Well, goddamn.

You know how sometimes you read something that feels like all of your Special Interests have been plucked right from your skull and placed lovingly on a page for you to marvel over? Once Was Willem ended up being like that for me.

Faerie/folktales and fables? ✔️

Zombies (kinda)? ✔️

Ulfheðinn? ✔️

Biblically accurate angels and nephilim? ✔️✔️✔️

And then another thing at about the halfway point that made me shout "HOLY SHIT, IT'S A [REDACTED]!" that I'm not going to spoil for you bc it made me so fucking happy to realize and I want you to have that realization, too.

The way this story was written is probably not going to be for everyone. I started out keeping track of all the archaic words I had to look up, but eventually gave up and relied on context cues so I wouldn't have to stop reading. But some people are going to LOVE it, and I can't wait to talk to them about it.

| Gird yourself, therefore. 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.


Once Was Willem is being marketed as a dark fantasy, and I don't disagree. I've also seen it on at least one list of horror, and it certainly contains enough body horror for that. But what it is at the heart is something unique and rare - a medieval folktale.

It is historical fantasy fiction set in England during the Anarchy that braids together three strands of story: the bandit Maglan Horvath's sacking of Pennick and deciding to rule as the new lord, the sorcerer Cain Caradoc's pursuit of immortality, and the death of the 12-year-old boy Willem Turling and his resurrection into the being that would come to call himself Once-Was-Willem. The story itself is framed as Once-Was-Willem's written account of the events that occurred, so it is quite literally a book where we are told a story.

The first half of this book is a Rube Goldberg machine of setup, including chapters that feel like asides or anecdotes. It isn't until almost exactly the halfway point that the stage is set and the curtain thrown back to reveal to us what the real story will be - a riff on a classic plot. While I was worried for how this plot would shake out considering the amount of pages left, the dominoes fall swiftly and neatly to a conclusion that felt true in my heart. There is also some capital-H Horror in this book. Stomach-turning depictions of body horror, people coming to ghastly ends, and fates worse than death.

As you have no doubt noticed, the language in this book invokes the feeling of this time period. There are archaic words and phrases, and lots of terms for parts of a keep. You may want to read it next to a computer so you can look up unfamiliar words as you go. But this language sets a beautiful tone throughout, really immersing yourself in the time period. To some people, the above are going to be a major turn-off. The first half will be too slow for them, and the language will seem impenetrable. But I took to it like a duck to water.

In fact, one of my biggest complaints about the novel involves a witch trial that ends in someone being burned at the stake. While I am no scholar of the Anarchy, I have more than a passing familiarity with witch trials and this felt jarringly anachronistic. The witch craze wouldn't take off for another ~400 years, and witchcraft alone was not a crime that got you burned. It does become an important plot point so I get it from a story perspective, but it took me out of the book.

So basically, if you're a fantasy reader who loves history enough to notice and complain about something like that, here's your next book! I also recommend this to fans of Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars series, lovers of Catherynne M. Valente's purposeful use of language, and people who love T. Kingfisher's blend of horror and fantasy.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for a my review.

Thank you to Orbit for providing me a digital ARC of this book. Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this story. I got about a quarter of the way through, and realized that I was forcing myself to keep reading, which does not make it an enjoyable experience.

I thought the plot of this book sounded very interesting when I requested it. However, the writing style was just not for me. Though I understand why it was written in such a way, it was just hard for me, personally, to follow. I spent the majority of this reading fairly confused, and just couldn't justify continuing through the story.

Such a unique fantasy/medieval story with a great group of characters. I loved the storyline, setting and Once-Was-Willem was so endearing. This is definitely a difficult book to categorize but it was very enjoyable.

I wanted to like this, but I felt like I like there was a layer of remove between me and the story. It was told in a very perfunctory manner that in some cases led to dry, humorous moments, but mostly felt like I was watching a showdown of show vs tell.... and tell won by a mile.

The premise was interesting enough (indeed, it was what drove me to request this book) but I think the actual narrative fell a bit flat in the face of it. Part of it was that narrative remove I felt whilst reading, that feeling like was being told the story from a distance. (So and so did this. So and so did that. This happened and then that happened.) As a consequence of this, I also found it difficult to get invested in the characters. I didn't care overmuch as to if they struggled or were happy or triumphant.

I felt a bit underwhelmed and let down by this one, sadly to say. I think there is enough fun moments and few clever devices that I am still glad I read it, regardless how I felt over all. It was still worth the read.

This was a very unique and refreshing medieval fantasy with a strong sense of voice, which really think is the star of the book. It felt like the author knew exactly what they were envisioning and created a great main character to tell it. The pacing was great, and the exploration of the story was creative and kept me wondering where things were going. I also loved the way magic was woven into the world, it felt integral and believable for such a fantastical story.

After finishing this I want to read more from MR Carey, as I can only imagine how inventive and compelling his other works are.

Free ARC received from Orbit Books via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date 4 March 2025.

I liked Carey's Infinity Gate, so I was excited to read his first foray into medieval fantasy. In Once Was Willem, the eponymous Once Was Willem is a twelve year old boy unwisely resurrected from his grave by a rapaciously ambitious wizard. Reconstituted as a grotesque slime monster, the horrified villagers drive Willem out of Cosham—only for him to be drawn back into village affairs when it is threatened by the same wizard.

Once Was Willem is written in a lovely, slightly archaic prose that's very different from the style of Carey's science fiction. He uses a subtle formality in tone, an obsolete word here and there, with a light touch that reminds us that we're reading about characters who live in the foreign country of the past. He never descends into a cheesy Ren Faire-like style or stilted dialogue in the attempt, which is a trap that has snared many a writer. The excellent touch of the prose went hand in hand with an unusually good depiction of the medieval period for novels. Carey's England isn't the brutal cliche Dark Ages—the local parish priest attended university in Oxford, and the villagers are relatively prosperous—but it also unflinchingly depicts a world where half of the children born never saw adulthood, our protagonist Willem being one of them.

Into this solidly built medieval past, Carey weaves in the fantasy worldbuilding around the margins. Here, the nixies and witches and monsters that we might dismiss as superstition today really do lurk in the deep woods, but are seen infrequently enough that not everyone believes in them. Against these subtle touches, the brutality and obviousness of the wizard Cain Caradoc's magic strikes a stark contrast, especially since he seems to do most of his great workings with gruesome body horror, starting with Willem's reconstitution from a one year dead pile of bones and goo.

Some readers might not take to the leisurely paced plot, where most of the page space is devoted to recounting the backstory of the various characters and the village before all of the elements begin to coalesce, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A strange and beautiful book about what it truly means to be a monster, and highly recommended for fans of Jo Walton's Lent or Jared Pechacek's The West Passage.

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.

This was a bit of a struggle, and it's breaking my heart. This was I book that was very highly anticipated on my 2025 releases list, and I was very much expecting to love this. But alas, that is not the case. This has some very unique writing and a wonderful concept, but neither were really hitting for me. The writing and characters I especially had trouble connecting with, and I felt myself forgetting simple characters and plot point very fast due to them not keeping my attention. It took me quite a few weeks to even read past page twenty. So I very regrettably am going to be officially DNFing this one, but the fault is partially mine. Maybe I will return to it another time, but this is not the book for me as of now.

Thank you Orbit for the opportunity!

Overflowing with imagination, pulling from multiple cultures and mythologies, Carey has created a wonderous, twisted, fairy tale. The story of a boy who dies and is brought back from the grave as a monster and his quest to find his place in the world and an evil wizard intent on power. I’m simplifying it but you just have to read it. It’s a fantastic read. Beautiful realized and crafted. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Orbit Publishing, NetGalley, and M.R. Carey for this early read ARC. Pub Date: March 4, 2025

Brace yourself for a gruesome, exhilarating plunge into the medieval underworld of 12th-century England. Once-Was-Willem is a masterful blend of dark fantasy and horror, where monsters roam, magic pulses, and an unlikely band of outcasts rises to face a malevolent force. M.R. Carey deftly draws from English folklore, Christian myth, and Norse legend to create a narrative as rich and layered as the history it evokes.

At the heart of the story is Willem—or "Once-Was"—whose first-person narration immerses readers in this brutal, fantastical world. His perspective anchors the story, carrying the weight of its themes—chief among them forgiveness, mercy, and the power of acceptance. These themes resonate deeply, particularly as the story unfolds through a cast of unforgettable characters: from beasts and misfits to the fiendish wizard Cain Caradoc—one of the more memorably twisted villains I’ve encountered—each character adds depth and nuance to the tale. The narrative explores their struggles and triumphs with surprising tenderness, threading moments of humanity through the brutality.

Carey doesn’t just rely on his characters to captivate; the world-building and action are equally enthralling. The battle sequences are vividly painted, and the magic feels tactile and real, seamlessly woven into the story’s fabric. The intensity amplifies the emotional stakes, making the exploration of mercy and redemption all the more poignant. What surprised me most was how well the theme of forgiveness worked here. It’s not a concept I usually gravitate toward in fantasy, but Carey’s handling of it felt natural and even hopeful—of seeing worth in what others might dismiss—felt deeply rooted in every aspect of the story, from its characters to its conflicts.

To say more would risk spoiling the magic. Once-Was-Willem is best experienced blind, allowing the twists and turns to unfurl without expectation. It’s a wild, layered, and deeply rewarding journey—a must-read for fans of dark medieval fantasy and horror.

I stay away from all these uber-popular female (authors and protagonists) thrillers as far as I can, until something really draws me in. In this case, it was the author's reputation - I've read and enjoyed her books before. And to be fair, this novel isn't a really a thriller. To me, it read very much like a character-driven drama and a coming-of-age story.

Many kudos to Brown for managing to write a novel with a teenage protagonist without making it YA. Instead, Jane/Esme is a smart, resourceful, interesting person, a survivor and a fighter.
At seventeen, on the brink of the digital revolution that will reshape the world all around. she is living off-grid in Montana woods with only her father, a radical and a Luddite for company. The man is clearly and curiously unhinged, one of those people whose brains have turned against them. In his flight from the world, he comes to fear and resent, he has made some hard choices for himself and in turn imposed them on his only child, who has grown up in isolation and solitude.
When they two of them finally step out into the world together (and for all the wrong reasons), everything changes.

This was a very good read that held my attention completely. The characters are as interesting and compelling as you want to see in a character-driven novel. This is a story of people doing what they believe is right at terrible cost, of juxtaposing cleverness and kindness, of the importance of truly seeing the people around you as they are and not as you wish them to be. There is a lot of thoughtful meditation on our place in the world and, especially, on the place of technology in our lives.
In the end, it seems that the novel is saying that wielding the power has everything to do with who wields it, be it biological or artificial intelligence. Without a strong moral compass, behind it, things can go awry either way. And what kind of paradise is that?

I may have expected a bit more from the ending and perhaps a bit more for the novel's protagonist, but either way, it was very much worth a read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

this is a medieval horror involving a vampire. I think this was well written and the plot was compelling but like the other 3 books I’ve read by the author, I just feel like something is missing to prevent me from giving them mtoe than 3 stars. The narrative structure I think was the biggest strength of the story.

I’ve had Girl with All the Gifts on my TBR for some time. I was honored to be approved to read the ARC via NetGalley. So thank you NetGalley and Orbit publishing for this opportunity.

This was my first time reading medieval horror fantasy. I guess is the best way to describe the genre. Having just finished another historical horror fantasy not too long ago from Puritan times, I can safely say this is a genre I do thoroughly enjoy.

The medieval way of speaking does take a chapter or two to get into. But it does become easier as you read and Willem’s way of story telling as first person throughout I enjoyed also.

I really liked the book and look forward to trying to find similar titles to read in the future.

This was a wonderful dark fantasy. It was a bit outside of what I usually read, but I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review it because it was so unique and thoroughly enjoyable.

This is an author whose books I add to my tbr without even reading the synopsis. I know that each story will be unique and well-written. This was no exception. No one else writes the kinda-sorta-not quite dead as well as this author does …and this book teems with variations on this theme.

The premise of this book intrigued me, and I’m glad I went outside of my comfort zone and picked it up. I haven’t read the author’s work before, but I found the writing in this to be excellent. The medieval folklore vibes are immaculate. I think this will be a home run for quickly fantasy fans that love a good ragtag band of heroes.

Great dark fantasy. Our patrons will love it. Will be ordering for our library. Thanks for the opportunity to review.

I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader's copy of this book and truly enjoyed it! I can be quite picky about what I read, so I feel very lucky and surprised by how much I loved this book. This was such a surprising and unique story and I loved every moment. The writing style is not one that I come by often and that, along with a very unique set of characters, kept me fully engaged. The protagonist is unlike any character I've come across. This book was a wonderful medieval fantasy mixed with horror elements - which are my two very favorite genres!

What a wonderfully odd book that I had the pleasure of reading. I will say that this book is not for everyone as the pacing is a consistent gradual climb that *almost* made me DNF it. However, I persisted and I am very glad that I did because the book wrapped up beautifully. Every character no matter how small of a role they play were memorable and I enjoyed their interactions.