The Sky Beneath Us

By: Fiona Valpy

Narrated by: Bronwen Price, Mhairi Morrison

An inspiring, 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?

©2024 by Fiona Valpy. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A gifted storyteller with a unique voice. This is a beautifully written, uplifting, moving and evocative story that will stay with you! I loved it so much, I didn’t want it to end!”—Santa Montefiore

“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

“What an exquisite and unforgettable journey! I loved every shaky step, breathtaking vista, minute discovery and unexpected adventure in Katmandu, Edinburgh, Phortse and the north-west Highlands of Scotland with Daisy and her great-great-aunt Violet. Theirs are inspirational stories of love and hope lost and found as they courageously ascend paths unknown and welcome the unexpected. 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 Haw, author of Follow Me to Africa

fascinating cross- cultural story

I loved this audio book. Its jumping back and forth between 1920's and modern times plus the loving description of Sherpa culture were informative and entertaining. And the slight mystery in the first half keeps readers engaged.

Very interesting

I learned a lot about botany, the Sherpa people. It’s a topic I knew nothing about. The information was intertwined with a wonderful story of love and hardship spanning two very different time periods.

The well woven story

History of the sherpas in the Himalayan Mountains and of the Scottish interest of collecting the world’s rare plants for study and preservation.

the resiliency of Violet and the Sherpas I

I love plants and any story about plants and/or animals is a winner in my book

well researched story

warm story of hope and challenges faced by a likable heroine. A book that made me want to visit Nepal.