Buy used: $25.83

FREE delivery Friday, March 24. Order within 16 hrs 38 mins

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by Instigate the Change Books

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 2 images

Follow the Author

Scott Hawkins

The Library at Mount Char Hardcover – June 16, 2015

by Scott Hawkins (Author)

3,261 ratings

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$5.99

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$25.83

$49.57

$9.32

Paperback

"Please retry"

$14.04

$10.05

$8.26

Audio CD, CD, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$33.79

—

Kindle
$5.99 Read with Our Free App
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your Audible trial
Hardcover
$25.83

28 Used from $9.32 2 New from $49.57 3 Collectible from $59.99
Paperback
$14.04

6 Used from $8.26 12 New from $10.05
Audio CD
$33.79

2 New from $33.79

A missing God.
A library with the secrets to the universe.
A woman too busy to notice her heart slipping away.

Carolyn's not so different from the other people around her. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. Clothes are a bit tricky, but everyone says nice things about her outfit with the Christmas sweater over the gold bicycle shorts.

After all, she was a normal American herself once.

That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father.

In the years since then, Carolyn hasn't had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient customs. They've studied the books in his Library and learned some of the secrets of his power. And sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God.

Now, Father is missing—perhaps even dead—and the Library that holds his secrets stands unguarded. And with it, control over all of creation.

As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her, all of them with powers that far exceed her own.

But Carolyn has accounted for this.

And Carolyn has a plan.

The only trouble is that in the war to make a new God, she's forgotten to protect the things that make her human.

Populated by an unforgettable cast of characters and propelled by a plot that will shock you again and again, The Library at Mount Char is at once horrifying and hilarious, mind-blowingly alien and heartbreakingly human, sweepingly visionary and nail-bitingly thrilling—and signals the arrival of a major new voice in fantasy.

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Crown
Publication date

June 16, 2015
Dimensions

6.4 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches
ISBN-10

0553418602
ISBN-13

978-0553418606
Lexile measure

HL590L
See all details

T. Kingfisher
3,317
Paperback
24 offers from $6.63
Drew Magary
1,101
Paperback
Editors' pickBest Science Fiction & Fantasy
54 offers from $7.98
Ania Ahlborn
3,476
Paperback
7 offers from $12.58
Nick Cutter
5,823
Paperback
77 offers from $7.67
B.R. Yeager
704
Paperback
13 offers from $13.49
Kazuo Ishiguro
7,727
Paperback
Editors' pickBest Science Fiction & Fantasy
131 offers from $2.22

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Wholly original…the work of the newest major talent in fantasy.”
—Wall Street Journal

"Freakishly compelling...through heart-thumping acts of violence and laugh-out-loud moments, this book practically dares you to keep reading."
—Atlanta Magazine

An engrossing fantasy world full of supernatural beings and gruesome consequences."
--Boston Globe

"Vivid...the dialogue sings...you'll spend equal time shuddering and chortling."
—Dallas Morning News"

“A spellbinding story of world-altering power and revenge…Hawkins has created a fascinating, unusual world in which ordinary people can learn to wield breathtaking power—and he's also written a compelling story about love and revenge that never loses sight of the human emotions at its heart. A wholly original, engrossing, disturbing, and beautiful book.”
—Kirkus (starred)

“An extravagant, beautifully imagined fantasy about a universe that is both familiar and unfamiliar…Hawkins makes nary a misstep in this award-worthy effort of imagination. You won't be able to put it down.”
—Booklist (starred)

"A bizarre yet utterly compelling debut...might remind readers of Robert Jackson Bennett's or Neil Gaiman's horror/fantasies.”
—Library Journal (starred)

“A terrific book, full of dark mystery and genuine beauty.”
—Richard Kadrey, New York Times bestselling author of Sandman Slim

“A first-rate novel… a sprawling, epic contemporary fantasy about cruelty and the end of the world, compulsively readable, with the deep, resonant magic of a world where reality is up for grabs. Unputdownable.”
—Cory Doctorow, New York Times bestselling author of Little Brother and Makers

"Funny, horrifying and original…the kind of story that keeps yanking you off in ridiculous new directions every time you think you know what's coming next."
—David Wong, New York Times bestselling author of John Dies at the End

"The most genuinely original fantasy I’ve ever read. Hawkins plays with really, really big ideas and does it with superb invention, deeply affecting characters, and a smashing climax I did not see coming."
—Nancy Kress, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of Beggars in Spain

“This book is batshit crazy. From the very first pages, the story grabs you by the guts and doesn't let go. It mashes together fantasy and thriller, love stories and dark comedy, into a wild trip at once unpredictable and unforgettable. You'll never look at a librarian in quite the same way.”
—Keith Donohue, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Child

“A pyrotechnic debut...The most terrifyingly psychopathic depiction of a family of gods and their abusive father since Genesis.”
—Charles Stross, Hugo and Locus Award-winning author of Accelerando and The Apocalypse Codex

"Don't pick up this book unless you want to read something you've absolutely never read before. The Library at Mount Char is funny, bizarre, moving, frightening, and surreal. The most original work I've read in ages."
—Walter Jon Williams, New York Times bestselling author of Destiny’s Way and This is Not a Game

About the Author

SCOTT HAWKINS lives in Atlanta with his wife and a large pack of foster dogs. When not writing he enjoys woodwork, cooking long and impractical recipes, and playing fetch with his dogs. He works as a computer programmer. The Library at Mount Char is his first novel.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown; 1St Edition (June 16, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0553418602
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553418606
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL590L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.41 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #443,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,742 in Dark Fantasy
- #19,263 in Paranormal & Urban Fantasy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
3,261 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Scott Hawkins

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I'm a computer programmer. I live in the Atlanta suburbs with my wife and a lot of dogs. I write fantasy set in the modern world.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

3,261 global ratings

5 star		65%
4 star		24%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

AnthMV

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 16, 2023

Verified Purchase

I’ve never read anything remotely like this. Hawkins has one of those god level imaginations that just blow you away with the concepts and ideas he has not only come up with but is able to explore and get across. I envy anyone who is reading this for the first time.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kennedy

absolutely fantastic

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 9, 2023

Verified Purchase

Absolutely fantastic! Wonderfully creative. Dark but funny. Deep and unexpected characters. One of the most well written books I’ve read in a very long time. Bravo!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Jamie Davis

If you love Neil Gaiman, you will love this book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

One of the best books I've ever read.
Hail the Amazon Gods for recommending this book about American Gods while I was shopping the other day! I am sad that I didn’t know about it when it was released last year, but am oh so thankful to have had this experience now. Fans of Neil Gaiman are in for a treat.

In his debut novel, Scott Hawkins has created a darkly weird world of adult librarians, who were essentially kidnapped by Father when they were eight years old and brought into the infinite Library at Mount Char to study and work. The librarians have been trained in twelve catalogues – one category per child, with strict instructions on not discussing/sharing your catalogue with another.

David (master of the war catalogue) and Margaret (master of the dead catalogue) have story lines that are the most violent and brutal, and some of the scenes concerning David, frankly, I could have lived without, but what do you expect from a character who is the master of the war catalogue? His story line is not going to be about eating cupcakes in the park with his girlfriend. The violence is necessary for the subject matter. After all, one does not get to be a God without being burned alive a time or two. As examples of other catalogue subjects, Rachel’s catalogue involves the prediction and manipulation of possible futures. Carolyn is the master of all languages.

So. Back to the plot. Father is dead, and maybe one of his librarians killed him (I don’t want to spoil it for you) and maybe another one of his many enemies killed him. All of the librarians are completely out of touch with humanity and arguably insane now that they are in their 30s. It made me think of our world leaders, and how out of touch they must all be with their respective citizens. (Oh, do you not have the sun anymore? Food is a problem for you now? And I am to understand that you don’t like that?)

I was also quite amused by the zombies in the suburbs. Hey, I know these people! Wait a minute, am I one of these people?! Just kidding. I am pretty sure I am not one of the reanimated dead. But, you never know who your neighbors are…

I think what I enjoyed the most about this read is how Hawkins brought the story full-circle towards the end of the book. We learn more about Father and his relationships with his librarians, specifically, with his protege that he has been grooming all this time to take over his position. Many times, after I am finished with a book, I am still left with a lot of questions that I wish were tied up by the author. Challenging your readers is great, and Hawkins does this in the beginning and the middle. The end is tied up quite nicely for you, and I appreciate that. I want to know what the author thinks he’s written! Tell me a story. Don’t tell me a set of circumstances and then leave me sitting over here pissed off contemplating like a jerk for days on end – “Well, what did it all mean?”

I think that is a skill that is quite rare, and I hate it when the author doesn’t address the big “Why” questions.

Great job, Hawkins! This is one of the best books I have read in many years. I am so glad I purchased this one, because I marked the copy up quite a bit, and will no doubt be returning for a second read next summer. This is one that I am betting will read different to me after knowing how it ends.

72 people found this helpful

Helpful

Matt

The most imaginative book I have read this year

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 16, 2018

Verified Purchase

It took me until December, nearly Christmas!, to find the book of the year that is just plain good fun while feeding my soul. I always think it is incredibly dopey of most people to go around quoting movie lines that actors deliver without thinking through to the idea that somewhere, sometime, a WRITER put those words in the actor's mouth. We should have authors that we follow around with the some slavish devotion that we assign to witless actors. But I digress. Scott Hawkins deserves more accolades than he will probably ever get as a "lowly" author. It's how our universe runs....but it could be a lot worse if we peek into the Library at Mount Char.
Ever wrestle with the idea of what life really means? Is there a God up there? And if there is, what does he expect? Is there any way to turn the wheels of time and quantum space itself? Can one person ever amass too much knowledge?
All of those ideas get turned on their heads in this book and examined from all angles. We follow an acolyte of God Himself/Herself/Father (as we dimly realize the hierarchical sets) through life-changing experiences. Along the way, our heroine, Carolyn, picks up your average Steves and Mrs. McGillicuddys and Erwins and breathes life into them without destroying their essential humanity and likableness. These characters will fulfill reoccurring roles, almost like reincarnations. Sure, we have the usual immortal Titans that are cruel (and infinite in their cruelty)...but at the same time Titans enjoy brownies, too. Even lions get a chance to help save the universe along the way by getting rid of a few horrible singers and their crappy songs.
I don't know how long it took Mr. Hawkins to write this book but every chapter is infused with humor, a little bit of slap-stick, and thoughtful, truly mind-blowing revelations. Alright, and some gross stuff. But you can't have a car chase without some crashes. It is a little bit fantasy, a little bit science fiction, a little bit philosophy, a little bit spiritual and a whole lot of not for the faint-hearted or easily grossed out. There are rapes, both metaphorical and actual, many people die in creative and quick ways, and humanity is shown to be mostly full of crap and laziness. As one would expect by looking around the world now. So pretty realistic but delivered in a hopeful not hopeless fashion.
I don't want to write synopsis of the book that you can get in the introduction. Instead, I want to tell you how I felt when I read the book. I could not put it down. I wanted to read just one more chapter. I laid in bed all Saturday only stopping to raid a chocolate stash, grab more hot tea, kick the cat out, and hop back into bed. To read. The story was engrossing, thrilling, and, for you feminists out there, satisfying until you realize that gender doesn't really matter to the story. It's how you are as a human being, a heart coal....and as a newly created God.

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

J

This'll knock your socks off

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 26, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book is different from anything else you've read. Maybe not a masterpiece, but still packs a crazy punch.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Olivia

Bizarre, dark and compelling

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

4.5 Stars.

If you think the plot sounds weird, then that's because the plot is definitely weird. This isn't your average novel. It's complex and requires attention, but the pieces will start to click into place after a few chapters or, well, at the very least towards the end of the book. Be patient. You'll get your answers.

The story is dark, bleak, confusing and at the same time wondrous.

There isn't a single dull moment in this book. From epic lion battles, to savage dogs, to zombies and psychotic characters, The Library at Mount Char offers everything.

It's compelling. Despite its horrific moments, it's incredibly compelling, and I couldn't put it down. Hawkins didn't just write a unique book, he's also got an unique voice. I especially enjoyed the way he managed to inject humour into the darkness.

The characters are all odd, some downright terrifying, but well developed and fleshed out. Hawkins has a vast imagination. I'm a tiny bit terrified of the man, now.

I don't want to say too much because I believe some books should be enjoyed knowing as little as possible, but this is one I would have never discovered without the invaluable recommendations I get from fantasy friends through Goodreads.

It's one of the most unique books I've ever read, and it's also one of the more darker and more terrifying ones. I'd definitely classify it as horror to a certain extent. I recommend it to people who love horror, fantasy and are looking for a bit different.

7 people found this helpful

Mr Happy Douglas

blew my mind

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 20, 2022

Verified Purchase

Got this on a tt review, I was a bit dubious but, wow. Read through in nearly one sitting, solid, solid read.

3 people found this helpful

D. Beecher

Original and Absorbing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

The Library at Mount Char - Scott Hawkins
Genre - Dark Fantasy, Mythology, Magic.
Rating - 9/10
For those who like Neil Gaiman and Suzanne Clarke.
We start with twelve very strange adults, who were adopted as children by Father and have spent twenty-five years studying various facets of his knowledge. But now Father is missing and they can't get near his library.
This is a high quality genre book, not a Masterpiece, but a highly enjoyable work by a skilled Journeyman. It has some very distinctive characters, who are well drawn and engaging. Carolyn the MC is who I would have liked Hermione Granger to have been, the girl who gets rid of Voldemort by the third book. She is surrounded by other complex characters who wander forward and back across the boarder between good and evil (mainly because they are shaky on the concept of good and evil). The plotting is complex and the thriller type pace compliments it. It is very dark in places, but there is also a leavening of black humour.
I can see some people having a problem with parts of the ending but it is only with hindsight I see those plot issues. At the time of reading I was so absorbed in the world I accepted it all easily. My feeling after finishing the book was that it was one of the most satisfying and original novels I have read in ages.

4 people found this helpful

Craig Massey

Brilliant. Read it today

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 13, 2022

Verified Purchase

What a fantastic story this is. I have never read anything like this. At times funny, horrific, nostalgic, serious, graphic and at other times all the above all at once. A story to make you think about our world and our history.

Awesome.

2 people found this helpful

Queen of Denmark

Not quite sure what I expected, this wasn't it, but I loved it all the same

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 5, 2020

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. I think I was expecting horror, and if anything it was sci-fi, but it was really good and I loved it. The characters were great and the story was fascinating, and every time I thought I knew what was happening the book proved me wrong, kept me guessing, and kept me reading because I needed to know how things turned out. I really hope there's a sequel because I finished this book days ago and can't stop thinking about it.

See all reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	6pm Score deals on fashion brands	AbeBooks Books, art & collectibles	ACX Audiobook Publishing Made Easy	Sell on Amazon Start a Selling Account

Amazon Business Everything For Your Business	Amazon Fresh Groceries & More Right To Your Door	AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally	Home Services Experienced Pros Happiness Guarantee	Amazon Ignite Sell your original Digital Educational Resources	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Audible Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances	Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data	ComiXology Thousands of Digital Comics	DPReview Digital Photography	Fabric Sewing, Quilting & Knitting

Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment Professionals Need	Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Prime Video Direct Video Distribution Made Easy

Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Amazon Warehouse Great Deals on Quality Used Products	Whole Foods Market America’s Healthiest Grocery Store	Woot! Deals and Shenanigans	Zappos Shoes & Clothing	Ring Smart Home Security Systems

eero WiFi Stream 4K Video in Every Room	Blink Smart Security for Every Home	Neighbors App Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts	Amazon Subscription Boxes Top subscription boxes – right to your door	PillPack Pharmacy Simplified	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust

Follow the Author

The Library at Mount Char Hardcover – June 16, 2015

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the author

Scott Hawkins

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries