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Song of the Saltings

Brief Description
On the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. Eight years ago, it should have taken Lotta. Instead, the monster spared her and claimed her... Read More
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A monster, a girl, a sacrifice. This YA folk horror novel from the award-winning author of The Grimmelings takes you to a world both terrifying and mysterious.

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On the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes.

Eight years ago, it should have taken Lotta. Instead, the monster spared her and claimed her pony, shattering tradition and anointing her both folk hero and object of suspicion.

Now sixteen, Lotta tends the Council's sacrificial horses, keeping her distance from the islanders who whisper about her fate.

But something is stirring. The island hums beneath her feet, and a song threads through her dreams. Is the Glimm calling Lotta back?

When she crosses paths with Moss - a boy once hidden from sacrifice - a daring bog rescue sparks a chain of events that forces both of them to question the Council's rule and the lore that binds their people.

As crops and animals are blighted, and uncanny weather plagues the community, Lotta and Moss must decide whether to obey the Council or risk everything to uncover the island's deepest secrets.

Because on Brack, monsters come in many forms.

Perfect for YA readers looking for:

  • folk horror fantasy like The Scorpio Races
  • excitement, passion and danger
  • a strong heroic female character
  • a read that will have you on the edge of your seat

About the Author

Rachael King is a writer, reviewer, former literary festival director and ex-bass player living in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Her novels for children include: The Grimmelings, which has won several awards and is published worldwide; the Violet and the Velvets series, inspired by her time as a teenage bass player; and Secrets at Red Rocks, which won the Esther Glen Medal in 2013 (as Red Rocks) and has been relaunched to coincide with a television adaptation released on Sky/Neon in March 2025. Song of the Saltings is her first novel for young adults. Rachael was named Best Reviewer at the Voyager New Zealand Media Awards in 2023, received a Waitangi Day Honour Award for her work at WORD Christchurch in 2020, and was awarded the 2025 Frank Sargeson Fellowship. She sometimes writes for adults too.
www.rachael-king.com

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