Our Cut of Salt
There is something haunting Nuhad’s childhood home in Haifa. Cats avoid its perimeter, strange noises come from within, and residents have been known to disappear entirely in its walls without a trace.
Although Nuhad has not returned to her home since the Nakba in 1948, she always held a place for the house in her heart. And, in return, the house did the same for her.
After Nuhad passes away, her granddaughter, Marina, is determined to visit her grandmother’s home in Haifa after a lifetime of being kept in the dark about her culture and family history. Marina’s mother, Haifa-named for the city that was lost to their family-reluctantly agrees to her trip, despite her omnipresent anxiety.
When a long-buried spirit of the past begins to haunt both dreams and waking life, Marina develops breathing problems that cause her to feel as if she is drowning on dry land. Despite Nuhad’s warnings, Haifa rushes to help her daughter. As the three women converge in their ancestral haunted home, they must learn what the price of the past truly is.
Additional information
| Genre | General Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Upmarket |
|---|---|
| Age | Adult |
| Publisher | 0 |
| Imprint | Orbit UK, Tor Nightfire |
| Language(s) | English |
| Author | Deena Helm |
| Release Date | 22 September 2026 |
| Release Month | September Releases |
| Author Identity | BIPOC |
About the Author
Deena Helm (she/her) is a mixed Palestinian-American author, and Our Cut of Salt is her debut novel. Her other works can be found in Fikra Magazine and So To Speak. Alongside her literary endeavors, she has previously worked in social media, and you can find her @deenahlm in most places. She asks that you, the reader, do everything in your power to resist genocide and deepen your commitment to liberation for all.
