The Library at Mount Char

by Scott Hawkins

Hardcover, 390 pages

English language

Published April 4, 2015 by Crown.

ISBN:: 978-0-553-41860-6
OCLC Number:: 898029292

(8 reviews)

Carolyn's not so different from the other human beings around her. She's sure of it. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. She even remembers what clothes are for.

After all, she was a normal American herself, once.

That was a long time ago, of course—before the time she calls “adoption day,” when she and a dozen other children found themselves being raised by a man they learned to call Father.

Father could do strange things. He could call light from darkness. Sometimes he raised the dead. And when he was disobeyed, the consequences were terrible.

In the years since Father took her in, Carolyn hasn't gotten out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient Pelapi customs. They've studied the books in his library and learned some of the secrets behind his equally ancient power.

Sometimes, …

After all, she was a normal American herself, once.

That was a long time ago, of course—before the time she calls “adoption day,” when she and a dozen other children found themselves being raised by a man they learned to call Father.

Father could do strange things. He could call light from darkness. Sometimes he raised the dead. And when he was disobeyed, the consequences were terrible.

Sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God.

Now, Father is missing. And if God truly is dead, the only thing that matters is who will inherit his library—and with it, power over all of creation.

As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her.

But Carolyn can win. She's sure of it. What she doesn't realize is that her victory may come at an unacceptable price—because in becoming a God, she's forgotten a great deal about being human.

7 editions

P. E. T. Conroy reviewed The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Let down by weak writing

3 stars

The writing isn't it's strongest part. The story is strong, the characters quirky, but the ending is weak if mostly satisfying. Resurrection seems to be the main fantastical tool used with few archaic Arabic sounding words that just feel thrown in. The size of the library becomes a little too Warehouse 13 or those TV movies and series 'The Librarian' or 'The Librarians' - where this story diverges is not in missing artifacts or books, but rather in the focus on 'The Librarians' being criminally insane and it's an adopted-family feud. I did enjoy this book, but it lacked something in the story, the writing was the weakest part, dialogue was fine, but the actual writing was the weakest part.

nemo reviewed The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Review of 'The Library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Just picked it up on a whim after seeing it mentioned on an article on weird fiction somewhere. This is possibly one of the best examples of "weird" or "other-wordly" fiction. I've read it tagged as "urban horror" in a few places, although I'm not very sure of that label (I don't read much horror).

This book in particular takes you through a lot of weird places and scenarios, all the while continuing to move along in the plot. It does not sacrifice its plot or its characters for the "fantastic" elements in any manner, and that is what makes it a great book.

If you liked [b:American Gods|30165203|American Gods|Neil Gaiman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1462924585s/30165203.jpg|1970226], this might be worth a read.

Leaf 🍂

rated it

Feb. 1, 2016

Excerptible

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Jan. 19, 2016

Phil Sorrell

rated it

April 4, 2023

nemo

rated it

May 27, 2016

AdamMoe2023

rated it

Dec 13

Paul

rated it

May 23, 2022

Subjects

Libraries
Gods
Fiction