The Red Winter is a dark historical fantasy that blends folklore, history, and horror into a brutal retelling of the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan. In 1785, Professor Sebastian Grave receives word that the infamous Beast, thought to have been killed decades earlier, has returned to terrorize the French countryside. A monster hunter with centuries of experience, Sebastian once nearly lost his life trying to destroy the creature, aided only by the demon bound to him, Sarmodel. Now drawn back to Gévaudan by unfinished business and by the return of an estranged lover tied to both the Beast and Sebastian’s past; he must confront old wounds, political unrest, and a monster that may be far more dangerous than he remembers.
I listened to this one on audio, and it was honestly a really great listening experience. The story has a layered structure that jumps between timelines, with much of the past being told as a story within the present narrative. At first it took me a minute to keep the timeline straight, especially because there are also a few side stories woven in but once everything clicked into place, the structure really worked and added depth to the overall story.
One of the things that really drew me in was the historical setting. The late 1700s in France, especially the years leading up to the French Revolution, is such a fascinating period of history. “Love” might not be the right word considering how chaotic and violent the era was, but it’s definitely a time I find incredibly interesting. The novel does a great job weaving the political and religious tensions of the time into the supernatural elements of the story.
The Beast itself is a compelling presence throughout the book, but for me the real highlight was Sebastian as a character. I’m still not entirely sure what Sebastian truly is, but I enjoyed following his story and unraveling pieces of his past as the narrative moved along. His dynamic with Sarmodel, his heart-hungry demonic companion, was also surprisingly fun. Yes, Sarmodel is technically a demon who requires living hearts as payment, but their banter added moments of dark humor that balanced some of the heavier elements of the story.
Fair warning: this book definitely leans on the gory side. The violence fits the tone and the legend it’s based on, but it’s not shy about the bloodier aspects of monster hunting. At the same time, I really appreciated the deeper historical and religious threads running through the narrative, including references to figures like Joan of Arc. It’s not a direct parallel, but those touches helped expand the world and the mythology behind it.
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic debut. It blends real history with dark fantasy in a way that feels ambitious and immersive. I’d honestly love to see a sequel or even a series because I would absolutely read more about Sebastian’s other adventures (or misadventures) throughout history.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★★
The Red Winter is out now. Huge thank you to Tor Books and MacMillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
