By M. R. Carey

On Sale: Jun 23, 2026
Page Count: 496 pages
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN-13: 9780316595490

$19.99

$25.99 CAD

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Prepare to be entranced by this utterly unique and completely spellbinding dark fairy tale from the million-copy bestselling M. R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts.

In a kingdom forgotten by history, a legend unfolds . . .

Wounded in his county’s endless wars, former soldier Mag Tresti finds work in the home of a reclusive widow, Jannae Mirchella. But Jannae is more than she seems. A witch of great skill and might, she hides her powers and her deep-laid plans behind a mask of harmless respectability.

When a dead demon falls out of the sky, the fates of the soldier and the witch are irrevocably intertwined. On the demon’s body Mag finds a tinderbox – an artefact of terrifying magical power that can not only grant his every wish, but also change the fate of nations.

This is a tale of spellcraft and devilry, of witchcraft and trickery – of the wickedness that resides within a few, the goodness that lies deep within us all, and the choices on which our lives turn.

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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.

“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 on Once Was Willem
"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) on Once Was Willem
“An immense achievement, an impeccably crafted book without a single word out of place.”
The New York Times on Infinity Gate
"A wild fever dream of a novel – complicated, monstrous, and beautiful."
Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author on Once Was Willem
"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 on Once Was Willem
"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 on Once Was Willem
"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 on Once Was Willem
"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 on Once Was Willem
"A master storyteller."
io9 on Infinity Gate
"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
"A thought-provoking and deeply engaging story ... profoundly and doggedly humane."
C. A. Fletcher on The Book of Koli
"Heartfelt, remorseless and painfully human...as fresh as it is terrifying. A jewel."
Joss Whedon on The Girl With All the Gifts
"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
"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
"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
"Carey writes with compassion and fire - strange and surprising and humane."

Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls on The Boy on the Bridge

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M. R. Carey

About the Author

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.

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M. R. Carey

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