A post-apocalyptic world where trees have come to life and eat people. Something like a mix of The Mist, The Day of the Triffids, and the story of The Finisher Vega Jane. Koli is a kid forced by circumstances and ambition to take the path through the man-eating forests.
In King’s The Mist, the story ends before it even begins. In The Day of the Triffids, the triffids are completely harmless and only dangerous because all the people are blind. The Finisher is boring and lacks any intrigue. Koli is not boring, the story doesn’t end prematurely, and the trees are organized and man-eating, while the problems, in general, are unsolvable.
Of course, just like in The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey, none of the details in this story make any sense. If you want an apocalypse that is logical—this one isn’t. If you’re looking for a happy ending—that’s not possible. Everything ended a long time ago, and all the action is just ripples in a sandy desert where nothing living remains.
Despite that, The Book of Koli is at least a full star ahead of The Day of the Triffids and The Finisher, and that’s no small accomplishment. Koli has character and will probably make it at least 200 miles from the starting point, leaving behind a trail of blood and horror.
5*/5 – it’s only the second 5* book I read this month out of seven.
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