YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

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.


From the Hardcover edition.

Read the first couple chapters and about to get into it properly. Not a lot to say at the minute except that I am very intrigued!

I didn't have time to start but there are 1.5 hours left of the day, so it's not to late :)

Chapter 1(part 1 and 2): (view spoiler)[yeah... don't really know whats going on... a man uses blood as hairstyle product, we revived a girl from the death and there was a bambi surrogate mother... (hide spoiler)]

Page 86 (view spoiler)[ I'm really liking this so far! I love Carolyn and the mystery of whatever she's been planning. She can move past the wall to the Library too from the sounds of things, so is it triggered by love for their Father maybe? I think the human they use will be the resurrected Steve, and maybe they'll have a relationship, I don't know. I really like Michael and pity David, despite him being horrible, that episode in the bull was horrifying to read. The abilities are really creepy but fascinating, like Rachel's children and Margaret's visits in the Forgotten Lands. (hide spoiler)]

Page 151 (view spoiler)[ This is so good so far! I do want Erwin to come back, he is so badass. I would also like the Library family to stop meddling in Steve's life and leave him alone thankyou. It's kinda freaky that the government know about the Library and Father and the reaction makes me wonder how powerful he really is. Margaret and David freak me out, their sex scene was so gross. (hide spoiler)]

Page 234 (view spoiler)[ Steve is growing on me a lot, especially for what he did for Naga. And DRESDEN 3 Erwin is still cool though, I'm glad we've seen him again. I'm now 99% sure Carolyn is behind Father's disappearance-the trigger is clearly not affecting her since she went into the house and she knew the President would probably kill everyone else. She's actually kind of psycho, actually. (hide spoiler)]

Page 337 (view spoiler)[ This is wrapping up very well. There's only a few loose ends left, with David being a terrible sun and Steve still being unhappy. Carolyn is now very unlikeable, she's very ignorant of other's suffering and dismissive of Steve. I miss the other apprentices, like Jennifer and Michael. I'm glad that she let Margaret die and go to the forgotten lands instead of giving her a similar death to David-at least he somewhat deserved his fate. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! :) Very solid 4 star read for me.

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Date changed. Restarting February 12, 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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Woop woop let's do this! Had this on my shelf for too long and it's giant

Same. I keep picking it up, thinking I will read it and move it to my monthly TBR shelf, then I never get to it. I think finally having people to read it with will be the major motivator I needed to read this one.

Yeah haha damn it's a 17hr audio, that's alright. It'll be good to get to it. It's a publisher review copy as well

18% There is a lot going on! (view spoiler)[So what is Carolyn up to and why? Poor Michael. He seems so innocent and child-like... (hide spoiler)]

Is it easy to understand?

In some ways. But there is a LOT happening that has me unsure. I feel like I just started a puzzle.

Oh dear haha I'll get to it in a few books time

End of Part 1
Ok, things are coming a bit more together but so many bizarre parts still...

I'm worried now lol I've got 2 books before this one :) Should be early next week

I got 2 more after this to try and get to lol.
2 must be the lucky number.

Oh no!
Just one chapter into part 2 and I am distraught. (view spoiler)[I absolutely hate seeing animals hurt or killed. Pets especially. I like dogs more than I like most people so to read that... *Cry* I don't even care the reason. (hide spoiler)]

Distraught? Well damn haha I'll get to this on Sunday!

It has taken until page 239 to start getting real answers!

I'm finally starting this and I'm so excited :)

I'll get there haha

10% - (view spoiler)[What an intense opening paragraph! I can't remember one single detail about why I wanted to read this book and enjoyed going into it blind. The reader is introduced to Carolyn and the fact that she murdered Detective Miner in the same opening page. It was initially perplexing though trying to understand what exactly she and the other librarians are though. (hide spoiler)]

@Jamie: Is this a confusing book? Not sure I have mental capacity for a confusing book right now.. I'm trying to focus on books that make sense XD

Ultimately more bizarre that confusing. But it does take a long time to pull things together so if you want a book that is straightforward and makes sense, this is the opposite. We get just enough info to not be totally lost and that is about it.

Okay well it doesn't sound like me XD Maybe I'll pass on it and give it an unhaul

I'm trying to spend less time reading and more time doing other things so I don't want to read books I'm not going to like

I get that. I am trying to be a bit more selective as well these days. Go enjoy your next read!

Thanks yes I shall!

Finished (view spoiler)[Getting those memories back helped some. So "Father' was aware of her need to one day see them... and he did this to his own child just so he could...what...leave this universe and make his own...? (hide spoiler)]

Jamie wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Read this and it sounds unfulfilling haha

I'm so sorry guys. I'm still 35% into this and no part of me wants to continue on with it so I think I'm gonna dnf for now :(

Dannii wrote: "I'm so sorry guys. I'm still 35% into this and no part of me wants to continue on with it so I think I'm gonna dnf for now :("

Okay I made a good call then haha

Maddie wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I'm so sorry guys. I'm still 35% into this and no part of me wants to continue on with it so I think I'm gonna dnf for now :("

Okay I made a good call then haha"

I can totally see why people would love it but it was too abstract for me!

Yeah, this just...something else for me. I'd say save time for better books. I wish I did. I still struggle with dnfing books once I have started though. It isn't that it is bad, just...too odd.

Jamie wrote: "Yeah, this just...something else for me. I'd say save time for better books. I wish I did. I still struggle with dnfing books once I have started though. It isn't that it is bad, just...too odd."

From what I read I felt the same. It wasn't bad but super weird!!

Yeah weird isn't for me