The Gods Are Thirsty is a 1996 historical novel by British author Tanith Lee set during the French Revolution.

During a night out at the bar, struggling writer Camille Desmoulins hears that the popular finance minister Jacques Necker has been dismissed from office.

At Georges Danton's behest, Camille stands on a table and tells the people of the Third Estate to rise against the monarch of France, King Louis XVI.

Danton creates The Committee of General Defense to arrest and try anti-revolutionists, who are beheaded by the guillotine, a symbol for the Reign of Terror.

Camille writes an article asking for moderation and an end to beheadings and then he is promptly arrested along with Danton and other Dantonists.

[3] She focused more on Camille Desmoulins because he was the link between the two main figures of the French Revolution, Robespierre and Danton.

Finally, Desmoulins is one of the more unknown characters in the Revolution, so Tanith Lee wanted to bring awareness to the importance of his actions.

[2] Critics agreed that the Gods Are Thirsty was beautifully written despite Tanith Lee's inexperience with historical fiction.