The Girl in Smoke

The Legacy Series, Book 1

By: A.L. Wilder

Narrated by: Kelly Weeks

They called her wicked. Unclean. A girl born wrong.

Evelyn Ashmoor grew up in a house ruled by scripture and silence. Her mother preached salvation through suffering. Her father turned a blind eye. And Evelyn was told—again and again—that something inside her was broken.

Until the night she vanished.

Now, she returns—not as the girl who was locked away, but as something more. Cloaked in smoke and shadow, Evelyn has found power, purpose, and a new kind of family in a traveling circus where the strange are sacred and the outcasts shine.

But reckoning has a price.

Back in the town that buried her truth, Evelyn must face the past, confront the woman who tried to destroy her, and decide just how far she’s willing to go to reclaim her name.

Beautifully dark and fiercely magical, The Girl in Smoke is a story of survival, chosen family, and the kind of strength that’s born from being told you’ll never be enough—and rising anyway.

©2025 A.L. Wilder (P)2025 A.L. Wilder

Where fantasy meets darkness

The author gives beautiful descriptive, also kudos to the narrator. Although this genre isn't my normal first choice, I really wanted to love this book. However imo, the overwrought expression bogs the story line down & muddles characters, which could truly be interesting given the chance. I was left feeling somewhat frustrated & wanted the story to move along, more to get past the hyperbolic & onto the promise of the plotline. Again, beautiful & detailed narrative, but it almost felt like instead of the author marinading us in her flourish of words, I found myself beginning to drown in them. I will still give another of her books a try, in hopes that as her writing matures I will come to love her style, because I do believe her writing has promise. But what do I know, I'm just a reader of books.

Captivating and fast paced!

Visceral and magical! Sapphic coming of age but in the vibrant light of the big top. Where revenge and becoming meet at the cross roads of fate and desire. Couldn't put it down.

Original and Unique

I really enjoy how this author tells a story. And the narrator has a calming easy to listen to voice.