The Fall of Koli is the final part of the Rampart Trilogy and - as Koli, narrating the start of the first book, told us it would - brings things full circle, with the return of an older and wiser man to Mythen Rood. We finally learn more about certain recurrent themes - the demon Stannabanna, and Dandrake who fought him; The Sword of Albion, which Koli, Ursula, Cup and Monono were searching for, and the Unfinished War (well named). It's also made clear how the story came to be narrated, by Koli (in all of the first book), by Koli and Spinner (in the second book) and here, by both, plus a third person - who turns out to have had a hand in certain earlier events which are now visible form a new perspective.

It's a satisfying and well rounded conclusion with a tense and dramatic ending, but I do advise you to read the previous two books first (and to stop reading my review now because it'll both confuse you and spoil the story!)

The Fall of Koli picks up exactly where The Trials of Koli ended, with the company desperately trying to get aboard the mega ship, The Sword of Albion, with their precious "diagnostic", rescued from the ruins of Ursula's drudge. They succeed, but this only brings them into a very strange world indeed. There are three people on the giant ship - Paul, Lorraine and their son, Stanley. There is something odd about Paul and Lorraine, Carey's portrayal deftly painting their strangeness which only morphs and becomes more complex as Koli (mainly) strips away layers of deceit. Who they are, what they were and what their purpose is prove to be deeply tangled matters and the more Koli understands, the more danger he and his friends prove to be in.

While this part of the story proceeds, Carey cuts away from time to time to follow Spinner, back in Mythen Rood. Spinner's story in The Trials of Koli was for me one of the best parts of that book, giving. whole new perspective on events in The Book of Koli and also presenting in Spinner a fascinating, clever and resourceful woman who is pushed into a difficult corner but determined to survive and to protect her family and village. That continues here, with Spinner becoming something very close to the leader of Mythen Rood. That requires joining in the deceptions the Ramparts pull on everybody else and Spinner recognises the moral ambiguity of that. She's determined to end the system, but has to play a complex game of politics to retain her position and address the growing threat of the Peacemaker, who lays claim to all and any "tech" in "Ingland". Basically, Spinner is forced to go to war, and it's a desperate conflict.

It's difficult for me to convey just how engaging, convincing and entertaining The Fall of Koli (and the trilogy of a whole) is. The reader has, of course, an advantage over Koli and his friends (except perhaps for Ursula) in recognising many places, events and things and even more so now that Koli has landed in something closer to our world. So there's that sense of recognising something and then seeing how Koli will cope, what it will mean to him and how he will make sense of it. But there are also many moments when Koli's world is baffling and it's his experience an intuition that guide us through it and help us make sense of things. That process is, as I've said, supplemented in this book by another, third point of view - in fact, by a fourth, kind of, as Koli finds a new and different resource to guide him but one that may put him in desperate peril.

Even in this third book, Carey is exploring new themes and elaborating existing ones. When the reasons for the Unfinished War become clear, you may want to think about them in relation to where we are in this country now. Ursula's repugnance for an independent Monono is explained at last, and the presence of humanity alongside that hostile Nature ("Everything that lives hates us...") is revisited but from the perspective of what balance we might be able to find with it. It's an ideas-rich book with the vastly different perspectives of the main characters - the trans girl Cup, educated doctor Ursula, virtual Monono who is in some ways the oldest of the group, and Koli himself - constantly sparking off one another and suggesting new and unexpected truths and conclusions.

That goes on to the - rather unexpected - end, with the final passage a musing on identity and reality from a character you might not expect. It's a neat pairing with the opening words of the trilogy, and satisfying place to conclude.

I would strongly recommend The Fall of Koli, and this trilogy as a whole. Reading the books has been a real treat one of my highlights of 2020 and 2021.

So we've come to the end of M.R. Carey's Rampart Trilogy and although this is a moment I've been eager for and dreading in almost equal measure, the telling of Koli's full story has been a rare treat throughout the three books, with this conclusion being everything I could have wished for and more besides.
It opens immediately after the concluding events in The Trials of Koli and finds Koli and his disparate group of companions - healer, Ursala-from-elsewhere, the formerly shunned Cup and Monono Aware, his closest friend despite being the AI interface in what was originally a Dreamsleeve music player - attempting to board the 'Sword of Albion' before their stricken craft sinks. It's worth saying here that this is a series that should be read in order and in its entirety in order to fully appreciate the full richness of this wonderfully inventive trilogy.
The world-building is superb once more; after two books which found Koli and friends at the mercy of a wild, dangerous landscape where the trees have the potential to maim and kill, this time they are in a man-made environment but it's no less deadly. Although set in an England - or Ingland - several centuries into the future, there's a fable-like quality to this series, largely due to the colloquial nature of the narrative voices. As with The Trials of Koli, most of the novel follows Koli but there are some chapters set in his home village, Mythen Rood which are written from the perspective of his childhood friend, Spinner. Koli and Spinner both use language which is familiar and yet has evolved from the English we use presently. It's arguably a simpler, less grammatically correct form but there's a poetic beauty to their speech which perhaps belies those who fear a dumbing-down of the spoken and written word.
As the various strands of the storyline are pulled together and we learn more about the origin of some of the myths and belief systems of this future humankind, the parallels with our own world are uncomfortably obvious. Over the course of the trilogy, we've realised that this post-apocalyptic world came to pass due to the catastrophic errors of mankind but the destructive violence of ultra-nationalism is markedly apparent here. As Koli and Cup experience bequeathed racism and transphobia, it seems that for all that society has lost, its ability to divide itself according to appearance or background persists.
However, Koli has Monono and we finally learn more about her story this time, with some chapters written from her unique point-of-view. She describes herself at one point as a manic pixie dream girl but this doesn't do justice to one of the most complex, original characters I can ever remember reading. This might be Koli's story and he is a wonderful character but Monono's importance is finally revealed in this moving, beautifully constructed conclusion. Meanwhile, in Mythen Rood, this relationship between flesh-and-bone and sentient tech is mirrored by the understanding that develops between Spinner, Challenger and Elaine.
While Koli has to escape the clutches of a would-be fascist warmonger, Spinner needs to keep the village safe from the ironically named Peacemaker. The final reckoning is inevitable but M.R. Carey never rushes the storyline, allowing it to unfold with all the immersive expansiveness of a tale which has been told and retold down through the generations. The violence is inescapable; there are some dramatic surprises and emotional revelations before the end but as Spinner observes, a story needs to have "a good shape and end where it's supposed to." The Fall of Koli ends exactly where it should and is a stunning finale to this exceptional series. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The Fall Of Koli is book three in The Rampart Trilogy by MR Carey and I'd recommend you read them in order. Koli has been on a long journey and this book is the culmination of the events that have been building throughout the series.

Koli is definitely not in Mythen Rood anymore! At the end of the previous book (The Trials of Koli), he and his companions had found the source of the signal they had been following. This turns out to be "The Sword of Albion", a huge ship which is the home of Paul, Lorraine and their son Stanley. It soon becomes apparent that this ship isn't the answer to their problems and is in fact now their prison. Paul and Lorraine need medic Ursula to "cure" Stanley but their reasons do not become clear until Koli and Cup do some snooping and realise how much danger they are actually in. Monono is her sassy self but we get an insight into her long game plans for the first time...can she really turn her back on her Koli bou?

We also catch up with the events of Mythen Rood where Spinner and her friends must defeat the village from a brutal attack by the people of Half-Ax. In a battle over precious tech both sides will do anything to succeed.

The Fall Of Koli is a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy. MR Carey is a master at world building and creating characters you will totally invest in. Five stars!

Book 3 of the Rampart Trilogy..... why does it have to end?! I've got so used to Koli being in my life that it's going to be tough without him and his merry band of adventurers!! But this final part is a wonderful fitting way to end the series and I'll just have to keep reading them all over again to keep them in my mind!

In this book we really get to see how the journey has changed Koli - we've watched him grow up in front of us with the challenges he has had to face along the way, and this whole story is a more streamlined and straightforward tale. We follow Koli and his friends on their quest, along with the storyline from the point of view of Spinner who is back home and facing challenges of their own as they battle rival forces. This split storyline really does capture your imagination and ramps up the emotion - it's one of those books that leaves you not wanting to read on at times, but know you have to as you just want to find out what happens!!

This is a book that engages you as a reader! You are travelling along with Koli and seeing how his relationships with Monono, Ursula and Cup evolves, as well as spending time with Spinner who is making big decisions back home for the safety of everyone else.

It's a book full of dramatic scenes, full of emotion but yet full of hope and I have enjoyed every single moment of my time spent in the company of these characters in their weird, but relatable futuristic world... now when do we get a movie???!!!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you conclude a trilogy.

The book does what any good sequel should do and continues to expand the world and setting. Koli has finally found the legendary sword of Albion; Spinner, meanwhile, is preparing for war against the soldiers of Half-ax. Both narrators remain compelling, although the addition of Spinner from book two onwards does somewhat reveal Koli to be, rather than endearingly naive and uneducated, just a tad on the thick side... The two narrative threads finally weave together by the final part of the book, bringing the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion.

This series won't be for everyone - Koli's narrative voice will either engage or irritate - but those who enjoyed the first two books will find this one equally enjoyable.

Highly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The final book in the Rampart Trilogy.
Koli and his friends have found the source of the signal they've been following, hoping it will finally be the end of their journey.
Welcomed on board the Sward of Albion, they will however soon learn that nothing is as they were led to believe.

I was really looking forward to reading the conclusion to this trilogy, and I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint; in fact, I think it is my favourite book of the three.
Initially, when I started reading the first book, I found it really hard to follow Koli's ungrammatical narration, but as I went along, it grew and grew on me, and I came to love it. Koli is like no other character I've ever come across.
The story was fast-paced and full of twists.
I really enjoyed Monono's perspective, and I loved how Spinner and Koli's path finally crossed in the most spectacular way possible.
It's also been good to finally get some insight into how the world got to be in its current state.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending though. It was very fitting and clever, but it left me a bit sad.
Overall, it was a brilliant finale, and I will truly miss Koli.

This is the final book in the series, and I have been absolutely desperate for it to come out as the last book left us on such a cliffhanger.

As usual there is no “previously..:”, which I really wish publishers would do...it would really help readers to remember where the story is up to ....However, the last book had left a huge imprint in my mind so it didn’t take long for me to remember other things that were going on.

We are taken straight off the cliffhanger that we were left on, and saved!!! But.....

This book gives us all the answers, ties up all loose ends, and is a great finale to what has been an excellent series. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...I love Koli! (And monono and Ursula...and the drudge).

My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK For the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

No. No. Nooooooo!! It can't be over. It can't! This entire trilogy has soaked into my soul and I don't know how I'm going to get by without another book in this series on the horizon. I adore the story, love (and hate!) the characters, and I'm amazed by M.R. Carey's writing. There's only one thing left to do: Start the trilogy over again. If there's one series you need to read this year, it's this one.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

And here we are, the final book in Mike Carye’s The Rampart Trilogy, ‘The Fall of Koli’

The Ramparts Trilogy has been an enthralling, exciting, and distinctive series from start to finish and when I received an advanced reading copy (tips his hat to Netgalley and Orbit, well, Little Brown Book Group here in the UK) I was ultra-excited.

The Book of Koli was the first book that I ever reviewed and also the first post on the site. Obviously, I was giddy with excitement when I first reviewed that Book of Koli, and I feel like I have been on a journey with this series. Well effectively, I have! From the Yorkshire wilds to the destroyed south coast of Ingland and back again.

With the Fall of Koli, Mike Carey masterfully brings the Ramparts Trilogy to its inevitable conclusion. Filling the book with the shocking truth of the cataclysm, epic battles and new beginnings.

I have to say that I adore this book. Just being back with Koli and everyone else gives me a warm feeling. From the moment that it starts, there is a feeling of inevitability. We know that something is going to happen, we know that it is going to end, we know that questions will be answered. We’re just not sure how.

The story starts immediately where the last book ended, with our little dopey boy and the rest of the crew finally finding out what the ‘Sword of Albion’ is. This is the signal that Koli and the gang have been following since the first book. However, when they do get to the end of their quest, nothing is what it seems. Is it ever? After their boat nearly sinks, they are lifted to safety to the ship that they were heading towards.

The ship is populated by a crew of three. Paul, his wife Lorraine, and their child Stanley. It’s not long before we learn that there are some strange happenings on this ship. Paul is a brutal man that barely hides his fervour for corporal punishment, Lorraine seems to be a doting mother, but there seems to be an underlying tinge of vileness to her and Stanley fluctuates from being a sociopathic little boy to someone who is almost begging for friendship. Something is not quite right here, and Carey builds on that feeling of disquiet until it reaches its crescendo midway through the book.

On top of that, it is obvious that the gang are not guests but in fact, are prisoners that are only allowed to stay on board until they have completed the tasks that their ‘hosts’ have set for them. There is an insidious feeling permeating the whole of the first part of the narrative and whilst Carey does inform of the things that are wrong by drip-feeding little bits of information it seems to add to the atmosphere. I must say that when Koli and the gang are on the ship, it plays out like a gothic horror novel with that feeling of wrongness enveloping the scenes that are set there.

However, whilst events are playing out with Koli, Cup, Monono Aware, and Ursala, there are similarly climactic events occurring in Mythen Rood with Spinner and the Peacemaker, the faceless entity that resides in Half Ax and is demanding the return of what he sees is his property. All of the technology that is in the possession of the people of Mythen Rood

There are two stories at play in the Fall of Koli, and with that, there are two main protagonists, Koli and Spinner. Throughout the book, Carey effectively weaves these two stories together, leaving each separate story at the end of a cliff-hanger, switching to the other viewpoint, and then returning to conclude it. I tell you this is so amazingly done, and it leaves you wanting to read each story as quick as you can so that you can return to the one you just left.

I love the style of this book, this cutting to each story to increase the sense of urgency, and when the stories do converge, Carey masterfully increases the momentum of the book by maintaining those separate viewpoints and decreasing the length of time that we spend with each protagonist. Utter genius!

It has to be said that the writing in Carey’s book is just amazing. He carefully subverts language which results in it taking on a whole new meaning, for instance, when Spinner is telling the Story of Snow Wight, or paying a courtesy to others. This really blew my mind with the utter brilliantness of it.

It is similar with the characters in the book. You immediately reform your investment with the characters. Koli is wide-eyed and hopeful, Cup is hard and unforgiving but loyal, and Ursula is as distant as she was throughout the first two books. However, it is always with Monono that I feel that he excels. You would think that with all that is happening in the book there would not be time for character growth, but somehow Carey manages it, particularly with Monono.

Whilst the book centres primarily on Koli and Spinner, Carey intersperses the viewpoint of Monono and we get some chapters that are told solely from her perspective. This gives a valuable insight into her and how she functions, and how she grows. You would not think that there would be any room for her to expand, but Carey manages to give us a whole new perspective on her.

I have to say that The Fall of Koli is a phenomenal ending to a series that I have loved. Carey masterfully closes the series in such a satisfying way it left me breathless.

It's been a year since I first met Koli; his precarious life in dystopian Ingland and his hopes and dreams for a better future. This book, with its rather ominous title, concludes his adventures in style.

'The Fall of Koli' is an epic read; there's some incredibly disturbing AI to contend with, mental and physical battles, hardships, victories and losses. There are answers to questions that I have had since the start of the series, some of which can be seen as stark warnings for the future of humanity and the world. The shifting POV between Koli, Spinner and a new character are a fascinating insight into the complexity of wanting to keep the status quo and protect individual property and rights, and the potential for a new way of living, where respect is earned and nepotism has no place.

This is a compelling and emotional conclusion to what has been an amazing 5 star saga.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advance copy in return for an honest revie

Having found the Sword of Albion, Koli, Cup and Ursala are in for the ride of their lives. Can Koli get back to Mythen Rood with the technology to help save the human race or does Lost London mean the end of all his plans?

I loved this series and I didn't want it to end. Koli Woodsmith is such an endearing character and, along with his travelling companions, Monono (who even gets her own point of view story here) and Spinner Tanhide has a vision for a brave new world. Outstanding writing from MR Carey and a story to keep you hooked from the first word of book one (you must start the trilogy at the beginning or you'll really miss out. I loved these three books and I was very happy to see the whole trilogy released in such a short time. Stop reading this review and go and read them now!

Well I’ve closed the book (well switched off the e-reader) on the final book of the Rampart Trilogy by M R Carey. I’m sad that this enthralling journey with Koli has come to an end. During lockdown I have enjoyed passing time with Koli and his companions, one of whom is the best bit of AI you’ll find, Monono, which starts off as a souped up Walkman,, who adds a bit of humour to these excellent novels. If you’ve read the first two novels, I’ve no doubt you will be looking forward to the final chapter and the good news is - it doesn’t disappoint. It pulls everything together to culminate in a very satisfactory conclusion. The third book starts where the second book finished with Koli, Cup and Ursula reaching their destination the Sword of Albion which doesn’t quite turn out to be what they expected.
The Rampart Trilogy is an excellent series taking place in a post-apocalyptic future where nature has fought back and now there is a chance to rebuild and not make the mistakes of the past. Excellent series that has helped me through lockdown with storytelling that is both powerful and enlightening.

I’ve enjoyed the first two volumes in this (very)post-apocalyptic trilogy. The books are set long after the fall of our world, in a society that has grown up amongst our ruins, without quite knowing what they are. They sit firmly in a classic tradition of British SF - think Richard Cowper’s Road To Corlay books, John Christopher or the subset of writers encompassed by Junot Diaz’ memorable line about the “British doomguys” - but bought right up to date. If that sounds appealing, go back and read the first one, The Book Of Koli, because there is no point starting here! Those of us who have been on the ride with Koli and his ramshackle crew through the last two books however will find lots to enjoy. Stakes are raised, circles are completed, character arcs reach their ends, and there’s a big fight. The rising tension in the latter half of the book is expertly handled, as Carey marshals several separate storylines together and brings them to an exciting and satisfying climax.

Having fought their way through the ferocious flora and fauna of Ingland, not to mention its often less-than-hospitable populace, Koli and his companions have come at last to the Sword of Albion. An enormous ship from the days of the unfinished war, it seems like a potential safe haven. But it might just be that the biggest threat Koli has faced so far resides there. Meanwhile, the people of Mythen Rood prepare for war with the forces of HalfAx, as Spinner attempts to rally her people around her and shore up their defences. The shadow cast over this green and once pleasant land darkens, as the tech of long forgotten wars awakens to spit death and sow destruction once again.

Returning to Koli’s world one final time feels rather bittersweet. With The Book of Koli’s publication coming just after a UK-wide lockdown, followed a few months later by its sequel, Koli has been wonderful company through some very unsettling times. With his no-nonsense morality and his earnest desire to help those around him - not to mention his unique narration, present and correct here once again - it’s sad to have to say goodbye to him. On the plus side though, The Fall of Koli is a phenomenal farewell.

Beginning with a quick recap of the story so far, as well as a little foreshadowing, it’s not long before we pick up exactly where we left off in Trials. Koli and his friends have followed the mysterious signal out to sea, and have discovered the Sword of Albion. Soon after, they meet those in charge, and are introduced to their absolutely detestable son, Stanley. Stanley is rude, ill-tempered and impatient, and his distaste for their guests is obvious from their first meeting. His remorseless bullying of the sweet and non-confrontational Koli is guaranteed to make him hated by readers, who by this point will no doubt be feeling extremely protective towards the young hero. Stanley is the kind of villain that you just love to hate, at least at first glance.

All is not as it seems, however, and it’s clear that there’s more at stake than Koli realises (although there usually is, dead god bless him). Events hinted at or referred to vaguely in the previous two books are given more clarity and context, with some extremely satisfying resolutions and revelations emerging. There is a real sense of threads being gathered together, a reassuring feeling of being in the hands of a writer who had a plan for that (and that, and that) all along. Even if we don’t necessarily have all the answers by the end, the ones that we do get are more than enough. Some might be to questions you didn’t even know you had, but you’ll find you’re glad to get them.

Of course, this isn’t just Koli’s story. As with The Trials of Koli, the story is split between his viewpoint and Spinner’s, as the Peacemaker of HalfAx turns his attention to Mythen Rood. Having laid claim to all the tech in the land, he intends to take what little they have, preferably by force. Preparations for the coming conflict mean there is a gradual build up in tension, with Spinner’s pragmatism contrasting with Koli’s more emotion led decision making. He might want to leave a better world for those that will follow, but Spinner is more concerned about just making it to tomorrow.

That’s not to say Spinner comes across as callous or cold, not at all. It’s more that her vision for the world is a little more clear-eyed than Koli’s optimistically rose tinted one. Spinner also provides some wonderful moments of levity, often with the kind of gallows humour that Koli quite simply doesn’t have the wit for. It provides even more contrast between the two narrators, as well as showing Spinner’s developing relationship with husband Jon, her target for many of these jokes. With the stakes higher than ever for both Mythen Rood and Spinner, her sections continue to be just as enthralling as they were previously. Her keen political mind and diplomacy are on show again, as well as her ability to strategize, and it's immensely satisfying to see her in her element. The alternating viewpoints vary the pace wonderfully well too, meaning you’re rarely far away from something dramatic or exciting happening to either her or Koli.

The Fall of Koli is as good a conclusion as you could possibly want to a series, an epic and emotional end to the journey of one of the most memorable heroes in recent years. Even after two previous books in the series, Carey still finds ways to not only surprise us, but to get us even more invested in the fate of this vividly realised world too. Consider this landing well and truly stuck.

Once again MR Carey has brought us into the land known as Ingland. A futuristic-but-stuck-in-the-past society, complete with warring factions, out of control AI, technology and a bunch of little people trying to protect what’s theirs.

Of the three books in the Rampart Trilogy, I think this one is firmly my favourite. Not only does it have the advantage of wrapping up the story in a satisfying hug-your-kindle-when-finished feeling, but also it was the most interesting. And the addition of a new POV character was most surprising and bloody awesome!! Action-packed, weird tech, strange ideologies, The Fall of Koli has it all.

For any who, like me, coasted indifferently through the last 2 books and may consider not continuing, stop, rewind, and give this one a go, because it’s the best of the bunch! I am so glad that I did!

Thanks to M.R. Carey, Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I been to Bermagen, I been to Baron’s Furnace

I am so pleased the three volumes of the Rampart Trilogy have all been published within a single year. They are compulsive reading, and this final volume is no exception. I praise the author for his imaginative and thrilling writing.

The Fall of Koli is a headlong tour-de-force, commencing just at the point where the second volume ends, with Koli and his fellowship about to experience the mystery of the Sword of Albion. Where The Trials of Koli had two narrators, Koli and Spinner, this volume has a third, the AI, Monono Aware, at last revealed for what she/it actually is, or might be.

First, the reader is treated to Koli’s adventures on The Sword of Albion, a mysterious warship which predates the catastrophe. At last, the truth of the demon Stannabanna is revealed and much of the story of the divine Dandrake. Meanwhile back in Yorkshire, Spinner and the Ramparts are preparing to meet the imperialist ambitions of the Peacemaker of Half-Ax.

The title is a tease, but tells only the truth. There is a sad inevitability in this tale, but the conclusion might be considered one which is inevitable, respects difference, and yet is wholly satisfying.

Postscript: There is much criticism in other reviews of Koli, the hapless hero. Such criticism misses the point entirely. Koli is lacking in many skills; he is limited in intelligence; he makes many mistakes. Yet, he is empathetic; he is a holy innocent; he wants always to do what is right; he never lacks courage; he wins the hearts and strengths of others; his heart is always in the right place.

It's been a long time since I read a trilogy and thought 'Wow, I did not want that to end'. Well, a long time until right now. The Rampart Trilogy was one of those trilogies where the only chance of the author getting hate mail is because he finished it. 

This book, and the trilogy as a whole, were utterly brilliant. It had so much going for it that I find myself lost for words to adequately describe how much I enjoyed it.

My main fear for 'The Fall of Koli' was that I just didn't think there was much chance of it topping the second book in the series. For my money, it didn't quite top it overall, although it did top it as far as the awesomeness of the end is concerned. Where Book two was impeccably solid from start to finish, book three was good, good, great, excellent. It felt like it was going steadily up a hill just so it could plough down the other side in one brilliant blaze of awesomeness.

In this book we learn so much about the world as it used to be, how it got to where it is, and how the gods 'Stannabanna' and 'Dandrake' came into being. It's a fun, yet slightly hard to believe, look at how mankind managed to ruin everything for itself and almost willingly descend into a new dark age.

Carey tied every loose end up that had been blowing free since book one in what can only be described as an 'incredibly satisfying way'. There was a lot more character development of the tertiary characters in this book. Where book one and two focused on the main ones and the secondary characters to them, this one did that and then went further to give you a more complete feel of the world and the people that populate it.

I've never read anything by this author before picking up the Rampart Trilogy but, it's safe to say, I'll be doing my best to rectify that going forward. Not only is Carey a great writer who can weave an excellent story without getting bogged down in the appealing mire of over-explaining everything, or going off on tangents to explore the world he's created, he knows how to write a complete trilogy. Other authors should take note. Not every series needs to be 10+ books long. If you can tell an amazing story in three books, I rate you higher than someone who tries to make it into the teens and inevitably has a couple of bad ones along the way.

Still, saying that, I'm absolutely devastated that Koli and friends are done with their journey. I'll certainly miss reading of their exploits.

And so we come to The Fall of Koli - the ominously-named final volume of MR Carey’s post-apocalyptic Ramparts series. For those who have not read the first two volumes of this series (The Book of Koli and The Trials of Koli) and want to, there will be spoilers in this review. The good news is that after the slow grind of the second book, Carey delivers in a finale which pays off all of the breadcrumbs that he has been dropping along the way.
As with the second book, The Fall of Koli opens directly after the cliffhanger ending the previous volume. Koli, Ursula and Cup have managed to pilot a boat to the source of the Sword of Albion signal. They are rescued from their sinking craft by the inhabitants of what turns out to be a massive ocean-going vessel called the Sword of Albion. And there are only three inhabitants on board – Lorraine, Paul and their son Stanley Banner, all of whom speak as if the cataclysm that destroyed their world hundreds of years ago had only just happened and are clearly hiding something. Koli receives a mysterious warning about the three and starts to join the dots around a mythical figure called Stannabanna and the mercurial sixteen year-old Stanley who keeps getting dragged off for treatments. At the same time back in his old village of Mythen Rood, Spinner is preparing the face the might of neighbouring Half-Axe, who might have been defeated once but who have many more soldiers to draw from and are out for blood.
While the two narrative strands were completely disconnected in book 2, Carey slowly starts to bring them together here. While on the Sword of Albion, Koli and his crew discover deep secrets about their world and how it came to be, in Mythen Rood Spinner is subtly trying to deconstruct the ancient power structure bound to the ability to use ancient technology that saw Koli banished in the first place. Meanwhile the Japanese AI Monono Aware who befriended Koli way back in The Book of Koli, and is probably the best character in the series, starts to come into her own in a way that also helps explain much of the preceding action.
The Fall of Koli reveals the bigger plan that Carey had when he started this series. It is well constructed with full of great cliffhangers through to the final act which becomes a strange combination of hope and dread as the two disparate story lines come together. While it has never been promoted in this way, nothing in this volume lifts the series outside of its Young Adult styling and concerns - even on the Sword of Albion the main action is between the two teenagers Koli and Stanley. But for those readers in particular this final volume will make what has sometimes felt like a long journey worth the effort.

Well, this was an emotive journey - I remember beginning the first in this trilogy and wondering what i'd gotten myself into and now, after devouring the finale, it's a journey i'm glad I took. No spoilers but the trilogy is wrapped up and complete - there's heartache, sadness, love, laughter and some intense fighting scenes providing a little something for everyone. These novels are unique and definitely ones I would recommend for people seeking dystopian science fiction with a huge environmental twist - read these and, if you're like me, you won't be disappointed!

As soon as I got the chance to read this as an arc I jumped at the chance! I fell in love with the first two books and this book was no different!

Reading about koli up to this point has been a journey, one that I’m now sad has come to an end.
This book is the final book in the trilogy and I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. It was both satisfying and left room for the reader to imagine more.

In this book we see koli and friends find out what the sword of Albion really is, they face there most terrifying opponent yet and we see koli fight for those he loves.

The world building continues in this instalment of the trilogy. We get the back story and history of how the world ended up as it is. And if you’d read the previous books... it’s pretty messed up! Trees that could eat you alive and primitive tribes clutching onto the remains of technology as a means to protect them selfs from each other.

Iv loved coming from the first book to now, seeing how far koli has come.
Koli’s empathy is undying and it is his best character trait, it’s carried through from book one all the way to the end. Koli is simple, not particularly strong or brave but he makes it all up with his empathy and his headstrong ness. He has a strong moral compass that guides him and it makes it hard not to feel for him and fall in love with his basic charm. I always stood behind what koli was fighting for.
I love the way koli tells his story, his simple knowledge and understanding is even shown through how he writes, for example ‘ingland’ and ‘yewkay’.
Koli started of thinking the world was small but in the end he has traveled far and leaned far more.

What was interesting in this book is that along with koli and spinners POV we also got some chapters from monono.
It was interesting to see what was behind the cute digital Japanese girls outside appearance. How different she was when she gained more control and how she was pulled back from becoming something else.
We got the spinner POV which I found interesting as it was good to see how things were holing up in kolis absence and I liked how koli and spinners POV met up.

This book kept me hooked all the way through. The ending had me at the edge of my seat for a while as I thought it was going one way before it swooped back and saved me from heartbreak.
I think it ended in a way that will satisfy all readers and give them hope for the future.

I would recommend this trilogy to all. An absolute 5 star read.

“Aishiteru, ami”
This line made everything worth it.