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The House of Rust

 


What a bizarre little story. When I say bizarre, I mean that mostly in a good way. The House of Rust  by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber is a fantasy that takes place in and around Mombasa, and out to sea in a very strange sea. Our main character is Aisha, a girl who does not fit into the mold that everyone keeps trying to place her. When her father is lost at sea, she takes it upon herself to go out and bring him back (with the help of a talking cat).

There be monsters here.

Yes, Aisha finds monsters at sea. Monsters that she has to either outsmart or be eaten by. And on land it turns out the world is far more complicated than she could have imagined. It is not just cats who can understand her. Many animals can, though they pretend not to. It is an interwoven tapestry of a story that is filled with wonder. But at times the story takes a twist that leaves me puzzled.

The world is just too strange and wonderful for Aisha to possibly settle down. She has seen a glimpse of something bigger, and she wants it.  She knows that she does not want a traditional life. There is a nice boy that likes her, potential husband material. Grandmother is thrilled. Aisha is not. Her grandmother has been the dominant force in Aisha’s life, and Aisha genuinely loves and respects her, but when Aisha’s eyes are opened to a new world, we know that a choice will have to be made.

I really liked the first half of the House of Rust. It is filled with a magical adventure. It is weird and creepy and thought provoking. The second half doesn’t quite live up to the promise of the first half. Perhaps that is my fault. The book did not go where I wanted it to go. Authors are not obliged to go where I want them to go. My personal preference would have been for a better tie-in to the adventure from the first half. But to each their own.

I will say that The House of Rust is well written with compelling characters. If you are looking for something different in the fantasy realm, this is very different.

Star Liner

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