The House at the Edge of the World
Amal lives with her parents, sister Sara, and aunt Muriel; together they run the local library. But when funding gets cut and they lose their livelihood and home, a mysterious letter arrives with a solution.
The family have been bequeathed an old house in the will of a relative they don’t know. When they arrive to their new house, strange things are happening. The villagers are distrustful of the house and are afraid of the previous tenants, the Hope family. The house has a touch of magic to it, able to provide for the needs of whoever lives inside it. But just as Amal feels she finally has a home again, a profit-driven duo threatens to destroy it all.
Each page is steeped in intrigue as every time Amal finds a new clue relating to the history of the house and its previous tenants, it raises more questions. There are some ghostly characters that lead to a clever reveal by the end of the story, perfect for readers who wants the lightest of spooky touches in their book.
Amal and Sara are endearing characters; their sisterhood is rich and heartwarming. Amal gets anxious, and her thoughts can quickly overwhelm her. But with the support of her family, especially her delightfully charismatic auntie Muriel, she is able to manage them. Scenes written on her anxiety are beautifully lyrical; I would have loved to have seen more of this style woven into the verse novel.
A great read for mystery lovers who appreciates a good twist.
