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Available on back-order
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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 after the monster spared her, 16-year-old Lotta tends the Council’s sacrificial horses and keeps her distance from the villagers who whisper about her fate.
But something is stirring. The island is dying. It hums beneath her feet, and a song threads through her dreams. Is the Glimm calling Lotta back?
A chance encounter with Moss, a village outcast, will change both their lives, and the fate of the island, forever.
To uncover Brack’s deepest secrets, Lotta and Moss will need to trust each other and risk everything they hold dear.
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
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Imprint: A&U Children’s NZ
Publication date: 28/04/2026
Song of the Saltings
By Rachael King
Review by Alex A
Haunting, immersive and magical! The latest from Ōtautahi local Rachael King is an evocative, slightly creepy, sparkling supernatural folk-thriller.
Set on the island of Brack, a grey and barren place without contact with the outside world, 16 year old Lotta works as a stable girl for the local Council. The village makes a yearly sacrifice to a creature called the Glimm, a fierce God-like being who haunts the salt marshes. Eight years prior, Lotta was selected as a tribute but narrowly escaped when her horse intervened to protect her and was taken instead.
When a chance encounter with local boy Moss reveals a previously undiscovered power, Lotta becomes attuned to the rhythm of the island, and starts to suspect the Glimm is trying to call her back to it.
Soaked in Scottish and British folklore references, the story is a compelling, captivating exploration of defying societal expectations and reconnecting with the natural world.
Perfect for fans of Margaret Mahy’s The Haunting and Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising sequence.
