2.5/5 Stars: ‘Hold Back the Tide’ is a Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy by Melinda Salisbury; ‘Hold Back the Tide’ is inspired and influenced by Scottish Folklore. Scotland, more specifically, the remote Scottish Highlands, was the perfect setting for this deliciously dark tale; set in the late 1800s, as a rough estimate. The question at the heart of the book – what constitutes as a monster? – is one that is considered and emphasised continuously throughout, with Salisbury’s wide variety of characters. That said, our protagonist felt slightly too ‘modern’ for the era; however, that was most likely a deliberate tactic. It should be credited that Salisbury subtly encouraged the audience to consider the negative effects of the Human Industry on the natural world, without preaching to the reader. The issue is there, it is central, but it never comes across as a lecture – just a natural part of the story-telling. The downfall, the conclusion. It felt frustratingly rushed, dampening the entire mood of the novel.