Both a historical fiction mixed with magical realism, this book makes you root for the weird girl. The misunderstood girl. Set in three different time periods (1619, 1940s and 2019), Weyward follows three women as they battle their demons (society) & overcome the judgement and trials put against them. All women have a deep connection to nature and animals. We follow each women as they find themselves and set their own paths in life, never to be concerned with the likes of a man. They embrace the ways of the Weywards.

I found this to be a delightfully entertaining story. There were elements to it that was certainly heavier than I expected, and I struggled through at times. Overall, I enjoyed it. 3.5/5

CW: domestic abuse, rape, neglect, abortion, suicidal thoughts

This book was intriguing in concept, but lacking in execution. The author draws so many parallels between the three Weyward women that it feels repetitive. The pacing also leaves something to be desired, lurching along awkwardly. Altha is a wonderful character, Kate is alright, but I found Violet irritating and troublesome. Fans of Kate Morton are likely to enjoy.

A wonderful story of 3 different generations of Weyward woman, Altha in 1619, Violet in 1942 and Kate in 2019. Each of these women posses an affinity with nature, and its creatures and all have been abused in some way by men.
We mainly follow the story line of Kate in 2019 as she leaves an abusive relationship and goes to a small cottage she had inherited from her great-aunt Violet. Here she finds out the stories of the other women and what they went through to gain their freedom.
Such a wonderfully told story, of the curses and the good these women go through because of their connection to nature. A bit of Witch craft, magical realism, and a great legacy that has been passed down to the Weyward women.
I will definitely keep an eye out for more books by this Author.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book.

Weyward is a story about three generations of women, the earlier two of which must contend with accusations of whichcraft.

Reminsicent of Louisa Morgan and M.J. Rose’s work, Weyward is a wrenching story of three special women bound togetehr by blood and unique ability over centuries. It’s a familiar story about how women with “magical” abilities were feared and often attacked and murdered, then committed to asylums, then become victims of abuse in the present time.

The three women here - Altha, Violet, and Kate - share a bond with nature unlike any others. Their individual stories are very different but also entwined with the same bigotry and fear that spans centuries. Well-written with relatively short chapters that alternate from woman to woman, Weyward is a quick, captivating read that reveals the indignity and dangers faced by unusual women from the 1600s to the present day.

Weyward was the perfect cozy, witchy, historical fiction novel that I'm always looking for. Hart follows three women bound together by blood, across three different time periods, as they all figure out how to live the way they want to. This is a heartwarming story about family, perseverance, and the power of community, whether that be found in-person or across generations, through writing and storytelling. Hart also writes beautifully of healing from trauma, and of the natural world—it made me yearn for spring, when you can watch the world bloom around you. This novel is a strong yet tender story of female power. Hart writes in the vein of Alice Hoffman, but is more mature in theme and writing, in my opinion. This story is one that will imbue your daily life with magic.

CW: abuse, rape, pregnancy, abortion

While well-written, and in such a way that makes you root for Altha, Violet and Kate, this book is essentially one long trigger warning.

The firstborn will be a female and have an infinity with nature. Althea, whose mother is a healer, brought to trial as a witch in the 1600’s. By the time Violet is born, the magic that has been imbued in these woman has not been taught through the generations. Violet knows that she is different, but until she discovers the secrets in her dead mother’s life, she doesn’t know why. Once Violet learns her power, she will take revenge. Kate runs from a cruel man to the cottage that Aunt Violet has left her. She discovers her affinity with nature and will use it to stay alive. This was well-written, easy to follow and an interesting read. I will be watching for more by this author. I was honored to receive a digital ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. The opinion expressed is my own.

In 1619, Alta was tried for witchcraft and murder. In 1942, 16 year old Violet wanted nothing more than to be able to do things that women weren't allowed. Today, in 2019, 29 year old Kate is escaping her abusive, controlling boyfriend.

As these three perspectives unfold, the connections between these three women become more entwined and their lives are mirrors of each other. On a personal level, I felt a deep connection to these women. As someone who has experienced the type of relationship that Kate is in, I understood her fears and worries. And as someone who was always more of a tomboy growing up, I felt for Violet’s desires to be independent and free.

This is such a heart-breakingly emotional story, while at the same time uplifting and inspirational to all women. Historically, the treatment of women by society has had its dark moments, and still today some of these beliefs are in other ways perpetuated in the shadowy corners of our lives.

Even when hopelessly tragic, it speaks to the truth that we only need to believe in ourselves and what we are capable of. The ferocity of all three of these women encourages readers to confidently navigate our own path in life and create a future that upholds our dreams - regardless of what anyone else thinks about it.

The affinity for nature and all the creatures of the earth is heart-warming and endearing. I love that all these women have reverence and respect for the natural world.

An ode to the power of women, this story illustrates the fear that it has instilled in men throughout history, and maybe even still to this day. The stories of these three women show how we are finally taking our power back and are stronger than ever before, especially when we champion one another.

This story touches on themes that will have you reflecting and contemplating on the world we live in. One such theme that I found particularly intriguing is the advancements in modern medicine. In previous times, there were some seriously crazy treatments and pervasive ideas within the medical community. But at that time, it was considered normal and factual. It begs the question of what more we will learn in a few hundred years and, when they look back on us, what things will they see as ridiculous that we hold as truth? As humans, we just don’t know what we don’t know.

I highly recommend this book! It will truly sweep you away and keep you enraptured within the entire experience. I mean, wow. Unbelievably, because this book is just that good, it is a debut. And I can’t wait to see what this author blesses us with in the future. I’m just blown away by this one and so excited for everyone else to read it too.

3.75/5 stars. This book is an empowering tale of feminism and revolting out against abuse through the generations. The book was well thought out and expressive and did a great job of drawing in the reader. This isn't my primary genre so I found the pacing a little slow at times. But overall, a great first entry by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Thank you to Emelia Hart, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a digital copy of WEYWARD.

Weyward is a story about three generations of women, the earlier two of which must contend with accusations of whichcraft. The most modern, Violet, has married a very abusive man and finds herself pregnant with his child. She wants to prevent new life from coming into his family, so she's always prevented her pregnancy. But now that she's pregnant, she's looking for a way out, and soon finds help from a very old and unexpected place.

This book's has good basic characters, and a good, if basic plot. The form is quite beautiful...but I had problems with it.

I'm a giant fan of experimental form, especially one that plays around with time. I thought that the concept for this book was ambitious, but a little clumsy. I really struggled to follow in places--mostly because the story kept wrenching free of progressive time--but the plot ultimately was still married to it. The reader exists with Violet, in the <i>present</i> Whatever safety that offers the reader from the story stakes, it also raises them--there is no escape into the past. It's a clever but still clumsy construction.

I had to backtrack several times in my reading because I felt a rickety ladder beneath me, and Hart just above, cobbling it together fast and loose. When I finished, I wondered why I didn't care about any of these characters? It was for the same reason I kept having to backtrack and reread when one section would switch to the next. Nothing was connecting for me.

Rating 🧪🧪.5 / 5 weird potions
Recommend? Meh🤷‍♀️
Read this book if you like:
🧙‍♀️ Witches
🌿 Herbalism
👥️ Multiple perspectives
⌚️ Alternating time lines
🗣 Domestic thrillers

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I switched back and forth from the audio version and written version of this book.
This book is absolutely amazing. I could not stop listening or put it down. Finished it in less than two days.
The author did a great job developing the three main women in this book and their history. I liked all of the main female characters and of course disliked the men.
The ending with Kate was perfect.
Awesome book. Look forward to more from this author.

#Weyward# by: Emilia Hart
Review by: Librarian

Weyward is the generational story of a line of women with unique powers beginning in the 1600's with a young woman arrested for suspected witchcraft. The women have power over the insect, and fowl (birds) world, summoning these powers to change events in their lives and in the lives of others. The different women in the different time periods find themselves in abusive and destructive relationships forcing them to delve into their somewhat dormant powers to right wrongs in their lives and sometimes in the lives of others they care about. Often the power is used for revenge. This breed of women is basically antisocial and prefers living alone with their bugs and birds. The story is more fantasy than mystery. I confess I found the book tiring but struggled to read to the end since I elected to give it an honest review. The ending was predictable.

This novel follows three Weyward women from different generations: Altha, on trial for witchcraft in 1619, Violet, growing up motherless in 1942, and Kate, facing an uncertain future in 2019. Alternating between the women, Hart crafts three compelling stories of three women connected through time by genes and an uncanny affinity for nature. All three women face the evils of men and rely on a special gift to overcome.

I found all three storylines compelling and enjoyable which in itself is a great feat of writing. I loved the suspense created by interweaving the storylines. I found the magical component surprising and welcome.

The writing was great, I found myself lost in the story with characters that felt real and human. I think this will be a favorite for many readers in 2023.

A story of the power of three women told in alternating timelines of 2019, 1619 and 1942.

Kate flees an abusive marriage in London for a ramshackle cottage in the country that she recently inherited from a great aunt she barely knew. The cottage leads to more secrets about her ancestors. Althea is awaiting trial for witchcraft after a local farmer is stampeded. Her knowledge of the natural world, taught to her by her mother, leads the citizens to believe she’s a witch. During World War II, Violet is trapped by societal expectations in her family’s crumbling estate. Hoping to learn more about her deceased mother, she begins with the locket handed down from her with the letter W.

Emilia Hart’s Weyward connects history, science and the resilience of strong women in a beautiful story spanning centuries. Part historical fiction, part nature and part magic equals a story to lose yourself in. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book!! The story of a line of women, hundreds of years spanned. I loved finding the connections between them and their abilities and seeing them all come to their own realizations. I especially loved how the relationship between Violet and Graham took shape. Would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in empowering women's fiction, historical fiction and a hint of witchcraft!

I loved everything about this book, from the cover to the name to the story itself. Weyward… a name or a description. The book tells three stories simultaneously of three extraordinary women from the same family. Altha is being tried as a witch in 1619. Violet is a nobleman’s daughter harbors her own secret. Kate, in present time, flees an abusive partner with a secret of her own. The women are all connected through blood, through history. Weyward is the cottage Kate runs to. Weyward is the name and locket Violet clings to. Weyward is the name Altha wears with pride and fear.

Such an amazing story of female strength and resilience. I could read it again and again, imagining the ethereal cottage and gardens, the beauty in the fierceness these women possess.

This book is a reminder that the choices we make send out waves and ripples that will become part of the psyche of future generations. The Weyward women are strong, fiercely independent, and do not fit society’s standards and expectations. Through the stories of three of these women, across hundreds of years, we see and are reminded of the battle we face daily to retain our identity in a world that tells us our magic, whatever that might be, is a threat to people who hold power.

I really enjoyed this spooky, charming story. It's not really a mystery or a thriller, but a multi-layered domestic suspense with a hint of magical realism and a trio of interlocking narratives. I found Altha's timeline the most riveting, but enjoyed Violet and Kate's stories, too. All in all a lovely read. And that cover! 😍

Emilia Hart weaves three women’s stories from different periods of time together in a heartwarming way in which these women help each other overcome obstacles. I absolutely LOVED this book. It had witches and magic but also very real life struggles.

I felt that all the strings were tied up nicely by the end. I think I felt every emotion possible during this book but was left with a warm fuzzy feeling by the end.

I absolutely would recommend this to all of my friends and this book makes the exclusive list of books I’ve read and immediately knew I needed to send a copy to my grandma for her to read too. (Or pre-order for her in this case.)