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Once Was Willem
- Author
- M. R. Carey
- Narrator
- Joe Jameson
- Publisher
- Hachette Audio
- Publish Date
- 4 March 2025
- Run Time
- 10 hours 40 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Presenting an enthrallingly dark medieval fantasy – a fable of twisted folklore, macabre magic and the strangest of found families – from M. R. Carey, author of the million-copy bestseller, The Girl With All the Gifts.
Eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England, I, Once Was Willem, rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham. The words enclosed herein are true.
I speak of monsters and magic, battle and bloodletting, and the crimes of desperate men. I speak also of secret things, of that which lies beneath us and that which impends above. By the time you come to the end of this account you will know the truth of your own life and death, the path laid out for your immortal soul, your origin and your inevitable end.
You will not thank me.
Critics Review
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“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 The Blacktongue Thief -
"Carey crafts an empathetic portrait of a medieval monster as a young man in this
revelatory dark fantasy... Wit and compassion, building to a wonderfully satisfying climax.
Powerful, captivating, and occasionally stomach-churning, this quintessential tale of good
and evil is sure to win fans."
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) -
“An immense achievement, an impeccably crafted book without a single word out of place.”—The New York Times on Infinity Gate
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"A wild fever dream of a novel – complicated, monstrous, and beautiful."—Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author
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"It's been 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
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"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 Sword Unbound
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"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
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"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
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"A master storyteller." —io9 on Infinity Gate
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"M.R. Carey hefts astonishing storytelling power with plainspoken language, heartbreaking choices, and sincerity like an arrow to the heart." —Locus on The Book of Koli
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"A thought-provoking and deeply engaging story ... profoundly and doggedly humane."—C. A. Fletcher on The Book of Koli
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"Heartfelt, remorseless and painfully human...as fresh as it is terrifying. A jewel."—Joss Whedon on The Girl With All the Gifts
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"This is a beautiful book. Gripping, engaging, and absolutely worth the time it takes to burrow yourself into its reality. I can't recommend it highly enough."—Seanan McGuire on The Book of Koli
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"M.R. Carey hefts astonishing storytelling power with plainspoken language, heartbreaking choices, and sincerity like an arrow to the heart." —Locus on The Book of Koli
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"The cadence and pacing of [Koli's] voice adds a depth and richness to the strange and malevolent world."—Booklist on The Book of Koli
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"Carey writes with compassion and fire - strange and surprising and humane."
—Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls on The Boy on the Bridge -
"A highly imaginative fable."—Nerd Daily on the Book of Koli
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Details
- Author
- M. R. Carey
- Narrator
- Joe Jameson
- Duration
- 10 hours 40 minutes
- Release Date
- 4 March 2025
- ISBN
- 9781668647691
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Hachette Audio
- Genre
- Dark fantasy, Adventure fiction, Historical fantasy
Synopsis
Presenting an enthrallingly dark medieval fantasy – a fable of twisted folklore, macabre magic and the strangest of found families –  from M. R. Carey, author of the million-copy bestseller, The Girl With All the Gifts.Eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England, I, Once Was Willem, rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham. The words enclosed herein are true.   I speak of monsters and magic, battle and bloodletting, and the crimes of desperate men. I speak also of secret things, of that which lies beneath us and that which impends above. By the time you come to the end of this account you will know the truth of your own life and death, the path laid out for your immortal soul, your origin and your inevitable end.   You will not thank me.  
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