Thirst

By Darren Simpson

A chilling new young adult novel about a cursed river and a village's dark secret, perfect for fans of Stranger Things

The North American debut of 2-time UK Carnegie Medal nominee Darren Simpson.

Nobody talks about the strange happenings in Maimsbury. No one speaks of the hooded figures glimpsed in the woods, nor the children's game that went so horribly wrong. But most of all, nobody dares whisper their doubts about the river they have worshipped for centuries.

Like everyone in Maimsbury, Gorse is used to the sacrifices made every spring to the River Yeelde. The life of a farm animal - in return for a year of plenty - seems a fair trade. That is, until a tragedy leads him to a blood-curdling discovery.

Because this year is a Brim Year, and after giving so much, the river needs more than an animal's life to sate its thirst...

Thirst is a gloriously spooky, folklore-inspired novel perfect for YA horror fans. Blending page-turning storytelling with powerful social commentary, 2-time UK Carnegie Medal nominee Darren Simpson delivers a savage critique on how we justify sacrificing others for our own good, and the importance of pushing back against the status quo when it is harmful or outdated.

Brilliant and bloodthirsty, this breathless narrative creeps up on you just like the infernal river that encaptures Maimsbury's inhabitants in its deadly thrall.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1782695729
• ISBN13: 9781782695721
• Release Date: October 2026
• Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12