The Library at Mount Char

Step into the extraordinary world of The Library at Mount Char, where reality bends and ancient powers lurk behind ordinary suburban facades. Carolyn and her adopted siblings were taken in by a mysterious figure they call Father after tragic losses in their childhoods. Raised according to ancient customs they barely understand, they’ve spent years studying in a vast library that contains knowledge beyond human comprehension. Each sibling has mastered a specific “catalogue” of knowledge—ranging from healing to violence to communication with animals—under the strict tutelage of their enigmatic guardian who may or may not be divine.

The delicate balance of their unusual existence shatters when Father disappears, leaving the Library unguarded and its universe-altering secrets vulnerable to those who would claim them. Carolyn, pragmatic and resourceful, finds herself at the center of a cosmic power struggle she never sought but has quietly prepared for. As she gathers allies and weapons both mundane and supernatural, she faces competitors with abilities that dwarf her own, each believing they deserve to control the Library’s immense power. The question isn’t whether Carolyn can win, but what she’ll have to sacrifice to do so.

Within these pages, Hawkins creates a world that feels simultaneously familiar and utterly alien, where a woman might wear a Christmas sweater over gold bicycle shorts while contemplating the nature of divinity. The narrative moves with precision between heart-stopping action sequences and moments of surprising tenderness, between cosmic horror and laugh-out-loud humor. Supporting characters—including an ex-con exploring Buddhism, a military specialist, and even a pair of remarkably intelligent lions—add depth and texture to a story that defies easy categorization, blending genres with effortless grace.

Critics have rightly praised the novel’s originality, calling it “wholly original” and “the work of the newest major talent in fantasy.” What makes The Library at Mount Char truly remarkable is how it grounds its fantastical elements in deeply human experiences—the pain of loss, the search for identity, the complicated bonds of family (both chosen and biological). Hawkins never asks readers to work too hard to suspend disbelief; instead, he builds a world where the extraordinary feels inevitable, where ancient powers operate with the same casual efficiency as ordering takeout.

This debut novel announces Scott Hawkins as a significant new voice in contemporary fantasy, one who understands that the most compelling stories aren’t about the powers characters wield, but about what those powers cost them. The Library at Mount Char delivers on every promise it makes, rewarding careful readers with a narrative that reveals its secrets gradually while maintaining relentless forward momentum. It’s a book that stays with you long after the final page, prompting reflection on the nature of power, the price of knowledge, and what it truly means to be human in a universe far stranger than we imagine.