Following the strong debut of his historical fantasy novel The Red Winter, author Cameron Sullivan has confirmed that he is already working on a new mystery featuring the same core characters.

In an interview with The Phrasemaker, Sullivan revealed that Sebastian, Sarmodel, and Livia will return in another dark historical investigation, this time set against the backdrop of European witch hunts.

“I’m already off on my next adventure with Sebastian, Sarmodel and Livia,” Sullivan said. “It’s not a direct sequel, but it’s another dark mystery they have to unravel and they’ll all be making terrible decisions and falling in love with the wrong people. Without giving too much away, I’m doing a lot of research on European witch-hunts in the 1500s.”

In the interview, Sullivan also discusses the research behind The Red Winter, the challenge of weaving together multiple timelines, and how humor can coexist with horror in historical fiction.

About The Red Winter

Published by Tor Books, The Red Winter blends historical events, folklore, and horror. The novel draws inspiration from the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan, the mysterious creature blamed for a series of deadly attacks in eighteenth-century France.

The book debuted this week as an instant New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller, marking a strong launch for Sullivan’s historical fantasy series.

Does this mean Sullivan is planning a series?

Since the upcoming story is not a direct sequel, it looks like Sullivan is interested in building out the world as much as the characters (think Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series). That said, the central characters will return, so it could be the beginning of a broader cycle of historical mysteries centered around Sebastian and his companions too. Either way, now that The Red Winter is a bonafide success, expect the same fantastic blend of fantasy and romance from Sullivan going forward.

You can read our review of The Red Winter here: