Someone Like Me

'A MARVELLOUS DARK FABLE' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires'SPARKS WITH WONDER AND PERIL' Melissa Caruso, author of The Last Hour Between WorldsPrepare to be entranced by this utterly unique dark fantasy with a fairytale feel 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 country'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.Discover this dark and enchanting fantasy tale from one of the most original voices in speculative fiction - perfect for fans of Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden and A Sorcerer Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher.Praise for The Tinder Box:'Carey's craft manages to feel at once familiar and startling, which for me is a hallmark of exceptional writing . . . Confirms M.R. Carey's place among the best living writers in fantasy' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires and The Blacktongue Thief'The Tinder Box sparks with wonder and peril . . . It holds all the magic of a fable and all the complex kindness and cruelty of a human heart. Prepare to be enchanted!' Melissa Caruso, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Hour Between Worlds'Witty, crisp, sharp and tender in all the right places. Exactly on the border between gunpowder and fairy tale. You'll find yourself missing these big characters after they're gone' Paul Cornell, Hugo Award-winning novelist and screenwriter'In a grey age of violence and greed, Carey's tale strikes a spark of kindness, humanity, and hope' Marie Brennan, author of A Natural History of Dragons'Carey masters yet another subgenre of speculative fiction' Kirkus'Fantasy fans - especially of Joe Abercrombie's The Devils - will love Carey's updated version of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale' Booklist (starred review)

'A MASTERPIECE OF MEDIEVAL DARK FICTION' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires***Finalist for the World Fantasy Award***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.Reader reviews:'This book. Is. Phenomenal. Go buy it when it comes out . . . This could EASILY be my favorite book of the year already' ¿¿¿¿¿'Perfect in every way. 5/5 stars. Order it now; you do not want to miss this one' ¿¿¿¿¿'An amazing tale that I can see myself going back to time and again' ¿¿¿¿¿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. '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'Weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story . . . A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires'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'It's 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 Gutter Prayer'A wild fever-dream of novel - complicated, monstrous and beautiful' Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author

'ASTONISHING' Locus, 'ENTHRALLING' Guardian, 'CAPTIVATING' Kirkus<BR>***SHORTLISTED FOR THE PHILIP K. DICK AWARD***<BR><BR>The Book of Koli begins a breathtakingly original new trilogy set in a strange and deadly world of our own making.<BR><BR>Beyond the walls of the small village of Mythen Rood lies an unrecognisable landscape. A place where overgrown forests are filled with choker trees and deadly seeds that will kill you where you stand. And if they don't get you, the Shunned men will.<BR><BR>Koli has lived in Mythen Rood his entire life. He believes the first rule of survival is that you don't venture too far beyond the walls.<BR><BR>He's wrong.<BR><BR>'A CAPTIVATING START TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN EPIC POST-APOCALYPTIC FABLE' Kirkus<BR><BR>'KOLI EMBARKS UPON A JOURNEY AS PERILOUS AS IT IS ENLIGHTENING' Guardian<BR><BR>'THE BEST THING I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME. I LOVED IT' Joanne Harris<BR><BR>'INGENIOUS' Helen Marshall, World Fantasy Award-winning author<BR><BR>'DEEPLY ENGAGING' C. A. Fletcher, author of A Boy And His Dog at the End of the World<BR><BR>'ASTONISHING STORYTELLING POWER WITH PLAINSPOKEN LANGUAGE, HEARTBREAKING CHOICES, AND SINCERITY LIKE AN ARROW TO THE HEART' Locus<BR><BR>Look out for the next novels in the trilogy: The Trials of Koli and The Fall of Koli

The first novel in a thrillingly original, high-concept new science fiction duology about the multiverse from the bestselling M. R. Carey. Perfect for fans of Children of Time, The Space Between Worlds and The Long Earth.

'A MASTERPIECE OF MEDIEVAL DARK FICTION' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires***Finalist for the World Fantasy Award***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.Reader reviews:'This book. Is. Phenomenal. Go buy it when it comes out . . . This could EASILY be my favorite book of the year already' ¿¿¿¿¿'Perfect in every way. 5/5 stars. Order it now; you do not want to miss this one' ¿¿¿¿¿'An amazing tale that I can see myself going back to time and again' ¿¿¿¿¿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. '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'Weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story . . . A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires'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'It's 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 Gutter Prayer'A wild fever-dream of novel - complicated, monstrous and beautiful' Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author

"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<BR><BR>The first in a masterful new trilogy from acclaimed author M. R. Carey, The Book of Koli begins the story of a young boy on a journey through a strange and deadly world of our making.  Everything that lives hates us... Beyond the walls of the small village of Mythen Rood lies an unrecognizable landscape. A place where overgrown forests are filled with choker trees and deadly seeds that will kill you where you stand. And if they don't get you, one of the dangerous shunned men will. Koli has lived in Mythen Rood his entire life. He believes the first rule of survival is that you don't venture too far beyond the walls. He's wrong. "A captivating start to what promises to be an epic post-apocalyptic fable." —Kirkus<BR><BR>"Enthralling...Koli embarks upon a journey as perilous as it is enlightening." —Guardian<BR><BR>"The best thing I've read in a long time. I loved it." —Joanne Harris<BR><BR>"Carey hefts astonishing storytelling power with plainspoken language, heartbreaking choices, and sincerity like an arrow to the heart." —Locus<BR><BR>Look out for the next novels in the trilogy: The Trials of Koli and The Fall of Koli