Bookseller Reviews
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Incredible and Intoxicating
I loved this! I have not enjoyed a book so thoroughly in a long time, especially from a debut author. It was incredible, intoxicating and brilliantly plot... READ MORE
Wildly inventive and FUN historical fantasy
I loved this book so much! The kind of book you're looking forward to reading again as soon as you put it down. I had somehow never heard of the Beast of G... READ MORE
Big Bloodthirsty Fun
The Red Winter introduces us to Sebastian Grave, an undying magician with an ancient spirit called Sarmodel living inside him. It’s a co-habiting arrangeme... READ MORE
A fantastic debut
Red Winter was not remotely what I was expecting, and all the better for it. I’m not quite sure how to sell it, but, you should read it. Is that enough to ... READ MORE
Darkly delicious!
This is such a gratifyingly enjoyable read - a big chunky boi of a book that you can tear your teeth into, but also one that feels like part of a series. I... READ MORE
Filled with beautiful dread
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.
I have a thing for werewolves, and the imagery in this book was beautiful. It... READ MORE
Absolutely brilliant!
I simply could not put this book down; it is one of the most gripping books I’ve read in the past year or so. Sullivan’s take on this tale is brilliantly d... READ MORE
Hilarious, Gory and Tragic
A hilarious, gory and tragic reimagining of the Beast of Gévaudan that I devoured with gusto. Sebastian our almost immortal magician recounts his dealings ... READ MORE
Good Omens meets gothic fantasy.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
A funny, gothic fantasy perfect for fans of Good Omens. I loved this romping exploration of... READ MORE
Gripping, Gruesome and Gorgeous!
Well, that’s not what I was expecting and in the most wonderful way! Cameron Sullivans debut ‘The Red Winter’ had me howling (pun intended), for such a dar... READ MORE
By The Rift This Is Good!
I devoured this story (the heart and all) with absolute, hedonistic glee. Following Sebastian Grave's retelling of the hunt for the Beast during the Red Wi... READ MORE
A different take on historical fantasy!
The Red Winter was a really fun and refreshing change from a more traditional fantasy read. It leans heavily into atmosphere and tension rather than big ac... READ MORE
Intriguing read
A dark historical fantasy set in 1785 France, where demon-bound professor Sebastian Grave is pulled back into the hunt when the Beast of Gévaudan starts ki... READ MORE
You have to read this book.
I loved every part of this book! The storyline had be on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next and the characters are so well written and ... READ MORE
Deliciously dark and ambitious
This is a fantastic debut, taking a real stab at epic horror. For horror and folk-horror fans, the Beast of Gevaudan legend will ring familiar bells. A sat... READ MORE
An impressive dark historical fantasy debut - I love Sullivan's style of writing
An impressive dark fantasy that I absolutely flew through. The incredibly interesting perspective of Sebastian Grave, whatever he may be, added so many dim... READ MORE
More stories of Sebastian's adventures please!
I devoured this story over about 3 days, on the surface it's got werewolves (a new interpretation of the legend), gore, epic fight scenes, and magic, but a... READ MORE
Top Notch Historical Fantasy
I absolutely adored The Red Winter! This really is top-notch historical fantasy, rolling together a fascinating main character, engaging world building and... READ MORE
Dark Historical Fantasy with (edible) heart
Being pitched as a werewolf historical fantasy with a male/male romance was already enough to hook me… but this book turned out to be far richer than I exp... READ MORE
the best werewolf tale since marie de france wrote bisclavret
there aren’t enough words to describe how ridiculously good this book is - written with the weight and experience of a long established author, this wildly... READ MORE
Bloody, brutal and yet somehow still funny.
Dark, gritty and crasser than I expected, I couldn’t put this debut down. Weaves a very familiar werewolf story with layers of intricate (but not overwhelm... READ MORE
Great Narrators In The Retelling Of The First Werewolf Hunt
What a crackling read, feels like historical fiction whilst having the fantasy story of fae hunting other beings & gods of old in a twisted turn of events ... READ MORE
Synopsis
Inspired by the eighteenth-century legend of the Beast of Gévaudan, The Red Winter is a lusty, dark, queer fantasy – perfect for fans of The Witcher and Susanna Clarke.
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 terrible Beast of Gévaudan has returned, and the French countryside runs red in its wake. Sebastian knows the Beast. A monster-slayer with centuries of experience, he joined the hunt for the creature twenty years ago and watched it slaughter its way through a long and bloody winter. Even with the help of Sarmodel, the demon he plays host to, bringing the monster down nearly cost him his life.
Now, two decades later, Sebastian has been recalled to the hunt by Antoine Avenel d’Ocerne, an estranged lover who shares a dark history with the Beast and a terrible secret with Sebastian. Drawn by both the chance to finish the Beast for good and the promise of a reconciliation with Antoine, Sebastian cannot refuse.
Some monsters, it seems, simply won’t stay buried . . .
Publisher information
- Publisher: Pan Macmillan
- ISBN: 9781035047482
- Number of pages: 544
- Dimensions: 244 x 166 x 46 mm
- Weight: 786g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allParts were pretty good, parts rather dragged for me
The main part of this story is set in central France over a period of twenty years in the 16th century. Professor Sebastian Graves was involved in searchi... READ MORE
A Darkly Compelling Debut
There were a lot of things I liked about this book, even though it turned out to be a bit different from what I’d expected. For some reason, I went into it... READ MORE
On the hunt for a beast in pre Revolution France
Take an immortal demon carrying professor, an indentured succubi, a young lord with a big secret and the call of a lost love and that's the making of this ... READ MORE
The Beast of Gévaudan and the Old One
A monster hunter that has more than just and extensive knowledge of monsters, occult and.. gods? Follow him while he tells you a story he experience many c... READ MORE
Couldn't put it down!!!!
Thank you very much to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc of this book. THIS BOOK!!!!!!! I've been in a reading slump for so many months that've los... READ MORE
4 Meatbag Stars
There are things I absolutely love about this book and some things that I don't love as much. First off, let me say that I listened to the audiobook and th... READ MORE
A debut epic fantasy with amazing humour, queer romance and complex storytelling you don't want to miss!!
The Red Winter was so much more than I had expected it to be, and it's not an exaggeration that I was a sobbing mess by the end.
It’s essentially a his... READ MORE
Verified Purchase
loved it
I loved this so much! The interjections from Sebastian’s infernal companion Sarmodel were incredibly entertaining throughout, lightening very disturbing an... READ MORE
The Red Winter
I was very intrigued to read this from the comparisons to the Witcher and the cover. However I was rather disappointed.
There are multiple timelines but ... READ MORE
DARK AND GRIPPING
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this ARC.
From the very beginning, I was hooked. In the first chapter, the author throws you i... READ MORE
Red Winter
Red Winter is the kind of book that lures you in with atmosphere, then emotionally body-slams you with its character dynamics.
We follow Sebastian, who ... READ MORE
Epic debut ~ dark, gripping and will have you on the edge of your seat!
This was a fire-cracker of a debut! I love werewolves and the legend of The Beast of Gévaudan so when I saw this book, I knew it was one I had to read and ... READ MORE
Incredible debut - I need more from Sullivan!
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:
... READ MORE
Devoured this book!
I randomly saw this book four days ago at a table in the shop. Hooked by the first page I bought it and have not put it down since. it's the first book in ... READ MORE
I’m still processing this...
The Red Winter is an incredibly intricate story. We have pompous religious zealots, (un)justified witch trials, proud ancient war spirits, snarky demon com... READ MORE
Gripping, gritty and emotional story.
I'm an emotional wreck after finishing The Red Winter, and I'm pretty sure my heart was one of the many in that story that was mercilessly devoured. Like t... READ MORE
Fascinating debut!
This is a wonderfully dark and visceral debut novel about the Beast of Gévaudan told from the perspective of a very interesting fellow, immortal and carryi... READ MORE
A thrilling new take on a classic creature story
A thrilling new take on a classic creature story, the events are retold from the very distant future after Professor Sebastian Grave finds something in the... READ MORE
New Fantasy Book to Binge
Gloriously Lush
This novel was sublime. I absolutley adored the Dark Gothic vibes. It is deeply atmospheric, well written and perfect pacing. The characters were well deve... READ MORE
Absolutely fantastic!
Wow, wow, wow. What a great start to my reading year.
Where to start? Just the premise has so many elements I love: it's historical fantasy, centering a... READ MORE
Chaotic Bi Van Helsing with demon sidekick
Do you want to read about bisexual immortal Van Helsing in a pact with a demon as he handles the first werewolves in 18th century France? Well I didn't kno... READ MORE
If you are looking for a dark, queer, historical fantasy then this is the perfect book for you
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... READ MORE
Would definitely read more of Sebastian
Macmillan Audio sent me The Red Winter widget and when I saw a monster-hunter in France on the brink of revolution, I was wildly intrigued. Compared to Int... READ MORE
Favourite read of the year so far
I went out the day this was released to buy a signed copy. It's been on my anticipated reads list for a while, though it's not my usual taste (I generally ... READ MORE