I wasn’t sure at first about the way the story develops in the book, I was worried I would confuse the different characters but once I got invested in each storyline for the three women I had no issues. The book to me was about generational trauma and how each of them had to work to overcome. There was a little of the supernatural, but I felt like there could have been more time spent on that part of their lives. I enjoyed the book but feel like it could have more to it, it just felt a little light in spots.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is about a legacy of witchcraft spanning centuries. In England in the 1600's, Altha awaits trial for the murder of a man who was trampled to death by his cattle. The villagers blame witchcraft and she must struggle to prove her innocence while hiding the fact that her mother was indeed a witch who schooled Altha on herbal remedies and detailed knowledge of the natural world. Forward to the 1940s where Violet is a prisoner of the culture of the time. Women weren't meant to be scientists, pick their own husbands or have a thought of her own. As Violet rebels against the constraints of society and her family by learning about insects and wanting to pursue a career as an entomologist. Her father locks her in her rooms until Violet agrees to meet a prospective match. She succumbs to his charms and finds herself pregnant with no prospects of marriage. Violet's abusive, domineering father banishes her to the family's ancestral cottage, called Weyward Cottage. It is there that Violet feels the presence of her ancestors and uncovers secrets that will help her survive on her own. Eighty years later Kate flees her dangerous, abusive partner and runs to Weyward Cottage, left to her by her Aunt Violet. The Cottage has fallen into disrepair over the years and as Kate begins her new life and fixes up her house, she learns of the family's secret which will help her move forward. Three generations of strong, resilient women use their bond with the natural world to survive in a world that isn't always kind to women on their own. Weyward is a well-written, well-plotted book. Fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will love this book . There is much to discuss which makes this an excellent book club choice. Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

Weyward
By Emilia Hart
Pub Date 07 March 2023
☆☆☆☆☆

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.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

“After all, I am a Weyward, and wild inside.”

Weyward is a beautiful story of womanhood, magic, and the ties that bind us together. Told through the POVs of Altha, Violet, and Kate, each represents a different generation of Weyward women. This story showcases the strength of women and the love we have for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I start. What an absolute gem of a book. Think Alice Hoffman. The way the storylines are weaved and told are excellent.

Can we talk about the beautiful cover art? I know we aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one is STUNNING.

Weyward is an engrossing tale that follows 3 different women, over many generations. As an ADHD reader I usually find severed timelines difficult to follow, but I found Emilia Hart did a great job of keeping the storylines separate, but still related of course, and didn't cause too much confusion.

I loved the strong female voices, and discovering how these women were bound together by their shared experience. The content is heavy, so please read TW ahead of time.

If you take a story about the Salem Witch Trials and a domestic thriller you get Weyward, its an empowering read for women.

Beautifully told family history through the narratives of three women from three points in history and I absolutely loved every word. Throughout the timelines you assume the three women are related, but the author unfurls the relationships and their poetic likenesses, through small bits of information that plays out slowly as you read. These amazing women and their completely different, yet amazingly similar lives, were exquisitely written with compassion and depth and as a reader I found myself completely engrossed. If you love a witchy book then I wholeheartedly recommend this one goes on your TBR. And how about that cover! It's definitely in my top five favorites of all time.

Emilia Hart did a fantastic job at weaving three POVs to create a central story. I found myself looking for similarities between each of the main characters and how it impacted the overall story. Although some of the chapters did drag on a little, I was still engaged in the overall story. I loved the connections that Hart made with the characters and how powerful the message was. This was a great debut!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book is sure to be a hit with fans of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. This book has the same feel with strong female characters and almost believable fantastical abilities. A little slow moving a few times but not enough that you didn't want to stick with it.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
This book is told from the POV of several different women in the Weyward family who all have a special connection with nature, but sometimes that gift has been hidden away or blocked. I found the stories and connections between the women to be very compelling and it kept my interest throughout.

I read this book while on a cruise ship sailing around Ireland - the land of magic and leprechauns. It wasn't much of a stretch to get deeply involved with this book and the 3 lead characters. When I read this in the description Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.) I assumed it was another novel about the strength of women. And it was. But it also showed that sometimes that strength comes from something magical. Maybe even what some call witchcraft. Whatever they want to call it, it makes for a very interesting story. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Emilia Hart for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is an EXCELLENT book and definitely one of my favorites that I’ve read. It’s an incredible story featuring some amazing female characters and a great storyline.

This book goes back and forth between three POV’s and normally multiple timelines bother me but I really enjoyed this one! I was equally invested in all of the stories and they all contributed to the story. I liked that the author made some POV’s have shorter chapters at times to speed everything along.

I loved the different time periods in this one and could fully invest in each of them. Even though I liked all of the stories I fell most in love with Violet’s. She’s a great character and I liked her unique interests.

I highly recommend this one! It has some great themes and is a perfect read for Fall especially.

I’m not usually a fan of multiple POVs/timelines but Emilia Hart did a fantastic job of making this easy to follow. I thought the writing was stellar and enjoyed Kate’s chapters the most. I found myself wondering where the story was going in certain parts as chapters occasionally dragged.

Excellent book. Really engaging story of 3 women, told in alternating chapters/points of view. One from the 1600s, one from the mid-1900s, and one from present day. Powerful, strong women.

I think this was a solid debut, the writing was good and I loved the cover but I did feel it was too reminiscent of other books I’ve read (nothing on the nose just touches of other stories).

I loved this book. I was a bit wary at first, especially with Kate's character, but knowing that all three women would eventually tie together it didn't take long to get drawn into Crow's Beck. Following they Weyward women, and the rest of the village inhabitants, through the various stories was a real connection for me coming from a small town where the names of neighbors are echoed on streets, stores as well as tombstones. Small town life with it's closeness for good or bad isn't all that different across centuries and continents. I for sure wasn't ready to leave Crow's Beck when the book ended, partially because the last chapters felt a bit rushed, however Violet's epilogue was a nice touch. I hope we hear more from Emilia Hart in the near future.

Incredible debut! Hart is one to watch. This was an incredibly well balanced story, with themes of the divine feminine fighting the oppression of the patriarchy. I can't wait to see what Emilia Hart has for us next!

In Weyward, 3 generations of women tell their stories in turn. There are similarities among all 3 women's stories--a fascination and affinity for nature and animals, terrible relationships with men, and determination. As each woman discovers her connection to previous generations, she is able to discover her power and to live freely. The stories are compelling and intertwine nicely.

Readers who enjoyed Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik might also enjoy this book.

I love books about witches and this one did not disappoint. I also love reading stories told from multiple point of views. If you are a fan of Alice Hoffman, then you will love this! Three different women telling their stories. and you can't put it down. Great read! I can't wait to read more by this author.

I found this story about 3 women to be very interesting and entertaining. The story is told basically from these women who are all related in some way. I enjoyed reading about the different points of views and learning the individual stories of the women that spanned centuries. It's a thought provoking book in my opinion. It can open your eyes to some of the trials and tribulations women have had, basically since the beginning of time. The nature element was interesting. There was not a backstory to that really, just that it was always there, like in their blood.

Some parts of the book were definitely disturbing to think about. It is things that have actually happened, however they are kind of hard to think about.

I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in nature and enjoys stories about a person's personal journeys and development. This book definitely can contain some triggers so I would recommend checking those out first. Easy 4 stars from me!