This was phenomenal!

This story jumps between Altha's story in 1691, Violet's story in 1942, and Kate's story in 2019. As their storylines progress it's determined that these wild, witchy women are all connected.
Altha is a healer being tried for witchcraft, Violet is stifled in her home dreaming of being an entomologist, and Kate is determined to save herself from an abusive husband.

I can not get over how beautifully these women's stories are intertwined. Emilia Hart takes on these historical and modern day issues and gives the women the voice and power to explore them. The writing was amazing, and add in the narrators who really did these characters justice and I can't recommend this enough.

Without a doubt this debut novel is going to make top charts and for good reason!

Not just another witchy novel, Weyward is a stunning debut about female power, male control and breaking free of societal constraints.
In 2019, we have Kate who is running from an abusive partner. Her great-aunt, Violet, a celebrated entomologist, has secretly left her Weyward Cottage, tucked in a small Cumbrian village. In 1942, we have Violet's story. And 400 years prior, in 1619, we have Altha Weyward, accused and on trial for witchcraft. The parallels in each voice are stunning and intricately woven together. Each narrator does such a wonderful job of bringing each character to life.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

“We never thought of ourselves as witches…for this was a word invented by men. A word that brings power to those who speak it, not those it describes.”

Intricately woven story of 3 women spanning across several generations. These women are bonded with a deep connection to nature. As they learn of their secret legacy they decide how to harness their strength with the power to heal and to destroy.

This debut novel has beautiful atmospheric writing, such that you feel the environment is a separate character. It gives the women confidence. The history is interesting. I especially loved the explanation of the “weyward” name and how the women owned it.

It took awhile for me to really delve into the book. The 3 POV chapters felt disconnected for awhile, more like 3 short novels, than one book. But once the book got going, the connections were clear and the book shined with female empowerment.

Note, there are many triggers in the book like rape, abuse, and abortion.

If you have the opportunity, the audiobook was a great listen. Especially with the music at the beginning and end to set the mood. Oh… and the cover is gorgeous!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

“This wildness inside gives us our name. It was men who marked us…”weyward” they would call us when we would not submit….But we learned to wear the name with pride.”

A beautiful story of family, strength, and finding your magic. Told from three timelines, the reader learns about the Weyward women. The trauma, the heartbreak, and the growth each had to endure.

Halfway through, I wasn’t sure that the plot was really going anywhere. But as things started to link and the family history aligned, I felt connections to each of the women. By the end, my heart was swelling!

‘I had nature in my heart, she said. Like she did, and her mother before her. There was something about us – the Weyward women – that bonded us more tightly with the natural world. We can feel it, she said, the same way we feel rage, sorrow or joy.’

Not sure how these things are decided, but apparently, there was a “Witchy Fiction is de rigueur” memo, and I am HERE. FOR. IT.

This one was particularly well done.

It’s difficult enough to write ONE good story, let alone THREE.

And yet, here we are.

The story was Magical Realism at its finest.

The characters were complex and, for the most part, likeable.

The storyline was engaging and (Alva’s verdict aside) weirdly believable.

The settings were so vivid I could practically smell them.

I loved that there was zero focus on men. This was a story of women, for women, by women.

Any fan of Alix E. Harrow, Cherie Dimaline, or Laurie Albenese will love this one.

9.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this stunning ARC.

Weyward was an engrossing story featuring three women in three different centuries. It’s a terrific mix of historical fiction, women’s fiction (although I personally hate that term) and magical realism. The story mostly takes place in Cumbria, England and the three women are: Altha, 1619; Violet, 1942; and Kate, 2019.

All three women are connected (of course, because this is fiction, after all!). Altha has learned the healing arts from her mother. She lives in a time where many women were accused of witchcraft and she is accused after a man is trampled by his own livestock. Violet is a daughter of the landed gentry and is overly sheltered by her father. She longs for the freedom and broad education her younger brother has been given. Kate is under the thumb of an abusive man, but manages to make her escape and winds up in the Weyward cottage which she recently inherited from her great-aunt. I found their stories equally compelling, which is not often the case with dual (or in this case, triple) timeline stories. All three women have an unusually strong connection with the natural world, especially birds and insects.

A shout-out to the designer who created the magnificent book cover!

Weyward should come with a pile of trigger warnings. Nearly all the men in this book are just awful. They are extremely patriarchal and cruel, no matter what century they live in. Warnings should include: rape (including rape of a minor), gaslighting, domestic violence, abortion, stillbirth, and several more.

Given the above, it may seem strange to say that I really enjoyed this book, but I found it compelling and would recommend it highly.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook has three distinct narrators who all do a wonderful job: Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley and Nell Barlow. I love it when audiobooks have more than one narrator.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was such a lovely, empowering and satisfying read. The timelines merged beautifully and the revenge felt sweet! Hart balanced the magical elements with excellent precision. The book had just enough magic to keep you slightly above grounded and was a perfect complement to the very serious representation of domestic violence.

Dear Weyward,
You were so interesting to me! I loved the multiple storylines and how they all tied together. Ultimately, to me, you ended up being a story about the legacy of trauma and the imprints that it can leave, even for generations to come. The addition of magic to the story really took the suspense to a new level. Each woman's story was so deeply layered, each generation building on the generation before. You were not an easy story to read, by any means. You confront the topics of rape and abuse, bringing to light some of the atrocities that women face. You are beautifully written, and I loved your world.

This story, told from multiple POVs across multiple timelines is just perfection. It’s got the perfect amount of witchy in it so keep it magical while also remaining a story of family and tradition.

Told from the perspective of 3 women we get to experience the similar yet different struggles of each individual during their own time period and how they learn of their Weyward connection. It’s so interesting and I honestly couldn’t put it down. Once I started, I finished it. It’s so good.

I received the audio through NetGalley but what brought it to the front of the line was being a Book of the Month pick for March 2023. I ordered a hardcover and completed the audiobook all in the same day. So good. Definitely recommend.

2.5 stars rounded up. This was not for me. I did like the writing and audio narration, and I do think the connected stories are well crafted, it's just not the right genre for my reading tastes. I see several reviews describe this story as empowering, and that's not an aspect I got out of it. Just because the women in the story survive and endure the abuse of terrible men again and again, with nothing really changing over the generations, does not make for an "empowering" story. Maybe this is more for readers who want a lot of realism in their fiction, especially as the fantastical elements of this world are more for character development than world building, but for me the experience was mostly dour, predictable, and exhausting. The ending leaves the readers with some hope for the characters' futures, but I was frustrated by the glaring plot hole that each new generation of women would not have had to suffer anew if their mothers/other women would have been honest and upfront in disclosing their inherited power.

Trigger warnings for depictions of abusive relationships, sexual assault, miscarriage, pregnancy termination

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free audio ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

We follow three generations of women in the Weyward bloodline. Each woman has their own struggle that in a sense leads them to find themselves and their powers. It was a whimsical, emotional, and powerful witchy story!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators for each woman were excellent! The pacing was great and the story just incredibly captivating.

I won’t give too much more away as I don’t want to spoil the magic of this story. I hope you give this book a read!

A beautiful debut that left me feeling miserable.

PRAISES:
-The heavy topics in this book were explored honestly and openly.
-The writing was engaging, bold and powerful. The imagery was clear and not silly or overdone.
-The execution of 3 different women in three different times was beautifully done. This is tricky, and I would have never guessed this to be a debut novel.
-The audio performance is one of the best I’ve heard.
-The story was gripping and fascinating from each POV. Altha was the most interesting for me.
-It made me pause and think on how history repeats itself. Specifically, how you may unconsciously and unintentionally do what your ancestors have done, and when you know who you come from, that knowledge can give you strength and power to rise above.

CRITIQUES:
-This was a very black and white feminist book. We only get to know one man who isn’t a complete shit show. (that’s a nice description) It expresses heavily that men are terrible, and women only need them for their “seed” and nothing else.

-The trigger warnings were done poorly. In the synopsis it says, “abusive” and “trauma” and I understand that extreme details of these triggers will be spoilers but there should have been more in the synopsis or an author’s note in the beginning that stresses the importance for readers to proceed with caution.

-These women all go through similar experiences which was interesting and thoughtful, but it also created no surprises and resulted in a painfully predicable plot. (The epilogue did have a small surprise)

-The way that these women rise above their circumstances and oppression is by “magic,” which is something no modern woman can use or relate to.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
I like to think I have thick skin when it comes to triggers in books, but the generational trauma was extreme in its repetition. The descriptions weren’t overly descriptive or gory but the consistency of them is what left me feeling deflated and near tears. The multiple, graphic scenes of miscarriage were especially triggering for me. Not to mention the exploration of multiple scenes/mentions of rape, violence, abortion and death. I guess it’s a compliment to the author that she made me feel so deeply.

I can see why people will love this. Maybe if I had gone through less, I would have liked it more.
I’m sorry for a somewhat unhelpful review. I’m going to go read something happy to keep myself together.

BREAKDOWN…
Characters/Depth/Growth – 8
Atmosphere/World - 9
Writing Style - 9
Plot - 5
Intrigue -3
Love/Relationships - 1
Enjoyment/Memorable – 1
Total: 36

Divided by 7 = 5.1 (3 stars)
1.1-2.2 *
2.3-4.5 **
4.6-6.9 ***
7.0-8.9 ****
9.0-10 *****

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Emilia Hart’s debut, “Weyward", is being published in March (the 7th to be exact) - which is also Women’s History Month; the strength each of the three main characters find in themselves is a testament to the struggles women have endured historically.

This debut by Hart is beautifully written and well crafted. I LOVE when authors can weave connections through generations and Hart does this so eloquently that it has you holding your breath in some parts. Between the issues of physical & mental abuse (which can be triggering for some), as well as the male perception formulated in some of these characters, I found myself going back to various writings by feminist theorists such as Simone de Beauvoir & Naomi Wolf, all who have written about the social constructs of women. De Beauvoir’s theories in her book “The Second Sex,” depicts a hierarchical male world, where women’s voices are stifled and their treatment is unjust (this is the case all three women in the book find themselves in). In “The Beauty Myth,” Wolf writes about the social constraints women are trapped in due to religion, societal expectations, the beauty industry and advertising (Kate was expected to look a certain way all to please her husband). All these ideas are molded in the tale Hart weaves. In addition, Hart’s characters demonstrate a sisterhood, an earthly connection and a lineage of strength that is unlike any story I’ve read.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and the narration was spot on. Each voice reflective of the character and their struggles. It was so well done!

This is truly a stunning debut & one worth adding to your TBR list for 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Emilia Hart for an audiobook ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written debut novel by Emilia Hart.

This book tells the story of three women in different centuries who are connected in many ways. The author does a beautiful job of telling the struggles each woman faced in the century in which she grew up. It was very slow throughout but kept me interested.

The audiobook was great and the narrator was perfect for this book.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

“Witch. The word slithers from the mouth like a serpent. Drips from the tongue as thick and black as tar. 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 that speak it, not those it describes. A word that builds gallows and pyres, turns breathing women into corpses. No, it was not a word we ever used.”

Altha. Violet. Kate. Three women and a single thread connecting them over 400 years. They share a family history and a unique ability to see, feel and apply elements of their natural worlds. Each are challenged to fight against custom, against fear and against violence to survive and stay true to their legacy, with guidance from the past and direction toward the future. A witch trial in 1619 in a small Cumbrian village morphs into the various narrative timelines and author Emilia Hart expertly crafts the resulting plot. The villains, traitors and helpers are eerily similar in each of the three stories and their alternating voices bring this richly detailed novel to a fascinating conclusion. Worth noting, three narrators with impeccable performances, made this an audiobook delight!

Truly a feminist story and a cautionary tale, this historical fiction/magical realism mash up had me reflecting upon the ongoing complexity of fear vs power. If you enjoyed Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese, be sure to pick up this imaginative debut.

Worth noting, three narrators with impeccable performances, made this an audiobook delight!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

3 women from 3 timelines all linked by their connection to nature.

Altha-1619, on trial for witchcraft
Violet- 1942, abused and disown by her family
Kate-abused and discovers the connection between all 3.

I love a good women’s fiction with magical realism that highlights the strength and power that women possess. I started off really loving this book but then ended up having mixed feelings by the end.

🕷️What I liked:
-the cast of the audio was PHENOMENAL. I highly encourage you to listen!
-the realistic portrayal of each woman’s plight at the hands of the cruel men in their lives.
-the focus on nature and how the average person lacks the insight into what is around them.
-It reminded me a lot of The Lost Apothecary

🕷️What I didn’t like:
-Every main male character in the story was pure evil except one. The author pushed that all men are evil and it just felt really forced.
-The main issue that each woman faced somehow related to a pregnancy. I understand the author’s need to highlight men’s dominance over women in this area. But women are more than our bodies and, being a feminist book, I wished each woman had a little more in their narrative that didn’t mostly focus on pregnancy.
-This book is really heavy in some areas (see below for trigger warnings) and it was a lot. I wished the author had picked a couple heavy topics and focused on them but it was heartache after heartache. And, most of the issues are solved with their magic. Which left me feeling really depressed reflecting on the reality of how many women find themselves in the same shoes as Kate, Altha, and Violet and don’t have the ability to make it disappear. I’m sure that’s the point but I ended the book feeling a little let down.

TW (on page): Rape, miscarriage, abuse, multiple abortions, domestic violence, pregnancy, mention of stillbirth, suicidal ideation

Weyward by Emilia Hart follows three generations of women from the Weyward family. It begins with Kate who has just fled her abusive relationship for the home she inherited from her great aunt, Violet. There’s Altha Weyward, Kate’s ancestor where the story is founded and there’s Kate’s aunt Violet who suffered much the same way Kate finds herself suffering in the present.

This novel is captivating and the story is interesting especially the vivid imagery of nature however at times the plot feels basic. The stories of each woman feel very similar with slight variations in that they all suffer at the hands of men but are thoroughly resilient.

Hart’s debut weaves together three stories of the same family with the secret that ties them together. The story is an ode to female strength and courage. It is a depiction of how the world beats us down and how as women, we rise.

I enjoyed the novel for the most part but I didn’t find it extraordinary. It is triggering in many ways and while I liked the genre-bending aspect (historical fiction/magical realism), I didn’t feel like I was reading anything new or life-changing.

Thank you #MacmillanAudio & #Netgalley for the Advance Audiobook Listening Copy of #Weyward . The book publishes on March 7th, 2023!

I was in such a reading slump and couldn’t find a book that I connected with. Then came Weyward by Emilia Hart

✨Publication Date: March 7, 2023

Synopsis:
Weyward follows the story of three women: Altha, Violet and Kate all who have a love of nature all living in different times. These women are strong, different and have all experienced violence by men.

How are these women connected and how will they break free from the circumstances in their lives?

Thoughts:
✨ I absolutely loved this book.
✨ Witchy vibes (my favorite)
✨ Strong female characters
✨ Multiple timelines (1619, 1940s, 2019)and multiple POVs
✨ Family secrets

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 stars for this debut novel.

👏🏼 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook which was amazing!

Unpopular opinion, but I did not love this. I love strong women, I love books about strong women, but this one was just too polarizing for me. All women are not amazing and all men are not terrible, yet that was the overarching message in this book. There are amazing women, and terrible women, amazing men and terrible men and I so wish they were all portrayed. I also found the book to be very repetitive which made it slow and difficult to read at times. Overall, this book just didn't do it for me.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Feminist and witchy.
Talk of domestic abuse and SA.
A generational story of strength and courage.