This is the second installment of the Rampart series, and it continues in much the same way as the first.
I think for me the main character is too juvenile for me to connect to.

However, I did enjoy the story, I won't be rushing out to read the third and final installment but I will get to it eventually.

I have to admit that this was a vast improvement from the first book!
As it's a sequel I won't delve into the plot details but I really appreciate the changes made to the language style. The primitive nature still shone through but it was much easier to handle this time around. I also found the story to be far more engaging and was so happy to finally experience the deadly trees that were centre of discussion in the first book. My main issue was with the other point of view that we are provided. There was nothing about it that captured my attention, and I did find myself skimming at times (sorry!).

This is a series that holds a huge amount of potential, and it was nice to see some of it in this installment of the trilogy. Love the killer trees!!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Apenas medio año después de la publicación de The Book of Koli salió a la venta The Trials of Koli, la segunda parte continuación de la trilogía de Koli que se verá completada durante este 2021 con la publicación de The Fall of Koli. Un ejercicio que estresa aún más de lo habitual las fechas de entrega por parte de los autores pero que como lectores nos permite disfrutar de una historia completa en un lapso de tiempo de apenas un año.

The Trials of Koli continúa donde lo dejo el primer libro, apenas unos días después de los sucesos que tuvieron lugar en su final. Os invito a leer la reseña que hice de la primera parte para que descubráis el mundo que M.R. Carey ha construido para esta interesante historia y poneros en contexto si queréis adentraros en esta nueva saga a medio camino entre lo fantástico y la ciencia ficción.

Koli sigue siendo ese chaval ingenuo salido de un pequeño poblado del norte de Inglaterra que se ve envuelto en una conspiración familiar que acaba con sus huesos fuera de Mythen Rood, el lugar donde había nacido y crecido. Su objetivo es llegar a Londres, de donde surge una señal misteriosa. El mundo ya no es el que conocemos en la actualidad. Las ciudades han desaparecido y la poca población que habita la isla se organiza en pequeños poblados con un modo de vida medieval o, en ocasiones, incluso prehistórico. La tecnología es algo del pasado que a la gran mayoría le causa rechazo e incomprensión al ser considerara la causante de la guerra que acabó con el mundo tal y como era.

The Trials of Koli tiene como novedad la utilización de un nuevopunto de vista que se alterna con la visión del mundo que tiene Koli. Spinner es, sin embargo, un nombre que nos resultará conocido a quienes hemos leído la primera parte gracias a su relación con el propio Koli. Ella sigue viviendo en Mythen Rood, donde los Ramparts tienen montado una especie de cártel tecnológico que hace que sean considerados una familia de grandes capacitados dándoles un poder superior al del resto de sus ciudadanos. Spinner se casa con uno de los Rampart dando lugar a una trama que nos permitirá entender algunos de los hechos que leímos en el primer libro. Las cosas no parece que fuesen lo que parecían ser.

Mientras vemos cómo la vida prosigue en Mythen Rood y cómo Spinner se ve envuelta en una gran conspiración familiar y rural, Koli continúa su viaje junto a Monono, Ursala y Cup, un nuevo personaje. En su periplo se encontraran con poblados más o menos asentados, más o menos violentos, pero todos con una visión de la tecnología que se mueve entre la oposición total y las ansias de obtener alguno de esos artilugios que les den algún beneficio sobre otros asentamientos cercanos. Koli sigue comportándose de una manera algo infantil a pesar de todas las vicisitudes superadas durante estos dos primeros volúmenes de la historia lo cual, sinceramente, me resulta algo pesado por momentos. Por otro lado, sin embargo, resulta muy interesante ver cómo se han desarrollado distintas culturas a raíz de los eventos del pasado y cómo estos reaccionan a los que Koli y el resto de personajes les van contando sobre lo que hay ahí afuera.



The Trials of Koli es un libro que tanto literaria como argumental no presenta grandes diferencias con respecto al primero. La vegetación sigue siendo una parte clave en la historia que nos cuentan tanto Koli como Spinner y todos los protagonistas se comportan de manera muy similar y esperable a lo que vimos en el primer libro. Por otro lado, si bien la parte de Spinner me ha gustado más que la de Koli por cómo permite hilar los eventos del primer libro, el desarrollo del nuevo personaje de Cup y su relación con sus colegas de viaje se vuelve muy interesante por cómo Carey introduce el tema de la transexualidad en un mundo de este tipo.
En definitiva, The Trials of Koli es un libro muy continuista con lo que vimos en The Book of Koli. Koli sigue siendo ese chaval ingenuo, a veces demasiado, con alguna pequeña dificultad a la hora de contar su historia en primera persona. El nuevo punto de vista de Spinner le da al libro una nueva trama muy interesante que habrá que ver por donde se desarrolla durante el tercer y último volumen. The Trials of Koli no es un libro en el que sucedan muchas cosas, pero algunas de ellas incluyendo el final del libro son claves para entender muchos de los sucesos ya conocidos y asientan las bases para el final de la trilogía.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An interesting idea behind this story and a lot of detail in the writing.
The story was difficult to follow as I hadn't read the previous book and the characters were a bit dull.
An OK read.

Picking up immediately after The Book of Koli, the second part of the Rampart trilogy picks up immediately after the first and is just as good.

The three companions travel down through the middle of England on their way to London to discover the source of the signal and the Sword of Albion. During their journey M.R Carey expands on his world, introducing a couple of new tribes and how their lives have been shaped by their environment and the 'tech' they own. This is intercut with Spinner's story back in the village and the aftermath of the events in the first book.

Each character gets to evolve in this one and even though Koli can appear naive compared to Cup, I often think that Carey is using the character as a conduit to the changes in this new world and his reactions are how we are supposed to react.

I cannot fault a thing in this book and genuinely looking forward to the third in a couple of months. Even though I received this book and the first from Netgalley to review I bought both paperbacks and will buy the final one.

I was so excited to read this book having spent a lot of time thinking about the Book of Koli since I first read it. The intricacies of the future and the length that scientist went that eventually destroyed the world was something I spoke to friends about often and thought about more. When I received an ARC of this book I was beyond excited. What would happen to Koli on his travels to London? And what about Mythren Rood.

The beginning of the book was actually a bit of an effort for me, it's why I give the book 4 stars instead of how I felt at the end of the book, which was a solid 5 stars. As Ursula, Cup and Koli traverse through Birmingham I found myself wishing the story to hurry a long a bit. But the inclusion of Spinner as a narrator was excellent, and I loved her voice and hearing her story. Once Koli and his gang of merry men reach Merry Fishes however, everything for me changed and I found I could not put the book down.

I loved the growing and evolving relationships and the characters who become so much more than they seem. The intricate details still persevere and the science becomes even more clever and creative.

Where the adventure leads us next I am so excited to find out. I can't wait to hear the conclusion of this fantastic series. I'm sure there are plenty more surprises for us all.

Despite being a bit lukewarm about the MC. I enjoyed the first book of this series more. This was a bit ploddy and Koli got on my nerves far more. It’s possible that I picked the book up at the wrong time and shouldn’t have powered through it. I did really like Spinner’s storyline however and I’m intrigued enough that I would read a third book.

This is the second book of the series. I haven't read the first book but will definitely be checking it out. Dystopian apocalyptic, what more could you ask for. A must read.

The best words I can use to describe the Koli books is that they are an olden times dystopian series set in the future.

We have this incredible tech, invented by us humans in the modern age, but when the world collapsed and people stopped making New and Improved industrial technology, humankind reverted back to the old ways - with a few exceptions.

I love the world and story setting in The Book of Koli, the great unknown and unravelling, in this offering, The Trials of Koli we see pick up exactly where we left off only with a whole new dimension with Spinner’s narrative of the happening at Mythen Rood since Koli’s departure.

Once again Carey manages to build and blend sci-fi with normality to create a story so realistic, it fits within the realm of believability.

Looking forward to the last book in the trilogy.

The Trials of Koli is book two in The Rampart Trilogy (the first being The Book of Koli) and I highly recommend that you read this series from the beginning. There was a lot of world and character building in book one and I think it would be difficult to drop into book two without knowledge of this.

We join Koli and his intrepid gang; Monomo (sentient AI), Cup (fierce trans warrior) and Ursula (scientist/medic) with her ever faithful Drudge (a walking armed, medical unit). They are on their way to London in the search for Old Tech in a bid to save mankind.

I loved that we got to know more about the characters and my reading ear was tuned into Koli’s way of speaking so I found this book a lot easier to process.

It is obvious that mankind has changed the world and seeing objects appear that you are familiar with but which are a mystery to Koli and Cup is endearing. You can imagine the reaction Ursula and her medical miracle Drudge get!!

It was interesting to go back to Koli’s hometown and catch up with his old sweetheart, Spinner. Back in Mythen Rood things are unsettled and secrets that were stirred up by Koli are still swirling and causing unease…

The writing reminds me of one of my favourite authors John Wyndham and his book The Chrysalids. If you’re a fan of post apocalyptic fiction then you’ll do no wrong reading this series!!

Bring on book three!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The first book of this trilogy took a bit of effort to get through, but it seems that Carey did a good job with his worldbuilding and so this second installment was a lot easier to read and the plot seemed to fly by. I think having the two narrative voices, adding Spinner into the mix alongside Koli, really helped, as it gave you a little bit of a break from his (sometimes slightly annoying) naivety. As before, the books is full of obscure references to modern-day technologies and social constructs that are fun to decipher, and he does a good job of exploring various themes, such as transgender issues, that are highly relevant to today's society. Looking at the publication date for the final installment we don't have long to wait, so bring it on!

Great continuation to the trilogy after the first book. I liked the direction that the book took and the plot.
I can't wait for the third one!

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

I've been eager to get my hands on a copy of this book, having loved the first in the trilogy. I really enjoyed the new directions Mike took the story in, the exploring of the tale from Spinner's point of view and the continued adventures of Koli. Very much a 'middle' book' of a trilogy but there's no harm in that. Mike is an expert storyteller, one of my favourites, and I can't wait to find out how the story ends.

The Trials of Koli is the second book in M.R. Carey's Rampart Trilogy and having loved The Book of Koli earlier this year, I was excited to immerse myself in this perilous post-apocalyptic world once again. This time the narrative is shared between Koli, who is now on the road and his childhood friend, Spinner, through whom we see what is happening in his village, Mythen Rood.
The events here occur immediately after the first novel and I really would recommend reading the trilogy in order to truly appreciate the story as it is meant to be told. Koli's voice is as strong and engaging as it was previously; grammar pedants may shudder but the natural flow of his words captures the essence of a tale being repeated and recognises that language changes just as surely as the environment. And that environment has definitely adapted in the years that have passed since our time. This is a world where almost anything is ready to kill the unprepared, unwary or just plain unlucky. Once humankind believed they had harnessed and manipulated natural resources to bend to their needs but now that landscape is a constant danger to the few humans left.
Though a gripping fantasy novel, The Trials of Koli also feels like a warning; this is a world brought to its knees thanks to the greed and arrogance of mankind. There wasn't just one catastrophic event that led to this point, however, and instead we see what unchecked climate change and constant fighting over limited resources - the Unfinished War - eventually leads to. Where before societies developed and fought over technological wizardry, now the few items of tech still working are jealously guarded - and ironically still the cause for bloodshed among foes and even supposed friends.
The chapters following Koli expand this strange world still further as he and his companions, Ursula, Cup and Monono, the AI Dreamsleeve he woke in the first book journey south though an inhospitable, yet eerily recognisable wasteland. Thrown together through circumstances, the bond between them steadily grows, though not without trouble. While Koli is a natural peacemaker, his three co-travellers don't trust one another and their discussions are often decidedly volatile. As they head for London, they encounter a number of dangerous situations before eventually reaching a point where they are forced to stay put for a while. Here they become part of a community once again and although The Trials of Koli often offers a stark look at human behaviour, there are moments of decency, kindness and hope too. Cup is a particularly wonderful character; the youngest of the group, she is transgender - described here as crossed - and having been cast out of her village then joining a messianic cult, she is finally accepted by this group and the scenes where they discuss helping her avoid going through what would be distressing puberty changes are truly touching.
Life is hardly more settled in Mythen Rood following Koli's sudden departure but the shock that lingers is quickly usurped by a frightening reminder from the past. The parts of the story told from Spinner's perspective add another dimension to the proceedings and her chapters are equally as compelling and exciting as Koli's. She begins by acknowledging her ambition and her plan to marry Haijon, in order to become part of the ruling Vennastin family but it quickly becomes apparent that she is a resolute and honourable as her old friend when she is thrust into a situation which not only changes her understanding of how Mythen Rood and the tech-holding Ramparts are manipulated but also sets her on a path which suggests even greater change is ahead.
The Trials of Koli is a captivating novel where the emotional impact is as rich as the magnificent world-building. Strange yet familiar, terrifying yet empathetic; this strange, unsettling and entirely believable tale is utterly enthralling. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Koli is on his way to London, his aim is to save humanity. Since the Unfinished War the number of humans is diminishing slowly but surely as each village is gradually erased from the map by natural decline.

On his way he had joined up with Ursala-from-Elsewhere and Cup of the Shunned Men, as he has made his way from North of England through the Midlands and on South.

Meanwhile, at his home village of Mythen Rood, Spinner has joined with Haijon Vennastin as a couple and has hopes of being a Rampart wife. As they make their way at the tannery, opportunities present themselves to Spinner to make improvements to her life. She just doesn't know what impact they really will have.

This book swaps back and forth between Koli Faceless and Spinner Tanhide, with just the right amount of focus on each part of the plot. I'm pretty sure that in the final book the threads will come together as a complete masterpiece.

<br>It is just as well written as the previous book and just as enjoyable. I really hope that you'll read it for yourself.

The Trials of Koli continues the story from the first book in The Rampart Trilogy, The Book of Koli, published in April 2020 - which introduced us to the terrifying post-apocalyptic world of Ingland, with its few surviving human communities, in which nature has turned against mankind.

This one carries on seamlessly from book one - which you really do have to have read before getting to this one, so make sure you have (and it's very enjoyable, so why wouldn't you...?). This time around we follow Koli after he has been exiled from his village, Mythen Road, for stealing tech and also the narrative of Spinner, who Koli fell in love with in the first instalment of this trilogy but has left behind - the two parts of the story swap back and forth between each other throughout.

Koli and his companions Ursala and Cup, who he met in book one, are on a quest to follow a mysterious radio signal to old London, where they hope to find more survivors who will help to save the future of the human race - with the intriguing Dreamsleeve Monono (a sentient piece of tech that Koli stole from the village) along for the ride. But this is a terrifying place and danger lurks around every corner as they try to reach their destination - this is going to be far from easy.

Spinner's part in the tale shows us about the life Koli has left behind and why he is so invested in the fight for survival. Spinner has married another - one who has become a Rampart Knife - and her story gives us a very interesting insight into the world of Rampart Hold. Danger of a different kind is headed the way of Spinner's people and she has an interesting role to play in helping to save them.

The second book in a trilogy can be a tricky thing, as it has to bridge the story between introductory world building and the big flashy finale, but M.R. Carey has managed to pull off the balancing trick well in this book and keeps the action rolling all the way through both sides of the story to the cliff-hanger of an ending that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

I don't want to say too much about the story itself, for fear of spoilers, but be assured that this is every bit as good as the first book and will leave you yearning for the final part of the trilogy, The Fall of Koli, which will be arriving on March 2021.

The second story carries on as seamlessly as the turn of a page and it wasn’t long before my brain had adjusted to the quirky play on words of items and places that had been distorted by word of mouth and time. The story branches into two with half the story following Koli, Ursala and Cup who are making their way to London via a radio signal and Spinner, a young woman from the village Koli had been expelled from and someone that he had been really close to.

The story bounces back and forth between Koli and Spinner, with cliff hangers throughout the book. Each place is like its own little kingdom with its own set of rules and fashion styles that let you know which tribe they belong to. Some welcoming but others quite deadly! Even the trees and flowers are mutations of what they had been formerly before the thing that had changed the world, destroyed the towns and buried the technology.

The knowledge of Tech and how to use it gives a person status universally in every place they came across. Monono, is a piece of tech that attached its self to Koli as much as he ‘took it’, a piece of tech that will be easily recognisable with readers, as well as her being one of my favourite characters in both books. ‘She’ is as real as any living character, sassy, cheeky, funny and super intelligent.

Each township brings its own unique characters and way of life. A book that just entertains from cover to cover but one that you have to read the whole series to follow the story. The old tech makes for fascinating reading with the ways it is used in the story. It isn’t very often used as it was intended because it simply isn’t understood.

The third and final story will be available from March next year, it’s going to be a long winter, I can’t wait. Just awesome!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

This book picks up immediately where the previous book ended. Ursula, Koli and Cup have decided to follow the signal picked up by the Dreamsleeve Monono and track it to London, which may well not exist any more. Along the way, they are ambushed by soldiers from the Peacemaker's army from Half-Axe (Halifax) as they make their way into what is left of Bermagen (Birmingham).

A post-apocalyptic book set in England is one of my favourite things; I love working out the lost locations and changed landscapes and, with more travel across the country, this book definitely didn't disappoint. I especially enjoy picking out the changes in language, and it's genuinely a treat to read something with so much broken slang and words in it as it's like picking apart a puzzle where it's all about oral history and where the written word has been lost.

Event better, having been introduced to the Mythen Rood settlement in the previous book, we got to go back there, this time from the point of view of Spinner Tanhide, who we'd previously met as Koli's childhood friend and love interest. And there's a lot going on back home.

Koli is a great character - he's a little bumbling and foolish, but is kind-hearted and wants the best for everyone, to the point of being a little selfless. He's very much an inner voice character, rarely voicing his own opinions but quietly watching and seeing until he understands. It's great to read a compassionate character's voice in what can be a harsh dystopian world. And his care for and relationship with Monono is still incredibly adorable, although less significant in this book, which gives a lot more over to Spinner and to Cup.

But to have Spinner as a counterpoint to Koli's character was even better. She is sharp and quick to pick things up. She has a very different voice and I really admire the way that Carey has created two entirely different narrators. Especially as both are written in the post-apocalyptic slang that makes up the novel, but doesn't in any way detract from the story. In fact, having lost the words to explain some feelings and ideas, both Koli and Spinner have unique and quite adorable ways of trying to explain what they mean. But Spinner has the hard edge that Koli is missing.

There might even be more action going on this novel, as we switch from Koli to Spinner sections, although it felt a little slower gearing up to the end of the novel. But just like before, the style is incredibly fast-paced, which keeps you hanging on from chapter to chapter.

I especially loved getting to know Cup better too. She really grows as a person, now that she is able to and it is really joyful to read about her growing friendships, and of finding people who are willing to accept that she is trans, or 'crossed'.

My only complaint from the previous book had been that we hadn't spent enough time in the 'world', especially with promises of killer trees. By the end of this book, we get a much stronger idea of just how dangerous those trees are, not to mention the wildlife...

As always, though, it's a cliffhanger ending. Perhaps even to the point of feeling a little unnatural. BUT I have no idea what's coming next but I'm super excited to find out. I hope we get to learn more about what happened to past human society, but I'm especially interested to find out what happens to our MCs.

It's 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars from me!

I received a free kindle copy of The Trials of Koli from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, so thank you NetGalley!

The Trials of Koli is the second book in M. R. Carey’s Rampart trilogy, a post-apocalyptic dystopian survival story. In The Book of Koli we met the title character and were introduced to his world. Humans are a dying species living in primitive villages, venerating technology as magical objects and prey to mutated animals, carnivorous trees and cannibals. In The Trials of Koli the action kicks up a notch as Koli, now exiled, braves the perils outside his village to reach London and the mysterious Sword of Albion.

I actually didn’t realize that this was the second book in a trilogy until after I finished reading it. Which just goes to show that Carey does a great job of setting up the characters and post-apocalyptic world. It helps that the narrative is split between Koli and Spinner, his friend and love-interest from the first book. As Koli endures his “trials”, Spinner’s sections keep up abreast of events back home in Mythen Rood, including a plague and her gradual discovery of the ruling family’s secrets. Between them, they hint and refer to the events that led to Koli’s banishment, bringing newbies like me up to speed. That said, I will definitely go back and read Book One as soon as I get the chance.

Koli is on the road in this novel, heading to London where the streets are lined with tech, like an apocalyptic Dick Whittington. Except, instead of a cat he has an AI, a scientist/healer, a droid and a prisoner. This means there’s plenty of action from the killer trees and mutated predators as they walk from Calder Valley up north all the way down to London. They’re also being stalked by soldiers from Half-Ax, a rival settlement ruled by “the Peacemaker”, who’s decided to claim all tech for himself. Given the dangerous world they live in and the massive defensive value of the remaining technology, that’s a pretty obvious power grab and not something Koli or his companions are going to take lying down. It also neatly sets up a future problem for Mythen Rood, given their stockpile of tech.

I loved Carey’s handling of the dual narrative. You just know that knowledge we pick up in one storyline, like the Peacemaker’s edict, will eventually impact the other one, adding suspense as we wait for the hammer to fall. And Carey’s timing is excellent. Just as he’s building up tension in one narrative, he’ll switch to the other. This can be frustrating, but since, more often than not, we’re returning to a pivotal moment, you’re immediately caught up again until the next switch. Many a chapter ends on an ominous sounding pronouncement or cliff hanger, so he knows how to leave us dying for more. And Carey writes action well. I particularly liked a gory fight scene with a monstrous sea-bear.

Of course, the monsters (both flora and fauna) are one of the series’ biggest draws. Carey’s worldbuilding is excellent, particularly the creepy concept of carnivorous and physically active trees. Carey seems to have a thing for killer plants, judging by The Girl With All The Gifts (though, technically, I guess that was fungi?). Anyway, watch out for the choker seeds, that stuff will give you nightmares.

Beyond the trees, the general environmental threat of the weather and seasons add menace and tension to Koli’s quest. This is a world where pretty much everything is out to get you. Koli and his band have to cross forests with the threat of sunlight “waking” the bloodthirsty trees hanging over their heads. There are lots of thoughtful little details, like animals adapting to deadly seed dispersion with hibernation periods. Water from rivers or rain needs to be boiled and sieved for silver thanks to a failed experiment to combat climate change. The killer trees are products of genetic engineering. Presumably, the wildlife is too, though it could have been mutated by radiation left over from the ‘Unfinished War’. There’s also something tragic about Koli discovering the mass destruction of Birmingham during said war and then immediately being attacked by the Half-Ax soldiers. Even dying out, humans are still trying to kill each other.

Because beyond the trees, the weather, the animals and other people, Koli is also up against an even bigger existential threat to the species. Humanity is facing slow extinction thanks to the non-existent “gene pull” in its isolated pockets of survivors. Which, of course, is a direct result of all the other aforementioned man-made disasters. It’s a chilling and timely reminder of the crisis our planet’s currently facing. There’s even a plague, involving social distancing and “quarant time” to bring us fully up to date with Covid.

Language has also evolved, or devolved, depending on how you look at it. Vague knowledge of the distant past lingers – Koli mentions “Parley Men” in London. I enjoyed tracing the group’s journey through “Ingland” using mangled place names, like “Birmagen” and the river “Aven” and “Grand Younion” canal to track their route. Koli’s voice is particularly strong and distinctive, which is both a blessing and a curse. It’s great, of course, to have characters with unique voices. There’s a noticeable difference between Koli and Spinner’s narration, which keeps Carey’s writing fresh. But Koli’s narrative is deliberately rougher to evoke his lack of education and ignorance, presumably. Other characters, like Monono the AI and Ursala, Koli’s healer traveling companion, speak standard English. Even Spinner’s voice is a little more refined, since she’s the clever one in Koli’s friendship group. I don’t love using bad grammar and syntax to imply stupidity (Koli’s nicknames include “Koli Witless” and “dopey boy”). I’m not sure which regional accent, if any, Carey was going for either; to me, Koli sounded more American than anything else, which was jarring in the “Inglish” setting. Still, it’s a minor complaint and I got used to it; most readers probably would, though grammar purists might struggle. In any event, the language of the book helps to create an immersive experience as we enter Koli’s world.

And Koli and Spinner are both appealing characters. Koli is sweet and well-meaning. I loved his friendship with Monono; he is very protective of his AI! (And she of him.) The other characters often tease him, but there’s respect there too and he gets to prove himself multiple times. Spinner is more tricky, since her behavior is often manipulative. She’s a bit of a gold digger, but does seem to genuinely care about her husband and Koli. And considering the cut-throat world they live in, I think she can be forgiven for trying to protect herself by socially climbing. Her journey, marrying into the Ramparts and discovering their secrets, is riveting, even in comparison to Koli’s monster-filled, action-packed segments. This is impressive, since it’s almost entirely confined to the village. I won’t give it away, but her final showdown is awesome.

Another interesting character is Cup, Koli and Ursala’s prisoner-turned ally. She is “crossed”, Koli’s word for a trans person. It’s great that even in a novel packed with environmental and human threats to establish, Carey still takes the time to consider how trans people would fare after the apocalypse. Echoes of religion, including the Dead God (bastardized Christianity?), supply religious bigotry, but generally Koli and other characters are matter-of-fact and accepting of Cup’s identity. As Cup enters puberty, body dysphoria becomes more of a problem she has to grapple with and transitioning is discussed, but her storyline and character development is mostly unrelated to this aspect of her life, which is refreshing. She is a badass and even gets to enjoy a sweet, fledgling romance with a cute boy. More importantly, she overcomes internalized-transphobia (from her upbringing) and finds a family in Koli’s group. I am very much looking forward to seeing what happens to her in the next book. And to all of them, since the book ends on a cliffhanger.

Because of course it does.

Anyway, I will definitely be returning for Book Three, and I think fans of sci-fi, particularly post-apocalyptic fiction, will find a lot to enjoy.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. /Orbit for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Trials of Koli’ by M.R. Carey in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 2 of the Rampart Trilogy set in a future England (Ingland) radically changed by war and climate breakdown.

It follows on directly from the events of ‘The Book of Koli’ as Koli continues to relates his adventures after being cast out of the village of Mythen Rood. Inspired by a story of lost London and that a store of tech from the old times could be found there, he decides if he can find it, there may be a way to redeem himself. However, it is a dangerous undertaking.

A separate plot thread is narrated by Koli’s best friend, Demar Spinner, who remained in Mythen Rood. She fills us in on events taking place there. Whether by design or coincidence, the emergence of an infectious disease in the Mythen Rood chapters certainly resonated with aspects of our current situation.

I loved ‘The Book of Koli’ and have been recommending it widely. Likewise, I found this second book in the trilogy excellent and felt that Carey built on his original themes and further developed his world-building and characters.

It was highly engaging from start to finish and ended on an exciting cliffhanger. I can hardly wait for the conclusion, currently scheduled for March 2021.