The House of Rust

"The House of Rust" is a captivating magical realist novel that follows a Hadrami girl in Mombasa on a fantastical sea voyage to rescue her missing father. Guided by a talking cat and joined by various animal characters, Aisha encounters sea monsters and faces thrilling challenges, revealing a richly textured story rooted in Swahili and Hadrami culture. This debut by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber combines vivid imagery with an imaginative narrative, offering a memorable coming-of-age adventure.