“‘All houses have a little death in them, given time.’ Ba says. ‘There’s no need for more, which is why we’re going to settle this right now.'”
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Jade is about to go off to college but knows she can’t afford tuition. In exchange for spending the summer with her estranged father, he offers to pay her bill. All she needs to do is to stay with him as he renovates a home for future renting and help design the house’s website. She is more than begrudging but her sister joins her and she forges forward. Quickly she learns that the house has a colonial history haunting it that has impacted her family for generations. She becomes consumed by understanding what has happened and how to end it.
This one had a creative take on the generational impact of colonialism, a bit like Babel, without being so obviously erudite… and much darker of course. I liked that it was mostly gothically creepy but toed the line of graphic horror as the story went on. I also really appreciated that you get answers and resolution, so much horror leaves it to reader interpretation, this story is not that.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
Have you been to Vietnam? Is it on your bucket list?
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