Koli is like any other kid in the village of Mythen Rood - trying to find his place in a harsh world where the trees themselves will attack you. He is the son of a woodsmith, so dealing with the dangerous trees and the wood they provide is something he is familiar with, but that life is not what he dreams of. The onliest thing Koli wants is to become a Rampart. The village is run by the Ramparts, those capable of wielding the old tech, and Koli is fascinated by their abilities. Of course, when he comes of age he will be tested to see if he is able to wake the old tech, and if he does, he will be named Koli Rampart. Each Rampart wields a specific piece of technology that keeps the village safe from the dangerous world outside, and Koli dreams of joining them one day. Little does he know that the system of becoming a Rampart is not what it appears to be, and learning the truth of it will change his life forever.

The story starts as a coming of age story set in a post apocalyptic Britain, where the setting quickly draws you in with the charming way that English is spoken in this future. (The onliest above is not a typo, and it's just one of the many words that have experienced linguistic decay in this world.) Koli has his mandatory YA crush, Spinner, yet this book delivers a much more authentic story than most YA books. You get a decent feel for the trajectory of Koli's life, and that of his village, before Koli's choices cause it all to spiral off into the unknown. This book certainly grabbed me early and it left me eager to move forward with the series. Written by M. R. Carey, the author of The Girl With All the Gifts, this is a unique post apocalyptic tale in a genre where uniqueness is difficult to come by.

Theo Solomon does a great job narrating the audiobook version of this one, and he really nails the voice of Koli, which makes listening a great option.