The House of Borrowed Days
About the Story
After returning to settle an eccentric neighbor's estate, Mara discovers a house that can rewrite memory in exchange for days taken from elsewhere. As the town fractures over ethics and ownership, she must steward the house's power—deciding whether to destroy, regulate, keep, or cede it—while consequences ripple outward.
Chapters
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Frequently Asked Questions about The House of Borrowed Days
What is the central premise and setup of The House of Borrowed Days, and what kind of story does it tell ?
The novel centers on Mara Hale returning to settle an estate and discovering a house that trades days of life to rewrite memory. It blends small-town drama, moral dilemma, and interactive-choice storytelling with rising stakes.
Who is Mara Hale and what role does she play in the unfolding conflict over the house's power ?
Mara Hale is the protagonist and reluctant steward of the house. She must decide whether to destroy, regulate, keep, or cede its powers while navigating grief, community pressure, and exploitation attempts.
How does the house's memory-rewriting mechanic function, and what rules or costs are revealed in the story ?
The house requires an anchor object and a token to grant a rewrite. Trades restore memories but debit days or possibilities elsewhere; earlier records hint that large rewrites can cost decades or unborn potential.
What ethical dilemmas and player choices drive the narrative in The House of Borrowed Days, and how do they affect the town ?
Players face choices about using the house for private healing, public stewardship, or destruction. Each decision shifts relationships, alters town memories, and creates ripple effects that expose trade-offs between relief and harm.
How many distinct endings are available in the Interactive Fiction, and what kinds of decisions influence the final outcome ?
The game offers multiple endings tied to stewardship choices: sacrifice, public trust, private possession, or corporate capture. Key decisions about use, governance, and alliances determine the final outcome.
Is The House of Borrowed Days suitable for readers who enjoy interactive fiction with moral ambiguity and slow-burn mystery ?
Yes. Readers who like ethically complex, character-driven interactive fiction will appreciate its slow escalation, consequential choices, shifting alliances, and a mystery that unfolds through player decisions.