The Book of Koli

By: M. R. Carey

Narrated by: Theo Solomon

"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 GiftsFellsideThe Boy on the BridgeSomeone 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

Critic reviews

"This is a beautiful book. Gripping, engaging, and absolutely worth the time it takes to burrow yourself into its reality. I can't recommend it highly enough."—Seanan McGuire on The Book of Koli

"Deeply humanistic, and full of lush characterization and worldbuilding...what a glorious beginning [The Book of Koli] is. M.R. Carey hefts astonishing storytelling power with plainspoken language, heartbreaking choices, and sincerity like an arrow to the heart. The Book of Koli is one of the best books I expect to read this year."
—Locus on The Book of Koli

"A captivating start to what promises to be an epic post-apocalyptic fable. Narrator Koli's inquisitive mind and kind heart make him the perfect guide to Carey's immersive, impeccably rendered world."—Kirkus on The Book of Koli

"The cadence and pacing of [Koli's] voice adds a depth and richness to the strange and malevolent world."—Booklist on The Book of Koli

"An exciting post-apocalyptic coming-of-age trilogy ... Readers will finish The Book of Koli eager to read the next installment."—Shelf Awareness on The Book of Koli

"Told in an enchanting, confessional first-person, we're with Koli all the way, from the stifling security of village life into the direst peril."—Daily Mail on The Book of Koli

"A highly imaginative fable."—Nerd Daily on the Book of Koli

"A thought-provoking and deeply engaging story ... profoundly and doggedly humane."—C. A. Fletcher on The Book of Koli

"Carey writes with compassion and fire - strange and surprising and humane."
—Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls on The Boy on the Bridge

"Heartfelt, remorseless and painfully human...as fresh as it is terrifying. A jewel."—Joss Whedon on The Girl With All the Gifts

"A master storyteller." —io9

CHARACTERS!!+DYSTOPIAN WORLBUILDING!+ NARRATION!+

ALLLL AMAZING. I WAS SUCKED IN IMMEDIATELY IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND I SIMPLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

Little Boy Lost, Takes Himself So Seriously

I am a 50 year old brah, just six weeks into a carpentry apprenticeship after being forced out of a career in social work. I was celebrating a divorce at a Phish concert and weeell was arrested holding just about everything. To say I am sourful tired and pitiful sore would be the best way to put it in this unprecedented era of censorship. I had the pleasure of reading this perfect novel during a peak life experience. I have spent my entire apprenticeship on the most vividly, stunning ranches on earth in northern Colorado up near the Wyoming border. I read this while doing a first for me, camp/working all alone on a 500 acre ranch. It was like being in Sedona after the apocalypse. I only regret not retiring earlier from social work and doing this sooner. I have never been more happy. This space in life may be influencing my opinion on this piece, but really it had everything in it for me. Only Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Samuel Clemens and Tom Robbins have been able to do what this novel has done. Now M. R. Carey too has influenced my daily speech, infected my dreams and left me craving for more and thinking about the tale at all times throughout the day. Since I work for wealthy customers and my boss is so Christian he openly finds smoking just as distasteful as cursing, I avoid both on the job site. Now when I have trouble with a blade, or make a mistake on a cut or shoot a nail in the wrong spot, or get fatigued carrying timber at 8500 feet I sharply curse Dandrake’s name. The first thing I am going to do when I get paid is buy part two. I believe I may try audible on the next one and listen as I drive up the mountains on these brilliant commutes.

Romance at it's best

It's a very well written love story between a boy and his female device >.- In all seriousness it's a story about what happens when technology is a thing of the past that only remains in the hands of the few people "able" to wield it. The book's good enough that I want to continue the series but not so great that I can't wait until all the books are complete before I carry forward

Superb!

This is one of those “driveway books“ where you can’t stop listening and get out of the car. I have thoroughly enjoyed this authors other works and I’m Thrilled that this is a series. I will be sad when these folks are done. I hope the author has written other books.

love Mike Carey!

I cannot get enough of M R Carey books. This one is no exception. I am very happy that there is a Koli series.