Lurid 80s / 90s horror / fantasy / sci-fi book. The cover shows a supernatural black beast (not an animal) with fangs & claws looming over a (possibly naked) unconscious boy lying on grass. Around the margins are dimly-lit villagers arriving on the scene in horror, possibly with flaming torches.

When I was growing up in the early 90s, there were lots of horror and sci-fi books with very bright, vibrant, lurid covers - shiny blades, crimson drops of blood, women fainting, etc.

I would scare and thrill myself by going into WHSmiths and looking at all the inappropriate book covers, full of weapons, gore and nudity.

The style is hard to describe, but it was absolutely of its time and place.

I've never been able to forget this cover art. I haven't even read the book, I just want to know what it was!