'A MASTERPIECE OF MEDIEVAL DARK FICTION' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires

'A WILD FEVER-DREAM OF A NOVEL - COMPLICATED, MOSTROUS AND BEAUTIFUL' Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author

From the bestselling M. R. Carey comes an utterly unique and enchantingly dark epic fantasy fable like no other.

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 . . .

'An incredible masterwork of medieval fantasy-horror, dark and twisted and burning bright with humanity. Once Was Willem is packed with magic, folklore, superstitious fear, and horrors that bring hope' Cameron Johnston, author of The Maleficent Seven

'Weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story . . . A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires

'A delicious blend of horror, fantasy and historical fiction, Once Was Willem gave me exactly what I crave most as a reader - the unexpected. That, and a main character I would fight to the undeath for. A unique and brilliant book' Jen Williams, British Fantasy Award-winning author of The Ninth Rain

'It's a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it - it had me absolutely rapt' RJ Barker, author of The Bone Ships

'It's so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful' Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer

About the Author
M. R. Carey has been making up stories for most of his life. His novel The Girl With All the Gifts has sold over a million copies and became a major motion picture, based on his own BAFTA Award-nominated screenplay. Under the name Mike Carey he has written for both DC and Marvel, including critically acclaimed runs on Lucifer, Hellblazer and X-Men. His creator-owned books regularly appear in the New York Times bestseller list. He also has several previous novels including the Felix Castor series (written as Mike Carey), two radio plays and a number of TV and movie screenplays to his credit.

Reviews
In Once Was Willem, M. R. Carey's gorgeous prose weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story boasting one of the nastiest sorcerers you'll ever meet, and a narrator as inwardly gentle as he is outwardly monstrous. A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation. * Christopher Buehlman, author of BETWEEN TWO FIRES *
An incredible masterwork of medieval fantasy-horror, dark and twisted and burning bright with humanity. Once Was Willem is packed with magic, folklore, superstitious fear, and horrors that bring hope. * Cameron Johnston, author of THE MALEFICENT SEVEN *
A delicious blend of horror, fantasy and historical fiction, Once Was Willem gave me exactly what I crave most as a reader - the unexpected. That, and a main character I would fight to the undeath for. A unique and brilliant book that leaves you wanting an immediate sequel * Jen Williams, British Fantasy Award-winning author of THE NINTH RAIN *
A wild fever-dream of a novel. It's a brilliant, coherent, complex story that I'm not sure anyone else alive could have written - complicated and beautiful, monstrous and ultimately human * Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author *
It's a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it - it had me absolutely rapt. * RJ Barker, author of THE BONE SHIPS *
It's so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful * Gareth Hanrahan, author of THE GUTTER PRAYER *
It's a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it - it had me absolutely rapt. * RJ Barker, author of THE BONE SHIPS *
It's so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful. * Gareth Hanrahan, author of THE GUTTER PRAYER *



Book Information
ISBN 9780356519449
Author M. R. Carey
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Orbit
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 156mm * 22mm