M.R. Carey the writer behind the million-copy bestseller The Girl with All the Gifts and comic runs like Lucifer and X-Men, delivers an interesting and original tale in Once Was Willem. Published in March 2025, this is a standalone medieval horror fantasy which transports us to 12th-century England, showcasing a sort of anti-fairy tale of twisted folklore, macabre magic, and a found family of misfits. Once Was Willem showcases Carey’s knack for blending visceral traditional horror trope with profound humanity.
Set in the village of Cosham within the fiefdom of Pennick, the story follows Willem Turling, a farmer’s son who died at twelve from illness. His grieving parents, Jon and Margaret, turn to Cain Caradoc, a sorcerer promising resurrection. But Caradoc’s ritual, fueled by dark motives and a piece of Willem’s soul, goes awry, birthing a monstrous creature the Once Was Willem of the title. As Caradoc’s plans unfold, Willem joins a band of supernatural misfits to protect Cosham’s children, leading to a climactic battle against a necromantic evil.
The plot hurls along and blends something from the Grimms with the ridiculousness but face paced urgency of a Magnificent Seven-style showdown. Carey’s background in comics feel like they play a part through the vivid, almost cinematic scenes.. Unlike the post-apocalyptic sprawl of The Girl with All the Gifts, Once Was Willem feels more tightly focused to a single village’s fate. Willem delves into medieval superstition and it’s difficult not to compare Willem’s first-person narration to Frankenstein, both books share morally complicated characters but in the end make the ‘monsters’ seem profoundly human.
Carey’s experience, honed on character-driven properties like Hellblazer, inform Willem’s own introspective depth and the ensemble cast’s distinct voices, from a shapeshifting warrior to a ghostly ally. In some ways the band of misfits against evil magic reminded me a little of Charles Stross’s new Management books – very different in setting but the band of misfits winning over the odds is always an enjoyable trope.
Carey’s visual storytelling, one assumes from Carey’s comic book writing helps to elevate the novel’s imagery, because of this there are times the writing seems a little dense and this may deter casual readers. Compared to The Girl’s accessible thriller pace, Willem may require the reader to work a little harder but that’s not a bad thing.
I think some may think Once Was Willem lacks The Girl with All the Gifts’s genre-redefining credentials but I think we can say it matches its emotional depth. This book is perfect for readers craving dark fantasy with heart, and if you’re willing to put in the time it’s an adventure you’ll enjoy!