The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan has got me howling; it’s so good. The book’s synopsis had me at monster slayer, but then give that monster slayer immortality and a demon that lives in his head? Hi, hello. I’m your girl, and this book is right up my alley. There’s horror. There’s a mystery. And at the dark, beating center of this tale is love.
Sebastian Grave has been alive for centuries. When we meet him in the 1700s, he is posing as a professor to explain away his eccentricities, while his demonic attachment, Sarmodel, helps Sebastian perform magic and complete contracts with humans, ghosts, deities, and all sorts of creatures. Some contracts are easier than others, and one such incident left a bloody stain on Sebastian’s long life. The Red Winter of 1766 belonged to a violent Beast that brought terror to the French countryside. Sebastian and Sarmodel participated in the hunt that vanquished the Beast, but almost twenty years later, Sebastian learns the horror has returned. The pair will journey to France once again in hopes of putting the Beast and Sebastian’s broken heart to rest.
The book takes us through three different timelines to tell one larger story about the Beast. There are two portions told from Sebastian’s perspective. First, we follow him in the present day (1785) as he travels back to Gévaudan, France, after learning that the Beast has returned. On that journey, the story will jump back nineteen years before to learn what happened during The Red Winter in 1766, when the Beast first appeared in Gévaudan. And the third timeline is told from Livia, a succubus who is under contract with Sebastian. Her infrequent portions of the story occur much farther back in the past, in 1431, to detail major events that eventually catch up to Sebastian in 1766 when the Beast first appeared.
Over the years, I’ve read many fantasy series where werewolves are a race of magical creatures that are part of a larger ensemble featuring vampires, faeries, demons, warlocks, etc. The Red Winter is my first classic werewolf story, where a mysterious transforming beast is wreaking havoc. There are no werewolf and vampire turf wars here. There is a grisly little horror story between these pages. But the book is so much more than a werewolf story. There are several mysteries to unravel, each one taking place in each of the timelines, but still interconnected somehow. There is a historical element to the story, as Sebastian/Sarmodel and Livia engage with major historical moments and figures throughout time. There is also a love story that will form out of the darkest moments. And there is a whole magical and paranormal element, thanks to Sebastian’s mysterious connection to Sarmodel and the abilities they have and the immortal lifetime they share.
One of the most intriguing parts of The Red Winter is Sebastian’s relationship with Sarmodel, the demon that is bound to him in body and spirit. Sarmodel is Sebastian’s constant companion. Their relationship is complicated and blurs the lines between Sarmodel being a parasitic life-force-eating entity, a magical peer, a friend, and sometimes, a lover. Together, they navigate the centuries, refining their magical abilities and finding contracts to fulfill, whether it’s to help a ghost pass on, thwart deities, or hunt down a horrible Beast.
The story builds up so well with the consequences of Sebastian’s distant past, recent past, and present all coming to a head. But the ending happens quickly, and so much of the story is left open that I can only hope it means we’ll get a series here. The events of The Red Winter are left somewhat unresolved, and I’m very curious to know what happened. Especially since the first chapter of the book opens with Sebastian in 2013, so I know the man has lived through several more lifetimes. I would love more books that follow Sebastian/Sarmodel and Livia throughout the ages to uncover more of their history and follow their adventures.
Who doesn’t want a mystery, horror, werewolf love story with a little magic? The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan is that and so much more. You’ll love Sebastian’s fearlessness, Sarmodel’s snarky ferociousness, and Livia’s inability to do anything right. This book checked so many boxes for me, I couldn’t stop myself from reaching in and tearing out the heart of this great story.
Rating: The Red Winter – 9.0/10
-Brandee
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The thoughts on this story are my own.
