Synopsis:
Helm is a ferocious, mischievous wind — a subject of folklore and awe, who has blasted the sublime landscape of the Eden Valley since the very dawn of time.
Through the stories of those who’ve obsessed over this phenomenon, Helm’s extraordinary history is formed: the Neolithic tribe who tried to placate Helm, the Dark Age wizard priest who wanted to banish Helm, the Victorian steam engineer who attempted to capture Helm — and the farmer’s daughter who loved Helm. But now Dr Selima Sutar, surrounded by infinite clouds and measuring instruments in her observation hut, fears human pollution is killing Helm.
Rich, wild and vital, Helm is the story of a unique life force, and of a relationship: between nature and people, neither of whom can weather life without the other.
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Pub Date: 28 August 2025
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
Review:
Sweeping through time and the Eden Valley, Helm tells the story of the UK’s only named wind. We meet those who have obsessed over the wind, including a Neolithic tribe, a Victorian engineer and a researcher in the present day. With a blending of folklore, history and climate science, Helm manages to bring much of humanity’s follies and joys into one place and tie them all up together in this thrilling gust of a book.
Helm is mischievous, tricksy and very much alive in the book. The opening chapter from the PoV of Helm was absolutely fantastic. Staccato, fast and curious, it really did feel like reading the thoughts of a wind. Possibly my favourite chapters were following Helm itself; they were laced with humour and introspection.
Helm observes humanity unfolding through time, wondering at their inventions and development, and thrilling at the destruction it can bring to their ‘trinkets’ (buildings, clothing, furniture, etc.). On the flipside, we have the humans’ anger at Helm, but also, in some cases, their love and fascination, their need to endure and understand.
Hall’s writing is incredible, somehow sparing and totally descriptive at the same time. Scenes were vivid, and everything felt utterly alive, leaping off the pages. I’ve not read anything like it before, and I am definitely going to be looking into Hall’s other works.
If you enjoy unique stories, tales that span time, or even a book that just has incredible writing, I highly recommend Helm.
Pages of Emma 
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