I’m a fan of Karen Barnett and historical fiction, so I couldn’t wait to read When Stone Wings Fly: A Smoky Mountains Novel. This Christian book quickly became my favorite Barnett novel to date. I loved learning about the owls and lingering in the poetic prose of the natural world—waiting beneath the branches with the characters, hoping the owl family would reveal itself. The author’s reverent attention to God’s creation made the setting feel alive and spiritually grounded.
Typically, I prefer a single storyline over a dual-time novel. In this case, however, I cared equally for Barnett’s contemporary main character, Kieran Lucas, and for Rosie McCauley in 1931. Both narrative arcs captured and held my interest, which is no small achievement. Barnett beautifully balanced past and present with care, allowing each story to deepen the other rather than compete for attention.
At first, I found Park Historian Zach Jensen’s rigid refusal to bend the rules uncompassionate. In time, though, I came to appreciate his devotion to preserving history and his sense of duty as a government employee. Throughout the novel, I watched Zach, the historian, transform into a more compassionate and forgiving person—especially as he and Kieran shared a common goal for the greater good of the park and Rosie.
If you enjoy When Stone Wings Fly: A Smoky Mountains Novel, I think you will also appreciate Karen Barnett’s Where Trees Touch the Sky: A Redwood National Park Novel. Similar Christian historical romance books set in nature include Aiming for Love: Brides of Hope Mountain, Book 1, Woman of Sunlight: Brides of Hope Mountain, Book 2, and Her Secret Song: Brides of Hope Mountain, Book 3, by Mary Connealy.
