In 'The Book of Koli' by M. R. Carey, readers are introduced to a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is struggling to survive amidst genetically modified trees and plants that are lethal. The story follows Koli Woodsmith, a teenager living in the village of Mythen Rood, who embarks on a journey beyond the safety of his village walls after discovering a shocking truth. The narrative is told through Koli's unique dialect, which some readers found challenging but ultimately engaging as it immerses them in the world of transformed English. As Koli navigates this dangerous world, he uncovers mysteries, faces dangers, and embarks on a coming-of-age adventure filled with twists and revelations.

Characters:

Characters include the relatable Koli, the enigmatic Ursala, and the controlling Ramparts, with themes of wisdom and growth present in their interactions.

Writing/Prose:

The prose employs a dialect that simplifies language, reflecting the societal decline, while some readers find this style challenging.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Koli's coming-of-age in a post-apocalyptic world, where advanced technology is revered and nature has turned hostile, leading to conflicts that reshape his understanding of society.

Setting:

The setting features a post-apocalyptic Britain, with isolated villages and a dangerous, mutated natural world.

Pacing:

The pacing begins with slower world-building but accelerates into an engaging adventure as Koli's journey develops.

I got a story to tell you. I’ve been meaning to make a start for a long while now, and this is me doing it, but I’m warning you it might be a bumpy road. I never done nothing like this before, so I go...

Notes:

The Book of Koli is set in a post-apocalyptic world where nature has become hostile to humans, featuring killer trees and mutated animals.

The story is narrated by Koli, a teenager from a small village called Mythen Rood, which is one of the last bastions of humanity.

Civilization collapsed due to climate upheaval and war, leading to a world where technology is revered as magical and used by a select few.

The Ramparts, a group of protectors who can activate old technology, hold significant power in Koli's village.

Koli's coming-of-age story involves him breaking rules to awaken a piece of ancient tech, which leads to dangerous adventures.

The language in the book has evolved over centuries, becoming simpler and reflecting the loss of knowledge in society, which some readers found challenging.

Characters in the novel include a mobile doctor named Ursala and a friendly AI named Monono Aware, who becomes Koli's ally.

The narrative explores themes of survival, knowledge, power dynamics, and the consequences of past technological advancements.

Koli is depicted as a relatable character, caught between youthful dreams and the harsh realities of his world.

The book is the first in a trilogy, with readers eager to see how the story develops in subsequent installments.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, death, body horror, themes of survival under duress, and some potentially unsettling imagery.

From The Publisher:

"A captivating start to what promises to be an epic post-apocalyptic fable" (Kirkus), The Book of Koli is the unforgettable story of a young boy struggling to find his place in a world where nature itself has turned against humanity.

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.

For more from M. R. Carey, check out:

The Girl With All the Gifts

Fellside

The Boy on the Bridge

Someone Like Me

By the same author, writing as Mike Carey:

The Devil You Know

Vicious Circle

Dead Men's Boots

Thicker Than Water

The Naming of the Beasts

Ratings (13)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (3)
Liked It (3)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (40):

Read It (12)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (24)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

solnel994

Incredible

7 months

Awesome

Cannot wait for the second book to come out in September! This was a phenomenal read. 5 stars isn't enough.

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The Book of Koli

M.R. Carey

Book 1 in the series:Rampart