The Grimmelings
The Grimmelings by Rachael King, published by Simon and Schuster on October 28, 2025, is a middle grade fantasy adventure that invites readers into the life of thirteen-year-old Ella. Living near a remote lake, Ella navigates a lonely existence where the horses of her family’s business are her only companions. The mystery of her father’s disappearance looms over her household, which is composed solely of women, drawing suspicion from their neighbors. When Ella’s wish for a true friend coincides with a curse aimed at a bully, unexpected events unfold, leading to the arrival of a strange boy and a wild horse.
In this engaging narrative, Ella embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery surrounding her community’s disappearances. As she confronts the complexities of friendship and family life, she discovers the influence of words and the power of belief. The story delves into themes of growing up and the interplay between reality and folklore, as Ella learns about the vengeful kelpie that threatens her family and community. With 288 pages, this edition is presented in English and offers a captivating exploration of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
A girl must unravel the mystery behind disappearances in her community and the arrival of a strange boy and a wild horse in this spellbinding middle grade fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell and The Whisperwicks.
Thirteen-year-old Ella lives a lonely life near a remote lake where the horses that make up her family’s business are also her only friends. Ever since her father went missing years before, the family household has been made up entirely of women, something that’s viewed with suspicion by their neighbors, who sometimes call them witches.
Ella doesn’t believe in magic, but she does know words have power. She really should have known better than to utter a wish and a joking “curse” on the same day—a wish for a true friend and a curse on the boy bullying her little sister. Before long, the bully goes missing the same strange way her father did, and a strange boy and a beautiful black horse seemingly appear in his place. At first, the new boy seems to be the friend Ella wished for, but he’s pushy, quick to anger, and knows more than he should about her family.
As Ella digs deeper into the mysterious occurrences, she discovers her family is living in the shadow of a vengeful kelpie, and she must break its curse to save not just her family but her entire community.
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