Local Gods coming August 4th, 2026 from Sarah Barley Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; 384 pages
Content Warning: Violence, kidnapping, murder
About the Author: “Melinda Salisbury is the four-time Carnegie nominated and bestselling author of multiple teen and young adult novels, including the Sin Eater’s Daughter series, Hold Back the Tide, and Her Dark Wings, a Guardian Children’s Book of the Year 2022 and a Reading Agency Book of the Year 2022 pick. When not writing, Melinda works as a writing mentor and development editor, and volunteers at a local independent cinema on the East Sussex Coast” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Melinda Salisbury on the following platforms:
Once a beloved resident of Pine Ridge Hollow with a bright future, Sylvie Singer is now reviled for her father’s embezzlement that left the small town on the edge of ruin. Sylvie struggles to complete her senior year of high school without support and lives in an abandoned railway station in the dangerous West Woods where white, carnivorous animals abound. She encounters a monster, Illican, who turns out to be a horned god bound to Pine Ridge Hollow and its woods. Sylvie decides she must save the town from shutting down in order to give Illican a chance at life and repair her father’s damage. In her quest to learn more about the town, Sylvie uncovers its dark secrets and hidden threats, all steeped in a history of magic.
Local Gods was a fast-paced story packed with intrigue, blood, and folklore. Perfect for mystery fans, Sylvie’s investigation reveals surprising villains, some of which were among those that Sylvie considered to be her friends. I enjoyed Sylvie’s resilience as she navigates the hostility of the town and a life of hardship so different from what she was accustomed to. She doesn’t let self-pity stop her from taking action for the good of others. The West Woods are full of interesting magical elements such as pure-white, bloodthirsty deer and mystical vegetation that are slowly bringing Sylvie into the forest’s fold. I only wish that the path of Sylvie’s investigation could have relied more on the mysterious god Illican rather than on internet and library searches. Illican’s presence in Local Gods was weaker than I anticipated, and Pine Ridge Hollow’s folklore turned out to be a little simple. Since these were the most unique elements of the book, I wish they could have been more pronounced and complex. Another aspect that took me out of the story was the force of the hatred that residents of Pine Ridge Hollow had for Sylvie considering she’s seventeen and not responsible for her father’s embezzlement. The town’s campaign against her seemed contrived. Fortunately, the ending took a surprising turn from the rest of the book, completing Sylvie’s development and wrapping the story up in a satisfying way.
Local Gods releases on August 4th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Gwen Shetlar, Pine Reads Review Writer and Editor