The Red Winter

By: Cameron Sullivan

Narrated by: Imogen Church, Rory Barnett

A devastating love story. A bewitching twist on history. A blood-drenched hunt for purpose, power, and redemption.

"...narrator Rory Bennet voices Sarmodel like a French Peter Lorre, and it’s *chef’s kiss*" — Book Riot

“...[Narrators Rory Barnett and Imogen Church] elevate the supernatural intrigue and psychological tension, keeping listeners fully engaged. A dark, witty listen blending horror and history into a vivid, gripping, and resonant experience.” — Kirkus (Earphones Award Winner)

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.

Debut author Cameron Sullivan tears the heart out of history with this darkly entertaining retelling of the hunt for the Beast of Gevaudan. Lifting the veil on the hidden world behind our own, it reimagines the story of Europe, from Imperial Rome to Saint Jehanne d’Arc, the madness of Gilles de Rais and the first flickers of the French Revolution.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books

Critic reviews

“An absolute feast of a book: rich, red, sinfully delicious. I've rarely been this satisfied—or this hungry for more.” —Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House

“So bloody good. The Red Winter is absolute ripper entertainment—miss it at your peril!” —Shelley Parker-Chan, bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun

“A gorgeous tangle of history and fresh-made myth. You'll eat this one up.” —Cassandra Khaw, bestselling author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth

“Charming, haunting, ambitious, and a great deal of fun.” —T. Kingfisher, New York Times bestselling author of A Sorceress Comes to Call

Gory yet entertaining

Oh man! Sometimes it was difficult to listen to, as i am not much of a horror fan. But i kept returning because the performance was riveting, and the story was fantastic.

amazing

Five stars honestly isn’t enough. 10/10 narrators, I need all my audiobooks narrated by Rory Barnett and Imogen Church from now on. The way they brought each character to life omg I could scream! Great world building, amazing characters, and just a fun and beautiful story. I did not expect the ending to make me cry the way it did lol I’ve never been so sad a book is over I truly did not want it to end. I need this to be a series like yesterday!!!

Fantastic

A dark and tragic romance with demons and monsters. Well written with excellent character development.

The Geralt of Rivia for the LGBTQ community!

A great adaptation of an action adventure with a strong male lead for the LGBTQ community.

Looooooooved

Would love for this to be a series. Not what I was initially expecting at all, but so happy with it.