Scan barcode
darren0101's review against another edition
5.0
Even though I received The Book of Koli from Netgalley and the book publishers for an honest review I immediately purchased the paperback as soon as I learnt that it was the first part of a trilogy. Having read M.R Carey's The Girl With All the Gifts and Someone Like Me, I know I would have to buy the second and third parts anyway. And I am glad I did.
This is a fantastic book and probably the best out of the three books I have read so far by M.R Carey. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where the central character Koli lives in Mythen Road, a small community, walled-off for their protection against killer tress and shunned men. Each year when a child comes of age they get tested to see if they can wake tech, which leads to Koli discovering things aren't what they appear, leading him to discover more of the outside world.
A brilliant read.
This is a fantastic book and probably the best out of the three books I have read so far by M.R Carey. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where the central character Koli lives in Mythen Road, a small community, walled-off for their protection against killer tress and shunned men. Each year when a child comes of age they get tested to see if they can wake tech, which leads to Koli discovering things aren't what they appear, leading him to discover more of the outside world.
A brilliant read.
jrollin_13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
librarycommie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vgp's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The first half of the book is very slow. The author keep promising adventures and these take very long to arrive. Then it's really fast pace and dramatic.
painfreepill's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lateyeti's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lakediver's review against another edition
5.0
The Book of Koli is the first book in a trilogy about a world that is very different from our own. It is set in the far future, where most technology has been lost and the trees will literally eat you. Humanity has survived by huddling together in small villages enclosed by walls that must be constantly defended from the trees and other creatures. Koli lives in one of these villages, Mythen Rood. Mythen Rood is ruled by the Ramparts - those who are gifted with the ability to control the little technology that is left. When every child turns 15, they are given the chance to make the old tech wake for them. Those who succeed become a Rampart, charged with ruling the village and using the old tech to defend the village from threats. When Koli discovers a secret about the Ramparts, he steals a piece of old tech for himself, and his world turns upside down.
The world that the book is set it is in fascinating, both familiar and totally alien at the same time. It is amazing to consider how drastically "trees that will eat you" alters everything about human life. For example, summer is considered the worst time of year, because that's when the trees are the most active. Winter is the easiest time of year, because that's when the trees sleep. Travel is the most dangerous when the sun is out, because that's when the trees can move.
Koli is a likeable protagonist, who ruefully admits his own shortcomings and poor choices. Because he lacks a proper education, his speech patterns don't exactly line up with proper English. I was afraid that I would find this too distracting to make it through the book, but I got used to it within a couple of chapters. And his grammar makes perfect sense for his character - survival skills are obviously going to be more important to his education than subject/verb agreement.
There are other characters who shine as the supporting cast. Ursala is a traveling doctor was a diagnostic machine. She seems to be the sole character who understands technology in the same terms that we do, and she often serves as a translator for Koli's primitive interpretation of the world. Even Monono, the Japanese AI inside the tech that Koli stole, has her own impressive character arc.
I enjoyed The Book of Koli very much, and can't wait to start the second book. Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review.
The world that the book is set it is in fascinating, both familiar and totally alien at the same time. It is amazing to consider how drastically "trees that will eat you" alters everything about human life. For example, summer is considered the worst time of year, because that's when the trees are the most active. Winter is the easiest time of year, because that's when the trees sleep. Travel is the most dangerous when the sun is out, because that's when the trees can move.
Koli is a likeable protagonist, who ruefully admits his own shortcomings and poor choices. Because he lacks a proper education, his speech patterns don't exactly line up with proper English. I was afraid that I would find this too distracting to make it through the book, but I got used to it within a couple of chapters. And his grammar makes perfect sense for his character - survival skills are obviously going to be more important to his education than subject/verb agreement.
There are other characters who shine as the supporting cast. Ursala is a traveling doctor was a diagnostic machine. She seems to be the sole character who understands technology in the same terms that we do, and she often serves as a translator for Koli's primitive interpretation of the world. Even Monono, the Japanese AI inside the tech that Koli stole, has her own impressive character arc.
I enjoyed The Book of Koli very much, and can't wait to start the second book. Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review.
celiapowell's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this (and was so pleased to get to the end and realise that it's the first in a trilogy) - a spectacular post-apocalyptic tale. I listened to the audiobook which was great - I've read some reviews that complain about the way Koli's language is written, but it comes over so well in audio.
befsk's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book in the end but it was a little slow to start. It had that Knife Of Never Letting Go style of misspelling due to having a child narrator who never got education because that's how this dystopia works... thing going on. Which was fine eventually but it took a little getting into. It could ruin the book for a few people, I'm sure.
It was an interesting beginning though with Koli's childhood and the village he lives in, despite the slower pace.
I was left unsure if the frequent illusions to big things happening in the future because the story is told in hindsight was keeping me interested in the story or if the story itself was keeping me interested and that particular narrative technique was just pissing me off. Still can't decide now I've finished the book.
Once the story got rolling, it rolls well. I liked the characters, despite there not being many. I thought the world building was good, especially the mentions of current day places within England. Enjoyable read, and I look forward to the sequel. I'm not sure why it's not being marketed as a young adult book because it was very young adult in writing and themes to me.
I received this ARC through Netgalley.
It was an interesting beginning though with Koli's childhood and the village he lives in, despite the slower pace.
I was left unsure if the frequent illusions to big things happening in the future because the story is told in hindsight was keeping me interested in the story or if the story itself was keeping me interested and that particular narrative technique was just pissing me off. Still can't decide now I've finished the book.
Spoiler
I was surprised when Koli didn't leave the village until at least 50% into the book. For a start, it didn't feel like 200 pages, and for a second, the constant references to big things happening soon made me think it was going to be a quicker paced book that it turned out to be.Once the story got rolling, it rolls well. I liked the characters, despite there not being many. I thought the world building was good, especially the mentions of current day places within England. Enjoyable read, and I look forward to the sequel. I'm not sure why it's not being marketed as a young adult book because it was very young adult in writing and themes to me.
I received this ARC through Netgalley.
ammonoids's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It took me a little bit to get into the Book of Koli, but I loved the retrofuture vibe, and I would define this as concept Sci-Fi that actually has a heart. I actually really liked Koli's voice once I got used to it. The pace is a little slow in the first half of the book, but it really picked up in the second half- I always felt like I was waiting for the real story to get started. Unlike many books where I might DNF, the setting was interesting enough to make up for it.