WOW! The worst thing about this ARC was that the sneak peak of book 3 wasn't available at the end of it!

I really enjoyed the follow-up to Book of Koli. While it is definitely a bridge between the world-building set-up and the resolution I can't wait to see in book 3, it still makes huge forward progress in developing our characters. Our main team- Koli, Cup and Ursula struggle with more internal conflict than the physical conflict in book 1. We also get the new POV of Spinner which added fantastic depth to the world built in Koli.

I love these characters and the world, and I need book 3 NOW!

This book wasn’t anything at all what I expected. I’ve been dystopian fatigued and can’t bring myself to even attempt anything from that genre (Thanks Covid). But the premise of this book intrigued me enough to take a gamble. And honestly...I loved it...while still being afraid, traumatized or concerned.

This story just worked for me, I was drawn along with curiosity to see what developed. The prose was lovely. The characters were nicely developed. While there isn't necessarily a fast pace to this book, and some readers may find it boring, I did not have that issue and was totally involved in what was going on. The ending was satisfying for me as well, although it may not be for everyone as it is book two in the trilogy. I enjoyed the story and the writing and will be revisiting this series again, when number three is available.

In this second installment of Koli's journey, we pick up right where the prior book left off as our scraggly group of four picks its way through the threatening familiar-yet-not wilds of Ingland in pursuit of the fabled London. Tensions are high due to internal discord of the group and external threats, and it is this interpersonal tension that takes center stage in this book.

Like many 2nd books of trilogies, the Trials of Koli acts as a bridge between the novel worldbuilding and character introduction of the first book, and the what one expects to be larger, climactic confrontations and denouements of the third, giving the characters the room to grow into their own and become stronger as a group. While there were action-heavy scenes, they did not feel as constant nor the threats of the world quite so omnipresent as they had in the Book of Koli. The primary focus has instead shifted towards people, and the interactions with different peoples with one another. This is further emphasized by the introduction of a secondary point of view, that of Spinner who had remains in Mythen Rood as we see her perspective of the events from the Book of Koli and their aftermath. As their stories alternate, the growth and found-family direction of Koli's tale is juxtaposed with the loss of societal cohesion and structure of Spinner's, and both protagonists grow to meet their respective challenges.

Generally, I found the Trials of Koli a consistently compelling book, though not quite the page turner that Book of Koli was. While there are some fun action-heavy scenes, the book felt more introspective, exploring the characters and the societies they have experienced, particularly as Half-Ax grows as a threat in both Koli's and Spinner's stories. This tribal conflict is certainly more compelling than just some villages yelling about trees every day, but the interesting worldbuilding felt a bit stagnant, with the threats of the world for a nuisance than the dominant problem as described in Book of Koli. Additionally, I was somewhat disappointed that the central quest/question that ended of the Book of Koli failed to be properly resolved within the Trials of Koli as I am skeptical as to whether the final book can properly address all of the questions, plots, and sub-plots that have been set up by the time I reached the cliff-hanger ending of the Trials of Koli. My appetite has been whet, and I look forward to seeing how it all comes together in the Fall of Koli.

I just want to thank Orbit and netgalley for letting me read and review this book along with the first book that I read last year early. I love this series so far. And M.R Carey is one of my favorite authors.

The Trials of Koli is the second installment to the Koli series and this is written in Koli point of view along with Spinner’s point of view.

Koli is headed to London with the Doctor Ursula and their captive Cup. Ursula is in need of new tech to help save more people and Koli and his music device are there to help. They go through obstacles to try to get there along with meeting new friends that take them in while they. Rebuild a boat to get them across the sees before the choker seeds come out for the season.

Spinner marries her best friend who is a. Rampurt and learns the truth about how her husbands family gets to obtain tech and control tech that other people in the village can not do. There is also sickness in their village and the weight and secrets of trying to save them are in her hands.

I don’t want to go too much into detail because I don’t want to spoil it but like is said in my review of the first book. M.R Carey is an amazing story teller, he makes you feel like you are there, makes you imagine his world in your head and makes you wonder what happened to the old world that has made this world.

I am so excited for the next book in the series and cant wait to see how it all unfolds.

I’m really enjoying the series and I wish the third book was available now. I need to know what happens next! As usual, Carey has created a realistic dystopian future world with interesting character and situations. The characters have reached the destination they set for themselves but don’t yet know what they’ll find and war is brewing back home.

A worthy follow-up. Creepy trees! Battles for life and death! And our ever-beloved Koli!

Why Carey doesn't get more exposure, I have no idea. But I'll be shouting this second book's praises for the foreseeable future. And that cover? Perfect Spooky Season material right there. Now I'm scrambling for the third book!

The Trials of Koli is the sequel to the Book of Koli. In it we continue to follow Koli’s journey after he is made “faceless” from Mythen Rood as he, Ursala, and Cup team up. Part of the book is also narrated from Spinner’s point of view.

As much as I loved the first book in the trilogy, I couldn’t get into this book and I ended up picking it up and putting it down multiple times. This is partially due to the pacing of the narrative and backtracking whenever Spinner’s narrative interjects. I would have preferred Koli’s voice to be the primary narrator, as in the Book of Koli. It’s also in part that it is more of the same and I didn’t find the book to really take me anywhere new.

I recommend this book if you enjoyed the Book of Koli and are seeking closure. Advanced copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great follow-up to The Book of Koli. The story picks up right where the first one left off. Koli, Ursala, and Cup are on their way to London. The journey of course has it's twists and turns, and we get introduced to some new cultures living in this strange new world.

In addition to the story of Koli and his friends, we also get treated to a new perspective from a character back from the first book. I won't go into too much detail for fear of spoiling anything, but it is a different perspective on some of the story from the previous book, as well as some new developments for the story as a whole. I really look forward to the next book in this series.

When I saw in my inbox a very unexpected email from Orbit announcing the ARC’s availability for the second book in M.R. Carey’s Rampart trilogy, I did not hesitate in requesting it because The Book of Koli, the first volume, was one of my best 2020 discoveries so far, and I was more than eager to learn how the protagonist’s journey away from his home village progressed. In the second volume, the focus on this post-apocalyptic world widens a little as Koli, Ursala and Cup travel in the direction of London, but character evolution remains front and center, with some interesting shifts in the interpersonal dynamics that offer promising developments for the future.

To recap the story so far: a series of environmental catastrophes and the Unfinished War left the world in shambles, and what remains of humanity seems confined only in small enclaves with little or no contact with the rest of the world. In the 200-souls village where young Koli lives the few, highly prized items of technology still functioning are in the hands of the Ramparts, the de facto leaders of the community, whose power is passed on only to the members of the Vennastin family. Once Koli discovers that the ability to wield the old tech is not tied to the Vennastins alone, he’s exiled and left to fend for himself in a world that’s become dangerous in many ways, and only his encounter first with Ursala, a sort of traveling healer, and then Cup, the former member of a death cult, increases his chances of survival and leads him on a coming-of-age and discovery journey toward London, fabled place of tech and progress.

One of the surprises of this book was that the narrative viewpoint is split between Koli and Co. on one side, and his former home of Mythen Rood on the other, through the voice of Spinner, Koli’s old friend and one-time lover, as she chronicles the events following his exile: it’s an intriguing choice, when considering the first book’s single point of view, and also a clever one because it keeps the pace lively by alternating between the two story threads, while showing how Koli’s discoveries have ultimately opened the Pandora’s box of the Vennastins’ secret and hinting at great changes in Mythen Rood’s power balance. Spinner is revealed as a layered character: at first she seems only interested in attaching herself to the Vennastins for convenience, but then she surprises the readers - and herself - by acknowledging how those apparently selfish choices have changed her and the way she looks at the world and her role in it. In the course of the story Spinner undergoes great adjustments which parallel the unsettling transformations in her small community: Koli started to perceive the possibility of a different reality through his connection with the Dream Sleeve, the piece of tech he claimed for himself, and its A.I. Monono, while Spinner here becomes aware of the wider world through a series of events that force her to mature quickly and to understand how the limited vision imposed by village life could be ultimately precarious and deadly.

For their part, Koli, Ursala and Cup (and Monono, as well) have formed an uneasy relationship: the crusty healer does not trust Cup, whose former attachment to a murderous cult makes her understandably suspicious, nor does she trust Monono and the increased abilities gained after the A.I. downloaded additional software - Ursala’s repeated requests that Koli reset the Dream Sleeve to factory standards drive a wedge of uncertainty between them that mars their former teacher/student relationship. The dangers of the road, however, will change this balance and force the four of them to acknowledge the respective strengths, and to depend on each other for survival: the shift from grudging tolerance to playful banter and then to a sense of family is one of the most delightful surprises of the story, as are the growing friendship between Koli and Cup, the latter’s conflict with her sexuality and Ursala’s flourishing “maternal” attitude toward her charges.

Still, dangers indeed abound in the wider world: there are some sections where the small company has to fight for their lives, not just because of the natural perils of the world - like wildly mutated animals and trees - but also because of other humans who have not lost the old, ingrained penchant for dominance through aggression. There are also moments when the catastrophe that obliterated the old world manifests itself in dramatic evidence, as is the case with Koli’s first view of what remains of Birmingham: a huge field of bones that has him reacting in fear and dismay as he contemplates both the amount of people once inhabiting the land and the magnitude of the event that caused their demise, so that he feels overwhelmed by “more feeling than I could rightly manage all at once”.

If The Trials of Koli suffers a little (but only a little) from the dreaded middle book syndrome, particularly in the section devoted to the characters’ stay in the coastal village of Many Fishes, it also sets the stage for what promises to be a momentous conclusion, where hopefully many of the questions concerning the wider world and what really happened to it will be answered: the cliffhanger ending of Book 2 left me with a burning curiosity to see where the story is headed, and I’m comforted by the short interval between the first two volumes but still eager to see for myself where Koli’s journey will move next and how the developments in Mythen Rood will intersect with the main narrative. I’m certain that Book 3 will provide those answers with the intensity I’ve come to expect from this author.

This was great fun. Thank you NetGally and Orbit books for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a continuation of the wonderful story that started with the Book of Koli. You will want to start there as this is the middle of the story. The characters are very well drawn, and the post apocalyptic world is vividly realized with all sorts of dangers and opportunities for adventure. I was fully invested in the story and the lives of Koli, Cup, Spinner and others. There is not much NOT to like here. Highly recommended.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review:

The Trials of Koli lived up to it's predecessor, The Book of Koli. This was a great continuation of The Rampart Trilogy.

One of the biggest changes in this book compared to Book 1, is now you get Koli's point of view and Spinner's. The author kept you hanging after each perspective change, which will have you wanting to get back to that character.

Koli is continuing his search for the Signal with Ursala, Cup, and Monono. This adventure has a few obstacles that flowed naturally and didn't seem forced. There is a giant obstacle on there way to the signal, and this is where the novel ends. Leaving you wanting to know what is going to happen. It also makes you wonder as to the title of Book 3, The Fall of Koli.

Spinner on the other hand, gets herself weaved into lies back in Mythen Rood. There are many twist and turns back in Mythen Rood.

I can't wait for the conclusion, The Fall of Koli, so I can learn what happens with this Dystopian world. (5 stars)

I really enjoyed the world building and getting to know the character of Koli in book one and the 2nd in the trilogy was even better!!! There was great action and I couldn't put the story away until I finished. Can't wait for book 3!

The first book of the in the The Rampart Trilogy (The Trials of Koli) was awesome and I was looking forward to continuing the story. This second book in the trilogy did not disappoint; highly recommended to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or fantasy. I do not want to include any spoilers, but the way that this book ends makes me excited about the final volume in the series. I will certainly pre-order it as well as recommend that my library purchase it for students to read.


Thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing an early copy to review.

I tried getting into the first book of this series and the narration was tough to get through. Unless you like characters with a rough narration, then this book is not for you.

I didn't pay attention when requesting this ARC for The Trials of Koli, so I didn't realize it was the second book until I got approved, my error, but I digress. I ended up borrow and reading the first book, was none to pleased and didnt really want read the second but had to due to the fact that there was no other option.
So, just like with the first book in the trilogy, the second is equally difficult to read because of the slang and the uneducated speech.
Also, I really despised the character Spinner.

For these 2 reasons I didn't finish this book because I just didn't like it.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARCs of book 1 and 2 of the Rampart Trilogy. This is a review of both books together, and although book 2 was a bit of a slog for me, I will read book 3 when it comes out. Book 2 should not be read without book 1.

Right away I loved the future world in which our boy Koli lives. It's some number of generations ahead of us, and all sorts of things have gone wrong, most of which was the fault of us humans. We have a post global warming, where the weather is hot and the ocean has overtaken a great deal of what was once England. Our greatest enemies are now the trees, not because of evolution, but because humans genetically tinkered with them so much that the trees figured out feasting on us was the most nutritious way to go. The world population has dwindled because of wars, and because of... disease and pandemics. Which... was weird to read a book written before Covid having its characters quarantine, wear masks, and stay 6 feet apart. But now the birth rate is near zero and humans are dying out.

Due to the wars and all of the above, the knowledge of technology has been lost. There are only a few pieces of "tech" that have survived the wars, and no one knows how to use most of it because written language has also been lost (not to mention electricity). What is left of tech is hoarded, mostly used as weapons, and the how-to of use is closely guarded.

In one of the tiny villages is our boy Koli. He's a teenager in love and just trying to get through life. But along the way he makes a bad decision and is sent out from his village to survive among the trees.

He has a friend he meets up with and they travel through Great Britain to various old villages, some dead and some very much alive and very much dangerous. We meet crazy leaders, dangerous followers, and a lot of interesting tech. Book one is mostly about Koli and his life in the village of Mythen Rood. I really enjoyed reading about the new world and life in Mythen Rood.

Book two is about the journey and a quest, and I found it to be terribly monotonous. The one thing that saved it was that in the second book we also start hearing Spinner's story back in Mythen Rood after Koli was exiled. I think we are being set up for a great battle in Book 3, and the cliffhanger at the end of 2 has me impatiently waiting for the final book.

The characters are not just diverse in race, but there are also a couple trans characters. One is even a main character! These characters still have trouble with acceptance, however aside from some discussions where the topic would naturally come up, the characters are treated with respect and no better or worse than any other character, they are just human.

So I give 4 stars to Book One, because I loved learning about the world, I really like the main characters, and I wanted to know more about Koli. I give 3 stars to Book Two because journey stories can be boring but Spinner's adventures were interesting. All in all, I hope I get a copy of Book Three so I can find out what is at the top of that wall!!!

I will be coming back up this book at a later date— I’ve but off a little more reading than I can chew currently, but I will return to this with a proper review. Thank you so much for the early access!

M.R. Carey's books are strange and fascinating. Earlier I read and reviewed The Book of Koli and was eager for this second book in the Rampart trilogy. Read The Book of Koli first to get the background because this is one of those trilogies that requires an introduction to the post-apocalyptic world and the characters. It's worth it.

from description: "Koli never planned to set foot outside his small village. He knew that beyond its walls lay a fearsome landscape filled with choker trees, vicious beasts and Shunned men. But when he was exiled, he had no choice but to journey out into this strange world where every moment is a fight for survival.

And it’s not just Koli’s life that is threatened. Whole villages just like his are dying out.

But Koli heard a story, once. A story about lost London, and the mysterious tech of the Old Times that may still be there. If he can find it, there may still be a way for him to change his own fate – by saving the lives of those who are left."

The Trials of Koli takes Koli, Ursula, and Monono forward on their journey to London. They are joined by Cup, first as an unwilling prisoner, later as part of the group. The journey is dangerous and the threats from man and nature are plentiful, but working together the group weathers the hardships and the damages inflicted.

Interesting (and surprising to me) was the addition of a second voice. Spinner, Koli's friend in Mythen Rood who married a Rampart, begins a second narrative about what happened in Mythen Rood after Koli's exile. While her experiences are vastly different from those of the group headed toward London, they are just as fascinating and informative.

I've been a fan of M.R. Carey since The Girl with All the Gifts, and I've appreciated both books in this new trilogy. Now, a wait for the final book. I do hate waiting.

Read in May; blog review scheduled for Aug. 25.

NetGalley/Orbit Books
Post-Apocalyptic. Sept. 15, 2020. Print length: 480 pages.

That’s it! I am adopting Koli! I’m also adopting a few new terms: pizzle (penis), quarant time (quarantine), Febry (February), and tumbling (sex/quickie?).

Koli is so real and warm to me, I want to wrap him in bubble wrap to keep him safe. Same goes for Monono, in spite of her virtual-ness, or as Ursala likes calls her: “dead girl”.

I am normally jarred by the sudden addition of a character POV, when we’re already headlong into a series. It feels ominous to me, but for some reason this gives me hope for a positive outcome. With Spinner’s perspective, it’s nice to see what’s going on at Mythen Rood. I’m a little creeped out that some of the hoopla is reflective of what’s happening in our reality, but it’s nice to check in on these people.

I’m a little bummed that we’re stuck with another cliffhanger, but I am pumped for the conclusion! I just hope I can survive this extra long choker season, until I can get my hands on book 3. I love seeing this world expand and become trippier than book 1. I still want to know more about the Unfinished War, and if the Sword of Albion has anything to do with the book series.

Thank you Orbit for granting me early access to pre-read this book. This series is building a comfortable spot in my heart.

I'm always pleased to see a new Thomas Perry book, and this was no exception. This is Perry's fourth visit to the setting of his first book, the Butcher's Boy and yet Perry still shed more light on the nameless main character and how his life developed. It also led me to go back and read the first three books in this particular series. Perry makes the hitman who is the main character a fascinating read, in spite of the character's sociopathy. One insight I got from going back to the first book was the introduction, which identified one of this writer's strengths. Every character comes alive in just a few words, even the ones who will shortly be dead. The aging of the characters is also well done. Not ignored, but not debilitating. I think this could easily be read on it's own, but having read the other books provides a richer experience, not a repetitive one.


#EddiesBoy #NetGalley