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Once Was Willem
From the bestselling M. R. Carey comes an utterly unique and enchantingly dark epic fantasy fable like no other.
This is the tale of Once Was Willem, who - eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England - rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham.
Pennick for all its beauty was ever a place with a dark reputation. The forests of the Chase were said to be home to nixies and boggarts, and there was a common belief, passed down through many generations, that the castle housed an unquiet ghost of terrible and malign power. These rumours I can attest were all true; indeed they fell short of the truth by a long way . . .
This is the tale of Once Was Willem, who - eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England - rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham.
Pennick for all its beauty was ever a place with a dark reputation. The forests of the Chase were said to be home to nixies and boggarts, and there was a common belief, passed down through many generations, that the castle housed an unquiet ghost of terrible and malign power. These rumours I can attest were all true; indeed they fell short of the truth by a long way . . .
299 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2025
321 people are currently reading
9285 people want to read
About the author
M.R. Carey
32 books6,544 followersMike Carey is the acclaimed writer of Lucifer and Hellblazer (now filmed as Constantine). He has recently completed a comics adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, and is the current writer on Marvel's X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four. He has also written the screenplay for a movie, Frost Flowers, which is soon to be produced by Hadaly Films and Bluestar Pictures.
Also writes as Mike Carey
Also writes as Mike Carey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews
March 4, 2025
A beautiful, beautiful tale. It took me a couple of chapters to get into this, but then the story got better and better and better. It’s simply brilliant. There is such a wide variety of characters that you’re sure to find someone to like. There are themes of found family and heroism in the face of extreme danger, as well as bigotry and what it begets. Unchecked power runs rampant, until there’s a force that challenges it. It’s a tale about standing up and saying, “NO” and protecting the innocent, even if some of those people really, really don’t deserve it.
Would you defend a town that was cruel to you, that screamed in terror at the sight of your face, that breathed a sigh of relief when you removed your presence? What really makes a human, human?
I will read this again and again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the chance to read an early copy. I loved it.
All opinions are mine alone.
Would you defend a town that was cruel to you, that screamed in terror at the sight of your face, that breathed a sigh of relief when you removed your presence? What really makes a human, human?
I will read this again and again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the chance to read an early copy. I loved it.
All opinions are mine alone.
March 8, 2025
4.5/5
Finally, something fresh. Once Was Willem is part medieval horror, part dark fairy tale, part found-family adventure.
Our narrator, Willem, was once a regular 12-year-old boy. Then he died. His grieving parents let a sorcerer bring their dead son back to life. Since Willem has been in the ground for a while, what rises from the grave is… not ideal. He’s stronger, uglier, and-despite still having his memories-not exactly welcome back at the dinner table. His parents panic, the village does what angry mobs do best, and Willem, now Once-Was-Willem, finds himself on the run.
Banished from the only home he’s ever known, Willem finds a new life in the deep woods, where he befriends a group of monsters who, like him, have been cast out. Meanwhile, the sorcerer, Cain Caradoc, is busy setting up shop in a fortress built on the bones of a sleeping angel and preparing a mass sacrifice of children to fuel his quest for godhood. Eventually, the terrified villagers realize that only “monsters” they ran off can save them. Oops.
This book is dark, and it has some truly stomach-churning moments, but it never feels dreary. It’s sharp, self-aware, and laced with a dry, biting humor that makes even the bleakest parts go down easy. Willem himself is an excellent protagonist/narrator: a lonely, tragic figure with a surprising amount of warmth. You want him to find belonging. You want him to win. And when the time comes to face Caradoc, you really want him to rip that smug sorcerer apart.
If you like your fantasy a little twisted, your heroes a little ugly, and your villains really vile, Once Was Willem is absolutely worth your time.
Finally, something fresh. Once Was Willem is part medieval horror, part dark fairy tale, part found-family adventure.
Our narrator, Willem, was once a regular 12-year-old boy. Then he died. His grieving parents let a sorcerer bring their dead son back to life. Since Willem has been in the ground for a while, what rises from the grave is… not ideal. He’s stronger, uglier, and-despite still having his memories-not exactly welcome back at the dinner table. His parents panic, the village does what angry mobs do best, and Willem, now Once-Was-Willem, finds himself on the run.
Banished from the only home he’s ever known, Willem finds a new life in the deep woods, where he befriends a group of monsters who, like him, have been cast out. Meanwhile, the sorcerer, Cain Caradoc, is busy setting up shop in a fortress built on the bones of a sleeping angel and preparing a mass sacrifice of children to fuel his quest for godhood. Eventually, the terrified villagers realize that only “monsters” they ran off can save them. Oops.
This book is dark, and it has some truly stomach-churning moments, but it never feels dreary. It’s sharp, self-aware, and laced with a dry, biting humor that makes even the bleakest parts go down easy. Willem himself is an excellent protagonist/narrator: a lonely, tragic figure with a surprising amount of warmth. You want him to find belonging. You want him to win. And when the time comes to face Caradoc, you really want him to rip that smug sorcerer apart.
If you like your fantasy a little twisted, your heroes a little ugly, and your villains really vile, Once Was Willem is absolutely worth your time.
April 6, 2025
2.5 Stars
I love the idea of medieval fantasy horror. However whenever I get the rare opportunity to read it, I realize it's not for me.
This one just felt like a strange mashup of the genres which (from my perspective) didn't fully work on the page. I wanted to love this one but I didn't.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I love the idea of medieval fantasy horror. However whenever I get the rare opportunity to read it, I realize it's not for me.
This one just felt like a strange mashup of the genres which (from my perspective) didn't fully work on the page. I wanted to love this one but I didn't.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 11, 2025
Willem was a boy in Pennick until he was brought back from the dead. Unfortunately, he was no longer the same Willem. After he is forced from his home, he encounters some other people who don’t quite fit in, and they rename him Once Was Willem.
I have loved this author in the past, and this book has a very interesting premise. The characters that Once Was Willem meets have some unique qualities. Unfortunately, I found the story slow to develop and the writing style was a little sludgy. It did not hold my interest consistently. At the end, the action picked up when Once Was Willem and his colleagues have to unite to try to save a group of children. The author obviously drew upon The Magnificent Seven (or maybe Seven Samurai). There is room for a sequel at the end of the book. I am not enthusiastic about a sequel. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I have loved this author in the past, and this book has a very interesting premise. The characters that Once Was Willem meets have some unique qualities. Unfortunately, I found the story slow to develop and the writing style was a little sludgy. It did not hold my interest consistently. At the end, the action picked up when Once Was Willem and his colleagues have to unite to try to save a group of children. The author obviously drew upon The Magnificent Seven (or maybe Seven Samurai). There is room for a sequel at the end of the book. I am not enthusiastic about a sequel. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
January 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy!
I’ve been a huge fan of Carey’s for some time now and he definitely does not disappoint here.
Once-was-Willem is a medieval fantasy set in 12th century England featuring a cast of supernatural beings who come together to defeat an evil sorcerer threatening their village. Carey draws from English folklore, Christian myth, and Norse mythology to produce a wild cast of memorable heroes and his main villain, the fiendish wizard Cain Caradoc is memorably twisted.
The action is painted nicely and the writing is enchanting.
A recurring theme I find heartening and timely in Carey’s writing is his focus on empathy and tolerance. His stories often feature groups of very different people/beings coming to understand and respect one another despite considerable differences. It sounds cheesy but Carey manages to deftly weave these themes into his stories without ever feeling heavy handed or cliched. His novels in this way offer a quiet but very welcome rebuke to our current era of division and intolerance.
I’ve been a huge fan of Carey’s for some time now and he definitely does not disappoint here.
Once-was-Willem is a medieval fantasy set in 12th century England featuring a cast of supernatural beings who come together to defeat an evil sorcerer threatening their village. Carey draws from English folklore, Christian myth, and Norse mythology to produce a wild cast of memorable heroes and his main villain, the fiendish wizard Cain Caradoc is memorably twisted.
The action is painted nicely and the writing is enchanting.
A recurring theme I find heartening and timely in Carey’s writing is his focus on empathy and tolerance. His stories often feature groups of very different people/beings coming to understand and respect one another despite considerable differences. It sounds cheesy but Carey manages to deftly weave these themes into his stories without ever feeling heavy handed or cliched. His novels in this way offer a quiet but very welcome rebuke to our current era of division and intolerance.
February 13, 2025
What’s your favorite zombie book? You don’t often get a story from the zombie’s POV – I can only think of maybe 4, and one was by this same author. If you’ve read The Girl With All the Gifts, you know what a powerhouse M.R. Carey is when it comes to storytelling. At this point he’s become an auto-buy author for me, from his urban fantasy (Daniel Faust) to post-apocalyptic (Rampart) to sci-fi (Pandominion). I gotta ask, Mike, my friend, where the hell do you get the time? How are you so productive?! Teach me your ways!
Poor Once-was-Willem doesn’t come across as your normal zombie. Raised by a grifter sorcerer at the behest of his grieving parents, he comes across more monstrous, horrific, almost animalistic. And he has a maturity and a clarity you’d never expect from a zombie, and certainly not from the child he was. You understand why he separates who he is now from the Willem that came before.
After being rejected by his family and village due to his horrific condition, he flees to live in the forest undisturbed. But when evil threatens the people who shunned him, should he abandon them, or answer the call for aid?
It's a medieval setting and told in archaic style, but once it settles in you get used to it very quickly, and it suits the character. The world is brutal and harsh, and the characters are in turns grotesque, heart warming, and terrifying. The supernatural elements and creatures are balanced against a solidly realistic historical backdrop.
This book showcases a lot of the themes Carey returns to in his books; found family, forgiveness, the strength found in compassion and empathy, looking beneath the surface rather than judging based on appearances. It’s an unexpectedly beautiful story, and I’m excited to have this one on my shelves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Poor Once-was-Willem doesn’t come across as your normal zombie. Raised by a grifter sorcerer at the behest of his grieving parents, he comes across more monstrous, horrific, almost animalistic. And he has a maturity and a clarity you’d never expect from a zombie, and certainly not from the child he was. You understand why he separates who he is now from the Willem that came before.
After being rejected by his family and village due to his horrific condition, he flees to live in the forest undisturbed. But when evil threatens the people who shunned him, should he abandon them, or answer the call for aid?
It's a medieval setting and told in archaic style, but once it settles in you get used to it very quickly, and it suits the character. The world is brutal and harsh, and the characters are in turns grotesque, heart warming, and terrifying. The supernatural elements and creatures are balanced against a solidly realistic historical backdrop.
This book showcases a lot of the themes Carey returns to in his books; found family, forgiveness, the strength found in compassion and empathy, looking beneath the surface rather than judging based on appearances. It’s an unexpectedly beautiful story, and I’m excited to have this one on my shelves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
March 12, 2025
4.5⭐️ This book was so enjoyable. I found the pacing to be consistent, not fast, but consistent. This felt like a story a grandparent might have read you as a kid, but make it Medieval/fantasy/horror. Such a well crafted story with fantastic writing, unique and enjoyable characters, and a story I won’t soon forget. I may come back and rate this higher.
March 5, 2025
This was… bizarrely unique.
1152AD England - exect monsters and magic, battle and bloodletting, and the crimes of desperate men.
We have a Frankenstein type monster, bear-men, water spirits, witches, journeys to hell, weirdly visual action scenes, and a softer protagonist at the heart of it, there by circumstance or fate?
“I’m Willem,” I said, but then I bethought me. “At least, I was, once. Now I suppose I’m something different.”
This is an account narrated by Once-Was-Willem who was resurrected by a greedy sorcerer, but as a monster, shunned by his village.
He also reflects on the ongoing of the sorcerer who finds a great source of power and is desperate to make it his own through nefarious means. Child sacrifice, possession, killing, stealing souls, etc.
For once I let my anger show. “It’s idleness to look outside the present moment? How else are we to understand it then?”
This is mostly a reflection on humanity - similar to Frankenstein’s own monster discovering that the real monsters aren’t really those who appear the most human.
The writing style reflected the period at times and I did have to use my dictionary, but this was more for slang terms. I think this really added to the tone.
The first 40% I was intrigued by the storyline and distinct writing style. However, the plot felt similar to a lot of other books I have read.
As I continued reading, I realised I didn’t like the jumping between scenes and characters even though this is supposed to be an account from Willem. It made me feel removed and distanced from the characters.
An entertaining medieval nefarious fantasy that I finished in less than 2 hours.
Arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
1152AD England - exect monsters and magic, battle and bloodletting, and the crimes of desperate men.
We have a Frankenstein type monster, bear-men, water spirits, witches, journeys to hell, weirdly visual action scenes, and a softer protagonist at the heart of it, there by circumstance or fate?
“I’m Willem,” I said, but then I bethought me. “At least, I was, once. Now I suppose I’m something different.”
This is an account narrated by Once-Was-Willem who was resurrected by a greedy sorcerer, but as a monster, shunned by his village.
He also reflects on the ongoing of the sorcerer who finds a great source of power and is desperate to make it his own through nefarious means. Child sacrifice, possession, killing, stealing souls, etc.
For once I let my anger show. “It’s idleness to look outside the present moment? How else are we to understand it then?”
This is mostly a reflection on humanity - similar to Frankenstein’s own monster discovering that the real monsters aren’t really those who appear the most human.
The writing style reflected the period at times and I did have to use my dictionary, but this was more for slang terms. I think this really added to the tone.
The first 40% I was intrigued by the storyline and distinct writing style. However, the plot felt similar to a lot of other books I have read.
As I continued reading, I realised I didn’t like the jumping between scenes and characters even though this is supposed to be an account from Willem. It made me feel removed and distanced from the characters.
An entertaining medieval nefarious fantasy that I finished in less than 2 hours.
Arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
March 9, 2025
I absolutely loved this one. A beautifully written story with characters you can relate to and empathize with who band together to fight a great and selfish evil.
Dying is a sorry thing, I thought, but it was worth going through death to come finally to this. Nothing I had lost could be half so dear or half so sweet as what I had found.
And so I might have lived to this day, and known no sorrow deserving of the name. But humankind was not done with me yet. Great sorrow, great travail, great loss and perturbation were in store, for me and all of us. There is a saying: call no man fortunate until he is dead.
Wait a little longer, is all I would say.
Dying is a sorry thing, I thought, but it was worth going through death to come finally to this. Nothing I had lost could be half so dear or half so sweet as what I had found.
And so I might have lived to this day, and known no sorrow deserving of the name. But humankind was not done with me yet. Great sorrow, great travail, great loss and perturbation were in store, for me and all of us. There is a saying: call no man fortunate until he is dead.
Wait a little longer, is all I would say.
June 21, 2025
Dark and beautifully told, the tale of Willem, who before something terrible befell him, was a 12 year old boy, sadly he has now become something other and is cast out.
Part horror, part fairy tale, immersive and atmospheric, with sympathetic characters to love and a satisfyingly nasty villain to hate. Flashes of humour here and there too, I loved it, 4.5 stars.
Part horror, part fairy tale, immersive and atmospheric, with sympathetic characters to love and a satisfyingly nasty villain to hate. Flashes of humour here and there too, I loved it, 4.5 stars.
March 26, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Once Was Willem is a marvelous dark medieval fantasy novel, written by M.R. Carey, and published by Orbit Books. A bizarrely unique story with a cast of supernatural beings which teachs about tolerance and understanding, reinforcing the ideas that there's more behind the appearance, twisting the folklore while delivering a prose that mimics the medieval style of writing.
Willem Turling died when he was 12 years old; moved by grief, his parents made a bargain with Cain Caradoc, a powerful and ambitious sorcerer, to resurrect him. However, when they see Willem coming back as a misshapen monster, he's shunned and banished from the village of Cosham, taking refuge in the Pennick woods, where more monsters reside; in parallel, we see how the ascend of Cain Caradoc to power and his crave for accessing to power will put in danger the village of Cosham, demanding their children. As destiny has a twisted way to act, they will be forced to ask Willem for help, as they don't have other ways to defend themselves; and Willem will gather and convince his friends, monsters that were rejected by the villagers, to fight for the people of Cosham.
Carey decides to weave in parallel three stories (Willem, Cain Caradoc and Cosham) which eventually bring us to a common point, as they are intertwined. Willem himself is an excellent example of a deep and complete characterization; rejected because of his appearance, through his voice we can guess a complex character, a monster who still has the memories of his past life as Willem, but understands that he will never be Willem again. As reader, it is impossible to not develop sympathy for it, especially as he's self-conscious of his appearance and doesn't put his grievances on the people; lonely, but thankfully, that doesn't happen for much time as he finds more like him in the Pennick woods.
With the rest of the outcasts that live in the Pennick forest, Carey touches a bit of various folklores, but always giving its own twist to each one, giving them of a personality and exploring their own grievances; and the style of writing makes the perfect vehicle to deliver it, making of each chapter a sort of short story that adds to the bigger tale.
In a particularly immersive style, the writing tries to mimic medieval storytelling structures, including things such as the title of the chapters and the construction of many sentences; I was quite intrigued by the small part of the world where Once Was Willem is set (even if at some point, the creation myths are touched), almost making you live the story. Despite being a dark fantasy story, Carey makes an excellent case for hope and found family in this story, about how appearances are deceiving and the real monsters sometimes wear human skins.
Once Was Willem is an excellent dark medieval fantasy novel, a standalone story perfect if you are looking for something that feels classic but fresh at the same time; M.R. Carey has managed to write something special with this book. A candidate to be one of my fav reads of 2025!
Once Was Willem is a marvelous dark medieval fantasy novel, written by M.R. Carey, and published by Orbit Books. A bizarrely unique story with a cast of supernatural beings which teachs about tolerance and understanding, reinforcing the ideas that there's more behind the appearance, twisting the folklore while delivering a prose that mimics the medieval style of writing.
Willem Turling died when he was 12 years old; moved by grief, his parents made a bargain with Cain Caradoc, a powerful and ambitious sorcerer, to resurrect him. However, when they see Willem coming back as a misshapen monster, he's shunned and banished from the village of Cosham, taking refuge in the Pennick woods, where more monsters reside; in parallel, we see how the ascend of Cain Caradoc to power and his crave for accessing to power will put in danger the village of Cosham, demanding their children. As destiny has a twisted way to act, they will be forced to ask Willem for help, as they don't have other ways to defend themselves; and Willem will gather and convince his friends, monsters that were rejected by the villagers, to fight for the people of Cosham.
Carey decides to weave in parallel three stories (Willem, Cain Caradoc and Cosham) which eventually bring us to a common point, as they are intertwined. Willem himself is an excellent example of a deep and complete characterization; rejected because of his appearance, through his voice we can guess a complex character, a monster who still has the memories of his past life as Willem, but understands that he will never be Willem again. As reader, it is impossible to not develop sympathy for it, especially as he's self-conscious of his appearance and doesn't put his grievances on the people; lonely, but thankfully, that doesn't happen for much time as he finds more like him in the Pennick woods.
With the rest of the outcasts that live in the Pennick forest, Carey touches a bit of various folklores, but always giving its own twist to each one, giving them of a personality and exploring their own grievances; and the style of writing makes the perfect vehicle to deliver it, making of each chapter a sort of short story that adds to the bigger tale.
In a particularly immersive style, the writing tries to mimic medieval storytelling structures, including things such as the title of the chapters and the construction of many sentences; I was quite intrigued by the small part of the world where Once Was Willem is set (even if at some point, the creation myths are touched), almost making you live the story. Despite being a dark fantasy story, Carey makes an excellent case for hope and found family in this story, about how appearances are deceiving and the real monsters sometimes wear human skins.
Once Was Willem is an excellent dark medieval fantasy novel, a standalone story perfect if you are looking for something that feels classic but fresh at the same time; M.R. Carey has managed to write something special with this book. A candidate to be one of my fav reads of 2025!
March 16, 2025
This book was really fun at first and then it got less and less interesting as it progressed. It’s kind a twist on Frankenstein mixed with historical fantasy. I’ve never been a fan of historical fantasy so this already was on bad footing for me. I did like the prose and the narrator’s voice was very pleasing to the ear. I can see how people like this and how people don’t. I think it’s just middle of the road for me
July 9, 2025
Dark cosy folklore Fantasy. Loved it !
March 9, 2025
“Dying is a sorry thing, I thought, but it was worth going through death to come finally to this. Nothing I had lost could be half so dear or half so sweet as what I had found.
And so I might have lived to this day, and known no sorrow deserving of the name. But humankind was not done with me yet.
Great sorrow, great travail, great loss and perturbation were in store, for me and all of us. There is a saying: call no man fortunate until he is dead.
Wait a little longer, is all I would say.”
When Willem Turling was twelve years old he died from a fever. Wrapped in grief his parents made a bargain with Cain Caradoc, a powerful sorcerer, to resurrect him. But Willem came back a misshapen monster. Shunned and banished by his parents and the villagers of Cosham, Willem seeked refuge in Pennick woods where it was believed other monsters reside. He was done with humans and his once human existence but eventually they drew him back. As Caradoc sets his sights on taking the children of Cosham, the villagers, having no other means to defend against him, turn to Willem to save them all. Willem must gather his outcast friends and these monsters must fight for those who have rejected them.
Once was Willem by M. R. Carey is a dark tale of necromancy, nightmarish monsters with surprising heart and a fable that teaches of tolerance and understanding.
Usually I’m immediately drawn into a book because I quickly become attached to the characters or I become intrigued by the magic system or worldbuilding and all of this compels me to read on. However, in this case it was initially because I completely fell in love with Carey’s atmospheric, medieval-ish prose. Although this was a dark fantasy and very macabre at times there was a comforting feel to it, a cosiness. Carey uses old English language and syntax throughout which I think will divide a lot of readers, but for me it really helped to immerse me into the historical period. Each chapter felt like a short story on its own—as we are introduced to new characters their backstory is told in great detail and so we get a clear understanding of what had happened to them and then cleverly see their connection to the overall plot unfold. I was even impressed by the title of each chapter which gave a tantalisingly brief clue as to what was about to come.
“My reknitted flesh is all of a piece.
I cannot be wounded to the heart for all of me is heart. All of me is liver, lights and lungs. And by the same token all of me is mind.
I think with the whole of my being, which is a powerful thing.”
I then fell for our main protagonist, Willem Turling, who very much reminded me of the unnamed ‘monster’ created by Dr Viktor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s novel. Both characters are despised and banished by the townsfolk for their grotesque appearance and unholy nature, both begin to question their existence and what exactly they are. Though Willem has enhanced physical strength and is able to heal from any wound, there’s a fragility in his loneliness. Through Willem’s first person narration we discover that he exists with the memories of his former life, his childhood that was filled with warmth and love, yet having now in his death the comprehension of an adult he understands that he will never be able to be Willem again. What makes Willem such a sympathetic and likeable character is that he understands people’s fears, he understands how his appearance and nature is perceived and so he doesn’t blame anyone for their fears and does all he can to ease them by staying away. Despite the loneliness I’m glad that Carey made it so Willem is not always alone, as he makes his new home in the Pennick woods he meets others who live as outcasts too.
Carey incorporates many mystical figures such as the Norse ulfeðnar—skin changers—Anna and Kel. We then meet the water spirit, Peter Floodfoot, Morjune the witch, Betheli a spirit with a powerful imagination and the terrifying Unsung Jill. What I loved about each of these characters who aid Willem is that Carey cleverly creates them to twist the kind of folklore tales we’re more commonly used to where brave knights save a village from the monsters, and instead gives us the monsters saving the village from a bigger evil. That does not mean that they are all gentle beings or that they do not resent humans, but their love for Willem and him bringing them together surpasses their hatred and therefore, if anything, they fight for each other. Even with their strength they are outnumbered and contending with Cain Caradoc, a power hungry sorcerer with great magic of his own, Kel, Anna, Willem, Morjune and the others fight with all they have, creating scenes of utter carnage and mayhem. I loved seeing how each character uses their abilities to defend the people of Cosham and how the villagers in turn find a way to tolerate and work with them in a shared goal. Coupled with this battle Carey also incorporates myths surrounding the creation of the world which I found surreal but also thought provoking. It worked to show that this isn’t just a fight with magical monsters and folklorist figures, on a much deeper level this is the exploration of our existence and the dangers of one person having too much power.
Once Was Willem is a moving, hopeful yet also grisly Medieval tale which I easily devoured. Carey’s novel beautifully reads like a classic but with a clever twist.
“I am all things and nothing, a fountain that runs with shapes instead of water. I am the memory of all flesh that was and all that will be. And am I not beautiful?"
Review copy provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy!
And so I might have lived to this day, and known no sorrow deserving of the name. But humankind was not done with me yet.
Great sorrow, great travail, great loss and perturbation were in store, for me and all of us. There is a saying: call no man fortunate until he is dead.
Wait a little longer, is all I would say.”
When Willem Turling was twelve years old he died from a fever. Wrapped in grief his parents made a bargain with Cain Caradoc, a powerful sorcerer, to resurrect him. But Willem came back a misshapen monster. Shunned and banished by his parents and the villagers of Cosham, Willem seeked refuge in Pennick woods where it was believed other monsters reside. He was done with humans and his once human existence but eventually they drew him back. As Caradoc sets his sights on taking the children of Cosham, the villagers, having no other means to defend against him, turn to Willem to save them all. Willem must gather his outcast friends and these monsters must fight for those who have rejected them.
Once was Willem by M. R. Carey is a dark tale of necromancy, nightmarish monsters with surprising heart and a fable that teaches of tolerance and understanding.
Usually I’m immediately drawn into a book because I quickly become attached to the characters or I become intrigued by the magic system or worldbuilding and all of this compels me to read on. However, in this case it was initially because I completely fell in love with Carey’s atmospheric, medieval-ish prose. Although this was a dark fantasy and very macabre at times there was a comforting feel to it, a cosiness. Carey uses old English language and syntax throughout which I think will divide a lot of readers, but for me it really helped to immerse me into the historical period. Each chapter felt like a short story on its own—as we are introduced to new characters their backstory is told in great detail and so we get a clear understanding of what had happened to them and then cleverly see their connection to the overall plot unfold. I was even impressed by the title of each chapter which gave a tantalisingly brief clue as to what was about to come.
“My reknitted flesh is all of a piece.
I cannot be wounded to the heart for all of me is heart. All of me is liver, lights and lungs. And by the same token all of me is mind.
I think with the whole of my being, which is a powerful thing.”
I then fell for our main protagonist, Willem Turling, who very much reminded me of the unnamed ‘monster’ created by Dr Viktor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s novel. Both characters are despised and banished by the townsfolk for their grotesque appearance and unholy nature, both begin to question their existence and what exactly they are. Though Willem has enhanced physical strength and is able to heal from any wound, there’s a fragility in his loneliness. Through Willem’s first person narration we discover that he exists with the memories of his former life, his childhood that was filled with warmth and love, yet having now in his death the comprehension of an adult he understands that he will never be able to be Willem again. What makes Willem such a sympathetic and likeable character is that he understands people’s fears, he understands how his appearance and nature is perceived and so he doesn’t blame anyone for their fears and does all he can to ease them by staying away. Despite the loneliness I’m glad that Carey made it so Willem is not always alone, as he makes his new home in the Pennick woods he meets others who live as outcasts too.
Carey incorporates many mystical figures such as the Norse ulfeðnar—skin changers—Anna and Kel. We then meet the water spirit, Peter Floodfoot, Morjune the witch, Betheli a spirit with a powerful imagination and the terrifying Unsung Jill. What I loved about each of these characters who aid Willem is that Carey cleverly creates them to twist the kind of folklore tales we’re more commonly used to where brave knights save a village from the monsters, and instead gives us the monsters saving the village from a bigger evil. That does not mean that they are all gentle beings or that they do not resent humans, but their love for Willem and him bringing them together surpasses their hatred and therefore, if anything, they fight for each other. Even with their strength they are outnumbered and contending with Cain Caradoc, a power hungry sorcerer with great magic of his own, Kel, Anna, Willem, Morjune and the others fight with all they have, creating scenes of utter carnage and mayhem. I loved seeing how each character uses their abilities to defend the people of Cosham and how the villagers in turn find a way to tolerate and work with them in a shared goal. Coupled with this battle Carey also incorporates myths surrounding the creation of the world which I found surreal but also thought provoking. It worked to show that this isn’t just a fight with magical monsters and folklorist figures, on a much deeper level this is the exploration of our existence and the dangers of one person having too much power.
Once Was Willem is a moving, hopeful yet also grisly Medieval tale which I easily devoured. Carey’s novel beautifully reads like a classic but with a clever twist.
“I am all things and nothing, a fountain that runs with shapes instead of water. I am the memory of all flesh that was and all that will be. And am I not beautiful?"
Review copy provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy!
April 14, 2025
This was something between a medieval horror story and a fairy tale, with some found family and Seven Samurai thrown in for extra fun.
Set in the 11th Century, during a particularly lawless period of English history, the protagonist Willem was an ordinary village boy. When he dies, as happens so frequently among children in this period, his parents are overcome with grief and ask a sorcerer to resurrect him. The sorcerer Cain Cardaroc does so, in exchange for a piece of Willem’s soul. Unfortunately, as Willem has been dead for months at this point, what digs itself up out of the church graveyard isn’t what his parents had in mind. And while the newly-undead revenant remembers being Willem, he also knows, on some fundamental level, he isn’t Willem (hence the title, which is the name he adopts).
But the angry mob of villagers does their angry mob thing, and Once-was-Willem goes to live in the forest. There he finds and befriends other monsters and outcasts, and settles into a reasonably happy existence. We’re far from done with Cain Cardaroc though. He’s chasing immortality - the piece of Willem’s soul bought him some time - and not concerned about what price other people have to pay to get him there.
Emotionally, this book covered a lot of territory. Once-was-Willem’s found family in the forest was surprisingly warm. His resurrection, and many of the actions of Cain Cardaroc, are pretty solid body horror. And the story goes to some very unexpected places, both literally (not saying more because of spoilers) and metaphorically (I’m always a sucker for a Seven Samurai scenario).
This was also a strikingly visual novel. Something I’ve noticed with authors who cut their teeth in comics/graphic novels (M.R. Carey is also Mike Carey, for those who might not know that) is a weakness in that regard; it can feel like their book is missing something in not having visuals. Carey has never been particularly prone to that, but I wouldn’t say that the images his writing evokes are the strongest either. This, though, was absolutely fantastic in that regard.
I’ve been a Mike Carey fanboy for a long time, so I’m always happy to get my assumptions about him verified. Strongly recommended.
My blog
Set in the 11th Century, during a particularly lawless period of English history, the protagonist Willem was an ordinary village boy. When he dies, as happens so frequently among children in this period, his parents are overcome with grief and ask a sorcerer to resurrect him. The sorcerer Cain Cardaroc does so, in exchange for a piece of Willem’s soul. Unfortunately, as Willem has been dead for months at this point, what digs itself up out of the church graveyard isn’t what his parents had in mind. And while the newly-undead revenant remembers being Willem, he also knows, on some fundamental level, he isn’t Willem (hence the title, which is the name he adopts).
But the angry mob of villagers does their angry mob thing, and Once-was-Willem goes to live in the forest. There he finds and befriends other monsters and outcasts, and settles into a reasonably happy existence. We’re far from done with Cain Cardaroc though. He’s chasing immortality - the piece of Willem’s soul bought him some time - and not concerned about what price other people have to pay to get him there.
Emotionally, this book covered a lot of territory. Once-was-Willem’s found family in the forest was surprisingly warm. His resurrection, and many of the actions of Cain Cardaroc, are pretty solid body horror. And the story goes to some very unexpected places, both literally (not saying more because of spoilers) and metaphorically (I’m always a sucker for a Seven Samurai scenario).
This was also a strikingly visual novel. Something I’ve noticed with authors who cut their teeth in comics/graphic novels (M.R. Carey is also Mike Carey, for those who might not know that) is a weakness in that regard; it can feel like their book is missing something in not having visuals. Carey has never been particularly prone to that, but I wouldn’t say that the images his writing evokes are the strongest either. This, though, was absolutely fantastic in that regard.
I’ve been a Mike Carey fanboy for a long time, so I’m always happy to get my assumptions about him verified. Strongly recommended.
My blog
March 28, 2025
Happy publication day, Once Was Willem!
Normally, I like to be as descript as I can for my reviews and tell you all the things I liked or disliked.
This time though, I suggest you go in as blind as you can. Just trust me: if you like fantasy, you're going to love this. I laughed, I cried so hard my stomach hurt, I clung to every word for dear life. I thought about this book constantly any time I wasn't reading it. It only took me two days to finish it and I would have read it all in one frantic sitting because I needed to know RIGHT now what was going to happen next.
This book. Is. Phenomenal. Go buy it when it comes out. I know it's very early into 2025 but this could EASILY be my favorite book of the year already. It deserves all the recognition it can possibly get for the author's beautiful, well crafted prose. The plot. Just. Everything. It's that good. I'm buying a copy for SURE.
Thank you so very much to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Normally, I like to be as descript as I can for my reviews and tell you all the things I liked or disliked.
This time though, I suggest you go in as blind as you can. Just trust me: if you like fantasy, you're going to love this. I laughed, I cried so hard my stomach hurt, I clung to every word for dear life. I thought about this book constantly any time I wasn't reading it. It only took me two days to finish it and I would have read it all in one frantic sitting because I needed to know RIGHT now what was going to happen next.
This book. Is. Phenomenal. Go buy it when it comes out. I know it's very early into 2025 but this could EASILY be my favorite book of the year already. It deserves all the recognition it can possibly get for the author's beautiful, well crafted prose. The plot. Just. Everything. It's that good. I'm buying a copy for SURE.
Thank you so very much to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 4, 2025
Once Was Willem is a delightfully unique and enchanting book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Going by some of the place names and clues in the book, the story mostly takes place in and around what is now Stoke-On-Trent in Staffordshire, England. The year is 1152, a period those with an interest in history will know as the Anarchy; when control of the country was fractured, with general lawlessness, banditry and power grabs commonplace.
It is a time period perfect for this tale, in which we can believe in undocumented goings on and scattered villages fending for themselves.
This is one of those books for which a review that regurgitates too much of the plot risks tarnishing the experience for the reader. The bones though, are that Willem Turing has sadly passed away and his parents are distraught. Loving their son more than anything, they approach a man rumoured to be a sorcerer to ask for help. In exchange for a small tithing of the dead boy’s soul, he agrees to bring the boy back to life. However, having been in the ground for a year, it’s not quite as straightforward as that.
The way the author writes about the situation showed me from the start he has the ability to make you feel emotion and there is plenty of it running throughout the book. I wasn’t really expecting to feel so saddened, angry or hopeful as I did within these pages and this gives the book a welcome layer of depth I wasn’t expecting. Although told from Once Was Willem‘s perspective as an account of events, we are treated to an authentic historical fiction with due care and attention paid to the setting, with the addition of magic and fantasy elements. The actual writing style itself is brilliant, written in the archaic style you might encounter reading translations of King Arthur or a slightly adjusted Canterbury Tales. It really adds to the feeling of a real story or piece of folklore from the time, as do the chapter titles which take the form of those old texts, where the happenings of the chapter are outlined in each title.
I love when an author tries something new in fantasy and gives us a book to read that was obviously a passion project for them. The combination of historical fiction, with dark fairy story and folklore elements, told in a unique but very readable style is really refreshing.
Content wise, it’s not merely a historical fiction with some magic thrown in – this book is very heavy on the magic, monsters and spells. It is very much a fantasy in that respect and the combination of a very real to life setting with completely fantastical elements works really well. In some respects, it transported me back to those wonderful years discovering fantasy stories as a young person. Afterall, this book features ghosts, a sorcerer, undead, shapeshifters, a witch and much more. Those expecting a light journey though need prior warning; this story is dark.
We witness this darkness through the superstitions of the people at the time, with some interesting events being quite thought provoking. Predominately though, the darkness comes through Cain Caradoc. He’s the sorcerer and the primary antagonist and the most self-serving, conscience-less POS you will find.
This is a man who has no empathy or regard for men, women, children and animals or the pain and suffering he is happy to put them through in his quest for immortality. In a world in which morally grey characters are popular, the villain really is as dark as you can get. Of course, this will work for some readers and not others – for me it was required for me to really hate him. Redeeming features and me feeling empathy towards him would have ruined the impact and the strong desire to see him vanquished. Likewise, although the villagers of Cosham are painted as quite self serving (and probably therefore realistic) the six supernatural friends/accomplices that Willem makes through the book really make a team that you want to succeed, both individually and as a combined group.
There are some lighter moments too, with the overall sum of everything combined feeling like the perfect mix. The narrative voice and the distinct personality of this book in itself makes the book feel magic and I will be heartily recommending it to readers who’d like to experience something exciting, adventurous, emotive, authentic and unique.
Guaranteed to be one of the best fantasy books of 2025.
Going by some of the place names and clues in the book, the story mostly takes place in and around what is now Stoke-On-Trent in Staffordshire, England. The year is 1152, a period those with an interest in history will know as the Anarchy; when control of the country was fractured, with general lawlessness, banditry and power grabs commonplace.
It is a time period perfect for this tale, in which we can believe in undocumented goings on and scattered villages fending for themselves.
This is one of those books for which a review that regurgitates too much of the plot risks tarnishing the experience for the reader. The bones though, are that Willem Turing has sadly passed away and his parents are distraught. Loving their son more than anything, they approach a man rumoured to be a sorcerer to ask for help. In exchange for a small tithing of the dead boy’s soul, he agrees to bring the boy back to life. However, having been in the ground for a year, it’s not quite as straightforward as that.
The way the author writes about the situation showed me from the start he has the ability to make you feel emotion and there is plenty of it running throughout the book. I wasn’t really expecting to feel so saddened, angry or hopeful as I did within these pages and this gives the book a welcome layer of depth I wasn’t expecting. Although told from Once Was Willem‘s perspective as an account of events, we are treated to an authentic historical fiction with due care and attention paid to the setting, with the addition of magic and fantasy elements. The actual writing style itself is brilliant, written in the archaic style you might encounter reading translations of King Arthur or a slightly adjusted Canterbury Tales. It really adds to the feeling of a real story or piece of folklore from the time, as do the chapter titles which take the form of those old texts, where the happenings of the chapter are outlined in each title.
I love when an author tries something new in fantasy and gives us a book to read that was obviously a passion project for them. The combination of historical fiction, with dark fairy story and folklore elements, told in a unique but very readable style is really refreshing.
Content wise, it’s not merely a historical fiction with some magic thrown in – this book is very heavy on the magic, monsters and spells. It is very much a fantasy in that respect and the combination of a very real to life setting with completely fantastical elements works really well. In some respects, it transported me back to those wonderful years discovering fantasy stories as a young person. Afterall, this book features ghosts, a sorcerer, undead, shapeshifters, a witch and much more. Those expecting a light journey though need prior warning; this story is dark.
We witness this darkness through the superstitions of the people at the time, with some interesting events being quite thought provoking. Predominately though, the darkness comes through Cain Caradoc. He’s the sorcerer and the primary antagonist and the most self-serving, conscience-less POS you will find.
This is a man who has no empathy or regard for men, women, children and animals or the pain and suffering he is happy to put them through in his quest for immortality. In a world in which morally grey characters are popular, the villain really is as dark as you can get. Of course, this will work for some readers and not others – for me it was required for me to really hate him. Redeeming features and me feeling empathy towards him would have ruined the impact and the strong desire to see him vanquished. Likewise, although the villagers of Cosham are painted as quite self serving (and probably therefore realistic) the six supernatural friends/accomplices that Willem makes through the book really make a team that you want to succeed, both individually and as a combined group.
There are some lighter moments too, with the overall sum of everything combined feeling like the perfect mix. The narrative voice and the distinct personality of this book in itself makes the book feel magic and I will be heartily recommending it to readers who’d like to experience something exciting, adventurous, emotive, authentic and unique.
Guaranteed to be one of the best fantasy books of 2025.
September 2, 2025
Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey
I’ve loved M.R. Carey ever since I picked up The Girl With All The Gifts. His books often look like they won’t be my thing at first, but every single time I end up loving them. Each one feels completely unique, and Once Was Willem is no exception.
This is a very different book from the rest of Carey’s work. Instead of a modern or post-apocalyptic setting, we’re in medieval England, during the time when King Stephen and Empress Matilda were fighting over the throne and the country was full of chaos. Carey leans into that lawless backdrop and fills it with folklore, superstition, spirits, monsters, angels and hell, though it never feels like straight religion so much as a magical and philosophical interpretation of it all. The choice of narration fits perfectly: it’s written in a style that echoes old English storytelling, and I have to say the audiobook really deepens that atmosphere. It feels like being told a dark fable by a voice from the past.
The story is told by Willem, a young boy who dies and is brought back through sorcery, though not in the way his parents hoped. He becomes something misshapen, not human, and is cast out of his village. From that point on we follow his life as an outcast and the way he finds others like him. Carey weaves Willem’s journey together with the rise of the sorcerer Cain Caradoc and the villagers who are caught in between.
Cain Caradoc makes for a truly memorable villain. He is cruel, ruthless and completely self-serving, yet his sorcery is fascinating to watch unfold. You never root for him, but you can’t help being drawn to the sheer scale of his ambition and the power he commands. He’s the kind of character who makes you hope karma comes for him, while still holding your attention whenever he steps onto the page.
The question running through the book is what makes a monster. Willem is grotesque in form, but his voice and actions show kindness, restraint and reflection. Meanwhile the humans are driven by fear, grief, cruelty and ambition. There is no neat division between good and bad. Aside from Caradoc, everyone carries both admirable and ugly traits, and that complexity makes the story resonate.
The first half of the book leans grimdark, with a lot of cruelty and hopelessness. Then the second half opens up into something much more hopeful, even though the darkness never truly disappears. I didn’t expect that change in tone, but it worked well, and it gave the story an emotional weight I wasn’t prepared for.
Once Was Willem is dark, strange and often brutal, but also moving and full of heart. It’s about monsters and men, about power and corruption, about finding family in the unlikeliest of places. Grim and philosophical at times, hopeful and uplifting at others, it’s a story that lingers.
I’ve loved M.R. Carey ever since I picked up The Girl With All The Gifts. His books often look like they won’t be my thing at first, but every single time I end up loving them. Each one feels completely unique, and Once Was Willem is no exception.
This is a very different book from the rest of Carey’s work. Instead of a modern or post-apocalyptic setting, we’re in medieval England, during the time when King Stephen and Empress Matilda were fighting over the throne and the country was full of chaos. Carey leans into that lawless backdrop and fills it with folklore, superstition, spirits, monsters, angels and hell, though it never feels like straight religion so much as a magical and philosophical interpretation of it all. The choice of narration fits perfectly: it’s written in a style that echoes old English storytelling, and I have to say the audiobook really deepens that atmosphere. It feels like being told a dark fable by a voice from the past.
The story is told by Willem, a young boy who dies and is brought back through sorcery, though not in the way his parents hoped. He becomes something misshapen, not human, and is cast out of his village. From that point on we follow his life as an outcast and the way he finds others like him. Carey weaves Willem’s journey together with the rise of the sorcerer Cain Caradoc and the villagers who are caught in between.
Cain Caradoc makes for a truly memorable villain. He is cruel, ruthless and completely self-serving, yet his sorcery is fascinating to watch unfold. You never root for him, but you can’t help being drawn to the sheer scale of his ambition and the power he commands. He’s the kind of character who makes you hope karma comes for him, while still holding your attention whenever he steps onto the page.
The question running through the book is what makes a monster. Willem is grotesque in form, but his voice and actions show kindness, restraint and reflection. Meanwhile the humans are driven by fear, grief, cruelty and ambition. There is no neat division between good and bad. Aside from Caradoc, everyone carries both admirable and ugly traits, and that complexity makes the story resonate.
The first half of the book leans grimdark, with a lot of cruelty and hopelessness. Then the second half opens up into something much more hopeful, even though the darkness never truly disappears. I didn’t expect that change in tone, but it worked well, and it gave the story an emotional weight I wasn’t prepared for.
Once Was Willem is dark, strange and often brutal, but also moving and full of heart. It’s about monsters and men, about power and corruption, about finding family in the unlikeliest of places. Grim and philosophical at times, hopeful and uplifting at others, it’s a story that lingers.
July 6, 2025
4.25/5
“She kept court over phantoms of her own creation and went on journeys to inner landscapes of vast extent.”
An absolute joy of a read! My previous experience with M.R. Carey are his “The Girl With All the Gifts” and “The Boy on the Bridge” books which I enjoyed but are completely different from “Once Was Willem.” This is a fairytale of sorts set in 12th century England. It follows the evil misdeeds of a sorcerer, Caine Caradoc, a supremely vile villain. Cardoc’s willing to commit heinous atrocities to obtain his goal of supremacy by any means necessary.
“He would slaughter the children of Cohan and walk to immortality and omnipotence over their tortured souls.”
As the tale unfolds we meet a crew of uniquely weird and wonderful creatures, determined to foil Cardoc’s wicked plan. Some of the historical language Carey uses slowed me down a bit while reading. I had to look up quite a few of the weird words as I read along (shitten smock, cunten cur, flibbertigibbets) but that’s part of the charm of this fun little story.
“The fear of necromancy was a thing that came and went across the Christian world like the seasons, and always it left dead women in its wake.”
I’m impressed by Carey’s scope as a writer. He can do both apocalyptic horror AND historical fiction quite well. “Once Was Willem” is a uniquely fantastical read. If you’re a fan of medieval fiction and/or folktales, don’t pass this one up!
“She kept court over phantoms of her own creation and went on journeys to inner landscapes of vast extent.”
An absolute joy of a read! My previous experience with M.R. Carey are his “The Girl With All the Gifts” and “The Boy on the Bridge” books which I enjoyed but are completely different from “Once Was Willem.” This is a fairytale of sorts set in 12th century England. It follows the evil misdeeds of a sorcerer, Caine Caradoc, a supremely vile villain. Cardoc’s willing to commit heinous atrocities to obtain his goal of supremacy by any means necessary.
“He would slaughter the children of Cohan and walk to immortality and omnipotence over their tortured souls.”
As the tale unfolds we meet a crew of uniquely weird and wonderful creatures, determined to foil Cardoc’s wicked plan. Some of the historical language Carey uses slowed me down a bit while reading. I had to look up quite a few of the weird words as I read along (shitten smock, cunten cur, flibbertigibbets) but that’s part of the charm of this fun little story.
“The fear of necromancy was a thing that came and went across the Christian world like the seasons, and always it left dead women in its wake.”
I’m impressed by Carey’s scope as a writer. He can do both apocalyptic horror AND historical fiction quite well. “Once Was Willem” is a uniquely fantastical read. If you’re a fan of medieval fiction and/or folktales, don’t pass this one up!
March 24, 2025
Absorbing standalone book by an author who doesn’t let me down.
Quite a different scenario from previous books of his that I’ve read though (The Girl with All the Gifts, Felix Castor series, the Rampart Trilogy) which are post apocalyptic or contemporary fantasy. This one is full on medieval Sword and Sorcery, using as a backdrop a well defined medieval period from history - a civil war amongst the Norman conquerors of England (between King Stephen and Empress Matilda) - though those historical details are not important other than they leave medieval England in a state of anarchy. This allows dubious, villainous characters of the type we find in the book to operate unfettered by higher authority.
The story is told by Wilhelm, a young peasant lad, who dies early on in the story. But that doesn’t stop his later involvement one bit! Also significant is a sorcerer, ghosts and spirits, a cruel and ruthless ‘lord’, as well as the villagers associated with Wilhelm who get caught up unwillingly in this very dark tale.
The story wins for me thanks to the imaginative plot. A clever construction where medieval superstitions and magical beliefs in this world have some real substance to them.
Wilhelm is telling the story after the events described have happened - like the main character, Koli, in the Rampart trilogy, which probably removes some emotional involvement and character growth. The conclusion takes us into the deepest foundations of this fictional medieval world, its fundamental spiritual basis, which again is clever and imaginative, and I found analogous to the journey to Hell in Dante’s Inferno. Maybe for me this section was just too big a step change in scale given the battles and trials the peasants are facing back in the real world.
But a minor point as this is intended to be a medieval world where magical and spiritual forces are very active and the author intended to give that side an explanation.
A solid 4* plus read and looking forward to more from this author who always delivers.
Quite a different scenario from previous books of his that I’ve read though (The Girl with All the Gifts, Felix Castor series, the Rampart Trilogy) which are post apocalyptic or contemporary fantasy. This one is full on medieval Sword and Sorcery, using as a backdrop a well defined medieval period from history - a civil war amongst the Norman conquerors of England (between King Stephen and Empress Matilda) - though those historical details are not important other than they leave medieval England in a state of anarchy. This allows dubious, villainous characters of the type we find in the book to operate unfettered by higher authority.
The story is told by Wilhelm, a young peasant lad, who dies early on in the story. But that doesn’t stop his later involvement one bit! Also significant is a sorcerer, ghosts and spirits, a cruel and ruthless ‘lord’, as well as the villagers associated with Wilhelm who get caught up unwillingly in this very dark tale.
The story wins for me thanks to the imaginative plot. A clever construction where medieval superstitions and magical beliefs in this world have some real substance to them.
Wilhelm is telling the story after the events described have happened - like the main character, Koli, in the Rampart trilogy, which probably removes some emotional involvement and character growth. The conclusion takes us into the deepest foundations of this fictional medieval world, its fundamental spiritual basis, which again is clever and imaginative, and I found analogous to the journey to Hell in Dante’s Inferno. Maybe for me this section was just too big a step change in scale given the battles and trials the peasants are facing back in the real world.
But a minor point as this is intended to be a medieval world where magical and spiritual forces are very active and the author intended to give that side an explanation.
A solid 4* plus read and looking forward to more from this author who always delivers.
March 10, 2025
4.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: A story told by a unique protagonist, Once Was Willem shines with well drawn characters, magic and found family.
M.R. Carey’s latest, a slim book that contains a mighty story between its covers, was quite a surprise to me. Once Was Willem is a beautifully crafted medieval fantasy with a bit of horror as well, and the style reminded me a lot of Carey’s Rampart Trilogy. Willem’s voice was like Koli’s in many ways, although that isn’t to say that the two characters are alike at all, because they aren’t. The story is rather slow paced and meandering at times, but it’s by design. I recommend taking your time with this book—it isn’t meant to be rushed through—and if you're like me, Once-Was-Willem and his friends will steal your heart.
The story is narrated by Once-Was-Willem, who died as a young boy of twelve and was raised from the dead by a powerful sorcerer. Willem’s story takes place in 1152 and revolves around the village of Cosham, set in the fiefdom of Pennick in England, and focuses on Pennick Castle where much of the action takes place. Willem emerges from death not at all the same as when he died. He’s become a mishappen monster of sorts, due to the state his body was in when he was resurrected, and now he’s scorned and feared by everyone in the village, including his parents.
Cain Caradoc, the sorcerer who brought Willem back to life, now sets his sights on Castle Pennick, where he senses a great power asleep in the underground tunnels of the castle. He knows that accessing this power will grant him immortality, and so he devises a diabolical plan to make that happen. The villagers, although fearful of Willem, enlist him to help defend against Caradoc, who desperately needs something from the village for his spell. Willem agrees and brings along the friends he’s made while living in the forest after he came back to life. But the road to defeating the sorcerer will have many twists and bumps along the way, as Willem is about to find out.
That’s the story in a nutshell, but I’ve barely scratched the surface of everything that happens in Once Was Willem. Carey’s story dips in and out of the past and present as Willem’s story unfolds, with Willem acting as an almost omniscient narrator, peering into the lives of the villagers as well as the drama taking place at the castle. Occasionally, but not often enough in my opinion, Willam tells his own tale, which is full of pain and sorrow, but also adventure and friendship. He often skips ahead of himself and then realizing he’s done that, backtracks to fill in the blanks. I quite enjoyed this self aware way of telling a story, which fits nicely with Once-Was-Willem’s new existence: a bit scattered and confused at times, probably due to the fact that Caradoc took a sliver of his soul during the resurrection process.
This meandering way of telling a story will trip up some readers, as Willem’s detours might not make sense at first. But stick with it, because Carey knows what he’s doing. Each random side story becomes important later on, and it was fun watching the author weave his story threads together.
Carey does a great job of evoking the time period, and I felt immersed in the daily struggles of the Cosham villagers. There are plenty of bloody battles for readers looking for that kind of thing, but there’s also a vividly drawn fantasy world that includes magic, ghosts, folkloric creatures, angels and much more. There’s even a trip to Hell (but I won’t say more than that) that seemed to come out of left field and ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story.
Carey has a talent for creating wonderful characters and friendships, and in this story Willem meets some creatures who become beloved friends and allies, including Anna and Kel, a brother and sister who are also shapeshifters; Peter Floodfoot, a boy made of water who can control streams and rivers; Unsung Jill, a fearful monster with one blood red eye; Betheli, a young girl who is the first victim of Caradoc’s plan but doesn’t let death stop her from fighting back; and finally a ghost named Morjune with a sad backstory. Together they form a group that Willem calls “the seven” and becomes a force against Caradoc and the best hope for saving the village.
Willem himself (or really Once-Was-Willem, as he doesn’t consider himself to be Willem anymore) has many layers and goes through lots of changes during the story. At first, he’s devastated by his appearance, especially when he tries to reconnect with his family and they shun him. He’s a Frankenstein’s monster type of creature, unable to fit into the world but desperately wanting to be accepted. I suppose it's fitting, then, that he finally finds his true family with other monsters.
The last few chapters were especially tense and exciting, and I was very worried about Willem and his friends. Carey ends his story with lots of heartfelt emotion, and I have to say I was sorry to say goodbye to these characters.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: A story told by a unique protagonist, Once Was Willem shines with well drawn characters, magic and found family.
M.R. Carey’s latest, a slim book that contains a mighty story between its covers, was quite a surprise to me. Once Was Willem is a beautifully crafted medieval fantasy with a bit of horror as well, and the style reminded me a lot of Carey’s Rampart Trilogy. Willem’s voice was like Koli’s in many ways, although that isn’t to say that the two characters are alike at all, because they aren’t. The story is rather slow paced and meandering at times, but it’s by design. I recommend taking your time with this book—it isn’t meant to be rushed through—and if you're like me, Once-Was-Willem and his friends will steal your heart.
The story is narrated by Once-Was-Willem, who died as a young boy of twelve and was raised from the dead by a powerful sorcerer. Willem’s story takes place in 1152 and revolves around the village of Cosham, set in the fiefdom of Pennick in England, and focuses on Pennick Castle where much of the action takes place. Willem emerges from death not at all the same as when he died. He’s become a mishappen monster of sorts, due to the state his body was in when he was resurrected, and now he’s scorned and feared by everyone in the village, including his parents.
Cain Caradoc, the sorcerer who brought Willem back to life, now sets his sights on Castle Pennick, where he senses a great power asleep in the underground tunnels of the castle. He knows that accessing this power will grant him immortality, and so he devises a diabolical plan to make that happen. The villagers, although fearful of Willem, enlist him to help defend against Caradoc, who desperately needs something from the village for his spell. Willem agrees and brings along the friends he’s made while living in the forest after he came back to life. But the road to defeating the sorcerer will have many twists and bumps along the way, as Willem is about to find out.
That’s the story in a nutshell, but I’ve barely scratched the surface of everything that happens in Once Was Willem. Carey’s story dips in and out of the past and present as Willem’s story unfolds, with Willem acting as an almost omniscient narrator, peering into the lives of the villagers as well as the drama taking place at the castle. Occasionally, but not often enough in my opinion, Willam tells his own tale, which is full of pain and sorrow, but also adventure and friendship. He often skips ahead of himself and then realizing he’s done that, backtracks to fill in the blanks. I quite enjoyed this self aware way of telling a story, which fits nicely with Once-Was-Willem’s new existence: a bit scattered and confused at times, probably due to the fact that Caradoc took a sliver of his soul during the resurrection process.
This meandering way of telling a story will trip up some readers, as Willem’s detours might not make sense at first. But stick with it, because Carey knows what he’s doing. Each random side story becomes important later on, and it was fun watching the author weave his story threads together.
Carey does a great job of evoking the time period, and I felt immersed in the daily struggles of the Cosham villagers. There are plenty of bloody battles for readers looking for that kind of thing, but there’s also a vividly drawn fantasy world that includes magic, ghosts, folkloric creatures, angels and much more. There’s even a trip to Hell (but I won’t say more than that) that seemed to come out of left field and ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story.
Carey has a talent for creating wonderful characters and friendships, and in this story Willem meets some creatures who become beloved friends and allies, including Anna and Kel, a brother and sister who are also shapeshifters; Peter Floodfoot, a boy made of water who can control streams and rivers; Unsung Jill, a fearful monster with one blood red eye; Betheli, a young girl who is the first victim of Caradoc’s plan but doesn’t let death stop her from fighting back; and finally a ghost named Morjune with a sad backstory. Together they form a group that Willem calls “the seven” and becomes a force against Caradoc and the best hope for saving the village.
Willem himself (or really Once-Was-Willem, as he doesn’t consider himself to be Willem anymore) has many layers and goes through lots of changes during the story. At first, he’s devastated by his appearance, especially when he tries to reconnect with his family and they shun him. He’s a Frankenstein’s monster type of creature, unable to fit into the world but desperately wanting to be accepted. I suppose it's fitting, then, that he finally finds his true family with other monsters.
The last few chapters were especially tense and exciting, and I was very worried about Willem and his friends. Carey ends his story with lots of heartfelt emotion, and I have to say I was sorry to say goodbye to these characters.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
March 31, 2025
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2025/03/26/...
I think I may be in the minority on this one, but while I generally love the dark, thought-provoking works of M.R. Carey, I struggled to get into Once Was Willem. Granted, the novel was another testament to the author’s storytelling abilities, tackling a medieval horror fantasy told in a unique narrative voice. However, the style and structure of the book also made it difficult to parse at times, and this is something you have to get used to, or—if you’re like me—you just can’t.
Set in the mid-12th century, the story begins in a poor peasant village where the untimely death of a young boy named Willem leads his parents on a misguided attempt to bring him back. They turn to a powerful sorcerer named Cain Caradoc, who promises that he can help resurrect their son. However, what he failed to mention is that he will also be taking a piece of Willem’s soul as his price, and that the boy will come back as a grotesque shell of who he once was, becoming a monstrosity lingering between life and undeath. Horrified by the creature that once was their beloved son, his mother and father are joined by the rest of the villagers in driving Willem out.
Exiled, Willem makes his home in the surrounding woods, but he finds he is not alone. Others like him have taken refuge in the wilderness, among them individuals deemed oddities who have also been cast out—shapeshifters, elemental creatures, monsters, and spirits. Together, they form a band of seven to keep each other safe, eventually bringing the fight to Caradoc, whose nefarious plans have led him to set his sights on more than the souls of dead children. As the sorcerer’s magic threatens the villages and the residents turn to those they’ve cast out for assistance, Willem and his companions must confront the enemy in a final battle that not only determines the fates of the villagers but of the afterlife itself.
To be honest, although I appreciated the folklore and found family themes of Once of Willem, the book starts off slowly, and its ponderous pacing is further exacerbated by the archaic writing style. Indeed, the novel’s distinct narrative style is a double-edged sword, at once its greatest strength and greatest weakness. The story reads like a memoir told by Willem himself, but much like his physical body, his mind is also neither here nor there. He jumps around, meanders, inserting fragments of memory or asides at seemingly random places. Like the old-timey, period-appropriate prose, Willem’s voice makes this story feel authentic and immersive, but it is also very demanding on readers.
That said, Willem’s character arc is deeply moving, driven by his relatable need for acceptance and purpose. Afterall, everyone understands what it means to belong and to be accepted. It is universal, and it is human. Brought back to life only to be discarded by his own people, Willem also struggles with the meaning of his existence. Later, he finds solace in his group of companions that he meets in the wilderness. Bound not by blood but by a shared understanding, their camaraderie is truly the heart and soul of the story, bringing warmth and depth to an otherwise bleak tale. These characters shine whenever they are on the page, and unfortunately, their togetherness feels underused, making me wish we saw more of those connections.
In various reviews, I’ve seen Once Was Willem described as medieval Frankenstein meets The Magnificent Seven. Given its elements, I have to say these are good comparisons, and you should definitely check it out if you are interested in a unique blend of horror, folklore, and adventure. However, it can also be a frustrating read, especially if you prefer your stories to be more structured and organized. The dense prose can also present a challenge, and in fact, I found it more enjoyable after a while to switch to the audiobook, which made it easier to get into the story. Ultimately, I was glad I finished this, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of M.R. Carey’s more readable books.
I think I may be in the minority on this one, but while I generally love the dark, thought-provoking works of M.R. Carey, I struggled to get into Once Was Willem. Granted, the novel was another testament to the author’s storytelling abilities, tackling a medieval horror fantasy told in a unique narrative voice. However, the style and structure of the book also made it difficult to parse at times, and this is something you have to get used to, or—if you’re like me—you just can’t.
Set in the mid-12th century, the story begins in a poor peasant village where the untimely death of a young boy named Willem leads his parents on a misguided attempt to bring him back. They turn to a powerful sorcerer named Cain Caradoc, who promises that he can help resurrect their son. However, what he failed to mention is that he will also be taking a piece of Willem’s soul as his price, and that the boy will come back as a grotesque shell of who he once was, becoming a monstrosity lingering between life and undeath. Horrified by the creature that once was their beloved son, his mother and father are joined by the rest of the villagers in driving Willem out.
Exiled, Willem makes his home in the surrounding woods, but he finds he is not alone. Others like him have taken refuge in the wilderness, among them individuals deemed oddities who have also been cast out—shapeshifters, elemental creatures, monsters, and spirits. Together, they form a band of seven to keep each other safe, eventually bringing the fight to Caradoc, whose nefarious plans have led him to set his sights on more than the souls of dead children. As the sorcerer’s magic threatens the villages and the residents turn to those they’ve cast out for assistance, Willem and his companions must confront the enemy in a final battle that not only determines the fates of the villagers but of the afterlife itself.
To be honest, although I appreciated the folklore and found family themes of Once of Willem, the book starts off slowly, and its ponderous pacing is further exacerbated by the archaic writing style. Indeed, the novel’s distinct narrative style is a double-edged sword, at once its greatest strength and greatest weakness. The story reads like a memoir told by Willem himself, but much like his physical body, his mind is also neither here nor there. He jumps around, meanders, inserting fragments of memory or asides at seemingly random places. Like the old-timey, period-appropriate prose, Willem’s voice makes this story feel authentic and immersive, but it is also very demanding on readers.
That said, Willem’s character arc is deeply moving, driven by his relatable need for acceptance and purpose. Afterall, everyone understands what it means to belong and to be accepted. It is universal, and it is human. Brought back to life only to be discarded by his own people, Willem also struggles with the meaning of his existence. Later, he finds solace in his group of companions that he meets in the wilderness. Bound not by blood but by a shared understanding, their camaraderie is truly the heart and soul of the story, bringing warmth and depth to an otherwise bleak tale. These characters shine whenever they are on the page, and unfortunately, their togetherness feels underused, making me wish we saw more of those connections.
In various reviews, I’ve seen Once Was Willem described as medieval Frankenstein meets The Magnificent Seven. Given its elements, I have to say these are good comparisons, and you should definitely check it out if you are interested in a unique blend of horror, folklore, and adventure. However, it can also be a frustrating read, especially if you prefer your stories to be more structured and organized. The dense prose can also present a challenge, and in fact, I found it more enjoyable after a while to switch to the audiobook, which made it easier to get into the story. Ultimately, I was glad I finished this, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of M.R. Carey’s more readable books.
December 1, 2024
4 stars. Solid and enjoyable medieval horror/fantasy story. I don't always vibe with first person narration, i guess because so much relies on if you like their voice, but i found Willem's (Once-Was) character voice level-head but distinct and believably 'medieval', (which admittedly took me a chapter or two to settle into, but I became endeared to him quickly after.) while maybe not so subtle at times (especially towards the end), i found the themes of forgiveness, mercy, and acceptance thoughtful... dare i say hopeful, even.
The characters were unique and memorable, despite the brief appearance of some of them. (i'll be thinking about the drede ich nawit body-horror-transformation for a while ....) i especially was intrigued by caradoc (my favorite type..! everything he got up to was slimy and dark!)
I could see how this would lend itself to a sequel, but I don't really want that (lol) and found the ending perfectly fine and satisfying as-is. I enjoy fantasy stand-alones when they come along. I'd love to read more of Carey's work, especially if he decides to tackle stories in this time period again.
It was a fun read, i'm not particularly good at reviewing but i really enjoyed this one. thanks NetGalley for the digital ARC, I'm excited to buy a physical copy when it comes out in March to add to my collection. I have a couple friends in mind who i'd easily recommend this to... always on the hunt for books that satisfy our dark medieval novel needs :)
The characters were unique and memorable, despite the brief appearance of some of them. (i'll be thinking about the drede ich nawit body-horror-transformation for a while ....) i especially was intrigued by caradoc (my favorite type..! everything he got up to was slimy and dark!)
I could see how this would lend itself to a sequel, but I don't really want that (lol) and found the ending perfectly fine and satisfying as-is. I enjoy fantasy stand-alones when they come along. I'd love to read more of Carey's work, especially if he decides to tackle stories in this time period again.
It was a fun read, i'm not particularly good at reviewing but i really enjoyed this one. thanks NetGalley for the digital ARC, I'm excited to buy a physical copy when it comes out in March to add to my collection. I have a couple friends in mind who i'd easily recommend this to... always on the hunt for books that satisfy our dark medieval novel needs :)
February 24, 2025
M. R. Carey’s Once Was Willem is absolutely fantastic and the best book I’ve read so far in 2025.
Set in England in 1105, it blends historical fiction, horror, and fantasy with a unique writing style that captures the era perfectly. The characters are unforgettable: Once Was Willem, a zombie with a surprising depth; Cain Caradoc, a villain you love to hate; and the rest of the seven all had a place in my heart. The horror is chilling, the fantasy imaginative, and the historical setting richly detailed. I think fans of the type of reflective storytelling you see in The Kingkiller Chronicle or The First Binding will love this. Highly recommended!
Set in England in 1105, it blends historical fiction, horror, and fantasy with a unique writing style that captures the era perfectly. The characters are unforgettable: Once Was Willem, a zombie with a surprising depth; Cain Caradoc, a villain you love to hate; and the rest of the seven all had a place in my heart. The horror is chilling, the fantasy imaginative, and the historical setting richly detailed. I think fans of the type of reflective storytelling you see in The Kingkiller Chronicle or The First Binding will love this. Highly recommended!
April 19, 2025
Set in 12th-century England, this is the story of a small village that is terrorized by a power-seeking sorcerer.
It reads like a folk tale, only instead of attractive, young human heroes, those roles are all taken by the monsters. Each creature or entity has their own fantastic backstory.
The story is entirely told as backstory taking away a little of the possible tension.
There is an interesting version of the Creation myth that I'd never heard before and some unusual ideas about Angels.
Despite the book's marketing this as "dark," I found it to be a light, easygoing read.
The major theme explored is one of judging or fearing those who are superficially different from you.
It reads like a folk tale, only instead of attractive, young human heroes, those roles are all taken by the monsters. Each creature or entity has their own fantastic backstory.
The story is entirely told as backstory taking away a little of the possible tension.
There is an interesting version of the Creation myth that I'd never heard before and some unusual ideas about Angels.
Despite the book's marketing this as "dark," I found it to be a light, easygoing read.
The major theme explored is one of judging or fearing those who are superficially different from you.
March 25, 2025
It took a good bit to really get into it, and while the pacing is slower than I usually go for - it did stat consistent throughout the story.
It's an absolutely lovely zombie and monter book from the 1100's. LOL I went into it blind and except for some true to the time period treatment by hypocritical Christians that I personally found a bit triggering, everything else about this story is just lovely.
I've read a few books by this author now and I've enjoyed every one of them.
It's an absolutely lovely zombie and monter book from the 1100's. LOL I went into it blind and except for some true to the time period treatment by hypocritical Christians that I personally found a bit triggering, everything else about this story is just lovely.
I've read a few books by this author now and I've enjoyed every one of them.
July 17, 2025
okay. listen. i knew as soon as i read the premise of this that unless it was terribly written i was going to love this. it could not have been more perfectly catered to my particular niche tastes. our protag is a boy who died as a child & through necromancy was resurrected from the dead, but he Comes Back Different, & he has to help defeat a terrible evil plaguing the village of his youth. this is not going to be an unbiased or objective review.
that being said, oh my god i was not expecting just HOW MUCH i loved this. i'm honestly a little speechless, so i'll just give a (hopefully brief) list of bullet points:
1. the narrative tone of this is GREAT. the conceit of this is that once-was-willem has written the story down to be passed on to all the children of cosham village by their local parson, & it genuinely feels like a story written by hand in a medieval journal. the narrative language is correct (HALLEFUCKINGLUJAH), era-appropriate, and is overall just very enjoyable to read. not so dense as to be unparsable by someone less familiar with older styles of writing, but enough to feel real.
2. as once-was-willem is telling this story he will occasionally reach a point where he'll kind of pause and rewind to tell us of something else that was happening concurrently with what we just read, a sort of "oh and while that was happening so was this, which becomes very important later" that i know a lot of other reviewers disliked but which i think was extremely fun, because it just makes it feel more like an actual person retelling a story of something that happened to them. we don't remember these things in perfect linear order! as we tell a story something we've said will spark a memory in us, and we have to go back & retell that part as well to give the whole picture. idk if i've ever seen an epistolary story told this way, & i thought it was rly interesting.
3. now. i don't read a lot of historical fiction or fantasy, it's not normally my thing, but i have several friends who do, & i love to read their reviews. so it was a very pleasant surprise to start reading this & find myself immersed in a medieval setting by an author who seems to have actually done research into what life would have been like here. all sorts of small details jumped out at me: the building of the castle from its original motte to the stonemasonry fortress we think of as a castle nowadays, the real genuine sense that these people believe god was real & behave accordingly, both in their religious worship & their everyday lives, a throwaway line about brambles that have been there since the english kings still spoke english & not french, all sorts of myriad things i can't even think of but were just so, so good to give this world a real solid foundation. this book has a real sense of history & of people
4. THE MAGIC, HOLY GOD THE MAGIC (& the monsters, the monsters!!!). another thing very deeply rooted in a sense of real history of the time, but also just so, so viscerally disgusting in SO many ways. personally i was delighted by it. the descriptions of once-was-willem being risen from the grave, the way caradoc turned horvath into a puppet, that poor pig he used to summon the bogaordach... sweet betheli, murdered & trapped in the cornerstone of the castle; morjune & her healing magics & ghostly fires; unsung jill, old as the universe, who slipped into being between the words as god built the universe, whose eye sees always into hell itself; THE ULFEÐNAR (i lost my FUCKING mind when they first showed up), both kel, the prototypical bear shapeshifter who will also turn berserk when pressed too far, but especially anna, gloriously perfect shapeshifter with no true base form because she is anything & everything that has ever existed & will ever exist all at once. obsessed beyond the telling
5. and then
last, i'm not gonna say we're doing anything revolutionary here in terms of theme. the telling of what makes a monster by juxtaposing humans who behave monstrously against monsters who are kind & good is, by now, well-trammeled. but i think in this we get a very well balanced portrayal of both the raw, grisly horrors of human evil, & the stout, iron core of human goodness. as anna says, "the pain that matters is the pain that's willed. and if that's true of a penance then how much more true could it be of a blessing? she could mend the whole world, but only by changing the hearts of them that lived in it, overwriting their will with her own. it would not do. they must find their own way to happiness, or to whatever other end they chose."
anyway yes the ending of this did (& still is) make me choke up a bit. which was great, because i finished this at my desk at work! also i need to go out & buy this book posthaste. if you're interested in a medieval fantasy that is part horror, part fairytale, then this is the story for you.
also also once-was-willem met a literal angel & thought it was anna at first because he had never seen another being so beautiful yet so strange in his life. how do you get better than that
that being said, oh my god i was not expecting just HOW MUCH i loved this. i'm honestly a little speechless, so i'll just give a (hopefully brief) list of bullet points:
1. the narrative tone of this is GREAT. the conceit of this is that once-was-willem has written the story down to be passed on to all the children of cosham village by their local parson, & it genuinely feels like a story written by hand in a medieval journal. the narrative language is correct (HALLEFUCKINGLUJAH), era-appropriate, and is overall just very enjoyable to read. not so dense as to be unparsable by someone less familiar with older styles of writing, but enough to feel real.
2. as once-was-willem is telling this story he will occasionally reach a point where he'll kind of pause and rewind to tell us of something else that was happening concurrently with what we just read, a sort of "oh and while that was happening so was this, which becomes very important later" that i know a lot of other reviewers disliked but which i think was extremely fun, because it just makes it feel more like an actual person retelling a story of something that happened to them. we don't remember these things in perfect linear order! as we tell a story something we've said will spark a memory in us, and we have to go back & retell that part as well to give the whole picture. idk if i've ever seen an epistolary story told this way, & i thought it was rly interesting.
3. now. i don't read a lot of historical fiction or fantasy, it's not normally my thing, but i have several friends who do, & i love to read their reviews. so it was a very pleasant surprise to start reading this & find myself immersed in a medieval setting by an author who seems to have actually done research into what life would have been like here. all sorts of small details jumped out at me: the building of the castle from its original motte to the stonemasonry fortress we think of as a castle nowadays, the real genuine sense that these people believe god was real & behave accordingly, both in their religious worship & their everyday lives, a throwaway line about brambles that have been there since the english kings still spoke english & not french, all sorts of myriad things i can't even think of but were just so, so good to give this world a real solid foundation. this book has a real sense of history & of people
4. THE MAGIC, HOLY GOD THE MAGIC (& the monsters, the monsters!!!). another thing very deeply rooted in a sense of real history of the time, but also just so, so viscerally disgusting in SO many ways. personally i was delighted by it. the descriptions of once-was-willem being risen from the grave, the way caradoc turned horvath into a puppet, that poor pig he used to summon the bogaordach... sweet betheli, murdered & trapped in the cornerstone of the castle; morjune & her healing magics & ghostly fires; unsung jill, old as the universe, who slipped into being between the words as god built the universe, whose eye sees always into hell itself; THE ULFEÐNAR (i lost my FUCKING mind when they first showed up), both kel, the prototypical bear shapeshifter who will also turn berserk when pressed too far, but especially anna, gloriously perfect shapeshifter with no true base form because she is anything & everything that has ever existed & will ever exist all at once. obsessed beyond the telling
5. and then
last, i'm not gonna say we're doing anything revolutionary here in terms of theme. the telling of what makes a monster by juxtaposing humans who behave monstrously against monsters who are kind & good is, by now, well-trammeled. but i think in this we get a very well balanced portrayal of both the raw, grisly horrors of human evil, & the stout, iron core of human goodness. as anna says, "the pain that matters is the pain that's willed. and if that's true of a penance then how much more true could it be of a blessing? she could mend the whole world, but only by changing the hearts of them that lived in it, overwriting their will with her own. it would not do. they must find their own way to happiness, or to whatever other end they chose."
anyway yes the ending of this did (& still is) make me choke up a bit. which was great, because i finished this at my desk at work! also i need to go out & buy this book posthaste. if you're interested in a medieval fantasy that is part horror, part fairytale, then this is the story for you.
also also once-was-willem met a literal angel & thought it was anna at first because he had never seen another being so beautiful yet so strange in his life. how do you get better than that
April 7, 2025
Medieval horror/fantasy with a strong focus on society-perceived “monsters” (revenants, witches, shapeshifters, elementals etc.) banding together and fighting the good fight while most of the humans just kind of suck. Which is relatable for sure, but I’d still rank this as not one of Carey’s best works.
My favourite things about this were the setting (northern England during the Anarchy), the commitment to the worldbuilding and to the period-appropriate style of speech – I’ve seen other reviews state it’s too olden-timey to easily follow but personally I quite enjoyed that part.
However, I do agree that the style also hampers itself quite a bit, because being a medieval-type memoir, it relies heavily on telling, not showing. It’s not helped a lot by the titular narrator, Once-Was-Willem, whose voice is very dolorous and glum and a little pompous. Some of the other characters seem a lot more lively but it’s all filtered through Willem’s perspective, so there’s definitely a remove that kept me from engaging with the characters fully. Which is a shame, because characters and their relationships is usually one of Carey’s strength.
The villain is very over-the-top evil and vain, not unrealistically so but I found him a little boring and he gets a lot of page time. Also, because the narrative leaves plenty of Chekhov’s guns lying around from early on, in terms of powerful players and gadgets and magical rebound effects that will conveniently come back to bite the villain in the arse at the opportune moment, there was a lack of real tension or stakes.
Strangely – because they’re two very different stories – I had a similar vibe from this as I did from Carey’s recent Pandominium duology, namely that it felt very visibly crafted. Here’s the author setting up narrative game pieces and intended messaging and useful character configurations; here’s the author bringing all those elements to bear in a more or less expected fashion. At no point while reading this novel did I have a bad time, but also at no point did I feel immersed in it or deeply invested in its characters. It’s a reasonably well-crafted, reasonably entertaining piece of medieval horror/fantasy fiction, no more and no less, but generally I do expect “more” from this author, so I ended up feeling pretty lukewarm about it.
My favourite things about this were the setting (northern England during the Anarchy), the commitment to the worldbuilding and to the period-appropriate style of speech – I’ve seen other reviews state it’s too olden-timey to easily follow but personally I quite enjoyed that part.
However, I do agree that the style also hampers itself quite a bit, because being a medieval-type memoir, it relies heavily on telling, not showing. It’s not helped a lot by the titular narrator, Once-Was-Willem, whose voice is very dolorous and glum and a little pompous. Some of the other characters seem a lot more lively but it’s all filtered through Willem’s perspective, so there’s definitely a remove that kept me from engaging with the characters fully. Which is a shame, because characters and their relationships is usually one of Carey’s strength.
The villain is very over-the-top evil and vain, not unrealistically so but I found him a little boring and he gets a lot of page time. Also, because the narrative leaves plenty of Chekhov’s guns lying around from early on, in terms of powerful players and gadgets and magical rebound effects that will conveniently come back to bite the villain in the arse at the opportune moment, there was a lack of real tension or stakes.
Strangely – because they’re two very different stories – I had a similar vibe from this as I did from Carey’s recent Pandominium duology, namely that it felt very visibly crafted. Here’s the author setting up narrative game pieces and intended messaging and useful character configurations; here’s the author bringing all those elements to bear in a more or less expected fashion. At no point while reading this novel did I have a bad time, but also at no point did I feel immersed in it or deeply invested in its characters. It’s a reasonably well-crafted, reasonably entertaining piece of medieval horror/fantasy fiction, no more and no less, but generally I do expect “more” from this author, so I ended up feeling pretty lukewarm about it.
September 5, 2025
(In terms of stars, I would say this is 3.5, but rounding down because I thought the ending was lackluster).
I had such a different idea of what I was getting into when I picked up this book. Medieval horror? I'm not much for horror, but I am all in on all things medieval. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I'm still wondering where the horror was. Sure, things went bump in the night, strange creatures lurked around the corner, and people died in yucky ways, but somehow, none of this ever equated to horror. Kinda dark? Sure. Horror? No.
For me, I think think this is because of the writing style used. It's very archaic and leaned hard into almost a medieval chronicle format. If you've never read one, they're very much not a linear story. While the setting may stay the same, a chronicler will often jump back in order to tell a story necessary to then complete the other story he had been telling. It can be a bit of a hot mess, but it can also be a fun hot mess in the chaoticness.
This book was very reminiscent of that, even down to the style of chapter titles, and I ate that up. It felt very much like being back in undergrad reading a chronicle for class, but I completely get how this will not be a style to appeal to everyone. It also enforces a sort of distance from the action and characters. I think the author did a good job of bridging the gap to create a fictional piece of work, but it definitely does not read like standard fiction.
In the end, I was fairly drawn to our characters and the little found family created. I can really only mention Once Was Willem, who definitely has a very Frankenstein feel to him. To talk too much of the other characters would spoil their creation stories, which are a large part of the mythos of the book.
As much as I enjoyed the reading of the book, I'm not sure I enjoyed the actual book itself. As mentioned, there wasn't the horror I was expecting. The ending felt a little too easy and obviously played out, and I didn't really fall in love with any character for all that I found them fun. I think if reading a dark medieval fiction chronicle full of monsters is appealing to you, then give this a try. It's not a bad book by any means; it just wasn't a home run for me.
I had such a different idea of what I was getting into when I picked up this book. Medieval horror? I'm not much for horror, but I am all in on all things medieval. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I'm still wondering where the horror was. Sure, things went bump in the night, strange creatures lurked around the corner, and people died in yucky ways, but somehow, none of this ever equated to horror. Kinda dark? Sure. Horror? No.
For me, I think think this is because of the writing style used. It's very archaic and leaned hard into almost a medieval chronicle format. If you've never read one, they're very much not a linear story. While the setting may stay the same, a chronicler will often jump back in order to tell a story necessary to then complete the other story he had been telling. It can be a bit of a hot mess, but it can also be a fun hot mess in the chaoticness.
This book was very reminiscent of that, even down to the style of chapter titles, and I ate that up. It felt very much like being back in undergrad reading a chronicle for class, but I completely get how this will not be a style to appeal to everyone. It also enforces a sort of distance from the action and characters. I think the author did a good job of bridging the gap to create a fictional piece of work, but it definitely does not read like standard fiction.
In the end, I was fairly drawn to our characters and the little found family created. I can really only mention Once Was Willem, who definitely has a very Frankenstein feel to him. To talk too much of the other characters would spoil their creation stories, which are a large part of the mythos of the book.
As much as I enjoyed the reading of the book, I'm not sure I enjoyed the actual book itself. As mentioned, there wasn't the horror I was expecting. The ending felt a little too easy and obviously played out, and I didn't really fall in love with any character for all that I found them fun. I think if reading a dark medieval fiction chronicle full of monsters is appealing to you, then give this a try. It's not a bad book by any means; it just wasn't a home run for me.
June 25, 2025
This was almost absurdly charming and heart-warming, given the level of darkness also involved. A sort of medieval mythic-monster magnificent seven, dedicated to rescuing children from evil? I'm in!
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