A review by utopiastateofmind
Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Rust in the Root is like historical fiction meets fantasy in an explosion of color and magic. I sincerely love all of Justina's world building premises. Immediately I fell in love with the atmosphere. The ways in which racism exists in this context combined with the magic and fledgling dreams. Ireland takes our world and weaves a spell within it to use fantasy as a lens to discuss oppression and privilege. It's one that shimmers and glistens with magic, but also has a shadowed side of racism and prejudice.
From the beginning, Rust in the Root has this intriguing time jump where there are certain chapters which seem to be from the future. And the whole time you ask yourself, "how did they get to this and what happened". As the book progresses, you begin to ask yourself about the reliability of narratives and the 'truth'. As a core in Rust in the Root, Ireland asks us to question how magic can be a gift and also exploited. The ways in which magic inherently is a tool and it's how we - as fallible humans - use it.
Rust in the Root is like historical fiction meets fantasy in an explosion of color and magic. I sincerely love all of Justina's world building premises. Immediately I fell in love with the atmosphere. The ways in which racism exists in this context combined with the magic and fledgling dreams. Ireland takes our world and weaves a spell within it to use fantasy as a lens to discuss oppression and privilege. It's one that shimmers and glistens with magic, but also has a shadowed side of racism and prejudice.
From the beginning, Rust in the Root has this intriguing time jump where there are certain chapters which seem to be from the future. And the whole time you ask yourself, "how did they get to this and what happened". As the book progresses, you begin to ask yourself about the reliability of narratives and the 'truth'. As a core in Rust in the Root, Ireland asks us to question how magic can be a gift and also exploited. The ways in which magic inherently is a tool and it's how we - as fallible humans - use it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism