling demon himself, as he is told his utmost fear: The Beast of Gevaudan has returned.
This ambitious debut wove together so many incredible elements, including: history, religion, fantasy, horror and queer romance. Sullivan's prose was electric and I was immediately sucked in. Sebastian's pov was fantastic. His voice was so witty, sarcastic and blunt, which felt remarkably refreshing considering the setting. I also liked the back and forth between he and his demon, Sarmodel. I found myself smiling so much!
The use of footnotes is another aspect I loved. It offered further world-building in a comedic manner, which I found fun and did not pull me out of the story at all.
Though this was incredible and I adored it, there are a couple of reasons that I didn't rate this five stars. There are multiple timelines in this story and I did feel that sometimes they did not flow seamlessly and therefore sometimes I lost some of the threads of the story. I did also find that there were a lot of 'demonic' characters and as they could take multiple forms and have multiple names, I sometimes didn't know which one was being referred to, or their relevance to the overarching story.
I really appreciated the romance, however, I don't feel like it was explored quite as deeply as I had hoped for and as the ending was quite brief, I didn't feel the full emotional weight of the romance.
However, this was so incredibly fun and the writing was fantastic! I loved so many elements and I can't wait to see what else is in store!
What a wild ride! I can't believe this is a debut!
Set in the French countryside in 1785 (but also told through multiple timelines) The Red Winter tells the story of Professor Sebastian Grave, a monster hunter, with an in-dwelling demon himself, as he is told his utmost fear: The Beast of Gevaudan has returned.
This ambitious debut wove together so many incredible elements, including: history, religion, fantasy, horror and queer romance. Sullivan's prose was electric and I was immediately sucked in. Sebastian's pov was fantastic. His voice was so witty, sarcastic and blunt, which felt remarkably refreshing considering the setting. I also liked the back and forth between he and his demon, Sarmodel. I found myself smiling so much!
The use of footnotes is another aspect I loved. It offered further world-building in a comedic manner, which I found fun and did not pull me out of the story at all.
Though this was incredible and I adored it, there are a couple of reasons that I didn't rate this five stars. There are multiple timelines in this story and I did feel that sometimes they did not flow seamlessly and therefore sometimes I lost some of the threads of the story. I did also find that there were a lot of 'demonic' characters and as they could take multiple forms and have multiple names, I sometimes didn't know which one was being referred to, or their relevance to the overarching story.
I really appreciated the romance, however, I don't feel like it was explored quite as deeply as I had hoped for and as the ending was quite brief, I didn't feel the full emotional weight of the romance.
However, this was so incredibly fun and the writing was fantastic! I loved so many elements and I can't wait to see what else is in store!
February 28, 2026
I do love a book that reminds you just how ugly and how hungry love can be.
This book is a RIOT.
It’s ravenous and irreverent, raucous and vengeful. Lurid. Relentless, really. Decadent and sensuous, sinful and unapologetic. A real bacchanal, of sorts.
Sebastian Grave and his indwelling demon, Sarmodel are the most delightful of main characters—main character?
They literally share one brain cell and somehow manage to incite the beginnings of the French Revolution whilst trying to settle a personal vendetta amongst biblical/eldritch horrors. They’re also adjacently involved in creating the first werewolf along the way. There’s a snarky succubus involved, too. Joan of Arc shows up, for fun, as well. It’s a real who’s-who blend of awful and profane/arcane history, culture, and folklore.
Again, this is a raucous, rip-roaring good-time of a read. To say the least.
Anyway.
Is this my best book of the year? Not sure—the year is still young and “The Poet Empress” casts a long shadow. But, it’s certainly in contention.
Anyway, anyway.
I think this book is a treasure that every reader should have the opportunity to discover for themselves. So, I’ll leave it at that. Check this sumptuous book out, dear readers~
[This book and “The Corruption of Hollis Brown” have given me an appetite for books about two characters sharing one vessel. It’s either a new kink or a new fascination. Either way. If you have any recommendations for similar reads, please let me know~]
This book is a RIOT.
It’s ravenous and irreverent, raucous and vengeful. Lurid. Relentless, really. Decadent and sensuous, sinful and unapologetic. A real bacchanal, of sorts.
Sebastian Grave and his indwelling demon, Sarmodel are the most delightful of main characters—main character?
They literally share one brain cell and somehow manage to incite the beginnings of the French Revolution whilst trying to settle a personal vendetta amongst biblical/eldritch horrors. They’re also adjacently involved in creating the first werewolf along the way. There’s a snarky succubus involved, too. Joan of Arc shows up, for fun, as well. It’s a real who’s-who blend of awful and profane/arcane history, culture, and folklore.
Again, this is a raucous, rip-roaring good-time of a read. To say the least.
Anyway.
Is this my best book of the year? Not sure—the year is still young and “The Poet Empress” casts a long shadow. But, it’s certainly in contention.
Anyway, anyway.
I think this book is a treasure that every reader should have the opportunity to discover for themselves. So, I’ll leave it at that. Check this sumptuous book out, dear readers~
[This book and “The Corruption of Hollis Brown” have given me an appetite for books about two characters sharing one vessel. It’s either a new kink or a new fascination. Either way. If you have any recommendations for similar reads, please let me know~]
February 23, 2026
I finished this almost a week ago now and every time I sit down to try to write a review for this I find myself staring at my screen malfunctioning because I truly do not think I can put into words just how much I loved this. One of my all-time favourite books is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and I had not found any books that came remotely close to scratching that itch until this.
Admittedly I wasn’t familiar with the original myth, so can’t really speak on how it holds up as a retelling, but as it was an original story for me it was just absolutely incredible. From Sebastian’s opening passage, recalling his time with Antoine and introducing us to both Sarmodel and Livia, I was hooked. I am usually not the biggest fan of multiple timelines, but I thought it worked really well bouncing between them and everything linked up so well.
I have always been a fan of footnotes in books but sometimes have found that they seem quite corny and inauthentic to the story, but in this narrative they add so much. I often found myself laughing out loud at them, and especially when the text itself could get quite dark it was nice to have a little relief in them. I also think they add so much to the world-building, and it fleshed out the world in such a nice way.
In terms of characters, I loved the relationship between Sebastian and Sarmodel a lot. Their little back-and-forths were so funny but also showed the care between them. Livia was a force in and of herself, and I think she held her own so well against everyone she came up across. The love between Sebastian and Antoine was so beautifully heartbreaking, as we got towards the end of the novel I lost count of how many times I had cried (although I think every character made me cry at some point).
If you are looking for a dark, queer, historical fantasy then this is the perfect book for you, I genuinely did not want to put it down. I cannot quite believe it was a debut.
Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan, Tor, NetGalley and Cameron Sullivan for this review copy, I truly cannot thank you enough.
Admittedly I wasn’t familiar with the original myth, so can’t really speak on how it holds up as a retelling, but as it was an original story for me it was just absolutely incredible. From Sebastian’s opening passage, recalling his time with Antoine and introducing us to both Sarmodel and Livia, I was hooked. I am usually not the biggest fan of multiple timelines, but I thought it worked really well bouncing between them and everything linked up so well.
I have always been a fan of footnotes in books but sometimes have found that they seem quite corny and inauthentic to the story, but in this narrative they add so much. I often found myself laughing out loud at them, and especially when the text itself could get quite dark it was nice to have a little relief in them. I also think they add so much to the world-building, and it fleshed out the world in such a nice way.
In terms of characters, I loved the relationship between Sebastian and Sarmodel a lot. Their little back-and-forths were so funny but also showed the care between them. Livia was a force in and of herself, and I think she held her own so well against everyone she came up across. The love between Sebastian and Antoine was so beautifully heartbreaking, as we got towards the end of the novel I lost count of how many times I had cried (although I think every character made me cry at some point).
If you are looking for a dark, queer, historical fantasy then this is the perfect book for you, I genuinely did not want to put it down. I cannot quite believe it was a debut.
Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan, Tor, NetGalley and Cameron Sullivan for this review copy, I truly cannot thank you enough.
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