The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Goodreads Summary

Neil Gaiman meets Joe Hill in this astonishingly original, terrifying, and darkly funny contemporary fantasy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

I tried, guys... I really, really tried.   But, I failed.

I tried so hard to like this book.  I started reading this and I was so, so, so, confused.  I started looking up other reviews of this book to see if I was just crazy and, it seems that I am.  At least that's what it feels like since so many other people gave it four and five star reviews! And here I am not even sure if I could give it one star.

I really just don't know what to say.  The Library at Mount Char was so confusing, weird, dark, gory, gross, and just something that I would never typically read.  I say this every time I have to write a negative review, but here I am saying it again... I hate having to write bad reviews!  I really wanted to like this book!

Maybe it was just me.  Maybe you would like this book.  I will keep looking at other reviews to see if I'm alone in feeling this way about The Library at Mount Char or if someone else felt the same as me.  I don't know, guys... I really don't know what else to say.  I just really wasn't a fan of this book.

*Note: I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.