‘A MASTERPIECE OF MEDIEVAL DARK FICTION’ Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires
‘A WILD FEVER-DREAM OF A NOVEL – COMPLICATED, MOSTROUS AND BEAUTIFUL’ Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author
From the bestselling M. R. Carey comes an utterly unique and enchantingly dark epic fantasy fable like no other.
Eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England, I, Once Was Willem, rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham. The words enclosed herein are true.
I speak of monsters and magic, battle and bloodletting, and the crimes of desperate men. I speak also of secret things, of that which lies beneath us and that which impends above. By the time you come to the end of this account you will know the truth of your own life and death, the path laid out for your immortal soul, your origin and your inevitable end.
You will not thank me.
‘An incredible masterwork of medieval fantasy-horror, dark and twisted and burning bright with humanity. Once Was Willem is packed with magic, folklore, superstitious fear, and horrors that bring hope’ Cameron Johnston, author of The Maleficent Seven
‘Weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story . . . A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation’ Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires
‘A delicious blend of horror, fantasy and historical fiction, Once Was Willem gave me exactly what I crave most as a reader – the unexpected. That, and a main character I would fight to the undeath for. A unique and brilliant book’ Jen Williams, British Fantasy Award-winning author of The Ninth Rain
‘It’s a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it – it had me absolutely rapt‘ RJ Barker, author of The Bone Ships
‘It’s so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful’ Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer
‘A WILD FEVER-DREAM OF A NOVEL – COMPLICATED, MOSTROUS AND BEAUTIFUL’ Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author
From the bestselling M. R. Carey comes an utterly unique and enchantingly dark epic fantasy fable like no other.
Eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England, I, Once Was Willem, rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham. The words enclosed herein are true.
I speak of monsters and magic, battle and bloodletting, and the crimes of desperate men. I speak also of secret things, of that which lies beneath us and that which impends above. By the time you come to the end of this account you will know the truth of your own life and death, the path laid out for your immortal soul, your origin and your inevitable end.
You will not thank me.
‘An incredible masterwork of medieval fantasy-horror, dark and twisted and burning bright with humanity. Once Was Willem is packed with magic, folklore, superstitious fear, and horrors that bring hope’ Cameron Johnston, author of The Maleficent Seven
‘Weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story . . . A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation’ Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires
‘A delicious blend of horror, fantasy and historical fiction, Once Was Willem gave me exactly what I crave most as a reader – the unexpected. That, and a main character I would fight to the undeath for. A unique and brilliant book’ Jen Williams, British Fantasy Award-winning author of The Ninth Rain
‘It’s a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it – it had me absolutely rapt‘ RJ Barker, author of The Bone Ships
‘It’s so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful’ Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer
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Reviews
It's a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it - it had me absolutely rapt.
A delicious blend of horror, fantasy and historical fiction, Once Was Willem gave me exactly what I crave most as a reader - the unexpected. That, and a main character I would fight to the undeath for. A unique and brilliant book that leaves you wanting an immediate sequel
It's so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful
A wild fever-dream of a novel. It's a brilliant, coherent, complex story that I'm not sure anyone else alive could have written - complicated and beautiful, monstrous and ultimately human
In Once Was Willem, M. R. Carey's gorgeous prose weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story boasting one of the nastiest sorcerers you'll ever meet, and a narrator as inwardly gentle as he is outwardly monstrous. A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation.
An incredible masterwork of medieval fantasy-horror, dark and twisted and burning bright with humanity. Once Was Willem is packed with magic, folklore, superstitious fear, and horrors that bring hope.
It's a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it - it had me absolutely rapt.
It's so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful.