A story of the shared secret of three women, spanning five centuries. It's a clever and interesting premise. While the narrative became muddied at times and the characters were very basic, the novel was an enjoyable enough read. The different timelines were intriguing--I usually love a book with two different storylines, such as the Lost Apothecary or the Broken Girls--but this was not carried out as well as I would have liked. At times I had to flip back to a previous chapter to understand and I had trouble placing the events in a mental timeline. This made it harder to connect to the characters and the overall plot. 3.5 of 5 stars.

Thank you to Emelia Hart, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a digital copy of Weyward in exchange for a honest review.

Five centuries of feminism are combined in this novel that focuses on the lives of three women in different timelines & their unique relationships with nature.

Altha is accused of witchcraft in 1619, even though all her mother ever taught her was their own form of natural magic that helped heal others who were sick. In 1942, Altha’s descendent Violet is expected to stop climbing trees to study birds & insects & instead become a docile housewife. Fast forward to 2019 & Violet’s great-niece Kate has inherited the Weyward family cottage & uses it as a refuge from her abusive partner.

In each of these stories, we see the women slowly embrace their power as Weyward women & fall in love with the natural world as they reject societal convention & discover the magic that has been passed down to them through the generations.

I love being outside in the fresh air but have never cared much for insects, & this book gave me a different perspective on bugs of all kinds.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an ARC.

3 women in three different time periods, all related and share a secret. They have a powerful connection to nature and to animals, but also have powerful desire to overcome their fears and protect themselves and those they love.

A great spring time read, steeped in imagery of nature in a beautiful countryside setting to fulfill all of your cottagecore desires! This is a character-driven story, divided into three perspectives from three different timelines across history. The author's use of language and descriptions were impressive in the way they seemed to fit each era so perfectly. I enjoyed Altha's and Violet's perspectives a lot, but found Kate frustrating for much of the novel.

I was surprised by some of the more graphic descriptions, so -
CW for on page domestic violence, sexual assault, suicidal thoughts, car accident, death of parent, abortion.

Oh, look that cover - isn't it gorgeous? Even better is the story that awaits you in Emilia Hart's debut novel, Weyward.
Hart's book unfolds through the narrative of three women over the course of five centuries. In 1619, Altha is on trial for witchcraft. In 1942, Violet is virtually a prisoner in her family's manor house. And in 2019, Kate is on the run from her life in London.

What ties the three together is their family tree and Weyward Cottage. There's more of course, but not all of them are aware yet of their strengths, abilities or what came before.

Hart tells her story in rotating points of view, often ending at a place I couldn't wait to return to. (Makes for lots of late night reading!) And as those time periods flip, you realize that the more things change, the more they stay the same. 'Nuff said. "The thought sparks fury in her. She's not sure if it's a new feeling, or if it was always there, smothered by fear. But now it burns bright in her blood."

Hart's descriptions of nature are beautiful and remind us to appreciate what grows and lives in a garden. And to take solace and peace from Mother Earth. "For I had begun to suspect that nature, to us, was as much a life force as the very air we breathed."

Weyward is a brilliant, bewitching debut. I can't wait to read what Hart writes next.

A fabulous tale of three woman connected by blood from three different times.
Hereditary witches that don't realize that they can do more than heal until they are forced to reach deep inside for their power.
This book keep me up reading way past my bedtime. I recommend it highly.

Special thanks to #Netgalley and #St.MartinsPress for the ARC!

So, this was actually difficult for me to rate. The writing was great, and I loved the multiple timelines and the way the characters intertwined. Some of the connections and events were obvious, but I still enjoyed the story. The difficulty is mostly due to the graphic nature of some of the events. There was a time in my life, after a recent pregnancy loss, that I would not have been able to read this. I do feel that some of the scenes were a bit barbaric and disturbing, so just keep that in mind, because I was surprised by it. After carefully balancing all the pieces, I feel that I can’t give it less than a 3.75 to 4 stars.

Weyward By Emilia Hart is a multigenerational novel about 3 women who are tied to a name and a cottage. They are all related and have to stay in the cottage. It’s 2019 and Kate is in an abusive marriage. She she’s no way out but out of the blue, she finds out she has inherited a cottage. The cottage will be her refugee, her safe place. She just has to be brave enough to run.. Altha, lives in the same cottage but it is 1619. Her mother taught her magic. She knows how to treat all kinds of illness and she is very good at it. But she is accused of using witch craft and she needs to protect her freedom at any cost. The same cottage is the home of Violet. It’s 1942 and WWII is raging.. Violet loves the outdoors and the animals. Her mother has passed and her father is a cold man, who doesn’t relate to her, at all. Her days are boring and she can’t wait to get out of the house. Little does she know, the cottage will soon be her home. The author does a great job telling the stories of all three women. I really liked how she tied them together. Will the cottage be a refugee or cause more trouble? Can the ladies find happiness here? This was a four star read for me. I really enjoyed it so much. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

Lovely debut about three generations of women across 5 centuries. Three women discover their connection to the natural world, and the power that results from such connection. Female resilience after pain and heartbreak. I really liked how the stories of Kate, Violet and Altha came together, allowing them each to realize their power and the ability to survive.

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Weyward by Emilia Hart follows three stories of women set at different times through history who all have the same mysterious connection to wildlife around them, particularly insects. Altha's story starts off with her in jail, to be tried as a witch in the 1600s. Violet is living in an English manor during WWII, trying to find out anything about her deceased mother. Kate is in an abusive marriage, trying to imagine a way out. All the stories are connected by the Weyward women line, though the characters may not know it. You have to read to find out if the strength that each has, and their unique connection to the wildlife around them will be enough to save them from the dangers they face!

I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy some magical realism, historical fiction, and strong female characters facing difficult challenges. The book does have potential triggers for some readers with violence against women, and a female's right to make choices about her body. That being said, the difficult subjects are met with a sense of resiliency and empathy. The stories are woven together beautifully, though at the end of each chapter I found myself not wanting to jump to the other story line as each separate one pulled me in! Overall, 4.5 stars rounded up. Be prepared to have a hard time setting this one down!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Emilia Hart for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Outstanding! What an incredible book, weaving together the lives of three women and their family lineage and inherent skill with the natural world. All face the horrible reality of abuse and restriction, still facing women today, which makes the story incredibly timely. I loved the atmosphere, the fact that the cottage is almost one of the characters of the book, and the way the author made points without being preachy. A truly mesmerizing read.

An incredible debut that follows the lives of three strong Weyward women across different time periods as they navigate dangers and misogyny at the hands of men they thought they could trust. I loved the focus on the natural world mixed in with a unique brand of witchcraft. Moving with unforgettable characters and a gorgeous cover!

The author did a great job seamlessly interweaving each of the women's stories and highlighting their different struggles as they dare to be different in a world that punishes women for having the audacity to exist outside of societal norms. Recommended for fans of Rachel Griffin or Philippa Gregory. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Special thanks to St. Martin's press and NetGalley for this book but I got it in audio too so my ratings are on there. Still thank you because I was able to read along with the audio if I liked.

Apologies for being a week late on this review, happy belated pub day!

“We never thought of ourselves as witches, my mother and I. For this was a word invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not those it describes. A word that builds gallows and pyres, turns breathing women into corpses.”

This is a book about Altha, about Violet, and about Kate. This is a book about women who have been hidden away and pushed aside because society was afraid of their gifts. I’ve always been fascinated by the way folk medicine and superstition have been negatively cast as witchcraft, and how this is meant to wrest control away from women. If these topics interest you, you’ll love the Weyward Women.

Each perspective was narrated in a different person or tense - at times I liked this distinction and at times I wished I had a more natural continuity between the narratives.

I loved the rich and detailed descriptions of plants, birds, and insects. If you were a little girl with dirty, scraped, knees and crud under your fingernails, this book will delight your inner child and she will long to befriend each character.

Weyward is a perfect book to read to wrap up Women’s History month and get ready for spring

There is definitely something about the Weyward women! This book induced so many FEELINGS in me that I'm not even sure where to start. It was not an easy read. However, the stories of these three generationally connected women were so expertly written. Each character was likeable and complex. They share something so special that even time cannot break its hold on the Weyward women. The settings were so thoroughly described that I could easily picture them in vivid detail.

Definitely for fans of Magical Realism, women's fiction and witchy reads!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this thought-provoking arc.

✅ awesome cover
✅ strong female lead(s)
✅ revenge
✅ witchcraft

This was so moving in so many ways. Perspectives have to be done a certain way for them to be effective and damn they were in this book. I could have finished this book in half the time I did, because it flowed so well and made me want to know what’s going on, but I wanted to savor it.
It’s definitely a tough read emotionally and there is sexual and physical abuse in it. If you’re not in a good emotional state - tread lightly (obviously I don’t listen to my own advice).

This beautifully written story follows three women in different times, all with witches in their ancestry.
One fleeing an abusive relationship.
One facing a murder trial.
One living in a time where women have no rights at all.
All three have Weyward witches in their history, and maybe they have their own magic.

I loved the writing style. Very atmospheric. Very beautiful. You can't help but root for these women after the way they have been treated. Loved it!

What's it about:
Weyward by Emilia Hart is a historical and women's fiction mixed with a touch of magical realism to give it a few fantasy elements. The story, told from the POVs of three females from the Weyward (which means "wild woman") lineage, encompasses three different points in time. Kate is the modern-day narrator who escapes her abusive partner once she finds out she is pregnant by hiding in her great-aunt's house. Violet's (Kate's great-aunt) story is from the 1920s. She wants to study nature, mainly insects, at college. Yet, her father tries to force her to fulfill society's expectations for a woman during that time, which is more of a homemaker than an academic. Lastly, Althea tells her story from the 1600s, mainly about charges brought against her for witchcraft and the resulting trial.
My Reading Experience:
Weyward is a challenging read. It is well written, but so much so that it makes it even harder to read than if it had been told by someone less talented. The writing envelopes you and makes you sit in the emotions of the three main characters as they live through deeply intense abusive situations at the hands of the men in their lives or community. The three different stories represent the more violent manifestations of misogyny.

The fantasy aspects come in because Weyward women are witches through their connection with nature. Animals will do their bidding, protect them, and keep them company throughout their lives. They also know natural cures using various plants found around them. Magic does not play a big part time-wise in the story, which is why I call it more a mix of historical and women's fiction.

Weyward is an exceptionally well-written story that leaves much for readers to discuss with others, such as a book group or a group of friends. But it is not an easy read, nor is it an entertaining read. It is a slow-paced story with three narrators and three compelling, historically appropriate stories with a satisfying conclusion.

This one was super unique. I loved how all 3 stories of them women tied in with each other. The story flowed nicely and the ending was perfect. No surprise at all that it was a BOTM pick. It did talk about some pretty heavy things that I wish I knew before hand. I think pregnancy related things are hard for me to personally read, and wasn’t expecting those chapters. Other than that, i enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted e-copy.

I don't know what to say except the following:

HOW is this a debut? It was absolutely amazing.

The triple POV flows seamlessly. I usually become invested in one of the POV and want to skip just to that, but I was equally invested in all three. I loved all three of the women and their stories. They were connected perfectly, and I did not want any of their stories to end.

The magical realism was extremely well done. I thought the three different time periods were well written as well.

I couldn't put this book down, and now that I'm finished, I'm still thinking about it. I can not wait to see what is next from this author.