3 1/2 stars. I have been a big fan of M.R. Carey since reading The Girl With All the Gifts. The Book of Koli is definitely not my standard fare (not only sci-fi but YA) so I had a bit of a bias going in. While it was enjoyable and the world created was definitely unique, it wasn't really my favorite. I would continue with the series though as I want to see where this goes.

I have a new favorite series *happy dance*. I really loved this weird, clever, wise, little post-apocalyptic story.

The book touches on themes of climate change, dystopia, and the ways we relate to technology and Artificial Intelligence. That being said, the book doesn’t bog you down in technical stuff. It’s a really interesting, page turner of a book.

Koli is a terrific character. He has lived a life that is at once constantly beset by danger, but also completely insular and sheltered. Because of the events of this book he has to face the world in all its terrifying reality. His world has been thrown into chaos, and yet Koli retains his sweetness and good heart. I really liked him.

This is not a surprise since M.R. Carey is the accomplished author of The Girl with All the Gifts, another excellent post-apocalyptic movie about zombies. I fully recommend that book as well. I think it’s been made into a movie too but I haven’t seen it yet.

The Book of Koli, is the first in a trilogy and I have already added the author to my search fields for Netgalley because I don’t want to miss the next installment. If you’re looking for dystopia, which I acknowledge may not be everyone’s cup of tea at the present moment, I can tell you that you won’t be sorry if you pick up this book.

Rating: 10/10

You will notice I used the publisher’s synopsis for this book, which I only do every once in a while and with a purpose. I really loved reading The Book of Koli, so much so that I do not really want to tell you much about it. M.R. Carey has a written a beautiful gem of a story, and I want you to read it and find out for yourself exactly what make it so so wonderful. So, I will stick to what appealed to me about the book, but in doing so I will stay away from the major plot points.

First of all, the best part of this book is the character set. There are not very many, but the the few the reader is introduced to are all very unique and interesting. Mainly, though, this story revolves around Koli and his thoughts and experiences. The author does a really nice job of showing the reader the world through Koli’s eyes, and it is a full-service encounter. We get to see the good and bad. He becomes a character that you root for one minute, and then become incredibly frustrating the next. But there is no doubt that after spending so much time with him and getting his view of the world, Koli is a character you will grow to love.

The main supporting character is Monono, and, as much as I love Koli, I think she is my favorite. She is the exact opposite in so many ways to Koli, downright hilarious at times, and brings a lot of much-needed knowledge to the table. With the story being told through Koli’s perspective, the time he and Monono spend getting to know each other is precious to the story. They have many experiences together, and I enjoyed seeing them bond so much. The interplay between Koli and Monono is hands down the best part of this book, in my opinion.

I do not want to give much away about the story itself, except to say that I connected with it on a profound level. One would not think it just by reading the synopsis, but so much of it is relevant to today’s world. The issues that Koli encounters are our issues, too, and the themes of the book are extremely relatable. To me, this book is about power and marginalization, and how the struggle is real. We are all Koli, in one form or another, and that connection is what takes this book to another level for me.

The Book of Koli is one of my favorite books of the year. It is equal parts funny and tragic, and I cannot stress enough how relatable the characters are, especially for a story that is set in such a strange and outlandish place. I am beside myself to find out what unimaginable route this series takes next. M.R. Carey has made a fan for life out of me. I recommend this book for all fantasy readers, and for anyone who is looking for a story that is different and engaging.

In a world where humanity is no longer the apex predator, is there hope for anything more than desperately holding on for survival? Koli is a boy living in such a world, where most technology is gone and nature has turned against humanity after a series of genetic modifications to plants made them carnivorous, poisonous, or dangerous in other ways. What little technology remains is controlled by the village elders, who are elders only because they are able to harness the power of that technology. Circumstances push Koli out of his village into this harsh world where he is the juiciest prey. Can he survive? If so, can he also learn why humanity lost its way, and maybe find a path back?

What I liked about The Book of Koli is the blending of lost history, science fiction, and deception as Koli uncovers more about the world he lives in. Koli's speech pattern is somewhat stilted, but give the kid a break! Would you be a master orator if you'd grown up in an apocalyptic death trap of a world? Me either! After Koli leaves his village, the book takes a more serious tone, and the story really amps up. If you aren't afraid of salad yet, you might eye it with a little more suspicion after this book, but hey, it's worth it for a good story, right? Join Koli as he, just like Tarzan, must watch out for that...TREE!

I loved this book, I couldn't put it down. It is a bit of a departure from the authors previous books but so much fun to read, I am anxiously awaiting the next book!

”Weakness is a matter of context, Koli Woodsmith. Until it becomes a matter of logistics.”



Part coming-of-age tale, part survival fiction, The Book of Koli was yet another post-apocalyptic gem from M.R. Carey. Having loved both of his previous end o’ the world books, I didn’t know what to expect from this particular one, but I knew it would have the hallmarks I’ve come to expect from him — phenomenal world-building, incredible, resilient characters, and plenty of heart and in an otherwise heartless landscape. And that’s what I was given, plus several fantastic surprises.

I absolutely loved the character of Koli and how he was right in that incredibly tricky and trying space between young adult and full-fledged adult. Although in his world, kids are forced to grow up faster due to the nature of such an unforgiving place, but that doesn’t mean navigating that awkward space he’s in gets any easier. Poor Koli is trying to find his place in his world while also trying to find his own identity, and his journey was by far my favorite part. Though what made his journey so spectacular in parts is something I can’t mention, and I can’t wait for everyone to discover that sparkling gem when they read this book.

Let’s be real — Koli is the star of this book (and this review), but there are plenty of other things to fall in love with. There’s the trees that eat people, the people that eat people, and the animals that eat people. And the tech, though it’s all so outdated that much of it is useless. But what they could get working is pretty interesting and certainly something to envy if you’re one of the lucky ones chosen by the tech. Which isn’t most people. And some of the tech probably eats people too, so no one is safe from being someone or something’s lunch.

Bottom line — The Book of Koli was a fantastic first part of Koli’s journey, and I can’t wait to see what the sequel brings for him. I have a feeling Koli and this series are going to be new additions to my favorites shelf, right alongside the rest of Carey’s books.

*eARC received via NetGalley.

DNF at 12%.

Even though this has an interesting premise and setting, I couldn't get past the writing style and language. I understand it's a plot device that separates the future time period of the book from the current time, but it detracts too much from the story when I have to reread multiple lines and scratch my head at the meaning of certain words.

For example, "et" seems to be the past tense for "eat." And almost all irregular verbs are treated as regular verbs ("knew" is "knowed," "it fit" is "it fitted," etc.).

Maybe someday if I want a challenge I'll continue reading this, but right now I want to read for leisure and enjoyment, and this book doesn't cut it.

For any fans of Jeff Vandermeer, PICK UP THIS BOOK. I knew M.R. Carey could write, but he just took a trip into Weirdville that's making me reconsider my place of residence. (Who am I kidding: I've lived in Weirdville for years.)

I don't feel like I can say anything about the plot without giving away the fine details that come out organically through Koli's narration. Instead, I'll provide some bullet-point style notes.

Worldbuilding? There. Bam. Perfect. I felt the dread and the close air, and I will never look the same at either gene splicing or dense forests. That won't stop me from going into them, but I'll feel those hairs on the back of my neck go up. Every little story that Koli told added to the world in such a conversational way that believing it became a natural instinct. The disbelief got suspended and stayed that way with me.

Characters? Yeah, I thought there were a couple arrogant putzes, but they really start out as teenagers in this story. They felt real and complex enough, so that's what mattered most. And, ugh. My heart.

Dialogue? Natural, even with the dialect. Sometimes a story's geographical linguistic characteristics can be more of a detriment than a blessing, but the way Koli and his people spoke took me right into the north of England. (If I assume correctly.) The natural way it fit into the story served it instead of taking anything away.

Sorry to be cliche, but this book blew my mind. I thought the biggest threat would be something I could see coming, but nope. Which I just LOVED. I've already started recommending it to anyone I can.

Well done. Just amazing.

I have been a fan of Carey's writing for years now - of both his Felix Castor series and the books under the "M.R." name. This dystopian fiction kicks off a new series, set in the far future, after the collapse of the world as we know it. Society continues on, but as Koli starts the narration set in the small town where he grew up, Mythen Rood. There the people rely on a few relics of technology, but otherwise life feels similar to a Middle Ages town - though they are threatened by genetically modified trees that can walk and have a thirst for blood.

The book reads in a sort of oral history style, with a lot of grammatical style choices that take a bit of getting used to for the reader. I think that an audio version would probably be easier to get into though I did start to really appreciate the style in print format as well and I do think that some of the spellings would be lost in an audio adaptation.

Koli makes for a likable young hero and the world building here is detailed and thorough. It ends, not exactly on a cliffhanger, with enough hints of where the next book will go that makes me really not be able to wait! I am really excited to see what will happen next. I really did like it - and I especially like Koli's relationships (with the DreamSleeve in particular). There's also a lot of modern diversity - sexual as well as physical - which gives this a modern feel despite the fact that the town boasts careers like tanning and woodworking. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next installment! I really am looking forward to it!

I received an ARC from Orbit Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm truly struggling with how to review this title. The concept feels new and fresh and I'm eager to see where it is going, but this book almost felt like it spent the entire novel trying to set up plot for what is coming later with very little immediate payoff for the reader. But that said, this world is captivating, the characters are engaging, and I kept turning pages even though there wasn't an intense, compelling reason to continue doing so.

I always enjoy reading dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels that feel just adjacent to the world in which we currently live. I feed off of that feeling like the world I'm reading about is just one mistake, one catastrophe away from being reality. Carey is a master at creating these worlds that are peppered with enough of the familiar to keep you guessing and make you feel almost at home, but not quite. There's something subtly stressful and uncomfortable about it and I can't deny that it always makes me curious to know all the ins and outs of what horrors caused the shift between realities.

All said, the world-building is immersive and engaging. The characters feel deeper than the reader gets to see from our narrator's limited POV, but I think that will shift as we move deeper into the series. The story moves slowly, building up carefully around you until you suddenly realize you are surrounded, completely invested and unable to turn back. I won't say I fell in love with this book, but I can't deny that it drew me in and made me curious for more.

I really dug this book. It's the first thing I read by Carey (though, I've been wanting to check out Girl with all the Gifts for a while now - and now I definitely will after this one). Great world building and great characters. Excited to check out the rest in the trilogy. Recommended

thoroughly entertaining! The Book of Koli has intricate, well thought out world building. M.R. Carey's character driven opener to the Rampart Trilogy had me hooked from the opening and i can't wait for the next book.

i absolutely loved the girl with all the gifts so i was SO stoked for this one. i should have read it the minute i was approved, but how was i to know we'd be where we currently are when the book published, lol. i don't know if it was me, the book, the whole societal shitstorm pandemic thing and it's just not the best time to read a book like this.... who knows. either way, i liked it but didn't love it, i struggled to get into it and stay into it. however, i did like it overall and i can see myself continuing the series as long as the world is back to 'normal' by then.

The Book of Koli is a book I have been very excited for since I first heard about it earlier this year.  I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, given this is my first time reading Carey, but I am thrilled to report he did not disappoint.

The world presented here is one of the more unique worlds I think I've encountered. It's set in a future earth in which trees and plants have become deadly to humans.  On sunny days the trees are active (physically active!), so the village must wait for the rainy, grey days to venture out and do their hunting.  Most of the world's human population has died out, so people live in villages few and far between. 

These villages are run by people with the "magical" ability to wake up tech.  No one knows how the tech chooses who it will work for or why.  These leaders are known as Ramparts.  Koli, our MC, dreams of becoming Koli Rampart, wielding his own tech and joining the ranks of leaders and lawmakers.  The overall result is a strange mix of antiquated societal structure combined with some far future dystopian technology.

The voice of Koli is very strong.  It almost reminded me of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn.  The grammar is often incorrect, the sentences run on in stream of consciousness style.  While it might bother some readers, I found it somewhat endearing, and easy to connect with Koli as a character.  I also enjoyed the other characters, Ursala-From-Elsewhere and Monono Aware (A-wa-ray).   Ursala especially, with her intelligence and compassion, but also the prickly and unapproachable exterior.

The plot moves along at a breakneck pace.  I found the book almost impossible to put down and read it in just a couple of days.  That's the fastest I've read a book all year.  The plot twists and turns and propels Koli from one peril to the next.  From about the midway point on- Koli's situation never feels safe.  He cannot take a break to rest, his future is uncertain, and he is surrounded by danger, either from nearby people, animals, or plants.

I also loved the very natural way in which this story is told.  It feels like you might be sitting down with an old friend to hear where they've been and what they've been up to the past ten years.  Details are woven in about the past through Monono, explaining pieces of what happened to the world and what it was like before it ended.

I do wish we had been able to learn a little more about the natural environment.  I'm curious about the killer trees and the way some animals have evolved over time.  The plot appears to be leading away from village life to an adventure on the road, so I'm hopeful we'll see more of this in book two.  (And thank goodness we only have to wait until September for it!).

I highly recommend The Book of Koli.  It is brilliantly written, with fully realized characters and detailed world-building.  It releases on April 14, 2020 and can be found on GoodReads, or preordered on Amazon.  Thank you to Orbit Books, who supplied an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl With All the Gifts and The Boy on the Bridge were books that I loved and that have stayed with me. Now, Carey has a new trilogy, the first of which is The Book of Koli.

Koli begins by telling us that he has to start at the beginning to tell his tale. He then recounts his life in Mythen Rood, a small village that struggles to keep safe in a post-apocalyptic world.

At first, he is Koli Woodsmith, and describes his family, friendships, and much about how the village operates. Then, at fifteen young people take a new name, and he becomes Koli Waiting. Those who turn fifteen take the name Waiting as they are housed together waiting for the test that will determine whether of not they become Rampart. Most young people desperately want to become Rampart because a Rampart can "awaken" the few pieces of tech that have survived. The Ramparts have a rarefied place in society and are charged with the protection of the village in several ways because certain tech weapons have "wakened" to them.

The beginning is a little slow, but as Koli reveals information in his own particular order, mentioning characters and events, then saying he will get to them later, as he attempts to tell his story in a chronological frame. Gradually the narrative picks up speed and interest until the reader is immersed in Koli's world and events.

Koli suffers a disappointment at the Testing and realizes he is not able to become a Rampart, and when this is followed by another disappointment, circumstances combine to reveal a shocking truth: the Testing is not fair and has never been. Koli, frustrated and angry, makes some choices that will have consequences and long-term effects.

There is an honesty to Koli's account of events. He includes his mistakes and his shame for some of his behavior, even though he acknowledges his youth, his immaturity, and his lack of knowledge (a result of the isolation of the village). He gives accurate descriptions of his friends and fellow villagers instead of vilifying them. The coming-of-age element is an important part of the narrative, especially as Koli meets Ursula and Monomo, and begins what Joseph Campbell refers to as the heroes journey.

OK. The Book of Koli was a fascinating beginning to the Rampart Trilogy, and if you have enjoyed M.R. Carey's previous books, you may find this one as intriguing and thought-provoking as The Girl With All the Gifts and The Boy on the Bridge. I can't wait for the next one. Recommended!

NetGalley/Orbit Books
Dystopian/Science Fiction. April 14, 2020. Print length: 416 pages.

I was SO PSYCHED for this book. I haven’t read any of Mike Carey’s stuff written under M.R. Carey (although I have the e-book of The Girl With All the Gifts somewhere in the war zone of my Kindle bookshelf, and someday I will bore you all with my abiding love for the Constantine Hellblazer series, and in particular, Carey’s contribution to same), so this was it for me. Number one. And I didn’t love it. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate it, I just struggled to get into it. It may be as simple as: don’t read a dystopian-type book in the middle of a total societal shitstorm the likes of which haven’t been seen before in your lifetime, but regardless, I really struggled to stay immersed in this story.

I’m actually pretty bummed out that I felt as middle-of-the-road about it as I did. As I alluded to, I’ve got a history of loving Carey’s work – and it definitely doesn’t stop at Hellblazer, that’s just the crux of it for me. I know he’s an incredibly talented writer. I think it sucks that I wasn’t into The Book of Koli.

The story, and the writing are solid, but I found it hard to focus on a lot of the dialogue since the people have a very unique way of speaking. I liked the role that technology played in the world, and felt that all of the lore was fully fleshed out and everything made sense, I just…couldn’t seem to make myself stay invested in Koli specifically, or in what was happening to him. I liked Monono and Ursala much more than Koli. I don’t know what it was about him specifically that failed to resonate with me, but…I mostly felt like whatever happened to him happened to him, and as long as Ursala and the Dreamsleeve lived, that was what really mattered.

As an aside to this extremely organized stream-of-consciousness review, I did really enjoy the cult aspect of the story. That was an unexpected bit of fun. I actually wish that they had played more heavily into the overall story. Instead they felt like nothing more than a roadside attraction, which is too bad.

On the off chance that the disconnect is due to the incredible levels of anxiety that current events are causing me, I do fully intend to re-read this book after it officially releases and the worldwide pandemic business slows its roll a hair. You know, when I’m able to give the ol’ anxieties some time off. Maybe that will be a better time to read about a time after the fall of man and the rise of…murder plants.

Idk, you guys. I love Mike Carey’s work, but I think this one in particular might just not be for me. I mean, killer plants, generations-post-warfare-based-apocalypse and cults couldn’t hold my interest. There’s just something about this one that doesn’t do it for me. BUT – as I’ve said, Mike Carey is a hell of a writer, so I still recommend checking this one out (or anything else he’s written for that matter).

I absolutely loved this book, set in a future world where old tech is rare and viewed as practically magical, and where trees can move, hunt, and kill. Koli is an amazing main character, and the plot is terrific. Can't wait for book #2!

I ended up DNF'ing this book due to the way it was written. I get where the author was going and appreciate that the wording was done in a way that really brought the character to life. However, becasue of this it was hard to read and it was actually taking me away from the story.

The synopsis sounds so interesting and I may possibly try this on audio if there is one for this book later on. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get far enough into this book to enjoy the parts I was originally excited to read about.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Publishers for aproving me for this title in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I had a better review to give. I generally try not leave a review if I haven't consumed enough of the story to give fair feedback.

I'm giving this a 3 star because it still sounds like an interesting read. I'm sure plenty of people will appreciae it.

The Book of Koli by M. R. Carey is a highly recommended dystopian coming-of-age tale and the start of a new trilogy.

Teenage Koli Woodsmith lives in the small village of Mythen Rood in a postapocalyptic place called Ingland (U.K.) during a time when murderous, genetically modified trees, plants, and creatures or shunned men outside the protected city walls will kill you. Mythen Rood is governed and protected by the Ramparts, which one family controls. They also control the old tech that is used to protect the village. Koli learns a secret that results in his banishment from the village, which normally means certain death in the hostile wilderness. But Koli has a secret helper and an ally in Ursala, a traveling doctor.

This is Koli's story and he is the narrator. The dialect he uses may be a problem for some readers. I had times when it annoyed me quite a bit while reading; much of my annoyance was due to the poor grammar and syntax. You will have to ascertain your ability to overlook a whole lot of word usage like, "Of course I knowed it." or I could of brung I recently learned in real life that my tolerance is low for this over time. Overlooking this and the slow start to the action will pay off later. The world building is interesting and the characters are unique. Old tech (tech we'd understand) needs to be figured out by someone who doesn't have a clue.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Hachette Book Group.
After publication the review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Book of Koli starts as a slow burn and then takes off so fast that you feel like you’re racing to read to keep up, I don’t mean this negatively in the least.

There are some familiar ideas here but Carey spins them in such clever, interesting, and fun ways, that a whole new world opens up in front of you. Trees walk, wasps will disintegrate you, and people still have to live their lives.

The works building is great in both it’s simplicity and complexity. Koli’s speech patterns act as a tool to pull you in to his storytelling. The characters are vivid, dynamic, and realistically flawed. The story is told from Koli’s point of view, and he lets you have it, warts and all, not leaving out his own dumb moments or transgressions. He lets you know he’s bringing you on a journey through his story and earns your trust that he’ll tell you what he knows and that you’ll understand what’s going on by time it gets there.

This will be heavy on my recommend list this year, I can’t wait to join Koli again.