Ushig

by Annemarie Allan

"Ellen whistled again and repeated the old rhyme Aunt Marian had taught her. 'I call you once. I call you twice. I call you three times over.' Surely in a place as beautiful as this, anything that answered her call was bound to be friendly." While exploring a small loch above the village of Aldhammer with her brother Davie, Ellen repeats a childish rhyme to call something to her. What arrives is an ancient being with the ability to shapeshift and the power to destroy. Ushig is a kelpie, a water wraith, and his intentions are anything but pure. Dragged into a dark, parallel world inhabited by the creatures of Scottish legend, Ellen must pitch her wits against primeval magic. Can she outsmart the predatory Queen of the Night? And what does Ushig stand to gain? Another unique and gripping tale from Annemarie Allan, presenting an innovative spin on characters from Scottish folklore in a very modern manner. If you thought you knew the story of the kelpie -- think again!

198 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ronel Vuuren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl and her brother get pulled into Faerie while out exploring a loch. Ellen had accidentally called forth a kelpie whose intentions aren’t pure.

It is a chilling adventure where Ellen and her brother have to escape those who hunt them.

I loved the use of Scottish lore, the way Faerie and its inhabitants are painted and the world-building of the novel.

It’s a little scary, but in the same vein as “Coraline”. Middle-grade readers will love to read it just to get scared.

Ellen is a great character and keeps hope alive against all odds.