We are the sum of all that has befallen us: Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey #bookreview #OnceWasWillem #NetGalley

From the bestselling M. R. Carey comes an enthrallingly dark medieval tale – a story of twisted folklore, macabre magic and the strangest of found families. This is the tale of Once-Was-Willem.
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.

❤️❤️❤️.5

Hi and welcome to my review of Once Was Willem!

I’ve read and loved many of M.R. Carey’s books so I was fully prepared to love Once Was Willem as well. Alas, I did not. I liked it but I didn’t love it. I’m not sure what happened. Maybe medieval fiction and I just don’t get along all that well.

Willem is an ordinary boy, living in a medieval village. Long story short: he dies, his parents are devastated, and a while later, they ask a sorcerer to bring Willem back. Which he does. However, this creature that is brought back from the dead bears only a vague resemblance to Willem, his body too far gone to be put back properly, and the villagers have their pitchforks at the ready to run this monster out of town. 

Poor creature that once was Willem, I really felt for him. Much like Frankenstein’s monster, he didn’t ask to be brought to life. He finds his feet, though, out in the woods, and a few good friends. He lives a peaceful life, until the villagers realise that their resident sorcerer is a truly evil one and Once-Was-Willem might be their only chance of survival.

Once Was Willem is a dark medieval fairytale, that, much like Carey’s other work, invites its readers to open both their minds and their hearts. The word-building is great, the characters well-rounded. The tone is rather formal, the blurb gives you an idea of what to expect. It’s perfect for this type of story, but still, I suspect it might be what kept me from truly loving it. 

A fantasy inspired by folklore and mythology set in medieval times, an evil sorcerer who makes your skin crawl and the most endearing not-monster. If you’re tickled at all, do give Once Was Willem a try!

Once Was Willem is out in digital formats, audio and hardcover on 4 March, with the paperback to follow in September.

Massive thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.