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Once Was Willem

The sensational, enthrallingly dark tale of twisted folklore and macabre magic

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Once Was Willem

By: M. R. Carey
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
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'A MASTERPIECE OF MEDIEVAL DARK FICTION' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires

***Finalist for the World Fantasy Award***

From the bestselling M. R. Carey comes an enthrallingly dark medieval tale - a story of twisted folklore, macabre magic and the strangest of found families. This is the tale of Once-Was-Willem.

Reader reviews:
'This book. Is. Phenomenal. Go buy it when it comes out . . . This could EASILY be my favorite book of the year already' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Perfect in every way. 5/5 stars. Order it now; you do not want to miss this one' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'An amazing tale that I can see myself going back to time and again' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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 novel - complicated, monstrous and beautiful' Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author©2025 Mike Carey Fantasy Historical Scary Middle Ages
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Critic Reviews

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.
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
The prose is wonderful . . . the plot and the pacing are similarly impressive . . . magical, expansive and inventive, it's a joy to read
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
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
Enchanting and horrifying in equal measure, Carey's historical fantasy unfolds into a moving epic in which monsters become heroes when faced with a truly vile villain. Carey skillfully captures the essence of the medieval era, where peasants toil in the shadow of crumbling castles, survival trumps chivalry, and magic, though the devil's work, is highly coveted . . . An original and expertly written medieval fantasy that's perfect for fans of RJ Barker, Sebastien de Castell, and Katherine Kurtz and also touches upon the emotional and heartbreaking themes found in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
All stars
Most relevant
The voice performance was good except for the voice of the main “villain” it was high pitch and squeaky and made me want to stop listening gave the book more of a comical feel. The story was also fine but I would market this more to a young adult. It had the feel of a marvel movie set in the Middle Ages with many obstacles being overcome with conveniences. I bought this on sale and for the price it was ok though I felt I zoned out a lot and don’t remember much of it.

Meh

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In short: Once Was Willem is dark, beautiful, and profoundly human. If you like fantasy that’s both imaginative and emotionally rich, I can’t recommend it enough.

A Glorious Reimagining of Dark Fairy Tales

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If you feel that stories set in medieval England are frustratingly too cheery and lighthearted, this book is very much for you. To darken the mood to your liking, Mr Carey adds dark magic, body horror, and child sacrifice. But with style.

The story, well told in the manner of the period, is mainly from the perspective of a boy-turned-monster outcast from his village who his persecutors eventually ask to save them. The POV occasionally changes to other characters, which I found distracting early in the book, but it all works to build to the final confrontation. As with other books from the author, the world-building was well done and fascinating.

Dark fantasy horror

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