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iellv's review against another edition
Entertaining enough but you can tell this was written by a cishet white man who's way into legs and Japan. It was distracting and I don't care enough to continue. So. DNF <3
And can I just say. The "teach a child love and compassion only to traumatize them soon after because you want to teach them the True Lesson (Cruelty)" is such a tired, ineffective, and unimaginative concept?
And can I just say. The "teach a child love and compassion only to traumatize them soon after because you want to teach them the True Lesson (Cruelty)" is such a tired, ineffective, and unimaginative concept?
eliotopian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Ok
This took a bit to get passed the “ok what the heck is going on here?!” Phase
Then it was feeling like it was attempting to be more mysterious and intriguing than it was for a very long time
The ending is a bit obvious but also felt right? It bumped it from a 3.0 to 3.75
I do think it was longer than necessary
There was plenty of times I told people it felt like the author was just rambling and making stuff up the moment he typed it or something.
This took a bit to get passed the “ok what the heck is going on here?!” Phase
Then it was feeling like it was attempting to be more mysterious and intriguing than it was for a very long time
The ending is a bit obvious but also felt right? It bumped it from a 3.0 to 3.75
I do think it was longer than necessary
There was plenty of times I told people it felt like the author was just rambling and making stuff up the moment he typed it or something.
dragonsnoot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
apiep97's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ve never read anything like this. Even days later, I don’t know what to say about it. A mix of horror, humor, religious themes. Honestly felt like a fever dream and I never knew what was coming next.
anxietyberry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
blue_guitar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this as part of the 2024 r/fantasy Bingo – Prologues and Epilogues.
The Library at Mount Char has been floating around my "to read list" for a while now and I'm glad I got the chance to go into completely unaware of what I was setting foot into.
Mount Char is a dark and mysterious dive into a strange reality where the mundane world collides with the supernatural. The only book that I think I can compare it to is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. However Mount Char lacks the human belief element - the things in Mount Char don't care what you believe. The Librarians, of which the main character is, exist totally unaware of - and indifferent to the human beings around them.
The best way I can describe it is a battle between otherworldly powers, trying to gain the ability to govern reality as they see it.
On the experience of reading it, I have to say, this is a unique work and I found myself enjoying it. That being said, some things didn't work for me. I had trouble following the goals of the characters. It wasn't always clear why they were doing the things they did. A couple times they seemed so confused they were asking each other what was going on and someone would say, "forget it, you wouldn't understand."
As a result, it was hard to get invested in their struggles because it wasn't always clear what was at stake. Also, by the same token, the lore and world building seemed really interesting but we never really got much understanding of it. It would have been great to know more about the catalogues and the other librarians - towards the end it only seemed like a few of them mattered to the story.
Things that I thought were quite evocative, like the horror elements, were really good. The brazen bull, the dogs, the healing and "magic". All really impressive.
The Library at Mount Char has been floating around my "to read list" for a while now and I'm glad I got the chance to go into completely unaware of what I was setting foot into.
Mount Char is a dark and mysterious dive into a strange reality where the mundane world collides with the supernatural. The only book that I think I can compare it to is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. However Mount Char lacks the human belief element - the things in Mount Char don't care what you believe. The Librarians, of which the main character is, exist totally unaware of - and indifferent to the human beings around them.
The best way I can describe it is a battle between otherworldly powers, trying to gain the ability to govern reality as they see it.
On the experience of reading it, I have to say, this is a unique work and I found myself enjoying it. That being said, some things didn't work for me. I had trouble following the goals of the characters. It wasn't always clear why they were doing the things they did. A couple times they seemed so confused they were asking each other what was going on and someone would say, "forget it, you wouldn't understand."
As a result, it was hard to get invested in their struggles because it wasn't always clear what was at stake. Also, by the same token, the lore and world building seemed really interesting but we never really got much understanding of it. It would have been great to know more about the catalogues and the other librarians - towards the end it only seemed like a few of them mattered to the story.
Things that I thought were quite evocative, like the horror elements, were really good. The brazen bull, the dogs, the healing and "magic". All really impressive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
helenleone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Torture, Murder, Gun violence, Death of parent, Blood, War, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Animal death, Suicide, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Rape, and Drug use
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Confinement, Child death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Car accident, Police brutality, Grief, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
lavdisy's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
This is a really bizarre and weird book that needs more focus to read. Around 100 pages in, I was lost in the plot like I didn't quite know what exactly was happening. After that, the plot actually came back together and made more sense. It actually flabbergasted me how, in one part, there are suddenly talking animals, and then this specific guy wearing a tutu goes around taking people's lives, along with the resurrection. It took me reading some chapters twice just to make sure I understood what subjects were being talked about. By the ending, I was left with more questions unanswered, and I completely agree that the word "isnotreal" makes me very uncomfortable every time I read it. Why would you put that in this book?
For now, my final thought is that I'm giving 3 stars for the overall plot and characters. The feeling of confusion and going with the wave are mixed in here. Maybe I would try reading this again to know better and gain a deeper understanding of it, but at this time, I will just leave this book ended and be finished with it.
For now, my final thought is that I'm giving 3 stars for the overall plot and characters. The feeling of confusion and going with the wave are mixed in here. Maybe I would try reading this again to know better and gain a deeper understanding of it, but at this time, I will just leave this book ended and be finished with it.
imanqblake's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What a lovely, strange book! I'm writing this review just after I've finished the last page, and I'm still trying to grasp on what I feel about this. It was hilarious, brutal, and confusing all at once. The book, I think, is if you put an entire mishmash of amusement parks and stuff it in there. The last few chapters really clarified everything but it was still undoubtedly strange. That's not to say it wasn't great, in fact, I think it's so fun and such a wild ride that you'll want to keep turning the page every second. Loved all the characters, loved the wacky plot, a truly original book imo.
If you're looking to read this book, take note of the content warnings first, but otherwise really just dive in!
If you're looking to read this book, take note of the content warnings first, but otherwise really just dive in!