Smoke on the Wind is the perfect read for #cozygirlsummer.
This novel by Kelli Estes is set in the glorious Scottish Highlands. It transports you to a land steeped in ancient Celtic folklore and mystery; a starkly beautiful landscape amidst rolling fog; and fires burning in the hearth after long country walks.
Are you looking for a summer read that’s not set on a sun-drenched tropical island? Then run to your nearest bookstore to pick up Smoke on the Wind.
What’s Smoke on the Wind about?
Smoke on the Wind follows two timelines. There’s Keaka (love that name!), a modern-day and recently widowed woman. She’s hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland with her son, Colin, the week before he starts university in Edinburgh.
Then we have Sorcha, an 1800s Scottish woman on the run with her young son Aonghas. They’re accused of murder after being forced from their ancestral home during the Highland Clearances.
Even though Keaka and Sorcha exist 200 years apart, they’re both walking the same path – literally. They’re both grappling with loss, their changing relationships with their sons, and being forced to move on in life before they’re ready. They also seem to be mystically connected through time, able to see and feel parts of each other’s journey.
What I loved about Smoke on the Wind
There’s so much I adored in Smoke on the Wind. First of all, it’s just a really fun read. It does deal with heavy topics, such being forced from your home, the death of a spouse, being wanted to murder, and figuring out how to let go of the past in order to embrace a new future. But, author Estes manages to inject a lightness into everything. You’re buoyed by the main characters’ experiences instead of dragged down by them.
My little Celtic-loving heart appreciated all the Scottish and Gaelic aspects in Smoke on the Wind. I learned quite a few new things about Scottish Gaelic culture, customs, and history. History buffs will love all the historical tidbits imparted by history-major-to-be Colin, and through Sorcha herself as we experience her quest for safety in Scotland.
Keaka’s story really drew me in with the fact she that isn’t a grieving widow. That little reveal makes her situation so much more complex, and I just had to learn more. Sorcha’s storyline was full of a surprising amount of suspense. There were so many close-call moments that had me holding my breath.
A hint of magic in the Scottish Highlands
One of the things I loved most in Smoke on the Wind is the magic and folklore infused into the book. Even though Keaka and Sorcha are separated by 200 years of history, they connect with each other through some kind of wrinkle in time.
Keaka’s able to tap into Sorcha’s story during her hike, and her visions are foreshadowing for what’s to come in the Sorcha storyline. They really helped helped build suspense for what awaited Sorcha and her son.
From a writer’s perspective
I’m currently revising a dual narrative women’s fiction novel, and let me tell ya: it is hard writing two different characters with two different personalities who also have to connect to each other in some way.
Estes really impressed with me what she did in Smoke on the Wind. This book is a great example of a dual narrative novel. Keaka and Sorcha each felt like her own developed person. I was never upset about switching between the POVs because I was equally invested in both narratives. The times when Keaka and Sorcha’s stories matched up or paralleled felt realistic and believable. I was taking notes for my own novel the whole time!
What’s the West Highland Way?
Smoke on the Wind goes into detail about what it’s like to travel along the West Highland Way, which is a popular long-distance hiking path in Scotland. The experiences both Keaka and Sorcha have on this trail sound absolutely magical, despite the various hardships each of them encounter along the way.
Although I’m not a hiker, I love stories about other people hiking, like Going to Maine and Two Steps Forward. Estes’ depiction of the West Highland Way had me Googling hike information and cozy b&bs in Scotland after about 20 pages.
Should you read Smoke on the Wind?
I think Smoke on the Wind will appeal to a lot of readers. Fans of women’s fiction, historical fiction, and magical realism will eat this one up. The mystical connection between Keaka and Sorcha reminded me a lot of the ancestral memory in The Winter Sea, and Smoke on the Wind is a must-read for fans of Outlander.
What’s the book-inspired recipe for Smoke on the Wind?
Stay tuned for my book-inspired recipe: Homemade Fish Finger Sandwiches.
Although I received a complimentary advance copy of Smoke on the Wind from Kaye Publicity, all opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I was not compensated in any way for this review or for any other promotion/publicity I’ve done related to this book.
