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Song of the Saltings
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26 The Scorpio Races meets The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea in this gripping young adult folk horror fantasy about a girl who must defy tradition to save her beloved island from the monstrous forces that are tearing it apart.
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. Once, it demanded children. 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 them both 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.
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. Once, it demanded children. 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 them both 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.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 19, 2026
323 people want to read
About the author
Rachael King
9 books103 followersRachael King is a writer, book reviewer, and former literary festival director from Aotearoa New Zealand. When she was young, she played bass guitar in rock bands, rode horses bareback along a beach, and voraciously read fantasy books. She is the author of two middlegrade fantasy novels based on Scottish mythology in a New Zealand setting – Red Rocks (republished in 2025 as Secrets at Red Rocks to coincide with the Emmy-nominated television adaptation) and The Grimmelings; a junior fiction series Violet and the Velvets; and a YA folk horror fantasy due in 2026, Song of the Saltings. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from the Victoria University Wellington, and has also written two books for adults, The Sound of Butterflies and Magpie Hall. In 2023 she was named Best Reviewer at Voyager New Zealand Media Awards for her book reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Did Not Finish
April 17, 2026DNF at 21%.
Usually, third person point of view books aren’t a challenge for me and I don’t mind them. But for some reason this one was extremely hard for me to get into.
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy.
Usually, third person point of view books aren’t a challenge for me and I don’t mind them. But for some reason this one was extremely hard for me to get into.
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: atmospheric reads, fantasy, younger YA
Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books, Netgalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Okay, first thing's first, I absolutely love this cover. It's gorgeous and I love the style!
As for the story itself, I had kind of a hard time getting into it. I liked the premise and found it interesting, but something about the execution fell a little flat to me. Now, that's not to say there aren't some heart-stopping moments in the book, especially in the last third, but I feel like maybe too much time was spent setting up the world and things began to feel a bit repetitive. Also, I'm not sure how old Lotta and Moss are meant to be, but they feel on the younger side of YA, which isn't particularly something I'm into.
I did like the setup of the village. It falls more on the side of The Lottery than The Hunger Games in terms of vibes, and I think King captured that powder keg small town vibe really well. Everyone acts neighborly enough, but no one can really forget the children that were sacrificed or the one who managed to survive. So, naturally, when things go wrong it doesn't take much for people to turn on each other.
The folklore aspects of the book were interesting as well, but like with the overall premise, I do feel like these were underutilized. I loved the idea of Jenny and really wish we saw more of her throughout the book. She kind of hovers on the outskirts in songs and whispers, but we only really see her once or twice and she doesn't play as big a role in the story as I would've liked. The Glimm is similar, but we only actually see the Glimm for one scene and then it's over, which makes sense for where the plot went, but I did want to see more of it.
In terms of characters, I did like Lotta more than Moss and think she had some very valid reasons for shutting people out. I mean, good god, she was meant to be a sacrifice when she was six. That would fuck anyone up for relationships. I also think her parents unduly give her shit for distancing herself, but I don't see them trying to make it up to her, so...
Moss is a bit harder for me to sympathize with. I get that it majorly sucks having the entire town turn on you, but at the same time, I do think the hidelings' parents made the right decision. Like, wtf else are you supposed to do when your town has a child sacrifice lottery if not pull an Octavia Blake and hide your kid under the floor? Plus, none of the other hidelings seem all that upset about their parents' choices or their current situation, so Moss seems to be the odd one out on that front, which doesn't help.
Overall I think this book has a super interesting premise and if you're looking for something on the younger YA side it might be a good pick for you.
Recommended if you like: atmospheric reads, fantasy, younger YA
Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books, Netgalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Okay, first thing's first, I absolutely love this cover. It's gorgeous and I love the style!
As for the story itself, I had kind of a hard time getting into it. I liked the premise and found it interesting, but something about the execution fell a little flat to me. Now, that's not to say there aren't some heart-stopping moments in the book, especially in the last third, but I feel like maybe too much time was spent setting up the world and things began to feel a bit repetitive. Also, I'm not sure how old Lotta and Moss are meant to be, but they feel on the younger side of YA, which isn't particularly something I'm into.
I did like the setup of the village. It falls more on the side of The Lottery than The Hunger Games in terms of vibes, and I think King captured that powder keg small town vibe really well. Everyone acts neighborly enough, but no one can really forget the children that were sacrificed or the one who managed to survive. So, naturally, when things go wrong it doesn't take much for people to turn on each other.
The folklore aspects of the book were interesting as well, but like with the overall premise, I do feel like these were underutilized. I loved the idea of Jenny and really wish we saw more of her throughout the book. She kind of hovers on the outskirts in songs and whispers, but we only really see her once or twice and she doesn't play as big a role in the story as I would've liked. The Glimm is similar, but we only actually see the Glimm for one scene and then it's over, which makes sense for where the plot went, but I did want to see more of it.
In terms of characters, I did like Lotta more than Moss and think she had some very valid reasons for shutting people out. I mean, good god, she was meant to be a sacrifice when she was six. That would fuck anyone up for relationships. I also think her parents unduly give her shit for distancing herself, but I don't see them trying to make it up to her, so...
Moss is a bit harder for me to sympathize with. I get that it majorly sucks having the entire town turn on you, but at the same time, I do think the hidelings' parents made the right decision. Like, wtf else are you supposed to do when your town has a child sacrifice lottery if not pull an Octavia Blake and hide your kid under the floor? Plus, none of the other hidelings seem all that upset about their parents' choices or their current situation, so Moss seems to be the odd one out on that front, which doesn't help.
Overall I think this book has a super interesting premise and if you're looking for something on the younger YA side it might be a good pick for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!~~
2.5/5 stars rounded up
While this was interesting for the most part, I wasn't as taken with it as I wanted to be.
The thing I liked most about the book was the themes about indoctrination in religion and rewritten history to serve the narrative men in power push onto those who follow them. The reveal of these things wasn't done the most subtly, and I have read books that have done it better, but for all intents and purposes it works fine here. There were also points the hammering got a tad frustrating, especially when Lotta tries to sway the masses by her word alone, but that's part of the process.
I also liked the atmosphere and worldbuilding of Brack. Sometimes the long-winded descriptions had me glazing over it, but the general culture and lore behind the island, both the true and false side of it, was enough to keep me going.
The main characters were okay. Lotta was the most interesting, especially with her being between seemingly chosen by her island's god and terrible complicated feelings regarding the fact she should have been sacrificed. She also had more initiative and sway over the story than Moss, whose POV lend some insight into the hidelings but not much else. I don't think much would change if he was regulated to important side character status. If anything, the story was so insistent on focusing on Lotta's brother's gay doomed romance. It consumed this guy's whole character, and while it seemed like commentary on toxic hetero norms, it also felt like a distraction from the main plot, especially when Marten wasn't really characterized beyond that.
All in all, I thought this was fine. Horse people, particularly those for this book is aimed at, would probably enjoy this a lot more than I did.
2.5/5 stars rounded up
While this was interesting for the most part, I wasn't as taken with it as I wanted to be.
The thing I liked most about the book was the themes about indoctrination in religion and rewritten history to serve the narrative men in power push onto those who follow them. The reveal of these things wasn't done the most subtly, and I have read books that have done it better, but for all intents and purposes it works fine here. There were also points the hammering got a tad frustrating, especially when Lotta tries to sway the masses by her word alone, but that's part of the process.
I also liked the atmosphere and worldbuilding of Brack. Sometimes the long-winded descriptions had me glazing over it, but the general culture and lore behind the island, both the true and false side of it, was enough to keep me going.
The main characters were okay. Lotta was the most interesting, especially with her being between seemingly chosen by her island's god and terrible complicated feelings regarding the fact she should have been sacrificed. She also had more initiative and sway over the story than Moss, whose POV lend some insight into the hidelings but not much else. I don't think much would change if he was regulated to important side character status. If anything, the story was so insistent on focusing on Lotta's brother's gay doomed romance. It consumed this guy's whole character, and while it seemed like commentary on toxic hetero norms, it also felt like a distraction from the main plot, especially when Marten wasn't really characterized beyond that.
All in all, I thought this was fine. Horse people, particularly those for this book is aimed at, would probably enjoy this a lot more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Song of the Saltings is atmospherically GORGEOUS, with beautiful writing that feels both mysterious and folkloric. I could feel the wind across the moors, smell the salt along the coast, hear the gulls screeching over the sea cliffs, and feel the island itself breathe. Its remote setting feels both intimate and a little like a disoriented homecoming—especially when faced with the ugly truths of a small community trapped in a web of lies.
I connected immediately with Lotta. She nearly died eight years ago and carries that knowledge like a weight. She is both strong and vulnerable, prickly and stubborn, and faces the trauma of her past with a resolute, terrified bravery.
Then there’s Moss. He’s not your classic male main character, which I loved. There’s an innocence about him. He sees beauty in the land that no one else does, and possesses a strong sense of injustice. The world has not been kind to him, but he’s ready to push at the walls that have always hemmed him in. He’s not a character I imagine everyone will relate to, but I definitely resonated with his quieter, rebellious strength.
Overall, Song of the Saltings is the kind of story I wanted to savor, but couldn’t keep myself from devouring. I fell in love with Brack and the horses as much as I fell for the characters. The story stayed sharp in my mind even days after turning the last page, and it left me craving more from this world and the author.
* Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I connected immediately with Lotta. She nearly died eight years ago and carries that knowledge like a weight. She is both strong and vulnerable, prickly and stubborn, and faces the trauma of her past with a resolute, terrified bravery.
Then there’s Moss. He’s not your classic male main character, which I loved. There’s an innocence about him. He sees beauty in the land that no one else does, and possesses a strong sense of injustice. The world has not been kind to him, but he’s ready to push at the walls that have always hemmed him in. He’s not a character I imagine everyone will relate to, but I definitely resonated with his quieter, rebellious strength.
Overall, Song of the Saltings is the kind of story I wanted to savor, but couldn’t keep myself from devouring. I fell in love with Brack and the horses as much as I fell for the characters. The story stayed sharp in my mind even days after turning the last page, and it left me craving more from this world and the author.
* Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The cover is stunning and earns every bit of attention it gets — it suits the book perfectly.
The writing is atmospheric and folkloric, grounded enough in the physical world that you feel the coast and the cold before the story has properly begun. The island setting is one of the most convincing I have read in recent memory — specific and lived-in and quietly eerie throughout.
Lotta is a strong lead. She survived something terrible at six years old and has been shaped by it ever since — closed off, difficult, and brave in ways she would not call brave. The book respects her damage rather than trying to fix it, which made her very easy to root for. Moss is less immediately accessible but no less interesting — observant and principled and quietly determined, the kind of character who grows on you steadily rather than winning you over at once. He will not suit every reader, but I found him genuinely affecting.
The folklore woven through the story is its most distinctive quality — Jenny, the Glimm, the old local songs that suggest something much larger and darker underneath the surface. It is also, frustratingly, the most underused. The middle section is where the book loses some momentum, and more time spent in that mythological layer would have been very welcome.
The final third recovers strongly and pays off everything the opening set up. It has been days since I finished it and I am still thinking about it.
A confident, unsettling debut. I would happily return to this world.
The writing is atmospheric and folkloric, grounded enough in the physical world that you feel the coast and the cold before the story has properly begun. The island setting is one of the most convincing I have read in recent memory — specific and lived-in and quietly eerie throughout.
Lotta is a strong lead. She survived something terrible at six years old and has been shaped by it ever since — closed off, difficult, and brave in ways she would not call brave. The book respects her damage rather than trying to fix it, which made her very easy to root for. Moss is less immediately accessible but no less interesting — observant and principled and quietly determined, the kind of character who grows on you steadily rather than winning you over at once. He will not suit every reader, but I found him genuinely affecting.
The folklore woven through the story is its most distinctive quality — Jenny, the Glimm, the old local songs that suggest something much larger and darker underneath the surface. It is also, frustratingly, the most underused. The middle section is where the book loses some momentum, and more time spent in that mythological layer would have been very welcome.
The final third recovers strongly and pays off everything the opening set up. It has been days since I finished it and I am still thinking about it.
A confident, unsettling debut. I would happily return to this world.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Song of the Saltings is a gripping page-turner for young adults and adults alike who love fantasy worlds with creepy folklore creatures, sweet and real romance, pacey action, horses, ritual sacrifices, and many, many secrets that Lotta and Moss must uncover and reveal to protect those dearest to them.
Think the darkness of Shirley Jackson's short story, The Lottery, landing on an imagined landscape similar to the Scottish Outer Hebrides with eery folklore creatures lurking in the moors.
For those of you old enough to remember the childhood trauma of the drowning of Artreyu's horse, Artax, in The Neverending Story, beware in a good way! There are moments in the bogs where I was transported back to my 8 year old self, willing the horse to escape the mud and certain death.
Rachael King has created an immersive fantasy world that will be devoured by readers young and a little old like myself.
The Glimm is waiting for you in the salt marshes...so get reading.
Think the darkness of Shirley Jackson's short story, The Lottery, landing on an imagined landscape similar to the Scottish Outer Hebrides with eery folklore creatures lurking in the moors.
For those of you old enough to remember the childhood trauma of the drowning of Artreyu's horse, Artax, in The Neverending Story, beware in a good way! There are moments in the bogs where I was transported back to my 8 year old self, willing the horse to escape the mud and certain death.
Rachael King has created an immersive fantasy world that will be devoured by readers young and a little old like myself.
The Glimm is waiting for you in the salt marshes...so get reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gorgeous cover, but unfortunately that's about all that gripped me about this story in the end.
I went into Song of the Saltings with high expectations, especially since it was compared to one of my favorites, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. It didn't meet that expectation. Not having that in the description would do it more justice.
Overall, this book had a very young feeling. Of course, it's listed as YA and I do enjoy YA quite a lot, but this felt VERY YA, very young. It lacked emotional depth or the sharp edges that can be found in YA.
The highlight was definitely the folklore of the village of Brack; I wish the story had leaned much further into that eerie potential rather than playing it so safe. This was a bit too simplified, and safe, which really left me wanting more. It did not hook me, and around the 30% mark, I basically gave up and was left skimming the rest of the book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I went into Song of the Saltings with high expectations, especially since it was compared to one of my favorites, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. It didn't meet that expectation. Not having that in the description would do it more justice.
Overall, this book had a very young feeling. Of course, it's listed as YA and I do enjoy YA quite a lot, but this felt VERY YA, very young. It lacked emotional depth or the sharp edges that can be found in YA.
The highlight was definitely the folklore of the village of Brack; I wish the story had leaned much further into that eerie potential rather than playing it so safe. This was a bit too simplified, and safe, which really left me wanting more. It did not hook me, and around the 30% mark, I basically gave up and was left skimming the rest of the book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Song of the saltings is a young adult fantasy novel heavily inspired by folklore, set on an island with moors and bogs and salt marshes. This story was incredible and beautifully written. In this story, you will come across corrupt leaders, a strong female lead, prejudices and the importance of doing what is right.
On the island of Brack, every year, a child is sacrificed to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. When young Lotta is drawn as the annual sacrifice and sent down to the marshes, the Glimm surprisingly spares her and takes her horse instead. From then on, a horse is drawn for sacrifice each year instead of a child. Eight years later, teenage Lotta works for the Council, tending to their sacrificial horses. But strange things begin to happen on the island. Crops are failing. Babies are stillborn. It seems like the island is dying. Now Lotta must uncover many dark secrets in order to save her island.
On the island of Brack, every year, a child is sacrificed to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. When young Lotta is drawn as the annual sacrifice and sent down to the marshes, the Glimm surprisingly spares her and takes her horse instead. From then on, a horse is drawn for sacrifice each year instead of a child. Eight years later, teenage Lotta works for the Council, tending to their sacrificial horses. But strange things begin to happen on the island. Crops are failing. Babies are stillborn. It seems like the island is dying. Now Lotta must uncover many dark secrets in order to save her island.
May 6, 2026
I was pretty captivated by this book right from the start and it did not disappoint! I’ve realised I get very drawn into atmospheric books with gloomy, dark, grey settings and complex characters. I found the complex social hierarchy and the relationships between the characters and the environment so interesting. It wasn’t just a good story, it also made me reflect a lot. It was a little predictable at the end but it was also a satisfying ending.
Thank you Allen and Unwin NZ for sending me a review copy
Thank you Allen and Unwin NZ for sending me a review copy
Review of advance copy
I guess my local bookstore was naughty and put this on the shelf 2 weeks before it was supposed to be released ?
Anyway. I loved this book, horses and folklore. My cup of tea. A really nice quick easy read.
Anyway. I loved this book, horses and folklore. My cup of tea. A really nice quick easy read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is SO GOOD. I can’t wait for more people to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was completely absorbed by The Song of the Saltings, captivated by the customs of the island of Brack, its cruel patriarchs and its people who live in fear and yearning for the lottery that will ensure their livelihoods. Lotta immediately commanded my allegiance. She’s my favourite kind of heroine, brooding, prickly, capable and flawed. I fell in love with her and her horses, and swooned at her romance with a dark-eyed boy. King’s writing is haunting, lyrical and heartwarming, filled with misty bogs, lonely salt flats and magic that seeps into your veins. The Song of the Saltings is utterly gripping and will stay with you long after you reach ‘The End’.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews