This is a dark, twisty, and thoroughly wonderful dark medieval/historical fantasy about Willem, the community he lives in, and what happens there when a robber takes over the local castle, a sorcerer shows up in the woods, and Willem dies (but not for long). I enjoyed every twist and turn of this story with its shapeshifters, witches, unexpected friendships, hell-journeys, and buried secrets.

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.

Once Was Willem is not anything like your typical fantasy epic. Instead, it’s a unique, beautifully told historical fantasy set in a medieval England so richly imagined it feels like M.R. Carey must have been there. His prose pulls you into a world where myths are real and the supernatural is is more than just superstition.

The cosmology of this novel is one of its standout elements. The angels in this world are not the soft-lit figures or bouncing baby cherubs we envision today but in fact biblically accurate conglomerations of eyes, wings, and animal and human parts. It's this kind of worldbuilding that's drawn straight from the real way that people saw the world around them and imagined the worlds they couldn't see that makes this story hit so different.

But the heart of the novel lies in its characters. Whether fully human or something more, they’re written with authenticity. Their flaws, loyalties, fears, and small acts of bravery give the story its emotional weight. It's a story for misfits and outcasts. It's a story about how our fears make us petty and cruel, and a story about the people that we're most afraid of might be the ones who save us.

That said, the plot itself is fairly straightforward: evil threatens the world and a band of misfits must rise to meet it. While it doesn’t break new ground in that regard, Carey’s execution makes the journey worth it. The ending left me emotional in a way I didn’t expect. In today’s world, it’s hard not to hope for heroes like Willem and his crew. I only wish I knew how to get in touch with them.

If you’re looking for fantasy that’s atmospheric, emotionally resonant, and just a little strange in all the right ways, Once Was Willem is well worth your time.

DNF at 20%.

This book is written as very beautiful, very high fantasy, with a fairly intensive world building in the first 5 chapters. For some, this might be a really interesting read. But I found the world-building to be kind of a slog to get through. By the time I got to the actual beginning of the story (chapter 6), I was hours in and no longer interested. I really think I am just not the target audience for this book, and that's okay!

n 11th century England, everything was chaotic after the death of Henry I. M. R. Carey adds a bit of fantasy to the period as the children of a small village are menaced by a sorcerer. Cain Caradoc. Under the local castle are the huge bones of an angel filled with magic. Cain wants to sacrifice the children to access that magic and become immortal. Opposing him are seven monsters. Once Was Willem (paper from Orbit), a revenant, tells the story. Cain had raised him because his parents mourned, and then they were afraid of what they had created. The other monsters include a witch the village burned to death, two weres, and a boy made of river water. This is as tense as Seven Samurai, but also a bit melancholy. Definitely a tour-d-force and highly recommended.

Loved this one! It was a comfort read, kind of like a mythological tale. Willem was brought back to life after he passed away at 12. His parents were consumed by grief, but of course, he came back as something other. Still he was able to make a life, and then ... again of course .... there was a quest. An interesting tale, full of characters, plots, sub-plots, heroes and villains.

MR Carey is an interesting writer for me because they never write in the same genre. I love that they go from zombie story, to typical horror, to dystopian fantasy, to sci-fi...and now this. It took a bit for me to get into it, but eventually I grew to like Once Was Willem and the story he was telling.

"Once Was Willem" is a dark fantasy/horror set in medieval Cosham, following the journey of Once-was-Willem, a resurrected peasant child turned monster. Rejected by society, he finds a new purpose by uniting fellow outcasts to protect children from a lurking evil. Despite its horror elements, the story balances action, body horror, and sorrow with a hopeful tone. Narrated in Willem's authentic voice, the tale celebrates resilience, acceptance, and found family, leaving a lasting impression.

I am ridiculously biased in favor of fantasies written as matter-of-fact accounts and Once Was Willem is one of those finely tuned pieces of writing that strike a wonderful chord.

It's written so well and with an air of history but on a small scale. Willem's (or what was Willem's) account is so deeply depressing at first that I didn't know what to make of myself.

Carey presents a tale cautioning against the cheating of death and it's transformative effect on the living. The othering of what once was Willem I think will haunt me for a good long while.

Each chapter is a polished stone thrown on a pile that suddenly becomes a mountain beyond measure. Genuinely I found myself lost in each little bit so I could not see the greater shape of the story until it was revealed to me.

What a delight to read something so heartfelt yet dark.

What a delight! This was a deeply engaging story that effortlessly takes the reader on a journey reminiscent of a classic folktale. What immediately grabbed my attention was the language used to tell the story, which felt equal parts unique and familiar.

The narrator, Once-Was-Willem, is an incredibly endearing character that allows the reader to feel connected to each individual storyline as they come together, and I already miss his distinct narrative voice! The fantasy elements were expertly woven into the historical setting and there was never a moment where I felt like the folk/mythology elements were out of place.

The rich storytelling was wonderful to experience and I'm certain that I'll be returning for a re-read whenever I need that classic folktale feeling. I had such a fun time with this one and I feel that anyone who enjoys folk stories and mythology would also really enjoy this!

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the advanced copy of this book. I actually ran out of time to finish this one, but was enjoying it so much that I went out and picked it up on the release date.

My best description of this book is: what if a medieval bard had a really severe case of ADHD and kept pausing his story to tell you about all the people in the village making the worst possible choices they could? I promise I mean this in the most complimentary way, because the people of Cosham are incredibly important to the tale. I just feel like if you go in thinking the story is focused exclusively on Willem and his adventures, you might not get quite what you expect. On the other hand, that's what I assumed the story was going to be about, and I ended up loving it, so! To each their own. This story is fun and weird and incredibly touching, presenting an underlying question of what actually makes a person a monster. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

'Once Was Willem' is an epic dark medieval fantasy. There is the juxtaposition of who the real monsters are: the monsters or the villagers. As such, there are aspects of found family in this as well. There is dry humor to be found also. It keeps things from being totally tragic. It is a tale of good versus evil, and so much more. 5 stars.

This is the story of Once was Willem. He used to be Willem, but now he's something else.
The town he grew up in is facing a terrible evil. Even though they shunned him, he will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

I've never read anything by this author before. I loved it! It has fantasy, horror, and a very interesting found family. It's unique. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book took me a little while to figure out, but once I did I was hooked! Once-was-Willem was a delightful character and his narration was so earnest and at times very funny. There was more magical realism in this than I thought, which was awesome. The medley of characters were so creatively developed. I became attached to quite a few of them and anxiously hoped everyone made it ok to the end! I enjoyed how the plot points came together in the second half of the book. I found the villain to be a serious threat, wielding magic effectively and dangerously. The setting was developed well, the castle and the forest and the village all presented clearly. It was also a refreshing take that the village priest was a reasonable and logical person, not one to fall for common superstitions.

Medieval tales are a favorite genre of mine. The narration was a unique first person but omnipotent POV. I found myself comforted throughout the book because the narrator would hint at things to come and also jump from related scenarios, so the reader gets the full picture right away. I liked that.

I recommend this to anyone who likes medieval themed stories, magicians/spellcasting, magical realism, village superstitions, and ghosts. There are a couple of really cool ghosts in this one.

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.

A beautiful, unique story.
It did take me awhile to get into this, but the more I read, the better it got until I could no longer put it down.
If you enjoy fantasy, and are looking for something more unique to pick up, I highly recommend this book.
An overall, interesting story that blends historical fiction, fantasy and horror. Full of unforgettable characters, found family, empathy and forgiveness.

Easy five stars.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. It was basically the dark, medieval fantasy book of my dreams. It has a deeply historical feel, with unique and immersive writing that kept me up reading all night long. It's like a fairy tale, but the wonderfully gross kind that includes plenty of limb-hacking. I enjoyed the subtle, dark humor throughout and was surprised by how lovable the bizarre cast of characters was.

Though this book clocks in at just under 300 pages, it's oddly filled with a lot of heart. I found myself even tearing up at times. It's at once a hilarious, dark fable and a testament to found family and the triumph of humanity. It has a bit of a Hunchback of Notre Dame vibe, with our titular character Once-Was-Willem being a monstrous boy who chooses kindness even in the face of cruelty. Think Hunchback meets Doctor Faustus meets a Grimm fairy tale!

Will certainly be rereading this one in the future!

Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey was absolutely enchanting!
This is the best type of fantasy! I don’t think I can quite put into words.
Carey‘s writing is captivating. He knows how to pull the reader into a magnificent and intriguing place.
The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb.
The attention to details in his writing really set the scene and tone.

If you like the idea of God creation, then this is for you.

A fair warning that it is in first person, and although the material is good, it did kind of keep you at arms length. But despite that, the plot is interesting and I was able to get through it. I liked the stories of the other "gods" that were created, I still had a great time with Willem's story.

It's a decent fantasy read.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for an early copy.

This is my first read from M.R. Carey, and I liked the style of writing used and found it to match the tone and context of the book.

This medieval tale takes place in England, where people are cruel and hungry for power and superiority, jumping to mistreating each other and less likely to provide empathy. We follow paranormal happenings and folklore characters as they take on an evil wizard, and now the mistreated must take a stand.

Our main character is a zombie named Once Was Willem, who grapples with what to do. Themes of forgiveness, compassion and mercy, and comradery do shine in this book and it surprised me with its humor. I had some good laughs! I recommend this book.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.