Song of the Saltings by Rachael King

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. 

A chance encounter with Moss, a village outcast, will change both their lives, and the fate of the island, forever. 

Song of the Saltings is an atmospheric and gripping read from author Rachael King. 

Readers of King's earlier book The Grimmelings will see some similarities between the two stories -  strong female characters, horses, folklore, danger and a strong sense of place to name a few. But Song of the Saltings is for a slightly older audience, with more darkness lurking.

Set in a world that is terrifying and mysterious, King has a real gift for worldbuilding. The book opens with the lines: ‘The island of Brack. Brack. Even the name lingers on your tongue like the musty taste of stagnant water."

King instantly transports the reader to this brooding, atmospheric island and leaving is not easy. 

The pull continues with perfect pace throughout the whole story. King knows when to slow down and let the reader linger and when to get the pages flying. 

Her characters are fascinating - from the wealthy elite to those who have been exiled and excommunicated, from adults who harm to the young who want to right the world. Each one is realistic and their actions convincing, even if you did not agree with them. 

I love stories with a strong female character, and Lotta is everything one can hope for. She's flawed but fabulous, self-assured but also self-aware and reflective. While she has her sharp edges, she never becomes unlovable as a character. Moss, too, is well-rounded and authentic. Readers may write him off as a weakling, but he quickly shows how courage can lie within. While there is some predictable romance between the two, it's suitable for the intended age of readers and doesn't become the whole focus of the story.

King's writing is lyrical and poetic, but not superfluous. Her love of folklore shines through with every sentence.

Song of the Saltings is an exquisitely crafted folk horror fantasy about courage and magic, monsters and myth.

Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell

Allen & Unwin