The Library at Mount Char

Good first novel. Feels to me like a mix between Lexicon and A Thousand Kingdoms. I'm not sure if it has earned a spot on my bookshelf but I enjoyed reading it - a fast paced book with twists and turns but only so so character development and no characters that you would want to hang out with.

I started reading this book by chance. I did not know the author but the reviews were good and I decided to take a chance. I really enjoyed it. A crazy story, even by fantasy standards, very well written. Really enjoyed reading it. Highly recommend.

I knew this book would be weird, that's what got me interested. The story is complex and you finally have the best view through Hawkins world at the end of the book. It is a steady fountain of awe. It is dark and funny. I really enjoyed it!

I read the blurb and reviews of tis book carefully before buying it. Sadly I was mistaken in my understanding of the book itself.
I usually give a book 50 pages to get amd hold my attention, tis one I gave more and am sorry for it.
Simply put I have read books on quantum mechanics which were less confusing.
The author jumps around so much it's impossible to tell what is going on. that the characters seem to live in an alternate or extended timeline doesn't help and the author doesn't really give explanations. At least none in the time I gave him.
An interesting premise and concept, just utterly ruined by poor writing and lack of editorial guidance.

This book is so bad that I could not finish reading it, which is rare for me. The story is exceeding dark and the violence is over the top and pointless. After reading 100 pages I have no idea what the premise of the story is, or where the story line is going. The personalities of the characters are poorly developed other than their extraordinary cruelty (at least through 100 pages). As a result I don't like a single character in the book and I am not at all invested in what happens to any of them.

Not my taste in books. The author deserves points for originality of both characters and story. My caveat is that, in common with a lot of fantasy novels, the reader is plopped into a different world without any frame of reference or sense of what's going on. It's great to present readers with a sense of mystery and anticipation, but doesn't work well when the characters and setting haven't yet jelled enough to make the reader care. I found myself just irritated by them and confused about their location at times. I also found the physical violence and bullying among the characters to be off-putting. I didn't read enough of the story to see if there was a reason for one character to use another as a punching bag. Maybe it was a commentary on the bullying problem in schools?

I enjoy YA books of all sorts a lot (they're better written than most bestsellers aimed at the adult market :P) but The Library at Mount Char missed the mark for me. YMMV.

Read this book. Great characters and never boring. Recommended for anyone searching for a different and exciting book. After a while, a lot of books seem to have same plot,same characters but different names and places, that's why I chose this book and it blew all of my expectations away. Exciting, dark, and mind blowing.

In this story anything is possible with enough knowledge and will power. Death, physics, time, and space are lesser obstacles compared to traumatic childhood experiences that form your character. It's a modern day fantasy / Horror with no Phuks given for what might offend the reader.

The premise is fascinating. The characters' mannerisms and dialogue are understandably twisted and bizarre. Unfortunately, the author focused on shock value and neglected to tell a story. Would not recommend.

There's always a balance between reading enough reviews to have a good sense that I'll like a book, or jumping in because the premise alone sounds intriguing and I'd like to be surprised. I took the latter route on this tale, and regretted it. I found the concept of a missing god, a library of ancient lore, and an underworld of truly varied mystical entities pretty engaging. I like wildly creative stories, but the world and the entities in it felt so random to me as to be lacking in an overall coherence. That's not a big gripe, though. My problem was that I found the writing ugly and stylistically uninspired, the characters dull, and the violence sadistic. I suppose I simply don't like my stories to be this unpleasant and grimy.

It does seem plenty of people enjoyed this story, so if you've got a strong stomach for brutality and some creative torture, you've overcome the barrier that prevented me from enjoying this book and are on your way to an interesting read.

This book was so confusing and needlessly violent. It was a little like reading a story written by someone who was stoned out of his head. It was like, "Bro, what if you could like, kill the sun, like it was a person, bro... and like, there was a lion that you could talk to...And like a really old dude that was like God, but not really...It's not magic, though, bro, really, it's science. And everything ties together, bro. Like. Really." And the thing is, it does tie together after rambling and bleeding its way through the whole book and there isn't enough hints to keep you interested enough to care how it ties together. It seemed like the author didn't know enough about the concepts and mythologies that he was trying to portray to fully explain it, so he had the characters not know how to describe it so that he could get away with it. I wish I hadn't wasted money on it.

The book is about students of magic (even though in the final part the main character insists that "it's not magic"), but that's where the parallel with Harry Potter ends. The main attention-getting device, besides the magic, is extreme violence, including necrophilia (or something very similar, for lack of a better term), a large variety of dismemberments, gross neglect of bodily hygiene, cigarette smoking, and cruelty to animals. If you think this might bother you, the book is not for you (and if you start the book, you'll find this out pretty quickly).

Also, unlike Harry Potter, in which the magic is carefully isolated from the muggles (at least in the first few books---I didn't read the whole series), the magic here ends up having rather severe consequences for the rest of the world. This, in my opinion, is much less classy.

Of course, as with any book containing magic, you might wonder why certain magic is possible and other magic is not; or you can embrace suspension of disbelief and just assume that things just work that way for a good albeit unknown reason. Thankfully the plot does NOT contain time travel, at least not directly, although it is used in the final explanations, but in a manner that is only mildly offensive to our notion of causality (you can probably tell I am not particularly fond of time travel). Resurrection is also a worrisome concept, as it greatly reduces the finality of a fight to the death, since killing an opponent is not as meaningful when you know that he or she can always be brought back to life. (The book does not mention any "permanent death" mechanism,)

With these caveats, the book managed to keep my attention til the end, when a modicum of redemption happens, probably not enough. It has some good ideas, and the writing flows well.

“Carolyn, blood-drenched and barefoot, walked alone down the two-lane stretch of blacktop that the Americans called Highway 78.” That’s the first sentence in this hell-for-leather fantasy novel, and it doesn’t let up ever.

There are twelve children in this very odd family. David kills people –well, not just people, anything living will do—he has become “the slave of murder.” Margaret dies –deliberately kills herself-- and then after she’s decayed for a while, they bring her back from death. This strange life doesn’t bother her as much as it used to: she no longer screams herself awake at night but she’s developed this irritating giggle. Michael has immersed himself so in the ways of animals that he can barely speak a human tongue any more. And what of Carolyn, the protagonist of this story? Carolyn’s a Librarian, the most bookish of them all. What she does is learn languages. The last time she counted, she knew fifty, but that was long ago. Some are live, some dead, some are human tongues and some are not. She knows, for example, the language of storms. And then there’s Father. He isn’t really their father but he’s the one who, long ago, adopted these twelve children and he’s the one who’s trained them to be the strange powerful creatures they now are. He’s not a kind loving father, oh no, not at all! When any of his ‘children’ disobey, or even when they disappoint, he punishes them. His favorite punishment is a giant barbecue shaped like a bronze bull: he pops them inside and cooks them until all that’s left is charred bones. And then he resurrects them. If they don’t get the lesson, he does it over and over until they’re, as a management trainee might say, sufficiently ‘incentivized.’ They all live together on “Mount Char.” Don’t you see? “Char”! Isn’t that funny?

Father’s missing now and the children want to find him. Not because they miss him but because he is powerful –power-filled—without him around, the world is even more dangerous than it was with him in it. Especially because of the Library. That’s where Father has recorded all the secrets he’s discovered in his eons’ long life. If they don’t find Father, or find a way to take over the Library on their own, even scarier creatures may take over and make them suffer.

This weird, utterly original masterpiece reminds me a bit of the free-wheeling works of Neil Gaiman –the crumbling of our assumptions about how things work in the ordinary world, the feeling that utterly creepy people may still make sense somehow, a peek into a universe tangential to our own and utterly its own self’s, and not ours. This is a very good book, not just as a debut novel, but as a novel, period.

Badly constructed plot with episodes occurring in a way that didn't make any sense. Book's end was unsatisfying. You end up not liking the heroine of the book, who turns out to be as ruthless and amoral as all the bad guys.

First off, I only made it a third of the way through the book. Short impression with that in mind. This is like one of those violent anime shows trying to do an English County House Murder using primarily the cast from Lord of the Flies.
Trigger Warning: There are all sorts of trigger warnings with this item, the biggest of these is likely to be physical and emotional abuse of children. Graphic violence and some video game death type scenes. Also, there is at least one rape foreshadowed, but not described in the first third.
The broad strokes of the basic idea behind this world, as best I can grasp in the portion I read is fairly interesting. Some extremely powerful authority type figure exists and is in control of a library that contains all of the secrets of creation divided up into neat little categories. The power figure acquires some dozen kids and has them learn one category of the library. The approach the author takes does not work for me. The author has at least three different time/space focuses that he is working in and has a tendency to bounce back and forth between them. He starts in the middle of things with little explanation and very little back-filling to bring the reader up to speed. He also tends to play with the timelines a bit in each of the three settings to further cause confusion, for little or no reason as far as I can tell. He keeps you so far in the dark about the world and various motivations that no dramatic tension is gained by these manipulations. A third of the way in and he is still introducing chapters that start in the middle of nowhere and don't tie into the greater narrative until the end of the chapter, if at all.
Ultimately, the abuse, violence and dark themes turned me completely off, as these are not the sorts of things I read fantasy novels for.

Rarely do I discard a book 15 to 29 pages in, but this was an exception. I bought this book as I was pulled in by the glowing reviews and these are the times wh n I truly miss buying books from physical bookstores where you could read some of what you were thinking of purchasing. This book was dull and plodding and the author should discontinue writing female characters or any characters as they were all one dimensional. If you are looking for good fantasy read 'Good Omens' not this.

This book does almost everything flawlessly. It is a portrait of extremely broken people, as being raised by the Old Testament God Himself is not conducive to good mental health. It is a portrayal of absolute power and absolute unaccountability. It is a study of acceptance of horrors, and forgiveness in the face of the unspeakable. And it will make you wonder if there are Ends so important that even you, yes you, would accept any Means necessary to achieve them. Seriously, this book is good. It’s especially meaningful for anyone raised in a fundamentalist religion, and who has since escaped from it but still has a lot of baggage from that past.

Scott Hawkins writes very well. His set pieces are gorgeous, and you’ll remember them for a long time. He has the best/most horrifying zombies I’ve ever seen in fiction, you’ll forever see all other zombies in fiction as pale reflections of what Hawkins accomplished. He absolutely masters dark humor, there are a number of laugh-out loud moments, which is vital for this book, because it is dark. In between the atrocities and gloom it’s good to have that gallows humor pull to you through in a “you have to laugh so you don’t cry” sort of way.

It’s hard to say very much in a review without spoiling this book, because a lot of the story is given to you piecemeal, through twists and reveals. And I really don’t want to spoil those reveals. For the first third or so there’s all sorts of disjointed stuff in the air, and as the novel progresses everything is slowly tied together and brought to beautiful fruition. So I won’t be able to say much more, except if you like Dark, Existentialist, Religious-Flavored, Psychological Horror, with a great touch of humor, this book is absolutely for you.

One caveat - the book has a climax about 2/3rds of the way through. Everything is wrapped up, and there's still 100 pages to go, and I thought “What the heck? Why are there still 100 pages? What could possibly be left to say?” It turns out – A LOT. Like, the main “redemptive” thrust of the novel! BUT, because most of the loose ends were wrapped up in a huge climactic scene (and following denouement), Hawkins has to spend a fair bit of time building up tension again, reintroducing conflict and stakes, etc. So the 20 pages following the conflict are a bit of a drag. Keep reading. The novel had done everything so well so far that it deserves some slack. It pays off massively, and it’s a small price to pay for a fantastic trip.

When I ordered this book, I thought it would be full of magical stuff like the Harry Potter series (suitable for PG13). After reading about 1/4 of the book, I'm not sure that I want to finish reading it. There is some profanity in it but that's not the main problem. The "bad" stuff is the many descriptions of murder and torture. I was not looking to read about different ways to kill or torture someone. I wanted magical fantasy reading. So I would certainly not recommend anyone under the age of 16 to read this book. I think the author has some debatable mental qualities if he can think up some of these descriptions. I am very disappointed personally in this book.

I like Neil Gaiman, but his "American Gods" was vastly disappointing to me. Intriguing premise, good writing, dark tone --- but very erratic, devolving into travelogue, nostalgia, low comedy -- the concept of earth bound gods warring and interacting with each other and the world of mortals was poorly developed and not fully utilized, and the small intimate tone and slow turgid pace convinced me that American Gods could and should have been better.

Well "Library at Mount Char" (hereafter "LAMC") is what American Gods should have been, Equally intriguing, lots of twists and turns in the plot, consistent tone, and a roller coaster of a plot with tons of action and a vast scope. You will not be bored reading this, and you will feel that the premise was so good and execution so well done that a extra couple of hundred pages in the volume would have been welcome. (Imagine that! A fantasy novel that is too short.. a rare thing!)

The idea of scholar apprentices of a dark arbitrary god figure is a pretty neat one. The mystery at the core of the plot is a good one, and the characters are mostly well done. We don't get to know or care about all of the apprentices, but the ones central to the plot are well portrayed and we care about / hate them as intended. The humans we meet are also well done, and the interactions between "gods" and men are logically done and unpredictable.

There are also plot points that are thoroughly unpredictable and yet also stunningly well done set pieces. Unlike "American Gods", where the comings and goings of the immortals are barely witnessed by humans, the mortal world is intimately and viscerally connected with the doings of the inhabitants of Mount Char, and the cataclysmic events inherent in a war / death of the gods scenario are not avoided in the intricate plot. If you like broad scopes and lots of stuff getting messed up in your fantasy, this one will serve the bill. It makes the average Godzilla movie seem like random street crime in comparison!

More importantly, this book, unlike all too many modern fantasy novels, is self contained and is not merely volume one of an infinite series of 1,000 page tomes. (Martin and Jordan, I'm looking at y'all...). The plot fits in one volume, though as stated, it could have nee twice as long and still would not seem stale, and yet the world created and plot revealed are so interesting that further volumes would not be overly derivative and would be most welcome to me, another rare thing in modern fantasy, where the snail's pace and hordes of picayune details make wading through each new dootstop as much a chore as a pleasure even to fans.

Best of all (SPOILER AHEAD!!!!) I like how the love story of Carolyn and Steve does not end happily. Hawkins must have been quite tempted to pave the road to happiness for our star crossed (literally, heh!) lovers, but admirably, he realizes that sub-plot would not work and so he doesn't force it to. This alone shows more maturity and skill than most new writers, genre or otherwise! What does happen instead to Steve and Carolyn in their different quests and arcs is ever more interesting and satisfying than the usual "amor vincit omnia" efforts that most fantasy writers succumb to.

Hawkins has talent to burn, and does not make a single misstep here. What deficiencies that exist are almost certainly the result of limits set by the publisher / editor. There are too many apprentices floating around, few of whom matter, The abilities of the apprentices could have used more development and logical explanation, as sometimes the powers we see are kind of deus ex machina plot devices, but considering the subject matter, this is not inappropriate! Still, it seems as if there are too many "godlings" wandering about and the "rules" that they operate under are a bit sketchy.

Also, the scope of events portrayed does exceed the stage a bit. (The "Henry V Syndrome" as noted by Shakespeare...) Hawkins does have a pretty capable muse of fire, but still multiple nuclear strikes, reality plagues, rising eldritch forces, solar eclipses... all seem a bit too crammed in less than 400 pages when GRR Martin can take 50 pages to tell you what Tyrion had to eat at the feast... I presume the page limit was set by the publisher, as new authors rarely get 750 page allowances for stand alones. If your bloated 750 pager is volume one of a trilogy, hey that's (usually) ok, new guiy, but a standalone first time novel would not he allocated such a high page count.

If anything, it's amazing that LAMC works as well as it does considering its page count, and again, I commend Hawkins for not taking the Lazy Fantasy Author approach and say "well, I'll wrap things up in the next two volumes. Or maybe three volumes. Or maybe 7 volumes. Or maybe...":

Anyway, 5 stars easily. If you are sensitive to violence or abuse of various types in books or if you like your fantasy gentle and light, stay away, and if you want a completely logical fantasy world, you may also have complaints, but all other fantasy fans will enjoy this, especially those who wished "American Gods" had a bit more of a superhero movie feel to it!

The Library at Mount Char was not what I expected at all. I'm not sure if that's because the synopsis was misleading, or because I feel like this book belongs more in the Horror genre than Fantasy. Either way, it's less about the Library than it is about the main character's quest for revenge.

Putting aside my disappointment at not reading a true Fantasy book, Scott Hawkins gets bonus points for grabbing my attention with the very first sentence, and keeping it up to the point where Erwin enters the story. The author lost all of those bonus points with Erwin, who's character is completely unbelievable and who's actions are mostly implausible. Why? Erwin is supposed to be a Vietnam veteran who retired as a Sergeant Major. If you've ever served in the Army, you'll quickly figure out that the author either didn't do enough research or he exaggerated the already tall tales he heard from a soldier. The only reason I'm willing to forgive Erwin's existence is that the story itself is beyond the point of "out there". Think of the most bizarre story that Stephen King ever came up with, and you're close to where The Library at Mount Char is on the scale of outlandishness. Somehow, it works.

With the exception of the parts involving Erwin, my desire to continue reading this book never wavered. I'm glad I forced my way through those parts because The Library at Mount Char is a solid three-star read. I enjoyed it most of the time, and I'm likely to read the author's future books. While Scott Hawkins is no Stephen King, I can safely recommend this book to fans of the King of Horror.

2-1/2 stars

What the heck did I just read? What was the point? It has no moral, no apparent lesson, no basis in reality. It somehow includes a couple likeable characters while, at the same time, placing them into the most far-fetched, incomprehensible story arc I’ve ever read. Well, that’s not quite true. Just recently, I read The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (?) which was another mind-boggling novel. But, The Library at Mount Char was more character-based (at least, the situations were character-based) and was set in a current America (instead of some unknown future world) so it was a bit more relatable. And yet, it was completely bizarre. Nothing seemed believable. Nothing made me feel invested in the characters or settings or storyline. It was all just a giant mind-blow as if the author wrote down his drug-induced, nonsensical dreams. And yet, there were a few moments that were really fun to read about, especially all scenes involving lions.

Overall, I did not like it. I prefer novels that tell a definite story or have a purpose--to excite, warn, guide, illustrate, enlighten, sadden, improve, or provoke, for example. This novel just is. It serves no purpose that I can determine other than to mystify. I think he was trying to provide a fantastical explanation for things which humans ascribe to God. But, I wasn’t buying it. It was just crazytown.

I just read a few reviews by people who loved this book because I want to understand why it is highly rated. Several of the reviews started the same way mine did—variations of “What did I just read?” But, where they think this author is a fantasy genius, I am not an appreciator of the level of craziness. Several mentioned that they had no idea what was going on at the beginning. I don’t remember thinking that so much but, then again, I had just recently read The Fifth Season which seems much more incomprehensible to me. So, I guess it’s all a matter of experiences too. I agree that the author is extremely creative. But, I guess I’m only a fan of certain types of fantasy. I’m not a fan of this or The Fifth Season or even Patrick Rothfuss—all very highly rated by fantasy fans. So, perhaps I’m more of “fantasy light” fan? Who knows? This novel is definitely unique. But it didn’t do it for me. I'd only give it two stars but I'll add another half for the humor in the novel, which was appreciated. And, I'll round up for the store.

[this review was originally posted on goodreads on 1/8/17] this book was just on a completely different level like it's hard for me to even gather my thoughts enough to try to do a proper review. but let me just say, you are either going to love this or you are going to HATE it. because for about 70% of the book you have literally no idea what is going on and the weird stuff just keeps piling up ...then it KEEPS piling up, but also you are finally able to start piecing the plot together so it doesn't seem quite so overwhelming anymore.

i would try to explain the plot but 1. it's kind of hard without spoiling everything and 2. it's the kind of thing that is going to sound like ridiculous overkill but somehow it all just WORKS when it's laid out the way it is. and carolyn is just such a well-written character. like seriously kudos to the author for writing such a layered and relatable female character, because that usually doesn't happen when you are reading books by men.

i'm not sure if i'm 100% on board with the ending, but it's kind of one of those things where everything is built up so much and then you're sitting there like 'but how do you really END this?'. it was kind of the way i felt about good omens and american gods - they didn't have bad endings necessarily and they are two of my favorite books - but once you put things in motion on such a large scale it's just like where do you go from there.

anyway, definitely give this book a chance, it does NOT go the way you are expecting it to and it's well worth the read. it sounds weird but it reminds me of the lucifer graphic novel [another ones of my all-time favorites] on several levels so i would recommend it to fans of that.

I'm going to be in the minority with this review. This book seems to have caused a big splash, and everyone hails it as a fantastic new fantasy and something revolutionary and wonderful. And I must admit that its concept (and the fact that several prominent authors, including David Wong of "John Dies At the End," highly recommended it) hooked me. A library of fantastic power? A power struggle left behind when a godlike being vanishes and his apprentices fight to fill the void? Great concepts. Sadly, this book felt largely like it exists purely to establish said concepts, and doesn't develop them or its central characters further. It feels like an exercise in worldbuilding that was meant to establish the ground rules of a series, while putting plot and character development largely by the wayside.

Carolyn has lived in the Library for as long as she can remember -- she has vague memories of a life among normal people, but her studies of language in Father's Library have dominated her life since she was a child. And she's not alone -- Father, a powerful and seemingly omnipotent being who may or may not be a physical god, keeps several students on hand to study the various catalogs of the library, arts ranging from murder to healing to animals to mathematics to the future. But when Father goes missing, his students set out to find out what happened to him... and in the meantime compete to see who will take his place. Carolyn is considered one of the weakest of Father's students, but she has her own plans and machinations to win her place as master of the Library and conquer those who conspire against her. But in the fight for godhood, will Carolyn end up sacrificing the last of her humanity?

"The Library at Mount Char" is Scott Hawkins' first novel, and as a first novel it's very promising -- he establishes a great writing style and proves himself imaginative and capable of weaving fantastic yet believable worlds. His character-development skills are somewhat uneven -- some characters, particularly the ordinary people swept up in Carolyn's quest, are fully realized and fleshed out, while both Carolyn and her fellow students feel more like story props than actual characters. Still, the writing style and technique are both good, and promise great things from Hawkins in the future.

The story itself has potential, and establishes the Library and the forces competing to conquer both it and the universe as a unique world of their own. Great care is taken to construct this world... I only wish that in the process a compelling story had been created to match it. As it is, the entire book feels like setup for a longer series, and left me going "wait, that's it?" at the end. Also, many important revelations are left for the last fifty pages or so of the book, revelations that radically alter things that happened much earlier in the book and seem thrown in to add some last-minute sympathy for various characters. I wish these had been included earlier in the book -- as it is, they feel like "too little, too late."

Also, this book is DARK fantasy, nearly pitch-black at points. Don't expect "Harry Potter" here -- Hawkins is not afraid to throw in plenty of death and gore, destruction, strong language, child abuse, torture, and even rape, and gives us some utter monsters of characters. Elements such as death and gore and sexual violence CAN work in a story, including fantasy, if they're handled well, but there were times in this book that these elements felt added purely for shock value. It doesn't help that Hawkins makes two characters in particular -- Father and one of his students -- responsible for much of the gore and abuse and assault, then tries to make these characters sympathetic toward the very end of the book. Sorry, but after a character crosses certain lines, no amount of scrambling by the author to go "but look, they're actually decent!" will convince me to like them.

Scott Hawkins' work has potential, and "The Library at Mount Char" gives us some compelling concepts for a new dark-fantasy world. But that's largely what it feels like -- a concept, without much in the way of story or characters to drive it further. I do wish Hawkins the best of luck with future works, however, and should he choose to give us a sequel to this book, I hope he'll pay a bit more attention to plot and character from this point forward.

The general state I was in as I read this book: agog and spilling coffee, tea, and all sorts of bedside beverages all over myself from moments of surprise, shock, and exhilaration. Author Scott Hawkins has pretty much gone to town with The Library at Mount Char. (You know how in writing class they give you “What if…” prompts and tell you to be imaginative? Or how you might keep a dream journal that contains the craziest story ideas and premises but is never actually supposed to see the light of day? Well, this book…) It’s soundly a genre book (and as a lover of blowing up genre conventions, I don’t mean that disparagingly…) but also one of those slippery, wily books that just won’t sit still and be told to adhere to genre. In any case, I would hate to be the bookseller trying to shelve this in the store. Is it horror, fantasy, slipstream, satire, paranormal, thriller? Who knows! It’s all those and more. In that respect, the complete flouting of conventions seems almost pomo, in fact, but unlike so many pomo books that take themselves too seriously out there, this is actually quite accessible. I truly relished it … like a slice of stolen cake.

The backcover blurb praised it as a love child between Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill—and it’s somewhat accurate. The book is also extremely violent in parts (there is a scene with a bull-shaped oven/roaster that will leave you queasy afterwards *shudder*), so readers who get easily upset should be very, very wary. Trigger warnings for this need their own trigger warnings. I was so in the mood for something dark but not cynical; off-kilter and Chululuthian-lite. So I ate this up like a cannibal with a beating heart on my plate.

Hawkins frames the story with a tantalizing premise. A group of twelve orphaned children have been taken in by a mysterious figure whom they simply call Father. Father is many things and is almost all-powerful enough to be a god. He oversees the Library, his life work—pretty much a documentation silo of the entire universe. Father takes on these human children and assigns them a specific catalog or specialization. Isolated under the tutelage of Father, they become Pelapi. Studying outside your assigned catalog or teaching someone something from your own catalog is expressly forbidden, presumably to avoid a situation where one individual gets too powerful. The penalties for disobedience are severe. (Believe me when I say that’s an understatement.)

At the beginning, we meet these twelve chosen orphans as adults in their thirties. Carolyn, our lead, has mastered languages—and not just human languages, but deer, low dragon, and so much more. Her ‘brothers and sisters’ have their own areas, often seemingly much more glamorous and advantageous than Carolyn’s. There’s Michael, the walks and talks among the animals; Jennifer who is a pothead and a master apothecary and healer—she resurrects the dead; David, the most violent of the bunch who specializes in the martial arts, violence, and murder; Margaret, the addled expert on the underworld or ‘forgotten lands’; Peter who deals in mathematics; Lisa, mind control; Rachel and Alicia who see the future and possible futures and their variants (never could quite distinguish the two); and Emily who deals in dreams.

We learn early on that Carolyn has developed a burning hatred of Father and her fellow Pelapi (save for Michael for whom she harbors a soft spot and emotional connection). In addition to people, there are also non-human characters like Dresden and Naga, the lions; and father’s enemies: Barry O'Shea (a tentacled creature-monster of sorts) and Q-33 North (like a ice mountain/glacier with legs).

When Father goes missing, the librarians discover that the Library has been fortified with some kind of perimeter defense mechanism and they are effectively kicked out. They soon band together despite their various personal differences to work out what has happened. Mousy, introspective Carolyn dutifully plays her part as team player, but there is much more at work and at much more at stake. Watch out; silent water runs deep and all that.

The only downside I found was that the central conflict felt like it peaked too early. Carolyn gets her way, and then we’re treated to a long denouement that plays out mostly through conversations. It felt too forced and amateurish for those particular sections; as if Hawkins were trying to squeeze in a lot of backstory and reveal a central mystery by putting the explanations into characters mouths.

Still, there is so much to recommend about this book. I could go on but it would be impractical; I would make no sense. From the first chapter onward, the narrative machinations expand and contract, stretch and twist in such delightfully fantastical ways.

P.S. I will remember you, Dresden! (I couldn’t help but think of Cecil the Lion…)

[Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest and candid review. This review was originally written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.]

I don't know what attracted me to this book in the first place (possibly the "library" setting), but it was not what I expected in a good way. I highly recommend it.
Most fantasy or literary fantasy novels seem boring, overly familiar, trite. I couldn't see where this one was going, and I loved that. It was wonderfully (and sometimes horribly) unpredictable. Dead characters sometimes return to life. Others die and never come back when a lazier writer could have miraculously spared them.
Some reviewers have compared to Neil Gaiman, but I found it more reminiscent of Grant Morrison, particularly his "Doom Patrol" stories, or maybe Matt Ruff's "Fool on the Hill" or the recent film "mother!" Esoteric information is introduced, character motivations aren't crystal clearer over explained, and the plot is mostly unpredictable.
There's enough plot for a trilogy, but I'm glad Hawkins stuffed it all into one volume. The ending sort of leaves things open for a sequel, but I doubt we'll see one.

What is more satisfying than a difficult to categorize fantasy novel that blurs the lines of genre while also being incredibly well-written character-driven library porn? This book was an entertaining and well-executed piece where librarians are keepers of the books of eternal regeneration, and a war rages around them as the new government tries to take down the Father, a mysterious figure whose grand design keeps the underground running. We follow Steve and Carolyn on their journey of self-discovery and survival, navigating their own existential confusion and relationship with one another. All this while bombs fall and pet lions and tigers roam the suburban streets in need of suppositories to save their lives.

I certainly can not do this book any justice of making any sense of it in a short review. It reads like a dream, one of those dreams where your friend is actually a house on fire and you wake up laughing. When you recount it, you tell your friend "you were you, but you were actually a house and it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, but it was also sad because I knew the bananas were going to go bad and we were hungry." Of course, they look at you strangely, and you're frustrated that you can't communicate this great dream. It is simply a book you need to experience. Hawkins' book is a beautifully penned lesson in gorgeous and effective worldbuilding because of its sheer scale and utter weirdness. But it is a beautiful book all the same, and like any good surreal piece, I will likely reread it for its weirdness and to build more of an understanding of the piece with a bit more perspective. It was a great book, as emotionally gripping as it was awe-inspiring, striking, and well-written. A great modern fantasy with libraries and librarians at its core – something I truly appreciate.

Only the second "1-rated = warning" book review I've made (the other was The Girl in the Road), since the current 90% 5/4 rating defies logic relative to what I would expect from a general pumped-but-unsuspecting readership. Not really a spoiler since this comes up early, else stop here: To teach them discipline, graphically roasting children alive, stabbing them in the eyes, killing them by various other means and resurrecting them to do it again? Sibling rape. Various wanton beheadings and disembowlings of innocents. And perhaps more revealing in its psychopathology than the above, simple phrases like "... shat on an old lady's bed and then wiped his a__ with her aging yellowed wedding photo". A main character with a "California Girl" persona (i.e., "whatever") as potentially the next God of the universe? Really? This somehow gets 90% 5/4 star reviews? So virtually all readers really, really enjoyed this? Something smells ... and its not just the Margaret character in the book. I'm guessing a highly targeted initial review audience by the publisher and friends. This is not Sci-Fi. It is apocalyptic horror anchored in an anti-establishment and feminist viewpoint.

I love all the authors quoted on the back of the book (Charles Stross, Nancy Kress, Walter Jon Williams, Cory Doctorow), so find their testimonials regarding this one utterly incomprehensible. "Funny"? Nope - only if you think, for example, quirks like putting a pink tutu on a war god who randomly crucifies/disembowels/beheads/rapes others is "funny" rather than just contrived. "Unputdownable"? Not for me - less than a third way through had to force myself to finish it just to see if it possibly all came together and with a huge finish to justify the high ratings. It didn't. Yeah, I get the symbolism and obscure references that seems to put critics into orgiastic paroxysms but, as usual, it is either so agenda-oriented or obvious (traditional gods psychopathic in nature, female nature superior to male), or so obscure in reference and explanation ("Atul") as to be unrecognizable by 99% ... as to beg the point of why it actually contributes to a story normal readers would enjoy (and yeah, I actually get the Barry O'Shea, O-N33, Pyramid, etc, etc..stuff).

Very Neil Gaiman-ish, so may appeal to fans of that style (of which I, admittedly, am not). But it is much more dark (sadistic & violent), and quirky (as opposed to funny or believably structured) and, frankly, pretty Young Adult-ish in overall nature/tone (many of which I enjoy). If shock-value violence and young-adultish quirkiness in reading turns you on, go for it. Else, consider this just a suggestion that there may be 100s of others ways to spend the next 8 hours of your life ...

The Library at Mount Char one of the most original books I have read in a long time and I loved it. Because it is such a startling fresh story, it is a challenge to review. There is little to compare it to. It is categorized as a Fantasy and I can see why. I first heard of it on a list of best horror novels of 2015 and I understand that too. However, I wouldn't classify it as either, although I don't have any better suggestions.

This is the story of Caroline, an apprentice in a library run by a god (of sorts) known mainly as Father. Father is missing an the apprentices have been expelled from the library. They find themselves in the alien world of North America having to fend for themselves, while Father's rivals plot to take over. They search for Father and way back into the library, but Caroline has her own agenda that is hidden from the others (and from the reader for most of the book).

This is a darkly twisted tale that hit me as a remarkably enjoyable action comedy, as odd as that may sound. After the first few chapters the action is full on and there is a surprising amount of humor throughout, but the real key word is "enjoyable." I found myself looking forward to getting back to it not just because I was curious what would happen next, or to find out what complicated plot Caroline was trying to pull off, but because I was having so much fun reading it. I'm a little sorry this wasn't a 600+ page tome because I would have had no problem staying in this world a lot longer.

This book won't be for everybody. Readers who like easily categorized stories with well established genre tropes might be completely bewildered by it. But for anyone with an attraction to the strange and who likes to be surprised by something new, this is a must.

​A very entertaining and well crafted epic fantasy story. I say "epic" in a different sense than commonly used. Usually epic fantasy refers to a global story, involving a fantasy world with country-wide, continental or global interactions...typically different species, races or forces compete or interact in various ways over historical time periods and multiple generations. The Library at Mount Char is instead set primarily in our world (sometimes called "urban fantasy") however it involves time-bending, reality warping God-like forces. The story has a compelling storyline that was hard to put down, some intriguing and unusual characters, and a blend of brutal violence and amusing dry humor. Even a bit of pathos thrown in for good measure.

The premise of students learning magic at a school has obviously been done. But this is far from what you'd expect. It's more like a military boot camp that challenges the students' sanity. In The Library at Mount Char we follow a student who rebels against the enslavement of the students, and the outcome is far from what you might expect. The characters are quirky and were fun to get to know, although one might wish he went just a bit deeper.

The structure of the story is odd, but it works. The primary climax seems to come 2/3 of the way through the book. And then the remainder, initially, seems like a long drawn out denouement. But then you begin to realize that there was a secondary challenge to overcome. It never reaches the dramatic heights of the first climax, but it's fascinating enough that it doesn't feel like a letdown.

I'm not sure if Hawkins will manage a sequel, but this was highly enjoyable and recommended for fans of well-crafted, imaginative urban fantasy.

The Library at Mount Char is one of those oddball books that are hard to find, and harder to describe. Is it fantasy? Magical realism? Horror? Dark Comedy? Probably all of the above.

This is a book that requires patience and a willingness to be in the dark for most of the story, and because of this it took me sometime to get through it. The story is sort of non-liner in nature and as a result you get a bits and pieces of the over arcing plot in small doses, until about 70% of the way through and then it all starts falling together into a picture you can fully understand. The plot as a result doesn’t make sense at times, but it all fits nicely together once the explanations come out and then you realize how well thought Carolyn’s decision were. As the summary suggests much of this has to do with Carolyn, a young women who along with her brothers and sisters have been raised as the children of a god-like man. They all have vast knowledge, but only in one subject and as a result must work together to accomplish things. I loved the fact that they each had a specialization and how that focus changed their personalities. For example David, who controls the library of war and combat, is a bit unstable…he runs around coated in blood and thanks to a bit of ‘lost in translation’ thinks a tutu is something like a battle kilt. My favorite though is Michael, who specializes in animals of all kings (big or small, past or future) and spends much of his time naked and speaking in roars, yips and howls.

To make things a bit easier to digest we have two other point of views that are from a normal human perspective. The first is Steve, who gets pulled into the schemes of these godlike librarians and pretty much out of his league the entire time. His humor is pretty spot on for me, and the fact that his defense mechanism is being a smart ass was just perfect as it relieved some of the tension added by being in the dark and in danger all the time. His unlikely friendship with Naga, a lioness, was also pretty awesome. Erwin is the more brash of the two main humans and knows what he’s dealing with to a certain extent when it comes to the citizens of Garrison Oaks. Carolyn is on his s*** list, and he wants her and her siblings gone…but he doesn’t really count on being pulled into the schemes and ends up playing a much larger role than he anticipated. All three of the main characters were likable and I think their vastly different personalities really made this story worth reading even during the slower parts.

Parts of this book were out right hilarious and other parts so horrifying that I could easily understand why the Librarians were a little whacked in the head,. Surprisingly there is a ton of action and some really cool but off the wall world building, and I think the combination of all of these elements really made it into something unique. The book isn’t perfect but I think with the right of amount of patience and willingness to let things get weird this one could be a hit for a lot of people.

One of the most original and creative books I have read. "Neil Gaiman meets Joe Hill" is fairly accurate, but it is stranger than both.
There are some pretty disturbing and graphically violent scenes, so it is not for everyone, but I've seen worse in some Stephen King novels and the Bible too for that matter. They play an important part helping you understanding the characters so it is not torture porn IMO.

There is also a lot of humor which helps balance out the darker parts. "Father's" children are all pretty crazy (though not all evil) from the years of being severely punished by "Father" for the smallest mistakes or act of defiance to "motivate" them and shape them into what he wants them to be. Now they have various basically godlike powers, and don't think like normal human beings. The regular human characters are interesting too. There are even a couple of lions that play a fairly key part in the plot, and are well developed characters in their own right. There are a lot of unexpected twists, though I did guess "Father's" basic goal pretty early on. Great world building too. The scale of the story is truly epic.

I listened to the audible version, and thought the narrator did a good job or portraying the different personalities and voices too.

Where the hell did this guy come from? He writes technical computer stuff and he comes up with this?!

I read a lot of sci-fi/fantasy type books and this one knocked my socks off. I never knew what was coming next, the characters were quirky and captivating, and the writing was tight and excellent. I can't even begin to describe the story without doing it a terrible injustice.

You'll just have to read the book if you want to know what I'm talking about. I do feel confident in saying that you will be anything from pleasantly surprised to astounded. (Or you'll hate it but still be glad that you read it.)

Waiting for this guy's next book. He darn well better write one -- if only so we can find out if he can do this again.

Definitely giving this one 2.5 stars.

I'm really disappointed with how this book and I got along.

I'm usually pretty open minded, and I absolutely love fantasy. The cover was gorgeous, the book synopsis was intriguing...so what happened? I asked myself that the entire way through the book (and I really struggled to finish this one...it took me almost three weeks), and even after I finished it, I just kept asking myself why this book and I just didn't click.

I think that for me, this book was just...boring. The first three quarters of the book made pretty much no sense, and while it's okay to keep a reader guessing until the end, it's nice to at least have a hint as to what's going on. Sure, once I finished the book it made sense, but that was like 350 pages of me asking "What the heck did I just read?" before I got any answers. The book also seemed kind of slower-paced (and that's not the author or the book's fault...I just have a tendency to read a lot of books that are full of action and something incredibly important happening every other page), and it kind of felt like it took forever to get anywhere.

The book itself wasn't terrible...it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, so if I'm giving off that vibe, I don't mean to be. It just wasn't for me. I see tons of other great reviews for this book, so it's obvious that I'm in the minority here, and that's fine too. I'm glad others were able to enjoy it.

I'm honestly not quite sure how to sum up the plot without giving out a lot of information that is kept secret for a good portion of the book, so I won't try, but I will mention that a lot of the things that happen in this book are absolutely crazy. Imagine...people who can bring each other back from the dead, talking lions, and a guy who can communicate better with animals (all animals, including sea life) better than he can with human beings. Like I said...absolutely crazy. Sometimes I just shook my head and had to wonder how the author could possibly stuff so many crazy, ridiculous things into one book and somehow make it work. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Hawkins for being able to do this, as most authors would never be able to pull something like this off.

While I can't say this is going on my favorites list, it isn't something that I absolutely hated. Now that I've finished it and had some time to reflect back on the book, I have to say that it was kind of interesting...just a little too long and drawn out for my taste.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a pretty weird book, and I'm still not entirely convinced it's my kind of weird. But it definitely comes close at times, and by about the halfway point of the novel, I found I simply couldn't put it down. I think it reminds me most of American Gods -- in both its slipstream presentation of everyday Americana and its intricate supernatural plots within plots -- but whereas Neil Gaiman's classic story blends myths inherited from across the world's religions, author Scott Hawkins has offered up his own surreal arcana of talking lions, kidnapped children, blackmailed presidents, and lines of divine succession. All of that in an ancient library that might just be in the subdivision a block over from your house.

It's bizarre and it's bloody -- trigger warning for implied rape as well as some pretty graphic violence against both animals and humans -- but I have a feeling it's really going to stick with me.

With a title like this, an MLIS graduate could hardly resist their curiosity, so without knowing what to expect, I picked this one up. Its premise promises a mix of genres (and it certainly delivers this!). The book itself wastes no time in thrusting the reader directly into the action - though it takes some time for the storyline and some of the special Pelapi customs and odd references to times and places to become clearer. It is a little difficult for a reader to find their bearings - even after the first fifty pages or so to be honest. But, if you can make it past the first quarter of the book, it all becomes worth it. Once the plot becomes clearer and the story keeps getting weirder, it becomes more and more absorbing. It's unexpected, completely original, definitely dark - but funny too. There is definitely some graphic violence (against adults, children and animals), but it fits with the plot and doesn't feel gratuitous. It's one of the most original books that I have read in a long time, and because it is fun (though frustrating) to put the pieces together, I don't want to give too much away plot-wise.

But, to carefully summarize this, Carolyn and a group of similarly aged children have been adopted by a mysterious Father who teaches them all to be librarians with some rather barbaric lessons along the way. When Father goes missing, the adoptees decide to search for him and entrance back into their very special Library. To do so, Carolyn enlists the help of Steve, just a regular American.

And though that summary sounds rather simple, this is more complexly plotted and with a rich and fascinating setting that includes a blend of the modern and fantastic. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from this uniquely talented author! It is an impressive debut and I genuinely can't wait to see what he writes next!!

Wow.

Who knew a book could take the word "librarian" and turn it into something that sends an icy trickle of fear down my spine?
In some wonderful ways, this reminds me of Donna Tartt's A Secret History, which was also dark and terrifying and thrilling all at once, with classical themes somehow intensifying the drama. But it's definitely its own animal--an animal that stalks you from the shadows without letting you get a clear look at its form, letting the suspense build until you almost forget to breathe. I read it in one breathless sitting, on a plane, and the hours sped by without my noticing them at all (always a sure sign of an engaging read).

I'm not sure I would classify this as horror, quite, though I think anyone who likes Stephen King should check this out and let me know if they agree with my recommendation. The writing is good, but mostly disappears--as it should--into the roiling tempest of the plot. So even if you're someone who, like me, rarely dips her toe into the suspense/thriller vein, take a chance and plunge into this one.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

40 pages into this book and I was certain that this had won a precious place in my top 10 favorite books (honestly, with so many great books, how can "favorite book" be reserved for any one book?). 200 pages in and I had changed my mind regarding the favorites list, but still was overall very satisfied with this book.

The premise was intriguing enough, as was the world-building, but for me the mood stole the show, nothing short of palpable. The ambiance of the novel is dark but electrifying and I felt as if I could feel every hardbeat of the protagonist. She was utterly compelling as a character, if a bit cold, but that was entirely consistent with her circumstances. The progression of the plot was a bit choppy, jumping around in time as it did, but was designed to unmask revelations in a satisfying, if not quite optimal, way. The mystery of who the "enemy" is is revealed fairly early on, but does not at all detract from the suspense of the latter parts. For me, the final third of the book was a bit of a letdown only because the action faded considerably and the ambiance transformed into such without any immediate threats. I had higher hope for the denouement as well as the protagonists' revealed motivations.

As someone who cannot stomach more than 50 pages of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones (and also can't watch the show) I was shocked to see other reviewers found this book "too violent" or "too gory". I am a huge chicken about senseless violence and gore and yet I had no problem with The Library at Mount Char. For me, the violence was entirely fitting with the environment of the library and the roles of the various characters and therefore not senseless and infuriating. It is hard to believe that a population with so many addicted to GOT can be squeamish about the relatively light violence and gore in this book.

Overall, really incredible read, but the book should've just ended 80% of the way through. The last 20% was still mostly satisfying intellectually, but was not comparable to the pace, intrigue and suspense of the earlier parts.

There really aren't many words that can be used to describe this book. It is all most indescribable. It is weird. It is dark. It is a masterpiece.

Our story involves 12 individuals, to be called the librarians, and a man that they refer to as Father. Father adopted all 12 of them when all of their parents mysteriously died one night. They were all around the age of 8 when it happened and they don't recall much of anything about it. All they knew was that Father was giving them a new home in the Library, was going to teach them new things, and that he was to be obeyed. Not obeying Father would result in a fate worse than death itself.

Father has each child learn something different, he calls them catalogs. None of the children are to study outside their catalog. Father expressly forbids it. The catalogs are all different. While the catalogs are rather broad categories such as war and death, language, healing, etc there is little to no crossover.

The story within The Library at Mount Char takes place a good 20 something years later when the kids are in or around their 30s. The 12 librarians are locked out of the Library. They can't even get any where close to it. Father is missing. They don't know if he is hiding some where, trapped, or dead. They are trying to mix in with the Americans, but they have been separated for so long they barely remember the English language and they don't remember much of what world outside of the Library is like. This story is their journey of trying to find Father and of getting back to the Library.

There are three narrators for this story. The first is Carolyn. She is one of the librarians and her catalog is language. She does the majority of the communicating for the rest of her group and does a lot of the interacting with the rest of the world.

The second is Steve. Steve is a plumber. He has the unlucky experience of meeting Carolyn in a bar. She asks him to break into a house for her and he reluctantly agrees to do it. He needed the money and it was a lot of money. He had no idea what he was getting into when he agreed to this.

The final narrator is Erwin. He is a former military man who now works for homeland security. He hates being recognized for what he has done in his previous career. He is working a connection between Steve's break in and a bank robbery. He really had no idea what he was getting himself into.

Now, when I said this book was weird, that was a complete understatement. This book is weird on top of weird on top of weird. Then when you finally get used to the level of weird it has hit, it gets even weirder. Don't worry though, the weird doesn't stop there, it just keeps on coming.

The characters themselves add a lot of the weird to the story.

You have David who's category is war and death. He wears a purple tutu and does not wash the blood of his victims out of his hair! His hair is caked so thick with the blood that it may as well be a helmet it has gotten so hard and thick. He is virtually indestructible and is the best warrior there is.

Then there is Margaret. Her catalog is the undead and the afterlife. It isn't that she sees ghosts and what not though. SHE ACTUALLY DIES AND GOES TO THE UNDERWORLD. She has died so many times that she permanently stinks of death and decay. She has flies buzzing around her head and she has pretty much lost all touch with reality.

The other character of note is Michael. His catalog is the study of beasts. He goes away for long periods of time and trains with different animals. He is gone so long that he tends to forget how to speak to the rest of the librarians and it takes him some time to remember how. He tends to be completely naked.

The story is also very very dark. There are a lot of points in the book where the squeamish should skip over. Quite a few battle scenes happen where David goes kamikaze and destroys all that get in the way. Hawkins does not spare us any of the gory details either. He lays it all right out on the page for us to read and imagine in our heads.

The Library at Mount Char reads very slowly, but that is a good thing. There are a lot of details that you need to keep straight and be aware of. If it read any faster you would miss a lot of things going on. This book requires patience. It is hard to tell what is going on at first, but eventually through all of the weird it starts to make sense. It is quite brilliantly crafted.

My Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars

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I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Library at Mount Char is by far the strangest book I have ever read, with deep themes and fantastical possibilities most humans would never even think about. I almost put it down several times, but while the book is odd, it is also very well-written. So, I find it very hard to rate this one. While I did not love the story, I did appreciate the strong characters, the writing style, and the amount of research the author must have put into this book. It's a complex and mind-blowing endeavor, and a story I won't soon forget.

I was hooked pretty much from the first sentence. The marketing line that got me to read this book, comparing Hawkins to Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill, is one of the more accurate grabs at popular names that I’ve seen. While not as lyrical and mesmerizing as Gaiman and not as creepy as Hill there are elements of both writers here as Hawkins weaves a story of one world setting alongside our own that’s equal parts fascinating and horrifying with a pretty creepy tale of a mystical guy who abused the crap out of kids and now they kill and resurrect themselves as adults for the hell of it. It’s a weird story combination but it works pretty well.

The story opens with Carolyn walking around all bloody after having just killed some people and really, how could that NOT suck me right in? Murder in the first sentence? My black heart thumps. And then the story spirals from there, fracturing out to effect more and more people that inadvertently get caught in Carolyn’s web. Poor Steve. It’s always a Steve that’s a bit of a derp and a dupe (so says my fiance of the same name) but he actually turned out pretty likable. I liked how he stood up to Carolyn’s crap and freaked out at all the appropriate times (when freaking out was incredibly warranted) and consigned to the moment when there was nothing else to do (the lion and the vet, I mean, what ELSE should he have done?). His ending was kind of sad, I think, albeit useful for him. I understood the approach but it didn’t soften the blow, so to speak.

Carolyn, on the other hand, was a difficult one. She kept herself at a clinical distance from everyone and that came across in reading. I liked the story she was telling but she was telling it with her hand out, stopping me from getting any closer. I didn’t really feel what she felt and her issues didn’t really resonate with me in a way that I would have liked. Where Steve was more emotional and human Carolyn was a robot, looking at people in their terms of use to a greater cause. Granted this is explained throughout the story, that the time these people spent within the Library have molded them into something else, people who no longer fit in with the rest of the world because of what they’ve learned and experienced. But with that being said Michael, one of Carolyn’s siblings, displayed a ton of emotion and concern and care while Jennifer, yet another sibling, numbed herself with pot. And then there’s David and Margaret, who are both incredibly insane and take it out on the world. So call it a coping mechanism, whatever you will for the character, but it kept me at a distance and kept me from wholly loving this book. I really, really like it. But I don’t think it’s love. Maybe after it sinks in a little more.

The world I really liked too. How Father was this god of creation, basically, and how there was this whole other world that existed within the Library and running parallel to the world we live in. They blended when the need came and existed separately the rest of the time. There wasn’t much by the way of fantastical creatures but regular creatures doing fantastical things (talking and bonding with animals, learning healing to the point of resurrection, being okay with constantly dying). The idea that there’s this library that is literally the source of all knowledge just warms my heart. But, of course, knowledge comes at a price and this set of people paid that a few times over. And zombies. There are zombies but in a less traditional sense. These guys are a bit more lively, a bit less about brains. Just don’t get too close.

One issue I did have was how some of the exposition was handled. There were enough moments of conversations that were basically one person saying ‘tell me more about it’ and another person going ‘okay’ and launching into a drawn out explanation that I took notice. I mean it fit the scene and weren’t ‘as you know, Bob’ moments because one person didn’t know what was going on but it was done for the reader too and I think that’s where it grated on me a little bit. Two birds, one stone, give more of a story while explaining to a character in the dark. I think it grated because there were flashbacks too and those were so much more vivid and engrossing than just being told what happened. I wasn’t thrilled with the way some of the information was doled out.

Overall, though, I really liked THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR. It’s a rich, captivating world that’s riding alongside our own and controlled by a bunch of maniacs that probably shouldn’t control what they eat let alone the universe but it makes it all the more interesting. Having the viability of the world in a single person’s hands is a terrifying thought, and having that person doing what she does, in part, out of spite, is even worse. But it makes for a good story. The story completed itself nicely, too. That’s not to say if there were a sequel I wouldn’t read it but the book had a solid ending that left me satisfied, if not a little sad. This is one of those books that you keep in your library and re-read for a solid dose of fantastic and terror all rolled into one.

4.5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Blogging for Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books, learning, and immortal beings who share the knowledge of the universe. You know, your average, everyday stuff. That, along with some engaging action scenes, is what Scott Hawkins has provided within the pages of The Library at Mount Char.

Carolyn is an average American, until "adoption day" when she became an orphan and is taken in by a man she and her newly adopted siblings refer to as Father. Gifted with immortality and an array of mystical skills, Father sets forth to teach each of his twelve children one "catalog" of skills. In this way, no one person, aside from Father, can amass the knowledge needed to bring about a destruction like the end of the world. But Carolyn has a rebellious streak and hasn't liked the actions her rather stern Father has taken against others. With this rebellion brewing in her gut, she plots to take down her Father and learn from all the "catalogs" despite her Father's wishes. But these actions have an effect on ordinary humans, and catastrophic ones at that; can Carolyn retain her humanity as she quests to bring down her Father, a man who seems to be God?

The narrative was compelling and captivating with the intriguing concept Hawkins presents--it's a different take on the overused apocalypse story and a refreshing one at that. The manner in which the story unfolds had me itching to know the rationale behind some of the action and the explanations were ultimately rather satisfying. I had a difficult time placing the ages of the various characters, and not just because many of them were immortal and didn't age. There was an inconsistency in their actions and phraseology compared with their biological maturity. I thought that Steve was in his late twenties, when in truth he's closer to forty. While it ultimately didn't have an impact on the story, it was still a bit discombobulating while reading.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.]

I usually try to start off a review with a brief summary of the plot (main themes/storylines and such) before going into my thoughts about the book. But this is one where I don't know where to start because any attempt to summarize this book would no doubt fall way short of doing it anything close to justice. And while it's not a disjointed story by any means, there are just so many themes and takeaways here that I could probably write an entire treatise on the depth that exists within this book. That said, I will make an (admittedly feeble) attempt to present the gist of the story so you will know if it might be for you (though I will say that if you like fantasy--especially urban fantasy--anything dark, or character-driven stories with an interesting array of side characters, this is probably a must read).

Carolyn is a librarian. But she's not the kind of librarian you think of when you hear that word. No, she is one of twelve students of a man she knows as Father, a very powerful man who adopted her and her now siblings when she was a child. Father has a vast library and each of his twelve students is responsible for reading, understanding, and mastering a specific catalog from within the library. But these books, like their owner, are not ordinary, and the power that they contain is beyond what a normal American could ever imagine. And Father will settle for nothing but the highest level of effort, success, and obedience from his students--even if he must use brute force to get it.

But now Father has gone missing and the librarians have reassembled to try to find out where he's gone and if he's okay. The dynamics between Carolyn and her siblings aren't what an outsider would necessarily describe as functional, but they do all have a vested interest in finding the man who raised them and getting back into the library to continue their studies. But to do so, they will need to enlist the help of some outsiders--Americans--and their involvement quickly reveals there is much more going on here than meets the eye...

This book definitely seems a little strange at first, but that's because it is different. And until you get a sense of Carolyn and the initial backstory, it's easy to wonder what exactly is going on. But don't worry, you'll wonder that through most of the book, but in different ways with each chapter. As it all starts to come together, if you're like me, you will be in awe at the foreshadowing and the various other hints that have been dropped along the way.

Hawkins does an excellent job of keeping the story moving forward and occasionally inserting what he labels as 'Interludes' which take readers back in time before the story to provide just enough of Carolyn's past to better understand what is going on in the present. And the character dynamics and interactions do not disappoint at all.

I definitely give this a very high recommendation. It's up there among the best books I've read so far this year, and I'm glad I picked it up.

I picked this book randomly from a list of "recommended for you," books on the store, and they definitely picked a winner for me this time! It took me 2 days to read (including 8 hrs of work both days & one night with zero sleep) because I literally could not get enough of this incredibly original & truly creative plot. I loved the strange characters, as well. It is more or less accurately described in the description, but basically it centers around a god-like master of the universe who has taken in (literally) 12 apprentices 1 for each of the 12 types of categories/knowledge bases. One was trained on how to be lethal & fight anything, one had to learn all worldly languages, one (my personal favorite) knew how to communicate with every species of animal on earth, which was funny a lot of the time. One knew how to heal & to raise the dead, some could read intentions/threat in others' minds, walk the realms of the Dead, etc. These apprentices are treated very harshly by this master, known as "Father." He even kills and tortures the apprentices...often multiple times, only to have the healer fix them up & revive them. He'd then REPEAT the torture/death, all in the name of proving a point or just to teach a lesson?!?! Their home base is in a mythical pyramid library, which must remain hidden due to the amount of incredibly dangerous info in there. Also, Father has made lethal enemies over his extensive lifespan, and the info is too dangerous to be cannot be released to anyone. The place doesn't follow normal physics laws & contains millions of hand written informational books, all of which were written by Father throughout his extensive reign (several hundred thousand years). No one can share their assigned category's specialized info and are each the ONLY specialist in their respective area. Sharing categories is forbidden. One apprentice has had it & begins to exact her revenge. She begins a highly extensive and incredibly involved decades-long plan. She elicits assistance from a somewhat random ex-thief turned good(ish) guy Steve, as well as a highly respected & knowledgeable (& hilarious) military hero with special forces training. Together the three keep either accidentally or purposely begin teaming up - originally set out with separate plans & agendas, but end up truly teaming up after awhile, at least the majority of the time. The multi-universe secret hidden library, the sci-fi powers the apprentices possess, & the animal communication seem very naturally flowing within the book and not forced at all...I especially loved the lions & how they teamed up together with Steve, they were awesome. I was happy they were in a lot of the scenes, plus I found that it helped with maintaining the proper perspective for just how truly weird the Dead Ones were, as well as most of the neighborhood's situations in general. When a lion in the house seemed way more normal than the odd behavior of the Dead Ones, you know you have problems. I hated to see this book end, but I'm very happy the store found it for me & I'm going to keep tabs on this author's books now-everyone should read this, there's nothing like it.

The Library at Mount Char was just fantastic. It was filled with surprises, non-stop action, and a surprising amount of heart. The writing did remind me a lot of Gaiman's American Gods, and I can see the resemblance to Hill's novels as well. I loved the characters, and would love to learn more about Father and maybe the experiences of learning the different "catalogues." Though there were parts of this novel that seemed unnecessary while reading, in the end everything was explained. I will say that it ended in a great way, but I still see an opening for a possible sequel and I would definitely be on board.

Honestly, it's hard to review this! So much happened and the threads interweave in awesome ways. Highly recommended.

Carolyn has a lot in common with normal people. She likes guacamole and cigarettes, but her knowledge of modern conveniences is sketchy at best. Years ago, she was a normal American child until her parents were killed and the man she comes to know as Father adopted her and other children around her own age. Father isn't just a man. He creates kings, raises the dead, kills on a whim, and doles out swift and cruel punishments for disobedience. They all get a portion of Father's library to study, but are not allowed to venture out of their area of expertise. One day, Father is missing and Carolyn and her siblings can no longer enter the Library. Father's rivals are gathering and Carolyn must gather all her allies in order to protect his vast power.

The Library at Mount Char is a fascinating book that shows fantasy as I've never seen it. We are thrown right into Carolyn's world that coexists separately from our own. Her world has two sides. One is magical (although she insists there is nothing actually magical about it). Her catalog is language and she learns every single language in existence: known, forgotten, animal, etc. She and her siblings are essentially immortal. With other's catalogs, she and her siblings have access to healing powers, the power to heal the dead, and the power to do things mankind has only dreamed of. It's brilliant that the most powerful being in the universe is so because of a library, which is the amalgamation of all his knowledge. The other side of her world is disturbing and incredibly cruel. If their Father isn't obeyed, his punishments are swift and unforgettable. They very often include death and unimaginable pain. Death isn't even an escape because he simply brings them back to dole out more punishment. The most physically powerful of them, David, is a monster and doesn't hesitate to take out his frustration on his siblings. Carolyn is one of the more meek and quiet, so the others consider her an easy target. Throughout the novel, she proves over and over that she is much more powerful and strong than she seems.

The book is written in an unexpected way. Sometimes chapters just follow seemingly random people for a few pages before that character or situation is connected to the rest of the narrative. The main characters are Carolyn, Steve the hapless normal guy that gets mixed up in all this, and Erwin the seasoned military man. It was nice to have the perspective of people outside of Carolyn's library. The plot goes to some wild places I never saw coming. The twists and turns gave me whiplash and I compulsively turned to the next page to see what would happen next. The story also has HUGE ramifications on our world and it gets pretty crazy. I was starting to get bored with the book when the big climax happened about 3/4's of the way through the book, but stay on through to the end. It's definitely worth it. Disparate events and characters turn out to be connected and it was wonderful to read everything fall into place.

Scott Hawkins' fiction debut impressed the hell out of me. The Library at Mount Char throws together fantasy, thriller, and horror with a dash of philosophy and makes a bizarre book that works for me on every level. I will read pretty much anything else Hawkins writes. His imagination is crazy and it's clear that he has no shortage of fresh ideas. I hope some sort of of follow up to this comes out even though it's a wonderful stand alone.

Carolyn is one of several young kids suddenly orphaned and adopted by a man they call Father. Over many years, he teaches each kid a skill. For example - talking to animals or bringing someone back from the dead. Father is a strict disciplinarian and often uses cruel methods to get his point across. One day, Father disappears. Chaos ensues. What exactly happened to Father?

I had requested this book several months ago and when time came to read it, I had forgotten what the synopsis said about the story. Within the first couple of chapters I was thinking - boy, this is one weird book. Guys wearing tutus, a girl in bike shorts and a Christmas sweater, a boy being roasted alive in a bull shape BBQ grill, only to be brought back to life. When I rechecked the synopsis and saw this was sci-fi, I thought - uh oh. Sci-fi and I don’t always get along.

But there was something just intriguing enough to keep me reading. Once I got to the part on exactly what Carolyn had pulled off I was pretty impressed. Actually, when it all fell into place, I decided the plot was pretty smart and it changed my whole opinion about the book. There were several characters that I liked and the author added some nice humor.

The epilogue leaves me with the impression that there could be a sequel. I’ll be at the head of the line to read it should we be so lucky to get one (or maybe two?).

Thanks to Crown Publishing, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book was *not* what I expected. With ‘library’ in the title, I expected something like ‘The Librarians”, or perhaps books of magic. Something with a professorial main character. I was very, very, wrong.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad book! I admit I was very confused at first. A woman covered in blood walking down the road. Then backstory; she was indeed raised in a giant library, complete with ancient handwritten books and a handful of other orphan children. But their “Father” who took them in was cruel and violent beyond all normal versions of cruel. The ‘catalogs’, the divisions of the library, are things like languages (which our main character studies and includes the languages of animals, storm clouds, and volcanos), murder and war, healing, death, and other things that never really get mentioned. Each ‘catalog’- which covers one floor of the library- is studied by one-and only one- of the orphans. And it warps them. Horribly. Human at the start, they become both more and less than human.

The book centers on Carolyn, the language specialist; Steve, a former thief gone straight; and Erwin, a former military man turned government agent who does not follow the book. Carolyn has a mission and she needs Steve for it. She keeps Steve in the dark - the mission has him in prison for killing a cop, rescued by a ‘human’ killing machine, savaged by dogs, teamed up with a lion (who thankfully seems to understand English), and just generally not having a good time. Erwin is trying to figure out what both Steve and Carolyn are up to. What it turns out to be was nothing I could have ever thought up.

While there is near constant action, things are revealed slowly; what the library is, who Father is, what and why Carolyn is doing what she is. It’s more science fiction than fantasy. It took me a while to get into it and figure out who was who, but once I did, I became very engaged in the story. It *is* very violent and very bloody, which I wasn’t wild about. I liked Steve, and eventually Erwin, but couldn’t warm up to Carolyn. There once the entire story is told, though, I was able to see why she was like she was.

I am an avid fiction reader. I enjoy fantasy and science fiction most of all, and especially stories that make you think or take you right out of your world and into theirs. The Library at Mount Char is an exceptionally good read. It is thought provoking, makes you care for the characters despite their flaws, and paints an enthralling reality that is almost like ours.

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Where to begin...the novel starts in the middle of the story's timeline, but manages to draw you in immediately. I found the main character, Caroline, engaging and the breadcrumbs she drops throughout the first half of the story really keep you reading.

The concept that the book poses about Gods or men and their decisions really fascinated me. I think throughout the book you can see many facets of this proposition explored. I particularly enjoy the concept that libraries, or more accurately, the Library, contains all knowledge necessary to have control. I have the utmost respect for libraries and knowledge, so to see that as a central theme was gratifying for me.

While the main character is interesting, I find the cast of auxiliary characters also worth their own exploration. Luckily for me the author seems to agree and it is fascinating to see the insights provided for the other members of the story. The only thing I am curious about is if there will be another novel. I think the story told was complete and a stand alone, but I would love to see what the main character does next. I feel like she is at the beginning of her journey and there is much more to come for her.

The Library at Mount Char, by Scott Hawkins, is a fabulous fantasy/science fiction novel I didn't want to put down. Hawkins and I have similar backgrounds (grew up in South Carolina, currently living in Atlanta, roughly same generation), so I'm ridiculously jealous that he knocked it out of the park on his fiction debut. (Of course, my inability to write in anything other than legalese probably has something to do with my comparative lack of success.)

I wish I could visit the world of Father's Library, with its twelve "catalogs" on every conceivable subject from cooking to murder, although I would not want to go through the training regimen imposed on his twelve apprentices. I particularly liked how Hawkins waited almost until the end of the book to tell us the true events of Adoption Day, as well as the way he conveyed that information through Carolyn's eyes; no boring exposition here!

Hawkins's Goodreads author page indicates that he is currently working on a new novel, the Twitter description of which is "Mike Hammer (or some noir detective) investigates a school shooting that may have been perpetrated by Peter Pan." I'll be the first in line at the bookstore when it comes out.

I received a free copy of The Library at Mount Char from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Epic, Engaging, Mysterious, and Totally Mind Blowingly Unique.

It's not often I can't put a book down. I'm not the type that takes my books to the bathroom... When I gotta go, the book's gotta go.

But not this time. I couldn't stop, I had to know more and the most enjoyable thing about reading this book is that I wasn't even confused for a second! Most times when authors keep secrets from the reader, they become so mysterious that the ultimate secret becomes more confusing than it's worth.

Hawkins did an amazing job at making me believe everything Carolyn said. I didn't care it wasn't normal or that she didn't complete explain, I simply believe her because she told me to. Little by little everything became clear and infinitely more exciting.

I will say, after the initial climax, and trust me, it was epic, the book suddenly dropped to a lull and lagged a bit. There's quite a bit more story, and for a couple chapters I was left in the duldrums wishing the book had ended faster, worried my review would have to drop a star because of the bad ending.

But it picked back up and the ending is just a beautiful as the rest of the story.

I feel like I just had something amazing attack my brain and I'm left shell-shocked and suffering from a severe case of PTSD.

I think I've found another author who's work I will be following.

This book was given to me by Blogging for Books and I am so glad that they gave it to me.

The Library at Mount Char is a bizarre read. At times dark, others humorous, but at all times the narrative moves forward, compelling the reader to read *just one more chapter.* During the read of this book, I was often left confused by what the heck was going on. Most of the confusing bits were cleared up by the end, and of course a very amusing epilogue. I suppose I would categorize this story as horror or perhaps urban fantasy, but a genre or two can’t easily define it.

While reading, I was confronted by the similar tone and feel of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. Although Gaiman focused on a clash between several gods, The Library at Mount Char takes a serendipitous route to tell a story that… well… no spoilers, you’ll just have to read it. If you liked American Gods, you’ll likely appreciate this book.

There is quite a bit of violence, including rape in this story, but the type and nature of the violence is nothing more than one would see watching programs that don’t air on network TV. The violence is sometimes cringe-worthy, but it never felt gratuitous, and seemed to move the story forward.

My understanding is that there are no plans on a sequel, but the story ends in such a way that if the author did decide to write another, the groundwork is already there. This book seems more than four stars, but not quite enough to push it into the five-star territory.

Thanks Blogging For Books for my free copy!

This is one of the strangest fantasies I’ve read. 12-orphaned children (after the sudden deaths of their parents) are adopted by the “father” and now live in the library at Mount Char. Each must pursue a course of study specifically tailored to each child: One learns to fight, one studies languages, one learns the healing arts, etc. Because the future of the library and the universe are at stake, there are strict rules and any disobedience will result in severe pain or even death. The dead, however, are always resurrected. Any more detail will spoil the fun so I’ll leave it there except to say that parts of this tale are graphic, gross/bloody, but with a lot of black/dark humor and some very unique characters.

The format had me bewildered at times. Hawkins would delve right into the middle of a situation with no prelude and would then write occasional chapters called “interludes”, which provided background and explanation. It took a couple of interludes and about 1/3 of this tale before I finally began to figure things out. At the end, I skimmed some earlier chapters and everything finally fell into place.

This is Hawkins’ first novel and hopefully more from him is on the way, though, I don’t know how he’ll top this one. 5 Stars

I am a librarian who has been a reader for 45 years. I have NEVER read a book like this one before! How many times in your life can you say that? That a story was very original and took you to places you've never been too before. Yes, there are very dark moments in the book and I've read reviews that speak of comparing the fictional dark moments to truly terrible things that happen in the real world, but I didn't ever do a comparison like that as I read the book. I fell into the story and ran through its dark twists and turns, at times horrified and at times literally laughing out loud in my hotel room at night, knowing I should go to sleep but not being able to put it down. Some of the most amazing characters don't even get their due until half way through the book and the whole scene with the dogs and lions was mind-blowing, loved how much Steve cared for the lion character and later in the book, their playful banter. And Erwin, oh my god, possibly the best dialog, internal and external that I have read in a long time. I was trying not to laugh out loud at some of the craziest sentences I've ever read in fantasy literature before, so I wouldn't wake up my husband, but eventually I was so into the story I didn't care. If you can handle some really freaky dark moments, then I would recommend the book. Yes, there are some confusing descriptions of the god-like worlds and honestly, the author lost my attention at those points, but the character development and the dialog were just fantastic. I found myself, rushing to get back to the people in the story, not caring so much about developing the mythos of their universe and its timeline. Not sure if this will be a series. I almost hope it is not because it may lose its shine if continued, but I hope to read more from this inventive author in the future.

Well! I am very rarely in a position to shout from the roof-tops - "AN ORIGINAL NOVEL"!
It was a truly wonderful read. I was plunged into an interesting, exciting and occasionally hilarious world peopled with intriguing, unusual and often unpleasant characters. There is a flavour of Neil Gaiman and perhaps a touch of Terry Pratchett in the atmosphere of the world of Mount Char but I do not want to suggest there is anything derivative in the writing. This is an original conception and a delightful surprise.
I must be cautious here, however, the world depicted is not delightful at all. Neither is it dystopian. it is a cynical depiction of the powers that be - those who create worlds and devastate them. It seemed to me it might owe something of its capricious whimsy to the gods and goddesses of Homer's world and brings to mind a quote from Shakespeare " as flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport".
My only complaint might be that the uncovering of the plot is too protracted. I am not an editor and so I have no thought as to how the construction could be improved without losing the delightful headlong rush into the mad world of Mount Char.
I want the author to write more - immediately!

That has to be one of the strangest books that I have ever read, it's like a Neil Gaiman book, yet written for adults. This being said it was a can't put it down book with plenty of surprising twists and turns. Father is missing and the 12 "children" who live with him as his apprentices in the Library have to find him. Although he is cruel and a man who has lived for eons making him oh so wise, it is more frightening to have him missing. The 12 "children" have all been trained in different ways, David is a merciless killer, Michael communicates with animals, Margaret dies, decays and then comes back to life, then we have our main character Carolyn who knows all languages including those known to the other regions of the universe. We add to that a reformed burglar named Steve and my favorite character, Erwin, a veteran who now works for Homeland Security and doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks and we have a great fantasy plot going on.
Hawkins character development is outstanding, it made me care what happens to the characters which to me is the sign of a good read, he also explains so much but does it in such a suspenseful way, feeding us small bites until the end. He ended it with the expectation that there will be a sequel, I will be counting the days. And to think it's his first novel!
This is a great fantasy/Apocalyptic/horror read, you won't regret reading this one. I gave it 5 stars, not something that I do too often.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of The Library at Mount Char through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book after publication.

The Library at Mount Char is fantasy at its very best. The book centers on the story of a woman named Carolyn as she outmaneuvers and outwits her adopted siblings and “Father” to become God. Carolyn and her family lived a normal life in a suburban American neighborhood. During a summertime community event twenty years ago, Father caused a storm that orphaned eight-year-old Carolyn and several other children of around the same age. Since that time, Father has raised each of the children to focus on one task – to master a power assigned by Father from his library. The children have grown up in a harsh environment, learning ancient skills and magical powers with little affection or emotional care. The family is ruled by the cruel and mostly unloving Father. When the story begins, the children are now masters of their assigned skills, Father is missing and feared dead and Carolyn is the most approachable, “normal,” member of her horrifying family. She has secretly learned several of her siblings’ powers, which Father strictly forbid, and is working towards toppling the hierarchy of the family before she or mankind is permanently harmed. Carolyn is a strategic genius and is the victor over all of the other much stronger players in a devastating and deadly fierce competition to control all of creation. Her sin of omission and greatest weakness is that, she forgets to protect the essence of her humanity. Therein lies the true conflict and lessons of The Library at Mount Char.

[...]

THIS IS ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE BOOKS!

Imagine if Chuck Palahnuik started writing YA Fantasy....

Yeah, I know! How AMAZING would that be?!?!?!

This book has a little bit of everything... It's funny, it's got bits of fantasy, a little sci-fi, some historical fiction, a YA feel...

"That's the risk on working to be a dangerous person," she said. There's always the chance you'll run into someone who's better at it than you."

"Steve didn't like the stairs, It bothered him that they hung in midair, unsupported. Steve said this 'weirded him out.'
This wasn't surprising. The list of things that Steve found objectionable was long and growing. It included the Library itself ('How can the furniture hang on the ceiling like that? It's creepy.'); the jade floor ('Jade isn't supposed to glow.'); the apothecary ('What the hell is this thins? I' m out of here.'); the armory (David's trophies made him throw up); the Pelapi language (It sounds like cats fighting); her robes ('Did you borrow those from Death?' She hadn't.); and, of course, Carolyn herself."

Yes, it can get a bit graphic in places, and if you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip a few bits here and there (and everywhere).

I had never heard of Scott Hawkins before, but I am super happy that I came across this gem on Blogging for Books! I will certainly be on the lookout for future work from Scott Hawkins, and I can only pray that he will write a sequel.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not like weird, you will not like this. This book has some serious weirdness, and I loved it!

I received this book from the publishers via Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review.

The Library at Mount Char is different or unique would probably be an understatement. The story is based on a God like figure with human form who has adopted twelve children, each child is trained in a special skill for the God like figure they call Father. He houses them in his library like prisoners. While the Library at Mount Char is a fantasy/science fiction book that I found it dark and foreboding. Humor is minimal yet rarely changes the mood of the story.

In the beginning, Father is missing. No one knows where he has disappeared. If he does not come back, someone new will need to lead them. Who will be next in line? While the character personalities are interesting, I did not find them believable in the role of people who would be helping a God like figure. From the first page of this book, I was skeptical about the plot and execution. Unfortunately, this did not change throughout the book. The average book this size takes me no time to read but I had a hard time staying interested in this one. The bottom line is not everyone finds death, rape and abuse as entertaining reading.

I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Scott Hawkins has written a story that blends brutality, savagery, madness, beauty, compassion, self-sacrifice, duty, courage, friendship and wisdom in one book.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to others.

A couple of things to note.

First, it is somewhat narratively complex, and requires careful reading, especially in the first half as the world of The Library at Mount Char is built. I missed a key aspect of the main character early in the story and then almost convinced myself there was a huge logic hole about half way through, but given that everything else was so good, I couldn't believe it, so I searched back through the story for what I must have missed - and found it.

Second, it sometimes describes very brutal and savage acts. If you are put off by violence and gore, probably not a good book for you. If on the otherhand, you don't have to look away, the violence is very well contexted by the overall meaning of the story and is not the least bit gratuitous.

The story stands alone and is a stunning work of imagination.

Awesome.

As a reluctant science fiction and fantasy reader, I might not be the target audience for this book. I found it hard to suspend disbelief for much of the story, but I am glad I plodded through: The final sections, which explain the mythology of the "librarians," tie everything together nicely. I would have appreciated this book more had I approached it as a story of the gods (similar to the Greek and Roman pantheon), unbelievable characters who live beyond the bounds of human logic and reason.

One disturbing aspect of this book is the extreme carnage. Because most characters are gods, and therefore immortal (more or less), they can die over and over--and the author delights in subjecting them to bloody violence. There is also a lot of violence to dogs, which will upset some readers.

Recommended for libraries with popular SF/fantasy collections.

This was an utterly bizarre book. I had no idea what was happening for the first 100 pages or so. I'm still not quite sure I know what was happening at the end. But I do know that I enjoyed it, much more than I expected. The plot--while incomprehensible at times--somehow worked, and drew me in. Even though I was still a bit befuddled at the end, I felt very satisfied with the conclusion. The setting was interesting, and the prose was lovely. The only real downside was the characterization, or lack thereof. I don't feel I learned much about any of them.

FYI, this book has a lot of graphic violence so please keep that in mind when choosing to read it.

I'm not sure how to summarize this book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I'm not a big Fantasy/Sci-Fi reader, so this one was a bit of a stretch for me, but it sounded interesting.

The first chapter started out great. Vague and alluding, creepy and disturbing, it left me wanting more. Then Chapter 2 started, and I didn’t know what the heck was going on for the next 80 pages. Like disjointed images from a dream, it just didn’t make sense to me. Are they kids? Are they animals? Is Father supposed to be “God”? Is this hell? Is Father the devil, and the kids are demons? What is going on here?

One minute they are having a conversation, and then they just throw in a jaguar growling, or deer that seem human (or are the humans deer?), and a disgusting guy covered in blood wearing a tutu, digging up graves to raise the dead. What the heck is going here???

There is no disputing that the author is a gifted wordsmith. It isn’t his writing style that I had a problem with, but the storyline and content.

I almost gave up on this book by about 50 pages in. I was frustrated, because the author was quite obviously a masterful writer. However it was like being inside of someone’s LSD trip. Just flashes of disjointed scenes that made little sense to me. Maybe this is typical fantasy, and fantasy just isn’t my cup of tea? But I had seen a review that said the first 100 pages didn’t make any sense, but then it turned around. So I hung in there.

Sure enough, the first three chapters had me tripping. Then the fourth chapter began, and FINALLY some sanity! I could follow along at last!

The pieces began to fall together, the picture began to clear. Carolyn was a tricky character. There wasn't a clear liking or not liking of her. She was a very complex character, very well written. Glimmers of compassion and gentleness amid brilliant detachment and cruelty.

The characters of the other children are less well-developed. Carolyn is closest to Michael, who seems gentle and sweet and brave. David is sheer chaos and brutality. Jennifer is like a hippie shaman. Margaret is simply out of her mind.

Carolyn seeks out Steve for a job. Steve has made some bad choices in life, but he's been staying clean. He's a bit of a Taoist. Carolyn brings him nothing but trouble, and tests his innate goodness.

There is a lot of religious symbolism in the book. Some of it may not be obvious to all, but would be to those more familiar with scripture.

Even when things were chaotic, confusing and insane, it was still a little genius. At one moment, there is a conversation about the ancient language of the Atul and a concept that essentially means “the moment when an innocent heart first contemplated the act of murder”. It said to the Atul “the crime itself was secondary to this initial corruption.” And another phrase which is “the moment when the last hope dies”. These concepts alone were brilliant!

My final word: I was initially nervous about my choice to read this book, but by chapter four it started to get under my skin. Little by little things came together, and I began to see the big picture. It became more engrossing as time went on, and I was really impressed with the writer's ability to captivate and draw me in. I'll still be hesitant to read fantasy and sci-fi, as I still think it is a shaky genre for me, but this author has definitely won me over!

The Library at Mount Char is Scott Hawkins' grim creation story, an imagining of the running of the cosmos not attributed to one supreme power but to multiple ones with vast reigns. Hawkins' imagination runs wild in his first novel, setting up an incredibly detailed hierarchical system of deities that borrows from multiple religions and then mixes those elements into a mishmash that is wholly darker than any religious creation story. He seamlessly blends H.P. Lovecraft with more contemporary ideas, finding common ground while utilizing Lovecraft's method of writing about monsters too vast and overwhelming for human thought and vocabulary. And by giving the point of view over to one of the higher beings, he allows the godliness of that character to ruminate on humanity.

Hawkins' storyline is complex and, for at least the first part of the novel, intentionally difficult to follow. Centering on Carolyn, The Library at Mount Char keeps the reader in darkness to preserve the suspense. It's partially because our narrator doesn't know any other way; from her early years as a child, she's simply been the child of Father, an all-powerful entity who enlisted the help of eleven other children to help him run his catalog of books. Carolyn's references to "Americans" skews the reader's assumptions of what she means, and the way Hawkins uses common ideas - like libraries, the more proper usage of "Father" - deliberately throws one off-guard. It's only later, when supernatural elements seep into the plot, that the reader can better determine what is realistic to one's own world and what is invented for the novel.

But Hawkins never really lets up from shielding the reader. The narrative consistently features gaps that we have to fill in; sometimes they're provided, or at least explained in simplistic terms, but the strength of The Library at Mount Char is that it never seeks to dispel the magic. And Hawkins doesn't mistake backstory for rote explanation: he explores pivotal moments in Carolyn's past in order to foreshadow her future overthrow of Father.

She's not the only character in The Library at Mount Char; there's also Erwin, a military vet working with Homeland Security, and Steve, an ex-con helping Carolyn steal a special item from an area she cannot enter. While Hawkins doesn't give his characters a lot of depth, he does spend interludes introducing their personalities and flaws to the reader, with the intention of setting up a moral play later in the novel. For the most part, it works, despite a perceived lack of focus in the first half. But it's Steve who becomes the most important factor, the voice of reason as the world falls into cataclysmic darkness.

There is, however, limitations to Hawkins' secretive storytelling technique. It requires Carolyn to deliver a lot of exposition explaining what's happening, especially to her human counterparts Erwin and Steve. They're stand-ins for the reader, ignorant of the universe's larger scheme, and so their presence helps provide the small amounts of information we do get about how this world works. But those descriptions tend to slow the plot down, namely about three-quarters of the way through The Library at Mount Char. At that point, it's unclear exactly where Hawkins wants to progress. Still, these moments are understandable, and, as stated before, they mimic another fantasy writer's method: introducing concepts that, because of humans' inability to understand, are left intentionally vague.

The Library at Mount Char has an impressive vision of the inner workings of the universe, and that unique approach keeps the reader's mind spinning as the novel continues to evolve and unfold. Hawkins centralizes on the making of a god, the vengeful wrath of a supreme being that has the ability to do just about anything. While his book is grim and disturbing throughout its entirety, the finale finds a more lighthearted balance. Much like the Christian creation story, there is both darkness and light in The Library at Mount Char's god-like creatures; Hawkins' exploration of this theme helps land his novel in a prestigious catalog full of the best fantasy authors.

What caught my attention about this book was the description, more accurately the sentence: A library with the secrets to the universe. I clicked the request button without reading anything else wanting to ensure myself ne of the w5 available coies. I am so glad I did. It's one of the strangest, creepiest, memorable and shocking books I have ever come across.

What an opening sentence:

Carolyn, blood-drenched, and barefoot, walked alone down the two-line stretch of blacktop that the Americans called highway 78.

After that, I couldn't it it down without impatiently waiting to pick it back up. I still haven't fully absorbed all that I read, and am not sure that I ever will. I already want to pick it back up to restart reading this. I think I will, I am sure there will be more that I find the second time around now that I know what to expect. This is easily one of the best books I have ever read. I was so shocked to find out that this is the author's debut novel, I so wanted more from him. I hope there is more to come, soon, I am not a patient person.

Recommendation:

Everyone. Well, not everyone. This wouldn't be good for children, or those sensitive to books containing gruesome/dark/creepy content. 

The Library at Mount Char was a fascinating read. I had to read the book based on the title alone, but once you start the book you will be hooked! This book is full of twists, a weird bloody giant wearing a purple tutu, and amazing elements. Hawkins has a phenomenal gift with words that I could feel the roller-coaster of emotions the characters are experiencing. Imagine a town where nothing is what it seems, and a library filled with ancient knowledge guarded and learned by only a select few. This library is under the care of the immortal Guardian known as Father, and he has chosen a handful of children to master the knowledge hidden here. He teaches them in the ancient ways (brutal), and enhances them to take on this information. Carolyn, the main character, is the master of languages dead and not; David is the master of murder; Peter the master of numbers; Jennifer the master of healing and necromancy; and Michael the master of communicating with beasts etc. All knowledge comes with a price……..some higher than others.
I recommend you read this book to learn more about all of the inhabitants of the Library of Char. It is worth it!

The entire beginning of this book was me thinking this is bananas, I must know more, and then getting Gwen Stefani stuck in my head. And by the time I finished all I could think was that was awesome! (Neither of those two thoughts are helpful obviously in a review but it was, is, how I felt.)

Sadly, I think I would have skipped this book if I'd been told a number of things about it which I think is why I'm hesitant to really say much specifically. But I guess if I have to I'd say this book is an amazing blend of dark humor, horror, mystery, evil, WTF moments, great story, fantastic characters, and a crazy ride I didn't want to end.

And I say that as someone who doesn't read horror because it's really not my thing. And yet this book was so much my thing. All of it.

The Library at Mount Char is a bizarre novel about a God-like figure called Father who has a library that he runs with his adopted children. Each one is in charge of a specific catalog but these are definitely not the catalogs of a typical library. The children study their extensive catalogs day in and day out. Each gains talents related to their catalogs the more they study – talents like knowledge of languages or the ability to raise people from the dead. Or the ability to commit incredible acts of violence. Definitely not your typical library.

When Father goes missing, his children find themselves unable to enter the library. They band together to find Father and to regain his library. In order to do that, some of them must enter society to find Americans who can help them.

This book is gruesome and horrific in parts but also has a fair amount of black humor that somewhat mitigates it. The humor reminded me a bit of Christopher Moore’s books. It will still take some intestinal fortitude to enjoy the book though. I happen to have that fortitude, maybe from my high school obsession with true crime books which are also pretty gruesome. The Library at Mount Char has been called fantasy by most but I think it’s more of a horror novel. Either way, I thought it was original and creative. If you like dark humor and the macabre, then this is the book for you.

Okay, this was absolutely the strangest book I have ever read and I've read a lot of books. I realize as I'm reading it that I have absolutely no idea what is going on. However, I keep reading. There were so many strange things going on that I had to read it to see if it would tell me WTF happened during this story in English. Ha!!

Alas, I got towards the end and all was explained. Thank you Mr. Hawkins, I will no longer be pulling my hair out trying to figure it out. That being said. I really did like this book and yes there were some pretty gory things going on. Unfortunately, I don't think I will ever forget what Jennifer did to Margaret and her need for Listerine. That was about the grossest thing I'd ever read.

I'm pretty sure a lot of you will want to give up on it because it does get very confusing. But, I say stay with it, it actually is a pretty good read.

I would like to thank Crown and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I found it highly entertaining and would definitely recommend it.

** Trigger warning for rape and other forms of violence. **

I’m going to break with my usual review format and skip the plot summary altogether. The synopsis provided by the publisher does a lovely job summarizing the story – and without dropping any spoilers, which is more than I can trust myself to do. (I’M SO WEAK, YOU GUYS.) Instead, here are twelve things I love and adore and cherish about THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR, which is everything I wanted and more. One for each catalog, natch.

1. Carolyn, who is best described as the love child of Beatrix Kiddo and Amy Elliott Dunne.

To say that Carolyn is a BAMF is an understatement. She kicks major ass, sure – but she’s also a wonderfully intelligent, complex, conflicted character. There’s so much more to her than meets the naked eye; more than even she herself seems to realize at times. Every time Hawkins pulls back a layer – through flashbacks and spell-induced memories – I’m surprised at what lies beneath. She’s the kind of anti-hero that I so badly want to root for, long after she’s lost herself and f***ing up epically. Carolyn does all the wrong things for all the right reasons.

Also, you’ve got to a love a thirty-something-year-old woman who can rock a pair of legwarmers.

2. The Library, which is a lot like the Tardis in that it’s BIGGER ON THE INSIDE. But for different reasons.

The house at 222 Garrison Drive – located in the Garrison Oaks subdivision right off of Highway 78 – is, like all the houses in that neighborhood, nondescript. Unmemorable. Literally: Thanks to Father’s machinations, you could drive by it “four times a day every day for a thousand years and still not remember it.”

Populated by zombies – ghosts of the former residents, bombed into oblivion by the U.S. government and reanimated (but not resurrected – the distinction is as significant as it is fine) by Adam Black, aka Father – Garrison Oaks looks normal. Well, as long as you don’t look too hard. And the zombies – one of many defense systems established by Father – ensure that outsiders don’t linger. And if they don’t get the job done, there’s always Thane and his pack of canine sentinels.

Up on the hill sits a small brick house that isn’t really a house, but a passage to the Library. The Library exists in another universe and isn’t subject to our own natural laws; which is, perhaps, why the apex of this pyramid (two miles long on each side) brushes the very heavens. The main jade floor is lined with bookshelves – and so are the walls, even those overhead.

Lining the shelves?

3. The twelve catalogs.

During his approximately sixty-thousand years of existence, Father accumulated a vast store of knowledge. Organized into twelve distinct catalogs, it is his work – meticulously hand-written, bound into color-coded leather volumes, and then organized with precision (there is no such thing as a misshelved book!) – that fills the Library.

On Adoption Day, the twelve surviving children of Garrison Oaks became Father’s apprentices, each assigned a catalog to study – and forbidden to discuss the contents of their catalogs with the others. (Presumably because Father did not want any one child to become more powerful than he.)

The white catalog – medicine – came first, for Father could not live to discover the rest without first learning how to extend his life – and eventually achieving immortality. Jennifer is assigned to study the white folio, which includes the art of reanimation and resurrection – something she becomes quite skilled at, for Father kills a lot of people. Including his pupils.

The second catalog is war and belongs to David, Father’s favorite. David is…something else, and we’ll return to him later.

After this the order (and sometimes even nature) of the catalogs becomes murky; Hawkins only places medicine and war in chronological order. Given the sheer number of characters to start, plus their areas of study, I had such trouble keeping track that I made a chart! Sadly, by story’s end, it wasn’t complete. (Frowny face.) I can only hope the finished book will fill in the blanks, maybe with a shiny, scholarly looking graphic or two.

Here’s what I came up with:

1. Jennifer – medicine, healing, reanimation/resurrection (white)
2. David – war (red)
3. Carolyn – languages (green)
4. Michael – animals
5. Peter – math, engineering (and cooking?) (violet)
6. Margaret – death
7. Alicia – the future
8. Rachel – possible futures
9. Jacob
10. Richard
11. Emily
12. Lisa

Bummer, right? I want to know ALL THE CATALOGS! Still, what we learn is pretty awesome. As an animal person, I’m partial to Michael’s catalog, but they’re all pretty amazing and nuanced and unexpectedly vast, with a little bit of overlap here and there (thus complicating Father’s edict against studying outside of your own catalog).

For example, David’s studies primarily involve weaponry and military tactics, however, war also has its own language. So who owns that, David or Carolyn? (A: David.) On the other hand, the crossover between Carolyn and Michael’s studies in the area of nonhuman languages seems to be less taboo; both students are allowed to communicate with animals.

I especially love Carolyn’s description of her studies, which highlights the whimsy inherent in the catalogs: “She understood all languages – past and present, human and beast, real and imagined. She could speak most of them as well, though some required special equipment. How many in all? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? And how long to learn them? Even these days, it still took her most of a week to master a new one.” (Pro tip: Time passes differently inside the Library.) Carolyn can roar with the lions and understand the poetry of storms. She knows “every word that had ever been spoken.” Lovely, don’t you think?

4. THE ANIMALS.

From Father’s sentinels to the ancient tiger god Nobununga, this is a story rich with nonhuman characters. Animals are portrayed as intelligent, sentient beings, possessing their own languages and religions. Death isn’t the end; just like humans, they have their own versions of the afterlife (verified through Margaret’s journeys).

Granted, they aren’t always treated with respect and compassion (after all, there can only be *one* “Luckiest Chicken in the World”); for instance, even as Michael lives with animals great (read: godly) and small, returning occasionally to bestow his knowledge on the Library, animals are routinely consumed within its borders. Sometimes, as with Isha and Asha the red deers (sob!), this represents an act of murder and betrayal, meant to teach one of Father’s children a lesson. But. (But, but, but.) Humans are treated much the same way. This is a violent, bloody, gruesome story, for humans and nonhumans, mortal and gods alike.

5. Dresden and Naga FTW.

When we first meet Dresden, he’s dreaming of home – of freedom. He and his daughter, Naga, were kidnapped from the plains of Africa in order serve as an exhibit in some d-bag rapper’s backyard zoo. Trapped in a pit – with high walls that slope inward, to prevent jumping and climbing – he and Naga are destined to die alone, under strange stars, tormented by the smells of humans they can neither see nor touch.

That is, until Michael, Carolyn, and David offer them a way out: help us reclaim the Library, and liberation and vengeance are yours. In what’s easily one of my favorite scenes in the book, Carolyn describes to Dresden’s captor – and soon-to-be-dinner – how lions can either ease their victim’s suffering – or multiply it:

“But there is another way of killing. This is done when the lion hunts out of hate, rather than hunger. For such times the big cats have a touch that enhances suffering rather than relieves it. Under this touch the prey’s spirit is bound to the plane of anguish. The pain is like drowning. Often the damage to their spirit is such that there is not enough left of them to return to the forgotten lands. Those killed in this way are ruined forever.” [...] “THE LION WISHES ME TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS IS HOW YOU WILL DIE.”

(Emphasis mine because this the point at which I fell head over heels for THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR. Revenge for ALL the captive animals!)

This isn’t the last we see of Dresden and Naga; later scenes had me laughing, crying, and screaming at my Kindle.

6. Michael, who gives me all the feels.

“I was with…with…the small things. Father said. Father said to study the ways of the humble and the small.”

‘Nuff said.

7. David and Margaret, sitting in a tree.

With his Israeli flak jacket, red tie, helmet of dried blood, and crusty purple tutu, David strikes quite an image. (ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE meets Leatherface, maybe?) But he wasn’t always a slave to war: in childhood, he was friendly, gregarious, and compassionate; Michael’s friend and protector. Yet after Father roasted him to death in the giant bull, David was never the same; he stopped laughing and joking and slowly transformed into the Library bully (second only to Father, of course).

David does some truly disturbing things – including to his own “siblings” – but it’s important to remember that he is (as they all are) what Father made him: a monster.

Which brings us to Margaret, who Father kills (and Jennifer resurrects) so often that they’ve long since lost track: “The first time he snuck up behind her with an ax at dinner, startling everyone, not least Margaret herself. After that it was gunshots, poison, hanging, whatever. Sometimes it was a surprise, sometimes not. Another time Father pierced her heart with a stiletto, but only after telling her what he would do, setting the knife before her on a silver tray, and letting her contemplate it for three full days and nights.”

After twenty-five years of this, Margaret is understandably mad. But the toll isn’t just mental; physically, she resembles a walking corpse, pale and dirty and smelly and bloated, sometimes with maggots crawling in her hair.

What better match, then, than the students – and products – of war and death? As cruel as he may be, David has a soft spot for Margaret. But not too soft: No one hurts Margaret *but him*. Usually at her suggestion. The marriage of sex and violence is rather discomforting – but then again, I think it’s meant to be.

Their relationship is unspeakably dysfunctional; as fascinating as it is repellent. Yet, in it I also see a glimmer of hope: Father may have destroyed David and Margaret (and all the rest), but even he couldn’t completely snuff out their need for companionship, understanding, and contact. Their humanity.

8. The literary comparisons.

Normally I roll my eyes at breathy comparisons to well-known authors and their works – either the comparison is weak, misplaced, or just so much hype. But “Neil Gaiman meets Joe Hill”? Totally spot on.

Most immediately, Father conjures up images of Charles Manx – and the Library, Christmasland. While the comparison’s not entirely perfect – Father’s children can pass in and out of different worlds, rather than being confined to just one; and they do age, however slowly; plus, Father’s a god, so there’s that – yet THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR does feel vaguely reminiscent of NOS4A2, especially in its mix of humor and horror. (Oh, the horror!)

And as for Neil Gaiman, THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR also feels a bit like AMERICAN GODS and ANANSI BOYS, with its array of gods, in all their dark humor, shifting alliances, back-stabbing, and disdain for the petty problems of mortals (you know, like famine, poverty, and rioting).

Between the time travel, the multiverses, the Library that’s bigger on the inside, and the talking squid-men (!), there also exist shades of DOCTOR WHO. A much darker and more sinister DOCTOR WHO, granted: The Master ain’t got nothing on Father.

9. The ’80s fashion and decor.

Most glaringly and gloriously evident when Carolyn entreats her siblings to “pass as Americans.”

10. The art of the long con.

While Hawkins drops hints fairly early on that one of the children is behind Father’s disappearance – or at least knows more than he or she is letting on – there are still enough plot twists to keep readers on their toes. And the foreshadowing? It’s a thing of beauty. But the long cons take the cake; cons, plural, because there’s more than one con artist creeping through the stacks at the Library. The writers of LOST would be jealous. (The endings don’t even compare.)

11. The title, the significance of which doesn’t present itself until the very end. Perfection.

If you’re clever, you may be able to figure it out before the big reveal. But not long before.

12. This book is bonkers.

Seriously, in case I wasn’t already abundantly clear. I believe the exactly word I used in my Goodreads update was “bananamazaballs.” If Jennifer Goines rewrote the Bible, it would look a lot like THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR.

** Full disclosure: I received a free ARC for review through Library Thing’s Early Reviewers program. **

Librarians rule - literally. The 12 children who were raised by the Head Librarian have mastered various catalogs of wisdom, from math to war to language to animals to healing. How thorough is mastery? Very - healing death is only difficult if you wait too long. Now think how thoroughly David has mastered war. (Don't bother running, don't bother hiding) Apparently, the Head Librarian is basically a god, and his adopted children are demi-gods.

The book opens with Caroline coming home from killing a policeman, with no explanation for why she did. She's not going home to the Library, she's going to a house down the road, because someone took over the Library. And stole or killed Father. Very scary! Someone has to be the new all-powerful Head Librarian, will it be David the Warrior or Carolyn the Linguist? The others don't have enough page-time to be candidates, unless the author is a complete jerk. But how can mousy Caroline possibly win against David? This David trained against multiple Goliaths, and there's no way he can lose. Also, he has to wear some kind of clothing since they're not in the Library, and he chooses a military jacket with a tutu. It goes rather badly with all the blood in his hair. The image is jarring, and the running gag never stops being funny.

Caroline recruits Steve to steal something - something ordinary. She has a sack full of money, a few thousand dollars, sort of. Librarians don't need to count money. Later its revealed how she GOT the money and good grief. No wonder she doesn't worry about money. Things go disastrously wrong, Steve ends up in jail, bad Caroline, you lose. David rescues Steve from jail in an awesome jail break. That scene also introduces Erwin, military hero.

David and Caroline need Steve to steal something at the center of the danger field around the Library, which he can get to because it doesn't affect normal people, only Librarians. Some kind of ray? Caroline calls it some kind of microwave, Steve calls BS, Caroline says just know it won't hurt you. And the lions are your backup.

This is so awesome. It is even better than the military going berserk at the librarians.

Eventually, someone wins and becomes god. Might the new god destroy the world... by accident? A character who seemed to be ineffective until now suddenly becomes intensely important... and don't discount anyone just because they died earlier in the book, because death can be healed.

Bechdel test: pass
Johnson test: pass

I can't belive this is a debut novel. Gimme more. Now.

This is one heckuva debut novel for Scott Hawkins. Set in a modern day America, The Library will keep you guessing and turning pages long after your clock says that you should be heading off to bed.

The three primary POV characters are about as different as can be - a demigod, a reluctantly-famous Medal of Honor awardee turned Homeland Security special investigator, and a only slightly reformed burglar. They all have their roles to play in a plot of multi-dimensional ramifications. I have seen novels with similarly grandiose ambitions go seriously off the track but, with a sense of humor, often witty dialogue and characters that take their share of abuse and keep coming back for more, Hawkins keeps this story moving forward and keeps the story mostly free of patently ridiculous plot twists and decisions by characters that are clearly not in keeping with their dispositions.

There is a healthy amount of hand-to-hand violence dished out by a tutu-wearing fellow demigod to special forces units, some nukes, a walking glacier and a bunch of unique elements to this story that keep things fresh and compelling. I'm looking forward to reading more books from Scott Hawkins and hope that he can keep up the good work after such an impressive initial effort.

When I first started reading this book, I thought it had a lot of promise. Especially for a debut novel. It held my interest well enough to carry me through to the end, and that says a lot. I'm the kind of reader who tosses books aside after about 50 pages, if they don't grab me by then. Mr. Hawkins certainly brought some originality to this fantasy work.

But there was one glaring issue I just couldn't get past. Voice. All of the characters in this book seemed to have the same glib, snarky manner of speaking -- even in the most dire of situations. Even "Erwin," who had a somewhat contrived good-old-boy veneer on his dialogue, spoke in the same wise-cracking manner as everyone else. I found myself shaking my head while reading the dialogue and interior thoughts.

Still, it was good enough to keep me around until the end (which is very memorable, by the way). So for that I gave it three out of five stars.

P.S. -- I wasn't the only one who had a problem with all of the snarky dialogue. Check out Michael Brady's review of this book on the Boston Globe's website. He had the same issue I did.

Advice for Scott Hawkins: I think you have a lot of promise as a write of speculative fiction, and I would certainly read more of your work. You clearly have a love for fantasy fiction, and a wealth or original ideas. Maybe just fine-tune your dialogue and voice a bit. My two cents worth of unsolicited advice. :-)

Original review available at my blog, HereWeAreGoing, here: https://herewearegoing.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/reading-fates-and-furies-and-a-few-others/

This was recommended by the Gilmore Guide to Books blog. No, not recommended, RAVED about. Listen:

Bottom line? The Library at Mount Char is the answer to every booklover’s prayer that they have not already read everything new under the sun, because there is nothing like this book. It is that ingenious in its premise and execution. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but oh, I loved this book.

That was quite a glowing recommendation. So, I got it. It qualifies as Science Fiction (according to the library, from which I got my copy) and I am, admittedly, not a huge Science Fiction fan. Still, I am determined to read across genres, to experience the best of all worlds. I did find this book interesting for about three-quarters of its length. Then, I started feeling the dreaded “let’s finish it in a way that allows for a sequel” sort of writing. Not a fan. Especially not a fan when what feels like a carefully constructed and elaborately designed universe, and its main characters, suddenly become someones other than who they have been for the first three-quarters of the book. What I considered to be the false, unbelievable softening of the Carolyn and Father figures, and the weirding of the Steve character, ruined it for me.

This book takes a little bit of time to get into, and to really understand what’s going on, but it’s worth it. So very worth it. By the time you get to the end, the story will have blown you away.

It’s hard to describe the book, but my description would be if someone asked a person high on a variety of drugs for story elements, and then a great writer wove a story around all the ideas. Basically it’s a crazy mess of a story that was told wonderfully. That’s the only way I can think to describe a story that has missing gods, orphaned children raised as psychopaths, sentient lions, zombie neighbours, and so much more.

I want to say more about the story, and how much I loved it, but I don’t know how to describe anything. This is really a book that you need to experience yourself. The writing itself is amazing, weaving a coherent and ever evolving story that just kept pulling me in more and more as I read. That in itself is awesome, and then when you add it everything that actually happens, I’m pretty sure I just found my favourite book of the month.

This was an incredible, gruesome, fantastical read that I flat out could not put down. I spent half of the book trying to figure out what was wrong with me; clearly I should have been gagging instead of giggling maniacally at the dark humor that expertly offers relief in exactly the right places. The twisted methods of torture and murder surely could only from the mind of a mad genius. This book erred on the side of horror, with a complex and intense story-line that will have you desperate to find out what will happen next...and trust me when I tell you, the second you think you've got it all figured out, remind yourself that you don't. You won't see what's coming. I have one and only one author on my automatic "buy it now" with out reading the blurb (ehem, Debbie Herbert), and she is a totally different kind of writer than Scott Hawkins, but I enjoyed this book so much that he has officially been added to that very exclusive list.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for a honest review**

4.5 stars. I'm not sure exactly how to summarize this book, as it just happens to be one of the strangest and most interesting novels that I have read. Twelve "siblings" live with their "father" in a huge library each devoted to studying one discipline. Carolyn studies languages, which makes her better suited to mix among the simple Americans and allows her concoct elaborate plans. These plans all seem to involve poor American, Steve, who seems to find himself further and further enmeshed in things that he doesn't quite understand. In a rather humorous way, this book takes twists and turns that even the most diligent reader couldn't predict. The characters are complex and the world is ridiculously original. I would recommend readers to give this book at least 50 pages because it does take a bit of time to get used to just enjoying the story and characters without really completely understanding it. I really enjoyed this reading experience and will be thinking this one over for a while. I received a galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like everyone else on Reddit I kept saying to myself WTF I mean really, WTF?!?!? and then "What does it say about me that I like this book so much?" . But I can tell you this is the weirdest, best, wildest, darkest, funniest, strangest, most unpredictable book I've ever read.I liked it so much I put it down for a week and then re-read it. This book is a masterpiece in strangeness, tenderness and just as soon as you are sure it will end very, very badly, Hawkins somehow pulls out a happy ending. So often books like this end up with a lame, almost nonsensical ending but not this time. Buying several as Christmas gifts. It's really that good.

"She wanted to burn the whole place to ashes but, at the same time, it would be kind of nice to see it again.
Home."

I'm a fan of world-building that starts with our Ordinary World and twists one rule (think Neil Gaiman among many others), and The Library at Mount Char does that in a fascinating way, considering SCALE as opposed to magic or demons, etc. What DO the world and its inhabitants look like to someone who can comprehend everything--the past, present, future, and more? What does one life mean on that scale? Hawkins contemplates that and the answer is both what you hope for and also not at all, which is quite a feat to pull off.

I also appreciated that what seems straight-up good vs. evil soon isn't that simple because is it ever? But don't think this is a book of philosophy. Packed with action, intriguing and complex characters, and unique world-building, The Library at Mount Char is not only a book to ponder but also, as Erwin might say, a plain ol' good read. (And, yes, Stephanie Plum kicks butt!)

When I think about describing organic chemistry, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn’t be able to do it. When I think about describing The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins, the feeling is similar. That being said, this book was amazing.

To give a general idea, which will no doubt not do this book justice, imagine if God were dead and his chosen children were left to fend for themselves. Our main protagonist, Carolyn, lets us know from the beginning that the man she and her ‘siblings’ call Father is missing. We learn that this can have catastrophic effects on their universe. We also learn that though they call him Father, he is not. Instead he adopted them after all of their parents died in an unspecified event when they were young. He tasked each of the children with learning a catalog, including medicine, war, and language (and we’re not just talking Spanish and French here - I mean the language that the flowers and the bugs speak too). There are 12 catalogs in total and the children spend all of their time learning their respective catalogs becoming experts, until the day comes when Father is missing, and there the story begins. Father’s one rule that he exercised with supreme priority was that none of the children would study outside of their catalog, or even discuss their own out loud. The idea was that anyone who did so would potentially become too powerful and might become an adversary to Father. You see where I’m going with this?

We see the story mainly through Carolyn, who from the get-go is painted to be just as seedy as the other characters. Not to say that she’s bad, but as with everyone else in the book, you know she has something to hide. Her thoughts and conversations only reveal half-truths, and every conversation with or about her reveals one more tiny piece to a much larger puzzle. The wonderful thing about it is that anytime something said in the present that leaves you scratching your head, it is guaranteed to be in a flashback and explained further on.

That’s the part about this book I loved the most. The world-building aspect was superb. The common “way-out” of world building is to have an outsider brought in and as the ways of this world are introduced to them, they’re introduced to us as the readers. This book didn’t play with that formula per se. Rather than bringing in an outsider, Hawkins would simply use a flashback to where our main cast of characters would be hearing the information for the first time. Say what you will, but this reader thinks that’s a fairly clever way around the standard formula.

Another aspect of the book I found just wonderful was the violence. Now by nature I’m not a violent person and I don’t enjoy it honestly, but when it’s done the way it is here, you almost can’t help but get enticed. This is an exceptionally violent book, but it’s never violence for violence sake. It’s all quite necessary. It’s like when you think about the Bible and how the Old Testament is super intense and violent and often just plain nasty, but then you have the New Testament, which is a little rough around the edges still, but much calmer. When you're presenting yourself to your people as their god-like figure, you have to be prepared to set the bar as to what you’re willing to take from your people and punish those that fall out of line. It’s harsh, yes, but it fits with the story and characters perfectly!

This novel is an insane ride. There isn’t one moment where you’re not on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I’m a huge fan of fantasy and this book really has everything. The characters are perfectly fleshed out and the world is believable despite all the other-worldly elements. Hawkins is quite the talented writer and I hope he decides to write another book because after The Library, he’ll have one dedicated reader at least!

To say The Library at Mount Char is unique would probably be an understatement. Here we have a man who's supposed to be like God who "adopts" twelve children. They now call him father. He keeps them living in his library like prisoners. They are each there to master a different skill. The Library at Mount Char is a fantasy, science fiction book that I found terrifying, dark, and mysterious. It does contain some humor that is pretty much a necessity to break up everything else going on.

At the beginning of the book, Father is missing and no one knows where he could be. It's obvious that if he never comes back, someone new will need to lead them. But who would that be? I thought that each of the twelve were thinking this but some were taking a more serious approach. From the first page of this book, I was in disbelief. I think that's what mainly kept the pages turning for me way past my bedtime.

I just had to know what was going to happen next. This book is just crazy. Full of many unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing. I would also like to mention that this book is NOT for the squeamish. It really shocked me in some places. I do recommend that you give The Library at Mount Char a chance if this is your type of story. It's full of horror and imagination!

I'm not sure if I read the same book as everyone else. I picked it up due to the positive reviews and decided to keep going because "there has to be something to this, right?" So I trudged on. Made it past the 100 page mark where it looked like a few readers had given up.

First, let me say that the author is a good prose writer. The writing is visual, it has flow, and it's easy to read. I just wish there was somewhat of an interesting story here. It feels like the publisher saw a vague indication of Neil Gaiman's American Gods and signed the author based on that alone. There are no character arcs to speak of, no cohesive narrative structure. Stakes "seem" high but not so much to the characters so you never get invested in them at all.

I'm not harping on this because it's bizarre or weird or gory like others have stated. Those are all great as long as there is a compelling story here, which there is not. It's too bad because the writer clearly has skill as a prose writer, just not as someone who can craft a story that invests the reader.

Labor day 1977 marked a major turning point in the lives of twelve innocent young American children. That’s the day they lost their families and became the wards of “Father.” Father tells them they are “pelapi” meaning librarian or apprentice. He assigns each one his or her own catalog or specialty. Carolyn Sopaski, aged eight, is given languages. She and her “brothers and sisters” do not have what one would describe as an idyllic childhood with Father. Now, a full-grown woman, Carolyn is on a mission.
This is Scott Hawkins’ first novel and it is incredibly good. It’s an amazing story about revenge, finding one’s identity and most important of all their humanity. I think anyone who likes this genre would enjoy reading this book. Action packed, I feel male readers will find it especially compelling. I was blown away, and you will be too!

This is an extremely well crafted plot about the creation of a God and the subtitles of "good" and "evil." Good and evil are interchangeable in this gory, nuanced, detailed and gritty story. The book dealt with complicated themes but the characters themselves were surprisingly relatable and human.

Complex characters, subtle writing, an epic plot chock full of unforeseen twists. The timeline was coherent but varied so that often times the reader didn't receive backstory until later on which gave greater insight into characters and events, the conclusion was as grand and satisfying as one could hope.

I'm an avid reader and can sincerely say that this may be one of the most well crafted books I've read. I cannot recommend this dark sci fi / fantasy highly enough. Fans of Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and Richard K Morgan will love The Library at Mount Char.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a wacky, weird, wonderful book! If you're a fan of the supernatural, of Joe Hill and Anne Rice, add this book to your TBR pile right now. It's funny, and fantastical, and yet realistic. Carolyn, our erstwhile heroine, is charmingly distinct in both her mannerisms and her voice. Steve, her counterpoint and sometimes foil, is wonderfully human, and literally made me laugh out loud. The bad guys are varied, and interesting, and just when the reader thinks they have the whole thing unraveled, everything changes. A true fantasy of a novel, with hairpin turns and nail biting wars, "The Library at Mount Char" far exceeded my expectations.

It's not easy to say what this fantasy is about. We have Father, who may or may not be a god, who lives in the biggest, hugest, most wonderful library in the universe, which may or may mot contain all the information in/of the universe. We have Carolyn, who may be a human girl or maybe a god herself, who may or may not be Father's heir or successor. We have Steve and Erwin, who may or may not have had their lives manipulated by Father and Carolyn multiple times. This is just a little bit of what is in this book. It starts very slowly, and twists every few pages. Nothing is as it seems, and everything is changing.
After finishing the story, I am left with many things to think over. The book was not a world changer. I don't see things differently. I have not had beliefs altered or confirmed. My main complaint with many books is that there were too many words. Somehow, I think this book didn't have enough. I felt there was too much telling me, not showing me in the narrative. Maybe, this should have been a trilogy.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

This is one of those books that you are either going to enjoy or you are going to find its weird, dark nature and its ability to touch upon many genres, hard to swallow. 

I found this book, for myself, hard to review because no matter how I word my thoughts on this book, that coupled with the summary, I wouldn't have normally picked up this book to read. * I recieved this book from Read it Forward Giveaway.* But I really enjoyed reading it. 

There were times, while reading, I thought really more violence and why is he still following her after all that but really it all adds up in the end. 

I really don't know what else to say except, " give this book a shot." even if after reading the summary you think "this doesn't sound like something I would read" worst thing is that you will not enjoy it.

This has turned out to be one of my favorite books. Dark and captivating, like good European chocolate, with several memorable moments, it fits right in with fans of horror, fantasy, and magical realism. It tells a deep story about children and the loss of innocence. Spectacular.

That was FUN!! Thank you Scott Hawkins, Library at Mount Char is the very reason I read fiction. I can't believe this is the author's first go at writing fiction! Nope, this one is not for the kiddies or the faint of heart, there are definitely some adult themes and some darkness. If you like Dean Koontz, I think you will like this story and appreciate this new author for a clearly stated, good and interesting story. Very well done, I am following Scott Hawkins and will be looking forward to any more fiction he may write. Also I noticed his website has a 'coming soon' short story sequel to this one - will be watching out for that one. Five Stars.

Recently I found myself in the mood to read something a little different so I decided to try The Library at Mount Char and it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. This book is wonderfully written, gloriously graphic and haunting, really makes you think and surprisingly funny a well. I found that once I started reading I became so wrapped up in this story that I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in one afternoon, it's that good. If you're looking for something a bit different or a book that will really make you think and question then I absolutely recommend this one and I look forward to reading more from Scott Hawkins.

Awesome, hilarious, twisty, cliff-hanger-y book. As a librarian, I tend to gravitate towards books about books or libraries. Usually they are interesting. Typically, I'm able to finish them. Sometimes, they are pedantic, boring, slow. But! All of life, it seems, can be plotted on a bell curve. "The Library at Mount Char" sits firmly on the outstanding side of the curve. There's gore. There's had language. There's ridiculousness. But it's all good, it all works, and I could barely stand to stop reading long enough to sleep.

This is hard book to classify. It's fantasy, horror, humor all rolled into one story. Caroline is taken in by "Father" when her parents are killed and she and her adopted brother spend all their time studying in the library. They have been raised according to Father's ancient Pelapi customs. As they have studied, they have learned some of the secrets behind his equally ancient power and now he is missing, assumed dead. Carolyn thinks she can solve this murder and perhaps become a God like her Father, assuming she isn't killed . This book takes a few chapters to get into but stick it out, you'll find a story you might enjoy.

This book was simply amazing. Having just finished another book that I also rated five stars, I highly doubted I would be riveted again so quickly. I was wrong. The writing is amazing and Hawkins does a great job of keeping the story flowing while keeping the reader guessing until "the great reveal" at the end. I would go back and forth on who I thought was the "bad guy" and who was the "good guy" until the very end. Of course, it was never that simple anyway ;). This book is graphically violent, however. I would not recommend it for the feint of heart (which I can sometimes be myself). But it is super rare that I have read a book and then immediately want to reread it (in fact, I only remember doing it once, with Room by Emma Donahue) but I think I am going to do that with this one. Great Debut for Hawkins!

This was one of the most unique books that I have ever had the pleasure to read. It seems almost difficult to write a review because without reading the book, little that is said about it will make much sense. The book is categorized as fantasy and I guess at the most basic level, fantasy would be the right genre to describe it. The Library at Mount Char is so much more though. In my opinion, it is a love story, an adventure, a comedy, a mystery, a fable, and a creation myth all rolled into one very readable story.
I must admit, when I first began this book, I was completely lost. Everything about the story seemed nonsensical. The tale being told was so mesmerizing that I was unable to put it down however. Eventually some details began to become clear and the story itself started to take shape. The writing is excellent and the character development is astounding. I feared David, sympathized with Carolyn, was appalled and impressed by Father, and was amused and awed by Steve. There were times that I laughed aloud while reading this book, and other times when I was simply horrified. I am not a reader who can usually tolerate any type of animal killing and there are plenty of animals (especially dogs) that die in this book and yet the writing was so good that I understood the necessity of it. It also helped that Hawkins added a touch of dark humor to some of the killing scenes which took the edge off as well. (I will admit that I read a little about Hawkins when I finished the book and it seems that he must like dogs as he is described as owning a pack of them.) Anyway, point being, this book was outside of my normal reading genre and also outside of my comfort zone to some extent but it was so well done that I felt that it was one of the best reading experiences I have had in some time.
I look forward to future works by Hawkins and would definitely recommend this book to others.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

This book was so strange. It was very confusing and I barely understood anything in the beginning but the whole plot was intriguing. Hawkins' writing was definitely captivating and the story was very well written. Most of the character's were insane but I really enjoyed reading about them. Even though this was possibly the strangest book I have ever read, it was also amazing. I don't know how to adequately describe this book, it's the kind of story you have to read just to experience it. I would love to read another novel set in this world, it was so different and interesting and just odd. I highly recommend giving this one a shot if you're evenly slightly intrigued by the synopsis.

I tried to read this book I checked out at the library and just hated it. It's gory, full of cruelty and torture and just doesn't make any sense. The cruelty to animals and children was just too much. I was disgusted from the very beginning by the non-stop gore fest. It's as if the author was really high on something after watching gory horror movies all night and then sat down to write this. In my opinion it's utter crap. I don't say that about many books, but this one belongs in the garbage. Yuck.

I don't usually leave three star reviews, because a.) nobody reads the darn things most of the time, me included, and b.) I'm always wary about coming right down in the middle on a book. I'm much more prone to really like it enough to recommend it, or dislike it enough to say skip it, and rarely feel a sense of take it or leave it about a story. But in this case I'm conflicted, because there were some excellent ideas, and it was certainly written well. I read it in about a week, and enjoyed it, but I'm just not sure I'd encourage anyone to rush out and pick it up.

It was a tad too cutesy and opaque for me, and while I get that it's supposed to be mysterious, it seemed like the author kept jamming as many crazy ideas and images into the story as he could. I also thought the dialogue often strained to be funny no matter what the scenario. Some giant and crazy revelation or action piece would happen, and the characters still dropped little quips and handled everything with deadpan aplomb. It was funny at times, but fell flat overall.

This felt like a first novel to me, and I have no doubt that the writer will continue to tighten up his voice, and by refining his ideas some and not taking a kitchen sink approach I think he'll produce a much stronger sophomore effort. I'll certainly read him again, but I didn't fall in love with this book enough to advocate for it, while at the same time I totally get why it has a lot of good reviews. If you read it and have fun with the roller coaster plot and the inventive creativity of his world, then I think you'll find it a fun time, but if you find it drags or is just too confusing then it's okay top walk away from it.

If I found the previous book that I read to be a smart read that didn't forget how to be entertaining, I found Scott Hawkins's "The Library at Mount Char" to be confusing. It isn't a mess but I really didn't find it to be what the dust cover is promising of "Neil Gaiman meets Joe Hill". There are some shared aspects of gods and myth but that could be said of a lot of fantasy writers and while I am not particularly fond of Gaiman (I do like Hill), I can follow Gaiman better than I could follow this story.

Carolyn is a librarian at the titular library. There is a battle going on. A epic battle that pulls in all kinds of literary and mythic elements. There was a point when I was reminded of "Read or Die" (the anime) which references bringing historical people back to life to do battle to destroy or save the earth. When I thought of the characters in that vein, I found a thread to hold onto but ultimately, I couldn't keep up with the book. It isn't a book that was quick for me to read or absorb. I found myself putting it down a lot and when I'd get back to it, I'd have to reacquaint myself with what was going on.

It is an interesting book and I feel like there is an audience for it that will appreciate it.

“Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like.” - ― Lemony Snicket

“There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. When that happens, you do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it.” - ― Judith McNaught, Remember When

Ms. McNaught has it right. Sometimes, you just have to go for it and hope it works. And Scott Hawkins certainly reaches for the stars in The Library at Mount Char. Fantasy, mythology, horror, history, and a crud ton of weird. You can certainly call this book “unique”. And normally ‘unique’ is something I can get into. With this one, however . . . I don’t know. It just didn’t crawl into my mind and make itself at home. Perhaps because the fact that the book opens with a “blood-drenched and barefoot” Carolyn “walked alone down the two-lane stretch of blacktop that the Americans called Highway 79.” Segueing from blood to guacamole, an obsidian knife used to murder a detective for no reason that appears any time soon threw me out of being able to settle into the book. Or maybe, honestly, I am simply not the audience for the book – that could certainly be the case. All of the librarians are weirdness incarnate – from Margaret, who you meet as she sprints out from the shadowy shelves of the library, shrieking and blind with terror, only to be pulled back into the stacks by “Father”, flowing tears streaked with blood, urine running warm down her legs, to David, whose catalog is murder and war. Twelve lost, abused children, forced into viciousness almost beyond bearing.

Demi-gods, talking lions and barbarism, oh my. The book has lots of very well-written, very positive reviews, and looking at it from a strictly technical standpoint, I can see why. This is some very unique storytelling. It just didn’t grab me. If you like writers more toward the horror side, well, you would probably love this. Sometimes I like horror, sometimes not – this one, not so much.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. The review is, of course, based upon my personal tastes. What I didn’t care for could be exactly what you are looking for in a book!

If you like my reviews, I would greatly appreciate it if you would see fit to click "I liked this review" or the equivalent on the store, or other book buying sites!

This was an incredibly strange and wonderful trip. I was down with this one from the beginning, but it did lose me for a minute and a few times I thought it was going to go all completely “fantasy” and lose me totally, but then buckets of blood and guts rained down on the pages, which of course, made me smile.

I haven’t been checking out synopsis prior to reading lately and am glad I didn’t with this one because it gave way too much away. Passing it up, just made the weird, weirder and the surprises more surprise-ier. (Yeah, that’s a word)

A most enjoyable, un-definable and imaginative foray into what it takes to become a god. Solid 4+ Stars and an excellent debut novel. Highly Recommended.

Let me give you a basic description of a psychopath: unable to form emotional attachments, unable to feel real empathy with others, yet possessive of disarming or even charming personalities; manipulative and able to mimic emotions which allow them to easily gain people’s trust; cool, calm and meticulous in their actions, carefully planning out every detail in advance and often have contingency plans in place. This, dear readers, is our heroine! While I was a little confused by the unnecessary ages, epochs and eras and more than a little horrified by Carolyn’s on-going madness, I ultimately liked the story. It’s your basic battle of good vs evil. The tricky part’s deciding who’s good and who’s evil.

I was prepared to give this book 5 stars until I got to the last 25% or so and then it just bombed out. The book, which i guess you would classify as a dark urban fantasy, was really great and engaging throughout the first half or more. It was more of a horror novel similar to Stephen King's The Regulators. Some portions of the book were downright disturbing and the government conspiracy part was intriguing. But then the author does an abrupt left turn and the book becomes something more akin to the Hitchikers Guide to the Universe. For whatever reason the author dropped the horror and tried, unsuccessfully, to become humorous. The ending was a muddled mess that was very disappointing and pretty much ruined the experience for me. This book had a lot of unfulfilled potential.

This book belongs in a sub-genre I'd call WTF fantasy -- in a good way.

Fairly late in the book, a reasonably reliable character states that the profoundly strange situations and events have nothing to do with "magic." Perhaps not, but at the very least, they represent an alternate view of history, both human history and beyond. I'm no anthropologist, but I had the sense I was reading a synthesis of several different folk traditions.

The characters range from very nicely drawn "regular" folks to people as strange as the world they inhabit.

I don't expect to find another book quite like this, and I'm very glad I found this one.

In his debut novel, Scott Hawkins creates a fantastical world seen through the eyes of orphans taken in by Father. When their parents died in a tragic, unnamed event, they were moved to Father’s house to learn his ways. They are a family, just not by blood. He has taught each of them a different, very specific skill. They are never allowed to wander outside the realm of their expertise. To do so has dire consequences – different for each person. David is an uncontrolled killer, fluent in the ways of ending lives, some methods unknown to most. Father has taught him this. His punishment for studying outside his craft is going to be long and torturous to make him stronger and more savage. Margaret must be killed to practice her skill of traversing the underworld. If she strays, Father will execute her in some new way to teach her a different facet of death. There is much incentive to keep their noses in their own books in this vast library of ethereal knowledge Father has created.
And then there’s Carolyn. She has seen the terrible things Father does, and they have kept her secluded in her room so as not to stray from her task – to acquire and understand every language that exists, whether it be human or not. She has grown up like the rest of them, in Father’s keep, in his house of wisdom, shielded from the real world. She is grown to adulthood, like her siblings. And, now, Father has vanished. They wondered if he was God. But, how could God disappear with no trace? The siblings devise a plan to search for Father, and, if something or someone has taken him, a plan to fight. To determine who will rule their new reality, they must hone their god-like skills. Carolyn must find a way to feel useful when so many of her siblings possess greater powers than her own.
Scott Hawkins uses vivid imagery and lyrical language to describe this world of his own making. Often, in the beginning, it was hard for me to follow what was happening. He tries to weave his mythical world into the threads of reality, and, sometimes, it gets a little tangled. I found myself going back a few pages to remind myself who that character was or where the location was the book was describing. Hawkins likes to imply things rather than tell the reader outright. And, normally, I would applaud such efforts. I still do for this book, but a little bit of exposition now and then would have helped me find my way through the labyrinth he has created. It is full of monsters, gods, and ancient tigers. And, sometimes, the three aren’t all that different. One turn may lead to a gruesome scene while another corridor leads the reader to a smoke-filled bar and a burglar turned plumber.
I’m reminded of an H.P. Lovecraft story, where I am thrown into a landscape that is unknown to me. The details are revealed with a slow drum roll that makes you hold your breath, unsure of what to expect. An adventure is waiting at the turn of each page. There will be puzzles and riddles. They might trip you up at times, but you will then feel just as lost as our main character does as she tries to step her way through a world she’s never truly been a part of.

This is an imaginative, well-written book. The author's creative bent is admirable, and his wordsmithing is first rate. Yet for me, the narrative stretched too far and created too fantastic a storyline for even a horror story. Admittedly, that's a specious criticism... disbelief is the nature of the genre, after all. The set-up is excellent, and the journey is entirely enjoyable, but the mind-bending turns this tale took left me wanting less, not more. The denouement stretches the incredible narrative even further. This is a story unlike any other and well worth reading. I suppose that should be enough.

This was an amazing book I just couldn't put down. A bit of mystery, a little fantasy, some science thrown in, all the while showing you the meaning of forgiveness. Is it violent, yes very much so. Is it dark, absolutely. I love every bit of it. It's funny, make you think, and draws you in with charterers you can connect with and start to feel for. I love the fact that there is no clear good or bad guy, at least not to me. Everything is presented in a way where you could see where they were coming from. I"m adding this to my list of books I reread every year. And adding Mr Hawkins to the list of authors that no matter what that write I'm reading it. This book remained me of Neal Gaiman American Gods this a little bit better. I felt more that the three main protagonist in this book that I didn't in American Gods. I didn't want this to end. And hope that this isn't the last I hear of either the author or The Library.

<i> Received this book from free from a giveaway</i>

The synopsis of the book and the other reviews (I read as little as I can so there is still an element of surprise about the plot) all intrigued me. It was a story unlike any other I have read before. The author has a talent for vivid descriptions and completely out of the box approach in creating his reality. He also did not explain everything - which is a gift for me as a reader, as it gives me room to grow.
It is dark, very dark in most places but yet he manages a light touch and gives a chance of redemption in the end. He also left a chance for another book which I devotedly hope will follow soon.

The fantasy genre isn’t really my thing. I’ve never read a Harry Potter book (or seen a Harry Potter movie, for that matter) and the same goes for The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Cast whatever aspersion on me you like, but fact is, I’m just not interested those type of stories. Perhaps that’s why I was so apprehensive when picking up The Library at Mount Char, as by definition, this book could align itself with no other genre but fantasy. But, as I quickly learned, my fears were wholly for naught as this book was funny and fun and violent and strange and deep and original and everything I like about reading, all jammed into one (fairly thick) volume.

What we have here is a new mythology, complete with (in this case, somewhat reluctant) demigods and all they can create and destroy as they suffer through the myriad of their innate human fallibility. In a lot of ways, it is structured like those Ancient Greek religions - with Zues and Apollo and Hermes and the rest - but this is an unexpected and innovate take on such a story which, in effect, reinvents the world as it goes along.

It’s kind of hard to summarize everything that happens in this with any sort of brevity, suffice it to say, this was as entertaining as a book like this could possibly be. I enjoyed it bigly. A very strong recommendation from me.

There’s absolutely no magic in “The Library at Mount Char”…or so the main character, Carolyn, keeps repeating in this awesomely bizarre, dark, violent, yet very humorous debut novel by Scott Hawkins. It’s a book that melds genres—fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery-suspense, and action-thriller—to powerful effect. Reading it was an incredibly intense and entertaining experience. (with strong emphasis on the word “experience”). I felt this book, in my gut, in my heart, and all over my skin. When it ended, I immediately wished there were a sequel.

The book is about a group of normal American kids who are abducted by a cruel taskmaster of a man with virtually God-like powers over the entire universe. They call him Father. They love, hate, and fear him. Father needed help to vanquish the other ancient existing god-like enemies who sought to usurp control of his Library of knowledge. What he needed was to train some disciples to help keep his enemies in check. Young children are easier to train.

When he took them on “Adoption Day,” they were all around eight to ten years of age. Father created an “event” that wiped out their parents and all the rest of the people in their subdivision. He removed the children to his Library and it became their home as well as (essentially) their prison. The knowledge it contained was vast beyond human comprehension. Father had written all of it himself. Father was very ancient and his acquisition of knowledge has taken many tens of thousands of years. All of his powers came from his knowledge. In The Library, he forced the children each to become a specialist in a separate branch of knowledge. But he had to be careful not to give any one child too much knowledge or power. They more knowledge they acquired, the greater the God-like powers they were able to achieve.

Whenever the children failed him—even in minor ways—Father’s punishments were cruel in the extreme. It was only natural that along the way toward their god-like powers, the children lost a great deal of their sanity, as well as their humanity.

When the book opens, Father has vanished. They need to find him. To do this, they must interface with the real world in a normal fashion. What happens next is…incredible, bizarre, funny, frightening, suspenseful, and full of sheer creative genius and delight.

Hawkins has an extraordinarily innovative and imaginative mind—a mind that thinks way outside the box. The story whipsawed me to situations I never could have dreamed of. It immersed me in another reality filled with strange and marvelous characters behaving in completely unexpected ways.

So why am I giving this terrific book four, rather than five stars. It’s because there’s a lot of five-star competition in this heady mix of genres and this book doesn’t quite measure up to the best of the best in all aspects that make a terrific book absolutely stellar. Hawkins is superb at creating a knockout story, but he has room for improvement in other areas important to creating a first-class reading experience.

The violence in this novel is truly the stuff of extreme nightmares. (Remember later that I warned you!) But these horrors are nicely balanced with a great deal of humor and heart. In fact, the humor is one of the best things about this book. While the necessary small bits of humor in most horror novels are predictable and gratuitous, it’s not that way with this book. Here the humor is essential, almost like the gears that make the plot run smoothly.

Hawkins reminds me a lot of Neil Gaiman (especially in “American Gods”). He also reminds me of Joe Hill, Clive Barker, and Lev Grossman. Hawkins is getting a four- rather than a five-star rating because I am comparing him to this company of stellar authors. Hawkins is close, but he’s not there…yet. Maybe by the next book, he’ll be right alongside their company.

I don't think I liked this book. I say "think" because I'm not actually sure how to feel about it. It's definitely got that American Gods feel, but it's not nearly as epic. It has some memorable scenes, but not all of them are because they are good scenes. Not to mention how confusing the first quarter of the book is. I actually thought my audiobook was corrupted.

A compulsive page turner with compelling and realistic characters. A bit gory at times and I had trouble with the idea of sadistic behavior for learning but it didn't stop me from reading on. I only hope there is a sequel. It is a very different kind of fantasy or at least it was for me. The conclusion was surprising but so perfect it left me a bit breathless.

This was an entertaining, very dark novel. It follows the story of a young woman, Carolyn, who is the adopted/abducted child of a millenia old being known as Father. Carolyn is the librarian of languages. She has spend her whole life only learning languages, human languages, extinct languages, animal languages and even languages of natural phenomena such as thunder. There are several others in the same position as her, only with different areas of knowledge. All of them have been subject to Father's wrath from a very early age.

The story starts off with Father being missing and has frequent flashbacks to Carolyn's upbringing. Having been raised apart from humanity, the children, now grown, are ill-equipped for modern, American society. However, they must venture out in order to obtain the tools they need to find Father.

The author manages to blend often graphic violence with a dark sense of humor that keeps the story from getting too bogged down. The story can be so over the top at times that it is hard to take seriously. This isn't a bad thing, much of the novel bounces around and feel fun despite the dark subject matter.

After about the halfway point, the twists start to come in and they don't stop until the end of the story. The many changes are entertaining but also deflate the stakes of the story in a way that makes much of the ending seem more like an epilogue. Still, this is a fun book, with great world building and ideas. Fantasy fans who want something a off the beaten path should enjoy this.

Perhaps my main issue with this book wouldn't be as obvious if it were written, but I'm listening to the audiobook. There is so little character development as to be ridiculous and while I forgave it at first (because the beginning was intriguing) a couple of hours later I was irritated. Also every single characters speaks in quips, short phrases, and has a very 'valley' feel to the dialogue. In some ways that would be fine if the novel was more descriptive a la older Bret Easton Ellis works, but here it does a disservice to the characters and the main mystery of what is happening.

I'm not done yet, but will likely keep listening.

This book was captivating from the very first page. I will admit that I expected this book to be something completely different than it turned out to be but I am thrilled with what it is. This book was completely different than anything else I have read and I enjoyed every single moment of it. This is was very odd but I was engrossed by the story.

This is one of those books that if someone had explained the plot to me and told me to read it, I would politely agree while I secretly thought that they would out of their mind. If I were to try to explain this story, I couldn't do it justice. In fact, I don't really want to say too much about this story at all because to do so could very easily spoil the story.

This book probably has the most interesting cast of characters that I have ever encountered. Carolyn is one of the librarians and is rather odd but over the course of the story she grew on me. She is really the main focus of the story and drives a lot of the plot. Steve is thrown into the action blindly and really has no idea what is going on. Steve was the most realistic character in the book and I found him to be my favorite. Erwin was around for much of the action and proved to incredibly smart. I must say that I really fell in love with the lions in this story.

There is a lot of action and quite a bit of violence. This is definitely a book for adults and there is some rather graphic violence. I was actually surprised by how much action was crammed into this book. The action really kept the story exciting and made the book very hard to put down.

There were some really unexpected twist and turns and the overall flow of the story kept me guessing. This was one book that I can honestly say that I had no idea where the story was headed for a large part of the book. I have to admit that I am a little let down the ending which is the only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars.

I really liked the style of the writing in this book. I thought that the author did a fantastic job of giving the reader just the right amount of information as they needed it. The parts of the story that told about past events had a greater impact for me because of where they were placed in the story. The pacing of the book was incredible. I read this book within a 24 hours period of time. I would highly recommend this book to readers who like a dark fantasy set in our world. This is a book that I could see myself picking up again in the future. This is the first book by Scott Hawkins and I can't wait to get my hands on his next novel.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Crown Publishing via Blogging for Books.

I haven't read such a good fantasy book for a lot of time and it was so much fun! I would be so happy to discuss it in my Sci-fi reading group and looking forward to see how many people loved it as much as I do.

Era tanto che non leggevo un fantasy cosí divertente e non vedo l'ora di discuterlo nel mio book club della fantascienza per vedere se sono solo io o se ci sono altri che l'hanno amato tanto!

I was not able to put down this book and each chapter pulled me into the next. It does not disclose its secrets easily. At the beginning every fact brings a mystery with it. As you go along you have to reorganize the chapters in your mind like a puzzle in order to figure out where the story is probably going. No character in control is totally likable and some are outright dislikable. Halfway through the book, during a particularly crazy but funny chapter, I was struck by how much the writing style reminded me of a writer named Bradley Denton. The same quirky combination of intelligence, horror and humor. Highly recomended

The thrills are non stop in this excellent novel about a reality where gods is spelled with a lower case "g", and are made rather than born. Twists abound, and most of them you'll not see coming. Brilliantly penned throughout. Warning: This contains some violence of both physical and sexual nature that sensitive readers might not like, although they are in context, and essential, to the story.

I am repulsed by this book, but I kept reading it for reasons unknown. Honestly, this is a scary book with a story line so dark it will give you nightmares. From the start, Carolyn is the main character who is also the narrator of the story.

Story starts off bloody, and it gets bloodier and the depictions of torture will turn you off your meal. I would probably have trouble roasting things in the oven again after this, but let me go on. The book is all over the place, a bit of history and a bit of present, it alternates between Carolyn's memories and her present situation: finding Father.

Then we have a man called Steve, who is a burglar turned plumber, and a special investigator Erwin. Both seemingly unrelated to the incident, yet became unwitting pawns in the bigger picture of finding Father. I never understood why finding that sadistic God is so necessary, it is not like the world had stopped turning while they were looking.

This book has a lot of unnecessary violence, or it would have been a nicer and shorter read without the blood and the gore waving around you. Or the imagination that the stench of death might have on your poor appetite. That is to say, I had to suffer a lot of images before the book got to the point.

Like many other readers, I like the story's progression, it goes from mysterious to an adventure then a therapeutic process. Carolyn's character has a somewhat detached personality, possibly a result of the Father's maniacal upbringing.

The ending? It was humm.. kind of anti-climatic. I was expecting a little more than that after all that violence and blood shed, but I got a happy ending, which did not suit the book that well.

Overall, this is a book that is hard to recommend to people. Unless you are a sadistic person looking for ways to torture people, or you want a psychedelic experience using words, do steer clear of this book with a full stomach.

I still have to thank Blogging For Books for this awe-inspiring volume.

The Library at Mount Char is a thoughtful, interesting story that keeps the reader glued to the pages. The story is descriptive, very far from vague. In fact, very little is left to the imagination in some instances. The moderate pace of the story keeps things engaging, right up to about 2/3 of the way through the book. Then things start to slow down and feel slightly disjointed. Honestly, it feels like the author started running out of steam and had to start laboring for ideas on how to end things. Still, this is being critical of of an otherwise excellent story. It's just not enough to give it 5 stars.

Review Originally Posted At: www.FictionForesight.com

In accordance with current FTC Guidelines, please let it be known this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Mind-Blowing Original…. 4 Stars!

The Library at Mount Char is truly horrifying, but in all the best ways!

A Quick Summary:

This is actually a difficult one for me to summarize for a number of reasons, not the least of which is because its really all over the board with so many twists and turns. The one thing I will say is that this work is relatively unique, and therefore, difficult to compare to other works. Apples and oranges being what they are and all. But I’ll give it my best go.

Carolyn is our protagonist. She’s a bit of a quirky girl, but that’s perfectly reasonable considering how and where she grew up. You see, when Carolyn was a little girl, her parents were killed. Well not just her parents, but the parents of a number of children. It was all one big “accident”, and quite the tragedy. Mr. Black, or “Father” as he comes to be known, takes in all 12 of the children. As it turns out, the plain old Mr. Black is nothing of the sort. In fact, he literally is a “God among men”.

Acting as more of a cruel master than father figure, Mr. Black teaches the children each a different catalog, or set of information and abilities. Carolyn was taught the green catalog, or languages. As such, she is able to read, write and speak just about every language ever known, including those of myth and legend, animals, nature, etc. The other children in turn were each taught their own respective catalogs, which include: animals, math and engineering, medicine and healing, war, the future, potential futures, death, etc. Each child was forced to learn about only 1 catalog, as learning about others would allow for too much power for one person, other than “Father” of course, who created the library.

When “Father” goes missing and the children are forced out of their home (the library), they decide to go searching for him. Along the way too many questions are raised that demand answers. Where did “Father” go? What happened to him? Who will inherit the library? Can a god maintain their humanity? Who can be trusted? It’s a race to maintain control of the library, and get to the bottom of things. With a large amount of violence, vengeance, and venom, Carolyn and her “siblings” are put to the test, wherein the winner(s) will achieve the ultimate control.

Assumptions:

Before we start with all the good, and trust me there is a lot of it, I just wanted to talk about why I picked up this book in the first place. Let’s be honest, we all tend to judge books by their cover. At least at first glance. I mean that’s what it’s there for! The cover exists to showcase the book from a visual standpoint. Something that’s used to grab the attention of potential readers, and pull them in. Well that’s exactly what happened with me. The combination of the title and the cover art was enough to intrigue me to read the synopsis.

Even after reading the brief synopsis, I was still way off in my assumptions. First of all, I assumed that this was a young adult novel. Don’t ask me why. The synopsis just rang true to me as a novel that would be young adult. I could not have been more wrong. With the amount of graphic violence and dark writing that this book has, I know several adults that wouldn’t be able to stomach this.

Next, I assumed that this was going to be something like the television shows Warehouse 13 and The Librarians. Basically, I pictured something to the effect of mystical items or abilities, and a library that’s filled with all of the artifacts and information. While I wasn’t wrong on the information section (but that’s kind of obvious because of the word “library”) the rest of my assumption was crap.

Finally, I assumed this was going to be something like any other fantasy novel out there. Don’t get me wrong, I love fantasy, so I probably wouldn’t have been that disappointed. But honestly, it’s just not. It’s really quite different. Between the blunt language, horrifying actions, and brutal realism on the part of the characters, it’s really something one of a kind.

So, if nothing else, I learned that Scott Hawkins loves to kill my assumptions, and blow my mind.

The Good:

I mentioned this briefly above, but even though this is a science fiction and fantasy novel, the realism in the character flaws is amazing. Scott Hawkins has character building down pat. Carolyn, for example, is obviously emotionally scared. The amount of abuse and detachment that she’s experienced at the hands of both Father and David would leave marks on anyone’s personality. What I love is how much you get to see these flaws. The way she is so clearly detached from humanity, the way she is so secretive and introverted, the way she has these little twitches. It’s almost as if you can see her morph in front of your eyes from day-to-day with each bit of knowledge we attain about what’s going on. Really, the same applies for all of the characters.

I love how long in the making the twists were, and how deep they delved. I really can’t say too much here without giving away some pivotal points, but just….wow! At the end, when you see all the ducks fall into place, I can honestly say I was really surprised. I did not see any of that coming. And it really was a satisfying conclusion, which was something I was drastically concerned about with the nature of this book!

While I’ve heard of the premise before, roughly, I’ve never read anything quite like this. Yes, in general terms having orphaned individuals adopted and shown / given powers has been done before. But if you’re looking in those broad of terms, one could say Harry Potter fits this (aside from the being born with abilities thing). So for me, it was really refreshing to see that fantasy, or really books in general, could still be brutally original.

The violence and abuse in this book is difficult to read at times, and other times, it’s wildly hilarious. It’s filled with situations where you know you really shouldn’t laugh but you just can’t help it. The whole time I sat there thinking “you are a terrible human being for laughing at this”. (AMENDMENT: I just took a look at some of the other reviews for this book, and I am somewhat comforted, and horrified, to know that I’m not the only terrible person laughing along). I will say this though, the violence is severe in this book, and it cannot be escaped. This isn’t the type of book that you pick up as a light read. It’s quite possibly one of the heaviest (emotionally) fiction books I’ve ever read.

The best, and possibly worst, thing about this book is that it keeps you so damn intrigued. There were times when the violence and abuse was almost too much, but I simply couldn’t stop reading. My mind would not give it up. It had to know what was going to happen next. Even in those times where I was a little confused about what was going on, I couldn’t stop. The rough-around-the-edges, no-nonsense writing style is in your face, and abrasive, but I loved it!

The Bad:

Honestly, there were only two things that kept this book from being 5 stars, for me at least.

First, there were just so many elements from the science fiction and fantasy genres, that it was a bit overwhelming. I mean not only did we have gods, and a ton of abilities, but we also had random creatures, other dimensions, time travel, resurrections, force fields. I mean the list goes on and on. I found myself repeatedly taking a breather just to take in everything that was going on, and all of the information that was being presented. I mean this book is already quite emotionally heavy, so the addition of all of this weight from lore and fictional elements was a bit much. But I’m a bit picky. I’m more of a pure science fiction or fantasy person. I usually don’t tend to read books that embrace both, because it starts to make things confusing and conflicting.

Second, I felt a bit detached from the story. Because of how dark and brutal it was, I found it hard to relate to what was going on. On some level, even with fantasy, you can usually relate to what’s happening. Be it unrequited love, loss, good vs evil, something. But here, it’s not really like that. Yes there may have been some love, loss, and good vs evil, but primarily it’s a case of vengeance. In this regard I found myself sympathetic to Carolyn because of what happened in her life, but I wasn’t empathetic. Now I’m not saying this took a lot away from the story, as I’m pretty sure most people couldn’t be empathetic to this situation; but it did drive a bit of a wedge. I really didn’t know who I was rooting for, aside from Dresden the Lion of course!

Overall:

I think The Library at Mount Char is an absolutely amazing read. It’s one of those books that reaffirms the faith in original ideas. It throws an amazing amount of dark, vile situations in front of you, but then compels you to read past them. Is it for the faint of heart? No, most definitely not. Will it leave an impression? Absolutely. I’d have a hard time choosing a specific type of person to recommend this to, so instead I’ll leave you with this. If you want amazing characterization, great world-building, and some emotional depth, read this book. It may not end up on your top 100 list, but it will provide some good shock value. What else can I say. Read it.

(www.FictionForesight.com)

The Library at Mount Char is one messed up book. The perverted violence was very hard to take at times. But it is populated by characters who are, in their twisted ways, well developed and interesting. The plot seemed to contain some original ideas (although I am not a horror fan and am not well read in the genre). The book is well written; the narrative flows and kept me reading despite my revulsion at what the characters were doing to one another.

The Library is inhabited by an ancient man who has learned most of the secrets of the cosmos. (I would refer to him as a sorcerer, but the characters are quite firm that there’s “no such thing” as magic.) He is powerful – too powerful, and the U.S. government sends a bomb to destroy him. He lives in the United States in a subdivision. His house serves as a kind of portal to the Library; it is not physically present at that spot. He is barbecuing in the midst of a picnic when the attack happens. But he is able to stop time and save himself and many of the children at the picnic. The children then become his apprentices (or “librarians” as he calls them). Each is studying to become a master of a different “catalog” – death, murder, animals, healing, language and so on. He becomes their replacement “Father” – and he is a cruel and abusive parent. The librarian who studies murder and violence is a particularly good student of Father’s techniques.

When the book begins, Father is missing and the portal to the Library is repelling approach by any of the librarians. The librarians are attempting to find their way in and figure out what has happened – but they most certainly don’t all seem to be working towards the same goal.

For the first half of the book, the fantastical plot was the kind of horror I could suspend my disbelief and buy into. After that there were some plot twists I found a little harder to take. Still, the story wrapped up neatly and cleverly.

I liked the idea of a “heart coal” – a memory you keep in your heart to warm yourself with when your world is otherwise cold. I also liked the character of Erwin Leffington, a complex ex-football player and war hero now serving as a special agent who gets caught up in the machinations of Carolyn, one of the librarians. I felt I could relax a little whenever he entered the story.

The Library at Mount Char is creative and imaginative. It is also twisted and horrific. I will admit: I chose to read this book because of the Library in the title and the librarian label on the characters. If the book had been named the Academy at Mount Char and the characters had been called students, I would probably have bailed without finishing it. So well done, author, to pull me in by appealing to my love of libraries and librarians.

If you are a fan of horror, I recommend this book. If you are a fan of complex plots and don’t mind horrific abuse against children, you might also give it a try.

I read an advance reader copy of The Library at Mount Char.

I love this book so much. Incredibly imaginative and somehow full of heartless horrors, hilariously cynical humor and tender humanity all at the same time. I listened to this on audiobook, and immediately wanted to read more stories in this world. To my disappoint there aren't any more, so I listened to the entire book a second time as soon as I finished it the first time! I've never done that before our since. I just wasn't ready to leave world of Mount Char behind.

This story shows restraint in its fantastical elements, which serve to tell an engaging story with realized characters and a captivating narrative. If you like magical realism, stories that mix fun with intellect, and unpredictable storylines, Mount Char will serve you well.

I have a hard time putting it down. This book ranks with Gaiman, Barker, Shirley. It is a wild, dark, grim fantasy ride and I can't wait for Hawkins to rock my world again. If you're afraid of the dark, don't read this. But its so good!!! I bought a copy just so I possess a hard copy of this incredible tome. If you can do dark, it's your story but if you're squeamish go somewhere else.

This is astonishing debut, with an unbelievably imaginative world and rich, amazing characters. Yes, it's brutal, but it's brave and fierce too, and funny, and strange. It's been a long time since I've read anything truly strange, but this doesn't knock off the usual myths or traditions. It's new, relentlessly so. Buy this book. It's just plain _wonderful_.

Just here to drop a well deserved 5 Star rating on one of the most amazing works of fiction I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
This story drew me in from the start. It’s horrifying, cold and brutal but also appeals to my softer side with themes of love, patience and friendship.
Several of the other reviews state that giving a description of this book without dropping spoilers is rather difficult and I would have to agree.
“Hard Fiction” seems like a very accurate way to encompass the feeling of this novel.
If you’re looking for an escape, do yourself a favor and pick this book up!!

REVIEW: THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR by Scott Hawkins

A thousand stars here, I loved this novel so much!! It became one of my all-time favorites from the first page. The framework of the book reminded me of another all-time favorite, AMERICAN ELSEWHERE by Robert Jackson Bennett, which chronicles an alien enclave in a quiet New Mexico suburb. The Library in Garrison Oaks and its Librarians are not alien in the extraterrestrial sense, but they certainly are "alien" compared to "Americans," as they refer to normal humanity. THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR is such an incredible book, earning my vote for one of the very best of 2015, possibly THE BEST.

I reviewed a digital ARC generously provided by the author for review purpose, via NetGalley, without remuneration.

I'm about 30 pages into this book and I love it so much, I came on here to look for more books by this author! It's like....wow. I would describe it so far as beautiful, oddly enough!!! It's so gloriously multi-layered, I don't know where it's going, which I love in a book. I hate being able to guess what's going to happen! I'm usually a fan of Greg Egan, Baxter, Reynolds, so I was a little surprised at how much I like it. The characters are very well developed. I'm not that far in and I already really care what happens to all of them. Please Mr. Hawkins, write more books!!!!

In the ends, what amazed me most about this book was the intricacy of its construction. Minor things happen that turn out to be major things 100 pages later. This story was deeply thought out.

It's also frequently hilarious.

This book was seriously messed up...but in a good way. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started The Library at Mount Char, and having finished it, I am not totally sure I understood everything I read. That being said though, I found the book to be enjoyable and am very glad I picked it up and gave it a go. Mount Char tells the story of Father, a larger than life individual who has been around for thousands of years. Father adopts 12 young children one summer after their parents die, and proceeds to teach them his knowledge. Each child has their own "catalog" to learn and are not allowed to venture into each others area of knowledge. These catalogs consist of speaking all the languages of the world, speaking the languages of animals, the catalog of murder techniques and medicine to name a few. Father is missing in the beginning of the book, and as it goes one, the reader starts to see how terrifying Father is and why the world might be a better place without him.

I liked several aspects of this book. First of all, I felt an instant connection to Steve and Erwin, side characters in the book, and came to like Carolyn, the main protagonist, after some time. I also enjoyed Dresden and Naga, two lions who are significantly important to the book. Hawkins has a way of finding the good in even the worst of characters, and by the end, I managed to see some redeeming qualities in Father - just not enough to ever make him likable. Now there are some truly some awful mean sadistic characters in this book, but they are well written and despite their faults, they are a necessary evil. The plot of the book was refreshing and unlike anything else I have read this year. I feel that Hawkins is definitely one of those authors whom after reading the last page, I start wondering what exactly goes on in that had if his. I bet it certainly is never dull in his world. I have seen this book summed up as a cross between Gaiman and Joe Hill and I can understand the comparison.

Now on to what bothered me about the book. The first 80 pages or so were confusing and somewhat dull. Although I rarely DNF a book, it did cross my mind. However, it picked up after that point and I believe people need to be advised to continue on as it only gets better as it progresses. Secondly, there is a lot of ugliness and death in this book...lots of death...gruesome and horrific death - I think you get the point. There is a lot of animal deaths in this book as well which I hate and turns me off, but I will say that for the most part, this aspect was crucial to the plot and I do not believe it was done lightly by Hawkins.

Overall, I am glad I gave this book a chance. I know this review sort of jumped all over the place, but in a way, so does The Library at Mount Char. This book is hard to put into words. I don't even really know who I would recommend this book to as it is somewhat fantasy, somewhat horror, and a tad bit of a love story. The Library at Mount Char shows the reader how scary the world can be, but made me grateful that things haven't gotten as bad as it could yet.

Destined to be one of the best sci fi books of the year, this is just outstanding. Take great, well drawn characters, humor, a Father who may or may not be God, gory violence, and a plot line that is just so bizarre that it works perfectly. When the children in a suburban neighborhood were around 8 to 10; Father, the "God" figure came up with a plot that wiped out all their families, and took them to live with him in his home, a home filled with rules, making them virtual prisoners. Now God is missing, and the children, now grown, need to discover the truth. Finding their way in today's America, a world unknown to them, is a really intense reading experience. You feel this book just as much as you read it, and you actually feel part of the action.

Beware if you are not a fan of violent sci fi or gore, cause this book has it's share. But it actually fits in to the story, and it's one hell of a story at that. Highly Recommended

I’m going to be honest, this is the hardest review I’ve written to date. This struggle for words isn’t because the book is horrible or fantastic, it is because from beginning to end, the book is so bizarre it left me in a sort of mind limbo. Like, I’m not sure what to think or what to feel. It’s freaking weird. This novel is very well written, and I thought the execution was awesome. I loved the ending. My only real gripe with this story is I had a very hard time connecting with any of the characters. In saying that, I’m not sure the reader is meant to. Overall, after much deliberation, I’m giving this book four stars. Because I love, love, creative story lines and complex characters.

The Library at Mount Char is an oddity of a book. It's a mix of genres, mostly fantasy and thriller, but with a story arc that's a bit tricky to pin down and characters that I found difficult to connect with. Let me put it this way, if chapter one doesn't hook you or simply horrifies you, that's a good place to stop. I powered on and kind of wish I hadn't. It's not so much that I did not like the book, more that there was not a clear sense of direction most of the time. Between the chapters there are often interludes that fill in some character's back story, but two of the characters seem thrown into the text without a sense of direction for much of the first half. They also seemed very much two sides of the same coin, so despite their differences, the purpose of them was oddly similar.

The second half unravels much of what the first half builds, but even that is not entirely satisfactory and goes walkabout bogging down the narrative. Much of the story comes through dialogue which keeps the pace up but doesn't always give solid answers to questions. I'm still not sure what the purpose of the story was or who the main character is meant to be at the end. The description from the publisher does not exactly match what Scott Hawkins delivers in this book. There are complex ideas that never fully coalesce and plenty of times that events stretch belief even within the fantasy setting. Basically, one needs to suspend disbelief the moment the book starts or it comes out a hodge podge of genres and ideas that don't untangle.

Note: ARC received via the store Vine in exchange for review.

Competently written but emotionally distant with little by way of access to the protagonist or central characters.

The story was interesting while failing to be engaging, which is supprising after all the support from other writers and their blurbs [see the books the store page for these].

Nonetheless, The Library at Mount Char was stillborn. Readers might weep over the loss, but that makes the loss no less a thing that need to be put to rest as quickly as possible.

very original. Horrifying and completely down to earth at the same time. I read it twice. Would recommend it to anyone with a macabre sense of humor, interest in horror or old religions and science fiction. Covers a lot of bases but I have a lot of interests.

This is quite a strange book, there are god like beings, alternate universes, people who talk to animals, and plenty of plot twists, I would consider it to be Science Fiction because of the subject matter.
I found the story to be a very immersive read, there are lots of things going on, and it is a very complex story.
The ending was a bit on the soft side considering how high energy and violent the rest of the book was, but still a good read and worth
reading more than once.

Recommended

This is the most insane book I have ever read, and I absolutely loved it! I devoured it, couldn't put it down, finished it in just a few days. Unique, thrilling, confusing, and genuinely heartbreaking (yes, I cried!). It was an excellent read. Great voice and fun characters. Not for the faint of heart, as it's pretty brutal, but if you like that sort of thing then definitely read this. It's amazing.

This is a very strange book about very strange people doing very strange things. It draws you in with the mystery of what exactly is going on here and keeps you going and going. Things are never really completely explained but enough information is dribbled out to satisfy just about anybody.
The main characters are very strange and odd but one comes to understand that they come with a very odd background. For the most part the ending tied most everything up in a neat bundle.

When I received Scott Hawkins' The Library at Mount Char from Blogging for Books, I had hopes that it would be an inventive, intelligent, high-concept fantasy. I mean, it does have the word "Library" in the title, and as a fan of Jorge Luis Borges, that alone is a draw. And then there's inside front cover copy, indicating "ancient customs" and the possibility that the plot deals with nothing less than the actual death of God. I'm a sucker for "ancient customs" and mythologies (I majored in anthropology as an undergrad and later taught mythology), and I'm inclined to be forgiving and generous when it comes to fictional representations of those subjects. But Hawkins' first novel owes more to the mythology of twelve-year-old fanboys, i.e., ugly and gratuitous violence, generally leading to explosions of varying degrees and dimensions, than it does to anything found in an actual or even invented library. And it's not the inventive recasting of the idea of a library that's the problem; it's the lack of a solid underpinning or grounding for the world Hawkins creates here. He does eventually get around to that, but not until the reader has slogged through 275 pages, give or take a few, of fairly mind-numbing carnage, much of it at the hands of David, a larger-than-life psychopath in a tutu who's generally described as covered in blood. Aside from that description, and the fact that he's unstoppable (until near the end), David's not really very interesting, just an oddly dressed variation on one of the evil Terminators from the movie franchise.
David has a sister, Carolyn, who's apparently the protagonist of the story, though she's another fairly flat character with few redeeming or even particularly interesting qualities. She's very smart and has vast knowledge (gleaned from the Library) of stuff regular people don't know much about, though her cloistered upbringing has rendered her fairly ignorant in the ways of the outside world, and she dresses strangely. But she's on a mission, so I suppose she can be forgiven her one-track mind. That mission concerns the probable death of God, who raised her and her adopted siblings (including David) in the Library; they refer to him as "Father," and like God (and perhaps some real fathers) he is the great mystery at the heart of this book. We could perhaps compare him to Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Perhaps.
Fortunately, Hawkins has given Carolyn a foil, Steven, the "American" she sort of loves (to the dozen "children" of the Library, all outsiders are "Americans"). We learn very late in the book that they have a childhood connection, but it's too late to save either their relationship or the novel. Carolyn puts him through all kinds of torments, but she does give him a lioness, Naga, so he's less alone than he might be while the world is going to hell. Steve's relationship with Naga is one of the very best things about this book.
The other intriguing character is Erwin Charles Leffington, an authentic war hero who served three tours in Afghanistan and then "decided he'd killed enough people," and now works for the Department of Homeland Security. Erwin, Steve, and Carolyn eventually become a sort of team, three musketeers against the bad guys, who include some of Carolyn's siblings and the U.S. military-industrial complex. (Most of the other characters eventually wind up as collateral damage.) Without Steven and Erwin, I doubt I'd have finished The Library at Mount Char.
If this book winds up being made into a movie, I might go see it. It has potential, given a good screenwriter and director - Guillermo del Toro comes to mind - who could emphasize the humanity of some characters who don't seem to really interest Hawkins, particularly female characters, who are thinly drawn, even Carolyn, who for the most part is just a killing machine with a sort of detached curiosity about others, whom she describes as "disposable." The visuals and special effects, though, should be awesome.

Confused and shocked is how I felt for a vast majority of this novel. It’s a bit surprising for me to say at the same time that I enjoyed that. For a while I honestly wasn’t quite sure what was going on. This isn’t one of those books that takes its time trying to explain things to you. The author is abruptly throwing you into the many layers of the plot and it’s up to you to sink or swim.

I vaguely knew what might happen with Carolyn though not how or why. I had guessed some basic elements not very far into my reading. The journey though was something else entirely. I’d expect one thing or think I knew what was happening only to find myself in another jaw dropping scene.

Close to the end there were a few scenes that had me in tears. All of the confusing pieces started to come together. What I loved most about this is that the characters in the book were experiencing some of the very same things. Carolyn, Steve, Erwin were all growing and understanding more which was amazing to see. Steve ended up being my favorite by far.

I was first pulled into the book by the idea of a library. After reading the description I was a little worried because it was .. odd. I was right about that. This has to be one of the weirdest, oddest, out there books I’ve probably ever read. I don’t think this book is for everyone. You really need to be prepared for the very strange trip that you’ll go through while reading it. For me though, I know I’ll never be able to look at librarians the same way again.

This novel was provided free from the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion and I was compensated in no other manner.

Hawkins has some good ideas. Maybe too many. I found that there was a jumble of sub genres that almost seemed to get in the way of another. Some authors can juggle it. Clive Barker with Imagica did so quite nicely (that is the one book that came to mind in a broad general idea of where I would put it in some senses -- the grand universal wonder and conflict within combo). But here I think the book called for a stronger more focused genre approach. Or at least dropped a few elements. You do combine horror and action and fantasy but you need to do so in a way that never loses the overall voice.

I know that might make no sense, but there are times when an author's storytelling takes on a certain slant when writing a particular genre. For instance, Peter Straub and Stephen King, in what I have read of their body of work, can write horrific dark fantasy and dark fantastical horror and somehow they are different. Yet work. Or maybe it is like King writing flat out horror like The Shinning and apocalyptic horror like The Stand and be able to differentiate in general story telling approach.

I guess here it was a bit like Hawkins was trying to write one or the other of those two books and yet could not decide which one. I did like his worldbuilding but at times it did seem a bit muddled. Sometimes I wish editors were stronger in pushing for less "accessories" in that regard. Sometimes two or even three concepts melded together can make for as much complexity in that regard as a half dozen ideas that individually seem intriguing but end up as clutter and even confusion when used with such an enthusiastic hand.

I will say this. The book is a bit slow of a start, but it does pickup and I did find it something I read to the end with no real effort about a third of the way in. And I do look forward to seeing what Hawkins does next. There was plenty to appreciate in the end. Just a bit too many flaws that kept it from heading higher on the scale of stars.

I loved this book...it's original, it's thought provoking, it's got great (and quirky....I like quirky) characters and the story rarely went where I was expecting it to. Be warned though it's a *very* dark and gruesome book. Lot's of death, burning alive, etc. If you can get past that, it's one of the most innovative and interesting stories I've read in a long time.

A really great supernatural fantasy set in our contemporary world. Told with a combination of flashbacks and present-day action, the story of Carolyn and her family unfolds with more and more layers. I love novels that feel like there is a much larger world and narrative just outside the borders of the book you're reading. It is a really rich and exciting book.

Couldn't put it down. Expected a slog, ended up with a page turner. Came to work today with only 31 pages left and it was driving me crazy. Fortunately with the store cloud I was able to finish at work! Worthy read.

Know before you begin the absolute jewel of a story, that there is not a wasted word or scene; that you will feel the pain of the characters, will laugh at the unexpected perspectives and remarks, will wonder at the imagination that wrought this layered and satisfying tale that absolutely hangs together in every way. Intellectually and emotionally satisfying.
I sometimes pickup books about which I have not read or heard about, and sometimes I am rewarded beyond expectation. It keeps me searching among the stacks in bookstores in hopes of message to me from the universe. Scott Hawkins nailed it.
Forgive the effusive praise, but I really, really, really liked this book. I hope you will too.

I absorbed this book in a long evening and am still pondering it. Carolyn was some character. I had to reread several bits after the final reveal and with new information. In some ways this book blew my mind. Not because it was so fabulously written but more because it was just so different. I don't intend to do any spoilers in this review so will be deliberately vague. This felt like the first book I've read in a very long time that was not linked to my reality yet was based on a very real principle. Heck I just don't know what to say.

This book had some holes, no doubt. And I could have used just a bit more. But I enjoyed the ride. I also enjoyed the major shout out to two other authors creations, always glad to see a fellow fan. I personally would have liked more from Dresden!

I can't tell if this author will continue stories in this world or not. If he did, I would read it. I'd like to know more about the constructs. Maybe I shouldn't, maybe that's where the magic of the book comes from.

This book is the equivalent of a rickety emotional rollercoaster. Exhilarating, terrifying, confusing, and you know before you get on the ride that someone is going to get hurt. (Spoiler: That someone will be YOU, dear reader.)

And when it shudders to a stop, your heart pounding loudly and your skin slicked with stress-sweat, you'll wish you could get right back on and ride it all over again.

Such a boring, god awful mess. I was sucked in by the great reviews. How those reviews happened, I have no idea. There is little cohesion. The author's interview with The Huffington Post explains a lot which I suggest anyone read before buying this book: [...] While inventive, the humor is pendantic and not at all funny leaving the reader following a pointless trail of horror. Unfortunately, having tried unsuccessfully before to read this garbage, I stupidly bought it via Audible to listen to in my car on my long commute to and from work as I've found some books are better narrated rather than read, and said garbage nearly puts me to sleep from boredom. I'm giving up on this horror of a story.

One of the best new fantasy authors - the Library at Mount Char is a terrifying world that haunts on so many levels. The plot is highly original, with surprising twists. The characters develop well over the storyline, unpredictable yet totally consistent within their parameters. It's a little darker than my usual taste, but suitable for teens and older readers. I highly recommend it.

This has to be one of the strangest books I have ever read! I found it intriguing, baffling, grotesque, darkly funny and thrilling.
A bizarre world unfolds within the pages for Carolyn and 11 others who were "adopted" as children and raised by the man known as "Father". Father was extremely odd and could do strange and disturbing things. He could call light from darkness and he could raise the dead. The consequences were terrible when he was disobeyed.
Now Father is missing and the only query is who will inherit the power over all creation. As the battle begins, fierce competitors for this prize align against Carolyn.
There were a few "Oh My God" moments, a few "EEEW" moments and quite a few bat s*** crazy moments!
A blend of fantasy, horror and science fiction "The Library at Mount Char" is definitely a unique reading experience.

If you're looking for a unique blend of urban fantasy with a bit of horror mixed in, this is absolutely for you. Dark and sometimes darkly funny. Magical, but with some seriously horrifying moments and scary-evil characters. An excellent cast of understandably flawed "heroes" that are all very well written. The ending was thoroughly satisfying and not at all what I expected. The story is self-contained; it doesn't lend itself to a sequel and that's okay with me. I look forward to re reading this fantastic book again!

I stumbled upon this book quite by accident, and I'm so glad: what an unexpected, fascinating, and entertaining place I ended up in! I loved Hawkins' character development, humor (even in the midst of some dark stuff), and creative layering of the rules of two different realities. I really enjoyed every minute in the Mount Char universe.

I am a huuuge Clive Barker fan. If you've ever read Barker then you know that he has a particular style to his work. It's horror-meets-literature-meets-fantasy in a lovely melange of descriptive action. Hawkins' book isn't quite *that* good, but it certainly comes very close. If you enjoy Barker definitely give this a try. It is explicit, dark, and lovely.

Most books don't begin quite this alarming...this one certainly did. This book keeps you wondering for the first 150 pages and then all the pieces start fitting in place like a wonderfully plotted puzzle. I can't believe this is his first novel, fantastic.
Overall, this is a funny, dark, humorous read. When I finished it, I wanted to start over and read it from the beginning so I could pick up on all the subtle "clues" and nuances that I may have missed the first time.

I adored this book...yes, it is dark, yes, some parts are disturbing, but it is so incredibly well thought out and imaginative. I really don't think I've ever read a book like this. This easily jumped to one of my favorite books of all time.

Engrossing, well paced, well written. This was perhaps a little brutally written, but it fit the tone. And yes, all the American Gods references are apt, but this is that with more of a "Magicians" series (Lev Grossman) angle of modern youth interpreting cosmic power . You may also want to look at "American Elsewhere" by R J Bennett for a flatter read in the same vein with a hint of lovecraft dashed in.

All told, a good read, and promising start. Write more please!

http://www.the store.com/American-Elsewhere-Robert-Jackson-Bennett/dp/0316200204/ref=la_B00CXLKR2K_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443289092&sr=1-3

I was skeptical of the plot of this book but all my doubts were gone by the second chapter. An all around enjoyable and thrilling read. Sometimes the book was a little gory for my liking but it fit in with the story line. While the premise is a little outlandish it was creative and different. Good character development and pacing. Couldn’t put the book down by the end.

This story caught and kept my interest from the start. The concept was unusual and different from anything I recall reading. Although many of the characters had minor roles, the story developed well around them. I was pleased with an ending I did not expect. Good book!

Compelling plot, complex characters and a surprise twist. Definitely recommend. I didn't give out five stars only because I felt character development was slightly lacking. I never got the whole story on the catalogs! There were 12 but we only learned about 8 or so. All in all, wonderful original story that left me wanting more.

I read a lot, but I don't usually post reviews. I'm too lazy. But this book drove me out of my laziness because it is seriously awesome! I actually listened to the book in audio form, which is something I don't usually do. I'm a fast reader, so I usually find audiobooks slow. But I could not resist this book, and I think I was glued to my iphone for three days straight until I finished it. This book seems to be compared to Neil Gaiman, and I get the American Gods similarities, but I liked The Library at Mount Char much better than American Gods. It's hard to say why. I find Gaiman cold, and I liked the black humor in this book. What I liked best about this book was that I really had no idea what was going to happen. It was so inventive that I wasn't sure what direction it was going to go in. I find it rare to be surprised by a book, and The Library at Mount Char surprised me. The Library at Mount Char is graphically violent, but not for the sake of violence, and I found all of the various librarians fascinating. If I had one criticism it would be that I wanted to know more about all of them. I'm a little annoyed because now it's going to be hard to read something next that can compare. Kudos to Scott Hawkins. Thanks for the very fun, exciting journey!

Strange indeed, but loved it. Wonderfully confusing at first - Hawkins' creation of an alternative idea of just who is in charge of this paltry human world. Carolyn's journey toward understanding was an awesome ride. Enjoy.

Absolutely wonderful. overabundant creativity and marvelous characters. George Lucas would love to make a movie out of this one. I so hope that Hawkins writes another one. This one was so much fun.

Have you ever read a book that just grabbed you and wouldn't let go? That is what this book is like. Hawkins' writing is, in my opinion, right up there with Patrick Rothfuss and Neil Gaiman. The story is deep and complex, leading you to gradually to the conclusion at just the right pace. It's refreshingly unpredictable, and wholly remarkable. Upon finishing it, the story resonated with me for days, and I still want more.

Carolyn and her fellow librarians used to be normal Americans, until the day one summer when their parents died. Since then, they have been the students of “Father,” a mysterious man who may or may not be a god. Each of the twelve were set to study a “catalog,” containing a subset of Father’s accumulated knowledge, including medicine, communication with animals, seeing the future, and communing with the dead. Carolyn is given the task of learning all the world’s languages, known and unknown.

Now, Father has gone missing, and the librarians are unable to enter the library. Worse, other forces may move to fill the vacuum, and the librarians are ill-equipped to deal with the world of Americans. While all the librarians search desperately for Father and way back into the library, Carolyn is also making plans of her own.

I’m a bit torn on this one. This was a really original story with a great concept, that also raises some interesting questions. The story is a bit uneven, however, and there are a few things I wished were explored in more detail.

It seemed like more of the book was given to the set up rather than the payoff; the reader sees more of how Carolyn plans than why. Carolyn also seems less developed compared to the deuteragonist, Steve a reformed thief who Carolyn recruits for her schemes, and even Erwin, the homeland security agent whose gets dragged into the weirdness through his investigation of Steve.

The ending is satisfying, and everything is explained pretty satisfactorily, but there’s a lot more to this world to explore. I would have liked to know more about Father’s antagonists, for example, or more about the library itself and how the librarians grew up. There are glimpses of this through some “interlude” chapters, but there is still a lot more for Hawkins to cover. Then again, there is some potential sequel bait near the end, so maybe a future volume might delve into things further.

*Spoiler*

I also wish Hawkins didn’t fall back on the rape=evil trope for one of his antagonists. Granted, this character does other terrible things to show that he’s a monster, but this is still treated as a defining moment for Carolyn.

The Library at Mount Char isn’t for everyone, especially due to some pretty violent and horrific scenes. It is definitely a unique read though, and worth picking up if you’re looking for a different kind of fantasy.

A review copy was provided by the publisher.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Caught Read Handed.

I have no idea how to write this review. I have no idea what I read. I do know that I LOVED this book. I do know that I couldn’t put it down and I hated when I had to for work. I do know this book is completely nuts, insanely creative, seriously bizarre, and decidedly well-written. I know all of those things and yet I still have no idea what I read.

Do you ever request a book on Netgalley or buy one at the book store and think it sounds amazing but by the time you get to it, you’ve forgotten what it was about? That was me with The Library at Mount Char, so I went into it expecting nothing and I was completely blown away by it – not only because it’s super awesome but because it’s absolutely insane. Carolyn was a normal, American girl once, but when her parents (and the parents of the other children in her neighborhood) died, Father adopted them. They were each given a different catalog, a section of the Library (wait until you see the Library!!), to study – from languages (Carolyn’s catalog) to war to resurrection. They were not allowed to study outside of their own catalog. Now, Father is nowhere to be found. Will they be able to find him or will someone else gain control of the Library?

If that doesn’t sound absolutely fascinating to you, get out of my face. Haha. The world that Hawkins has created is intriguing, dark, horrible, and wonderful all at the same time. The Library at Mount Char is…disturbing yet full of humor, which is part of the reason I liked it. This is one of the weirdest books I’ve ever read. The “librarians” had it rough growing up with Father to put it mildly and there isn’t one of them that’s not a little off. They scared me and freaked me out and fascinated me. They murdered without reason, hurt others without emotion, destroyed without care. The last fourth of the novel was unputdownable for me. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen.

The bottom line: The Library at Mount Char is dark, disturbing, strange, scary, and absolutely wonderful. It’s not for everyone. But it was definitely for me.

Rating: 9 – Practically perfect

NOTE: I was provided with an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Crown for letting me read this!

Remember when you first watched The Matrix and had no idea what was going on for the first hour? This is how I felt reading this book.

Of course, after The Matrix was over I had a better understanding of what was going on in that world. With this book, I finished it and still remained in the dark.

A group of adopted children are raised by a man in a building they call The Library. They each are given strict guidelines as to what their life will be about. This man whom they call Father is very abusive. He expects and demands they stay within their own path and not interfere with the other's.

Is he God or a god? Are these children demigods? You're guess is as good as mine.

Then Father goes missing and the children are left to find him and answer so many questions. (I think that's the plot) Plus there's a little budding romance going on that felt shoehorned then resolved.

So it's a fantasy book. But it's also incredibly violent, gory, and vulgar. On top of that, each chapter feels like you have to start all over with orienting yourself to the story. I think it's written that way on purpose but it drove me out of the story so many times thinking, "What in the world am I reading???"

I was not at all a fan of this book. Too violent, too bizarre. But I understand many others are proclaiming this book to be compulsively readable. I'm not one of those.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Broadway Books.

I don't like to know too much about a book before I read it, but knowing that this was about some secret, strange library or book sounded like it would be right up my alley.

My first clue that this might not be quite what I expected came with the table of contents, and the chapter names. Some funny, some irreverent, some just odd. For example, Chapter 2 is called "Buddhism for [Donkey Butts - different word to prevent robo-censorship]. I wasn't offended but some might be.

It started out creepy and just got creepier.

Although this is not, thank goodness, another zombie book, there are dead ones who are still functioning, at some level anyway. There are gods, gods in disguise, and battles for supremacy. All of that could have been quite interesting.

I couldn't empathize much with the characters except for perhaps badluck Steve, and Erwin, and I liked them quite a bit. The characters under control of Father...not so much although I did like Michael.

And, of course, the lions; I liked the lions.

The students had lessons to learn, each with a specialty, and dire consequences if they tried to find out about someone else's specialty.

What I didn't like about this book was the high level of violence and cruelty. Towards people, towards children who were still children despite their age in years, towards animals. And torture, too. Nope, not my cup of tea. I like creepy; I don't like explicit violence and unrelenting cruelty.

Despite that, and trying to overlook that, the story was somewhat interesting but too drawn out for the story it was telling. And if the reader is too young or susceptible to nightmares, it's gonna cause them.

I was given an advance reader's ebook copy of this book for review.

I loved the concept of this book and it could have been brilliantly executed, but it just wasn't. The dialogue was pedestrian and the writing overall was very hard to read - very linear (the author is an engineer) and sometimes incohesive The punctuation and syntax needed some major help, and I found myself making grammatical changes in my mind as I read through. I put it down after about 130 pages because there are just too many books worth reading to suffer through this one. I'm obviously in the minority of people who didn't like this book, but my love of language and grammar just won't let me overlook the glaring flaws.

This is a great book. Listen, I don’t want to ruin it for you. Just read it. It is dark, violent, and weird, but not needlessly so.
One further note: I think this is Scott’s first book. Holy cow, watch this guy.

his is very violent fantasy fiction masterfully written. It's a book in which you need to just go for the wild ride. You may well feel breathless by the time you reach the book's end. It's not for weak hearted readers. Nor is it exactly intellectual. This is unadulterated entertainment for those who can take the fast pace and sheer gory violence of the book. I'd say it may be too descriptive and violent for YA readers. This is best for the more mature of us. I do recommend it for strong hearted readers.

A dozen monkish thirty-somethings practice their disciplines in or away from their home base in Garrison Oaks. Carolyn's practice is language. Since her parents died, she's dedicated her life to learning languages. Margaret's discipline is dying, Jennifer's is healing and resurrecting; Michael puts Dr. Doolittle to shame with his relationships with animals of the air, land, and sea. David battles, and Peter studies mathematics. Rachel predicts the future. Almost all of their parents are dead, and they consider themselves a family because since they were orphaned, they have been under the care of and serving Father, a powerful enigma.

Father becomes absent, and none of them know where to find him. Someone has to take over and lead the family. No one talks about it, but a power struggle and mayhem ensue. Some of the family seem clueless. Others, like Carolyn, are ruthless.

Carolyn enlists an outsider named Steve to do her dirty work, and won't give him a break. He winds up charged with murder, then escaping jail while being interviewed by a government agent named Erwin, who is badass defined. What is not clear, and makes the middle of the book a compulsive read, is Carolyn's true motivation and methods. This is one of the most creative story arcs I've read in years. It's absolutely impossible, but completely logical. For a fantasy.

It's unfortunate that Mr. Hawkins did not maintain the urgency of the middle of the book through to the end. I thought the story would end with a bang, but it ended in a soft, cozy thud. Still, most of it is a very exciting read, provided you don't mind a little blood and guts.

I don’t know how else to describe this book, there were elements that I enjoyed but they felt disjointed and few and far between. I really felt at times like I was in a constant stream of consciousness and not in a good way. If I had to do it all over again, I’d probably give this book a pass.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book was nuts. Lexicon meets American Gods. It definitely kept me guessing till the very end. Not the most elegantly written but I read it in one sitting given how fast paced it was. #susanreads

My favorite book I read in 2016. The second I finished it, I had to reread it. The characters are not kind, but they are loving. It takes attention to get what's going on, but it does a good job of keeping you more or less on track if you missed something. Highly recommend. Would compare to NK Jemisin's Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Masterfully done.

LOVED this book. I picked it up in an airport to kill time in a layover and wound up finishing it within two days. The characters are excellently built and the story line is unique and captivating. I passed it on to my sister as soon as I finished it, and she also completed the book within two days. Now we're both just anxiously awaiting a second book from Scott Hawkins.

This novel is something else, but I found it refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable. If you enjoy mythology, gods and monsters, then give this book a try. It is not based on ancient Greek or Roman mythology, but the characters and plot clearly take inspiration from them. I recommend this to anyone who thinks an apocalyptic, gods and monsters, action, and mystery story sounds good!

A very creative fantasy that centers around a library that houses all sorts on unique characters with unusual powers like knowing thousands of languages or bringing the dead back to life. However, the library livers do have contact with people in the outside world like you and me. They must guard the secrets of the library at all costs. When their leader and family patriarch is out of the loop a girl named Carolyn and an outsider friend must fill the gap. I love the wild creativity this book exhibits.

The only thing I dislike about this book is that I can't find anything else like it. "The Library at Mount Char" blew my mind with how amazing it was. I was hung up on it for days and kept replaying my favorite moments in my mind. Wonderfully written, fantastic characters, super cool plot. It's just so darn good.

I don't author reviews. But for this book, I had to make an exception. It's not what you expect (it doesn't matter what your expectations are), but stick with it and it will stick with you for years to come.

I really wanted to like this book, the premise promised so much but I felt let down while reading and detached from the characters.
Perhaps in creating such alien and cold characters the author did a good job and that was like I felt more of an observer than being immersed in the story as I usually am.
It's fantasy and then some, maybe fantastical would be more accurate as the story goes to great lengths to suggest a fantastical group of people who have been brought up to lose their humanity and develop super human skills.
As a lover of strange fantasy novels the back cover blurb really hooked me and I feel it could have been so much better than it ended up being.
I found the ending hurried, with less time and energy spent describing Carolyn's development than explaining how she grew in the first half of the book.
Not a great read, but it did entertain, just wish it had fulfilled it's potential.

It takes a while to get into, because you do not identify too strongly with any of the characters. But it is a good story, and not one you feel like you have read before. I was sorry to be done when I finished it.

I am so happy to have found this book. It made my time off of work fulfilling. I also found this book called Futures Past that was a different type of fantasy but still a great read.

Futures Past.

Wow! I read a lot, and this is one of the most unique and compelling novels I've read in a long time. The writing is so well-done, it's worth the read for that alone. If you are a casual or superficial reader, don't expect this author to pander to you. Put on your big girl/boy panties and engage in a complex, richly descriptive, journey. Don't miss this one!

This was the best book I've read in years! Hawkins is a master at weaving the impossible into our world and it's a story that will capture the imagination and stay with you! Great for teen and adult audiences.

So good.

It was like getting punched in the face repeatedly while a beautiful person of whatever gender you're into massages your neck telling you that everything is going to be ok only to have them kick your shin.

It hurt so good.

Really though, I couldn't put this thing down. Super original. Super dark. Super funny.

Kinda has an American Gods feel to it, but I actually preferred this to it.

The Library At Mount Char is a truly innovative, original, and absolutely amazing book. A good friend recommended it, and I read it in two days - I couldn't put it down. The imagery and story will stay with you. This novel is unforgettable. One of the best books I've ever read - I hope Scott Hawkins writes many more novels!

4.75 stars. Wow, that was such an amazing story! Super weird, and original. Never read anything so unique. Every part of the book kept me intrigued and was hard to put down. I have a book hangover now-don't want to say goodbye to these characters and to this story.

I loved this book. The characters were well written, especially the Librarians. The interactions between the main three characters are great and their exploits keep you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. If you like an action packed novel with great characters then pick up this book and don't be surprised if you cheer for the lions.

The space between chapter one and page 100 was a real slog in the NOT COMPLETELY EDITED YET advance version that I reviewed. Looking back on the book, it is kind of an action thriller crossed with fantasy that, while spending a lot of time on the darker side of humanity, also has a fair amount of humor. The book really starts to get going in the second half, with a higher than average number of plot twists and an "ending" that came well before I expected it. A good read in hindsight, but I wouldn't recommend it based on the copy that I read.

In response to some of the poor reviews.... It's the author's first novel. So yes, some of the sentences and overall writing are weak at times. But this is a fantastic book. Unparalleled creativity, and I hope the Hawkins continues writing books like this.

I use a test when I read novels: I read 5% of the book, and then decide if I want to keep going. Usually, if I keep going, I don't doubt that decision and blast through to the end of the book. The Library at Mount Char is an exception to that. I read 5%, and was somewhat intrigued to see where it was going, but not hooked. I continued to 10%; still mildly intrigued but not hooked. I made it to ~25% (almost 100 pages out of 370), and I'm stopping. I just can't keep going on this.

Author Scott Hawkins has set up the world of his book, and I believe that he may have some consistent rules of what's what in that world - unfortunately, through the first 100 pages or so, not enough of that world has been explained. The expectation is built that this Library has some number of youth-to-young-adult Librarians who are students / subjects of Father; the relationship hasn't been explained. The Librarians have some different relationships amongst themselves, too - that was starting to build my interest (but not enough for me to keep going). They are each assigned a "Catalog", some topic that they are to learn and master - and there is punishment if they fail.

Personally, I found no way or reason to connect with any of the characters, nothing with which to identify, no way to have any emotional investment in the book at all. Too many characters with too little development. For my taste, I never found enough to connect with the book. This is a genre that I have just started reading. I suspect that others who are more familiar with this genre of book will enjoy it much more than me. Good luck!

Amazing story! Not at all what I was expecting from the jacket but I was blown away. This is the story Neil Gaiman should have written instead of "American Gods". Can't wait to see more from this author!

This dark fantasy may appeal to diehard fantasy readers, but it will repel casual readers, even those who enjoy reading fantasy from time to time. The only way this might attract readers is if it becomes serialized on the large or small screen and becomes a teen cult favorite. The bones of the story would make that a possibility. But even then I would never recommend a book to a teen that is not a grabber, and this is not. Even in the opening pages the writing makes for slow reading. Having stopped early on, I found no evidence of an actual library, and I was put off by the sadistic behavior of Father toward the teens (who seem to be his guinea pigs) and among the teens themselves. The characters are not bizarre, but their actions certainly are. A girl who is assigned by Father to study the afterworld buries herself to commune with the dead (for four weeks!). Thankfully, another girl is a healer and brings her back to life, though Hawkins forgets that the buried girl only moments before had maggots all over her. Another teen studies animals, to the point where he loses the ability to communicate with humans. Fortunately, Carolyn is a polylinguist and is able to understand his animal language. Unfortunately, Hawkins' debut novel does not communicate well with readers.

I gave this book one star only because zero stars was not an option.
I'm not a squeamish person. I'm a 69-year-old Vietnam veteran, so perhaps I've see too much ACTUAL violence and cruelty. And that could be why I couldn't get through this book. It sickened me.
I like horror as much as the next man. I love Steven King; but although King enjoys being shocking and frightening, I don't think he goes out of his way to be nauseating, or to inflict nightmares upon his readers. His books are infused with an optimistic humanism. I think he's basically a nice guy. I wonder about Scott Hawkins.
I gave up after the scene in which one of the characters is slowly roasted in a hollow bronze statue, a process described in meticulous detail over the course of almost three pages. I thought, this is the worst form of pornography; cruelty porn.
If you live in a world devoid of any actual nastiness, then you may enjoy this book, for the same reason that teenage male virgins enjoy online porn. To them it's nothing but entertaining fantasy. But if you're somebody who's actually had a life that's included some dark times, then I recommend you not pick up this book.
It lingers in my mind like the stench of cat urine in an old rug.

I admit I was strangely fascinated by this book. Like the proverbial train wreck, I couldn't look away, no matter how disturbed I got. However, I got to the end and an left with two thoughts: "WTF was that???" and "I may never get some of those scenes out of my mind" (and that is not a good thing). One reviewer had it right - you will love this book or hate it. You won't be bored and you won't be indifferent. But be warned going in. You might be scarred for life.

It was a long, bizarre, cruelty laden, obscenity filled, gory horror story. A lot of information to absorb. A lot of suspension of disbelief. But the worst was reading for 400 pages and not really knowing if I understood what was going on. Kind of like the last Stanley Kubrick movie "Eyes Wide Shut."

I think I would have liked it a lot more if I was able to have an author Q&A while reading the book.

It's a mashup of random mythology and legends thrown together in a way that turns into a literary mess. The beginning seemed somewhat intriguing, but quickly went downhill when the plot further unfolded.

The Library at Mount Char is an odd book. I have not read a fantasy book in years but thought I would give it a try. The characters are hard to love – except Erwin. The only character I liked. I read the whole book and kind of wish I hadn't. The first chapter was disturbing – should have stopped there. The second half tries to unravel all the questions, complex ideas, and mixed bag of genres, but is not able to pull it off. (less)

Spoiler alert: I couldn't finish this book. The tone kept switching--for example, are the characters valley girls? Horrific demons and demigods? Ordinary suburbanites? They talk like all three. The premises were too hard to accept, even given the fantastical setting. The "Father" barbecued the murderous teen in a giant grill--what was meant to be terrifying was silly. The librarians made a deal with a cliche lion who wanted revenge--too ridiculous.