The Soldier’s Daughter by Fiona McIntosh. Storm Publishing—thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC. I opened this book thinking I’d dip into a few chapters, and instead I wound up ignoring my to-do list, my laundry, and possibly my sanity because I absolutely refused to put it down. Historical fiction is my weakness, but Fiona McIntosh has this knack for taking the expected (war, family, love, sacrifice) and layering it with flavors so rich it’s like tasting a whisky you thought you knew, only to realize it has hidden notes of smoke, honey, and heartbreak.

We start with Violet Nash, who I immediately rooted for, mostly because she doesn’t fit neatly into anyone’s expectations. Her father, Charlie, is a WWI sniper-turned-whisky-maker who carries trauma like it’s an accessory he can’t quite put down. He’s the kind of man who thinks starting over on the other side of the world will magically fix his shattered dreams. Spoiler alert: trauma packs itself neatly into your carry-on and always clears customs. Tasmania may be beautiful and fertile for barley, but it isn’t exactly a balm for the scars left by war. Violet grows up in this world of whisky, science, and silence, learning not just her father’s craft but also his tendency to keep secrets locked tighter than a distillery vault.

The magic of Violet’s story is that she’s not content to be the dutiful daughter who inherits a business. No, she wants to change the game. In an era when women were told to pour whisky but not dare to craft it, Violet has the audacity (and brilliance) to step into the distilling world with her own ideas. She’s innovative, bold, and stubborn in ways that make her deeply relatable. Who among us hasn’t wanted to smash the glass ceiling—or in this case, the whisky cask—and leave our mark on something traditionally male-dominated? Violet is more than just a daughter clinging to her father’s coattails; she’s a pioneer, and I loved watching her fight for recognition in a space that wasn’t ready to welcome her.

Meanwhile, Charlie can’t resist the gravitational pull of his past. When WWII erupts, he feels duty-bound to return to occupied France, not just because of unfinished business with the resistance but also because of Sophie, the woman who once held his heart in those Champagne caves. This dual narrative—Violet forging ahead in Tasmania while Charlie disappears into the shadowy, dangerous world of espionage—creates a rhythm that’s both heartbreaking and thrilling. The whisky distillery and the French vineyards become symbolic battlegrounds, places where legacy and memory ferment alongside courage and sacrifice.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is how vividly McIntosh paints the settings. You can smell the earthy sweetness of barley in Tasmania, feel the damp chill of the Champagne caves, and hear the crack of tension as resistance fighters whisper plans in war-torn France. These aren’t just backdrops—they’re living, breathing elements of the story that make you feel transported. I’ve read enough historical fiction to know when an author skimps on atmosphere, and let me tell you, McIntosh does not skimp. She pours it generously, like a host who insists you have “just one more” dram.

The emotional weight of the novel lies squarely on Violet’s shoulders, and she carries it beautifully. She’s grieving, raging, creating, and surviving all at once, and somehow she never becomes a caricature of “strong woman in history.” She feels real—messy, brilliant, and determined. There’s a line in the book that perfectly encapsulates her journey: “She inherited his gift. She carried his secrets. She’ll fight to claim his legacy.” It’s not just marketing copy—it’s the spine of the novel, and McIntosh never lets us forget that Violet is equal parts inheritor and innovator, burdened and free.

What really elevates this book is how seamlessly it blends the personal with the political, the intimate with the epic. You’re reading about whisky-making techniques one minute, and the next you’re plunged into the tension of the French Resistance, and somehow it all works. It’s not just a story about war, or whisky, or family—it’s about resilience. About what we carry, what we inherit, and what we decide to build for ourselves. By the end, I wasn’t just invested in Violet’s success; I was cheering for her like she was a friend who’d finally proven everyone wrong.

McIntosh has been called a master storyteller before, but this book cements it. She knows exactly how to balance lush, immersive detail with fast-moving plotlines. She gives us heartbreak and action, intimacy and suspense, without ever tipping too far in one direction. And she makes whisky-making—something I thought I understood—feel like a metaphor for life itself. Complex, patient, sometimes bitter, often sweet, but always worth savoring.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction that doesn’t just replay history but reimagines it through the lens of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, The Soldier’s Daughter belongs on your shelf. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Rhys Bowen, and anyone who likes their novels equal parts grit and grace will find plenty to love here. I’m giving this book ★★★★★ without hesitation, because rating it lower would feel like committing the literary equivalent of mixing top-shelf whisky with diet cola, and honestly, I’d rather be arrested.

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Filled with loss and hope for the future. A historical fiction book that takes the reader on a journey of discovery about the whisky industry and immersive details of the times. I liked the characters and going on a personal adventure with them made the story come alive.

1930, Skockando, Moray Speyside, Scotland. Violet Nash is Charlie’s daughter a World War One sniper and hero, he left France with his heart broken and found love with her mother and to have it hurt again. Here, Charlie uses his chemist skills to make and blend whisky and Violet wants to follow in her dad’s footsteps.

Considered to be outsiders, the Nash’s decide to immigrate to Tasmania, a fresh start and the weather is very similar and believe it’s the perfect place to grow and malt barley and re-establish Glen Corbie. Violet is a talented blender and distiller in her own right and she wants to be the first female in centuries to change and refine whisky industry and she has lots of ideas.

When the Second World War breaks out, the old soldier feels torn, Charlie wants to return to England and use his experience to help and this means leaving Violet behind, she’s not happy about it but understands.

Charlie returns to Reims, Champagne, where he met Sophie Méa Delancré a fifth generation champenoise, the lady who broke his heart all those years ago and here he has to face his hopes and dreams, regrets and ghosts of his youth.

I received a copy of The Soldiers Daughter by Fiona McIntosh from Storm Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I read the previous book The Champagne War, so I was very familiar with the background, what happen and the characters.

The narrative takes the reader from Scotland, to Australia, England and France and back again, not only does Charlie show his bravery, courage and dedication, so does Violet, Sophie and her son Raphael.

I felt really emotional reading this novel as my mum is Scottish, I learnt a lot about history and women making whisky and how life completes a full circle and just like the seasons. Five stars from me, I highly recommend for lovers of well written and character driven historical fiction.