Mark your calendars, LitStackers! Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey is in presale (the best time to buy a book)!
Ready to hit the bookshelf on March 4, 2025. Our anticipation is palpable. Published by Orbit, Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey is already making waves with early readers. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on the cover from the publisher’s official description to early reviews that will help you pre-order your copy ASAP. Let’s dive in!
In publishing, presales are a crucial indicator of a book’s potential success. Presales generate buzz and excitement before a book hits the shelves. Strong presale numbers translate to increased visibility, higher initial print runs, and a greater range of exposure. A high volume of presales signals to bookstores that a book is in demand, leading to better placement and more prominent displays. Ultimately, robust presales can significantly boost a book’s overall performance and reach a wider audience. Buy a presale now to support the author.
In This Spotlight On Once Was Willem
About Once Was Willem
Once Was Willem is 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.
Praise for Once Was Willem
“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)
“A wild fever dream of a novel – complicated, monstrous, and beautiful.”—Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author
“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
“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
“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
“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
About M. R. Carey, Author of Once Was Willem
M. R. Carey has been making up stories for most of his life. His novel The Girl With All the Gifts was a USA Today bestseller and is a major motion picture based on his BAFTA-nominated screenplay. Under the name Mike Carey he has written for both DC and Marvel, including critically acclaimed runs on X-Men and Fantastic Four, Marvel’s flagship superhero titles. His creator-owned books regularly appear in the New York Times bestseller list. He also has several previous novels, two radio plays, and a number of TV and movie screenplays to his credit.
You can connect with M.R. Carey on Facebook.
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: 139780316505024
Pub Date: Mar 4, 2025
Other Titles by M. R. Carey
Other LitStack Resources
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