The Library at Mount Char by @scottrhawkins

By Pamelascott
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.

*** [Carolyn, blood-drenched and barefoot, walked alone down the two-lane stretch of blacktop that the Americans called Highway 78] ***

(Crown, 16 June 2015, ebook, 390 pages, bought from Amazon, Popsugar 2018 Reading Challenge, a book that involves a bookstore or a library)

***

***

This is my first time reading the author. I can't wait to read more.

The Library at Mount Char is the oddest book I've ever read. I read a lot of books so that's saying a lot. This is one crazy book. I thought it was sort of great. I especially loved the bit with the dogs attacking one of the characters and who's defended by lions. Yep, lions. This is one of those books that doesn't make any sense but you're compelled to read because it's such fun. There are some dark moments especially in the second chunk of the book. The Library at Mount Char is unique and wonderfully original.