Cameron Sullivan’s debut fantasy novel reimagines the historical Beast of Gévaudan legend across multiple centuries. The narrative follows Professor Sebastian Grave, an immortal occultist sharing consciousness with demon Sarmodel, as he traces a cosmic battle spanning from 1430s France (where peasant Jehanne hears a dark entity posing as Archangel Michael) through 1766 (when a man-eating Beast terrorizes Gévaudan, drawing Sebastian into a hunt alongside nobleman’s son Antoine) to 1785 (when Jacques summons Sebastian as the Beast resurfaces amid revolutionary unrest). Published by Tor, the novel explores Faustian bargains between mortals and supernatural entities—demons, gods, angels—while examining Sebastian’s unique contentment with Sarmodel and his bond with succubus Livia. The work blends gothic horror with historical drama, questioning the nature of eternal relationships forged through otherworldly contracts.
Original article published on The Gothic Library — AI-generated summary.
