The best kind of book is where after it is over, you are unable to think of a book that surpasses it that has a similar structure, plot, and subject matter. The Library at Mount Char is an incredibly unique read, and I struggle to come up with a book superior to it which has any sort of significant overlap. If there is a book that delivers what I am talking about hear, I need to get my hands on it, because this was extraordinary. Umbrella Academy might be the closest thing I can think of to compare to this too, and The Library at Mount Char overshadows it overwhelmingly. When judging the merits of a book, this kind of analysis is something I take in serious consideration, a book that expertly fills a niche that we didn't know we need filled.

It is laden with mysteries that only lead to larger mysteries, which sounds very cliche but I think is excusable in this case. Because every time something is revealed to the reader that leaves the reader realizing things are much grander than they initially appeared, the plot, characters, and everything else do not suffer from it. The grander the scope of the book got the more invested I found myself wanting to find out more and more.

The book does get excessively gory, though it does it well, it has purpose and doesn't come off as gore for the sake of gore. The brutality experienced and delivered by the characters is understandable and is what keeps the book on the trajectory to develop the story which Scott Hawkins aimed to deliver.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, it is one of those books where the closer the end came the stronger the sense of dread came over me, it ultimately left me wanting much more.

My only sticking point is when a certain grand master plan of a certain character finally is laid out bare for the reader. It is just a little too fantastical and too convenient for that character to achieve what they set out to achieve. It does of course offer explanation, though it is mostly chalked up to the character having such unimaginable power of comprehension and unparalleled foresight and through the means of executing such a plan is beyond the readers able to understand. Basically a plan worked because the plot called for it, and is explained away as that it just serves as proof of how crafty and beyond comprehension the character pulling it off really is. For me though the book does an overwhelming amount of things right that my wariness with this in particular is easy for me to overlook.

One of the best books I have read in a while, I want get my hopes up for any kind of sequel but if there is one I would pick it up in a heartbeat.