The Tinder Box

Quotes

“A marvelous dark fable. Echoes of The Brothers Grimm and Faust do not detract from the originality on display in The Tinder Box; indeed, Carey’s craft manages to feel at once familiar and startling, which for me is a hallmark of exceptional writing. *Of course* that elegant sentence rolled out that way—how could it have done otherwise? This novel, along with last year’s Once Was Willem, confirms M.R. Carey’s place among the best living writers in horror and fantasy.”—Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires

“The Tinder Box sparks with wonder and peril, unleashing a tale that feels both fresh and familiar, old and new. 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, author of The Last Hour Between Worlds

"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

“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