The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

TL;DR: An incredible debut, I don’t understand how this doesn’t have more hype.
Source: NetGalley, thank you so much!

Plot: Sebastian tells us the story of a great love, and tragedy in his long history.
Characters: I loved all these terrible and wonderful people.
Setting: This was beautifully written. It felt cold, wet, bloody, all the things.
Horror: The horror in this wasn’t just the type you expect and it’s so well done in every way.

Summary:

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

Sebastian knows the Beast. A monster-slayer with centuries of experience, he joined the hunt for the creature twenty years ago and watched it slaughter its way through a long and bloody winter. Even with the help of his indwelling demon, Sarmodel – who takes payment in living hearts – it nearly cost him his life to bring the monster down.

Now, two decades later, Sebastian has been recalled to the hunt by Antoine Avenel d’Ocerne, an estranged lover who shares a dark history with the Beast and a terrible secret with Sebastian. Drawn by both the chance to finish the Beast for good and the promise of a reconciliation with Antoine, Sebastian cannot refuse.

But Gevaudan is not as he remembers it, and Sebastian’s unfinished business is everywhere he looks. Years of misery have driven the people to desperation, and France teeters on the edge of revolution. Sebastian’s arcane activities – not to mention his demonic counterpart – have also attracted the inquisitorial eye of the French clergy. And the Beast is poised to close his jaws around them all and plunge the continent into war.

Thoughts:

Oh man, here I am with another Five Star and unsure about how to explain how good this was.

First off, this has no business being such a fantastic debut. Alright? This is the story of Sebastian, told by him, about a great love, betrayal, and tragedy in his history. The thing about Sebastian is he’s quite old and bound to a spirit that requires feeding and care. The two have been bound since childhood so we get both of their voices. In addition we get a third, who tells us another history, even further back, of what ultimately leads to the first historical perspective.

And it’s so damn well done I had to double and triple check that this was in fact a debut. It’s also queer, bloody, heartbreaking, and swoon worthy all together. I recommend the audio book as well, the narrators on this were phenomenal and truly brought this to life.

If you love fantasy at all, and fantasy horror, this is a must read. It’s going to be high on my list for best books of the year I do believe. All of the stars and a heavy recommendation from me.