Looking for your next historical fiction read? Fiona Valpy returns with The Sky Beneath Us, an uplifting story of love and loss, courage and adventure, from the bestselling author of The Skylark’s Secret.
1927. Violet Mackenzie-Grant is embarking on her dream of studying at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women. She doesn’t yet know that it’s a journey that will take her to Kathmandu and beyond, deep into captivating landscapes and cultures that are worlds away from everything and everyone she’s left behind in Scotland.
2020. Daisy Laverock has dreamed of retracing the footsteps of her great-great-aunt Violet ever since discovering her long-lost journals, whose accounts of plant hunting in the 1930s inspired Daisy’s own career. Divorced, and facing an empty nest, Daisy decides to embark on the trip of a lifetime. She arrives in Nepal, ready to start trekking in the shadow of Everest. But fate, and the pandemic, have other plans.
Stranded and alone, Daisy must fall back on the kindness of strangers, taking inspiration from Violet’s determination and resilience to keep going in the darkest of times. As she gradually pieces together the fragments of Violet’s story and uncovers long-held secrets, can Daisy finally reveal a path forward to her own future?
Inspiring and uplifting, you’ll want to pick up a copy of The Sky Beneath Us!
Reviews for The Sky Beneath Us
‘A gifted storyteller with a unique voice. This is a beautifully written, uplifting, moving & evocative story that will stay with you! I loved it so much, I didn’t want it to end!’
Santa Montefiore
‘Meticulously researched and beautifully written with fascinating detail about botany, the Sherpa people and Nepal. As deeply satisfying as a clear view of a flower-filled valley from a mountain top.’
Penny Haws
‘A soaring tale sweeping from the romantic Scottish Hebrides to Mount Everest,[…] A glowing book.’
Ann Lindsay
‘An immersive and moving story which will stay with me for a long time. Such a compelling sense of place and beautifully drawn characters, I savored every moment.’
Freya North
‘Spanning the charming landscapes of Scotland and the breathtaking peaks of Nepal, The Sky Beneath Us is a sweeping, poignant tale about heartbreak, resilience, and a timeless bond forged between two generations through a shared love of the natural world.’
Archana Maniar
