"Witch - the word slithers from the mouth like a serpent; drips from the tongue as thick and black as tar... 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 pires; turns breathing women into corpses."

Altha- 1619: accused of witchcraft
Violet- 1942: disinherited
Kate- 2019: abused

Three women, three different time, connected by blood and suffering at the hands of men.

"Perhaps one day, she said, there will be a safer time. When women could walk the earth, shining bright with power and yet live."

I just.... wow.... I love stories with multiple timelines and I was captivated from the start. Each woman's story was as sad, powerful, and enthralling as the others. The writing and flow of this is absolutely beautiful. A bit of mystery, the significance of what Weyward represents, and magic. A story of resilience and rebuilding themselves and their lives. A story that truly spoke to my heart. This will be one of my top reads this year. What an amazing debut and one I'll be thinking about for a long time.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will be honest, I requested this novel because the cover looked amazing and I adore the narrator. Cassandra Campbell can do no wrong as far as I am concerned! Luckily this novel was really, really good.

Stephen Amidon did a great of writing in very distinct voices for each character. The mystery was well crafted and because there was so much going on with each character this did not feel like a typical domestic thriller. No offense to domestic thrillers because I love them but this was a cut above.

Three generations of Weyward women tell this story. In the present, Kate is escaping her abusive relationship & flees to the cottage her aunt left her. In the early 1900s, Violet is the sheltered daughter of a viscount. She is battling the constraints of her father’s expectations for young ladies. In the 1600s, Althea sits on trial, accused of being a witch and bringing about her neighbor’s death. Together, their story weaves a tapestry of women stepping into their power. While it’s a somewhat supernatural story, the undercurrents are about women changing the status quo and shifting the power balance.

EXERPT: All we needed was to be returned to the wild. This wildness inside gives us our name… “Weyward,” they called us when we would not submit, would not bend to their will. But we learned to wear it with pride, for it has always been a gift.. until now.

I read a lot of books with flashbacks or multiple perspectives, and rarely have I seen three stories so evenly balanced. All three women were well-developed and their stories could have easily been lengthened into their own books. The pacing was on point as well, with the swells in each story arriving and abating in waves so the overall book wasn’t overwhelming at any one time.

My inner “historical romance” voice kept wanting everything to turn out beautifully for Violet, but this wasn’t that story. Instead, this was a raw and graphic tale of three women who had to become strong and learn to unleash their power to exact revenge.

The audiobook has a separate narrator for each woman’s story. An excellent artistic choice!

I do need to give a big content warning: This book contains many crimes against women. Rape; physical, emotional, and financial abuse; suicide; abortion; systematic oppression; familial oppression. All described viscerally enough for me to be repulsed, but not always described in graphic detail. This was not done distastefully; rather, I believe the author was trying to inspire our fury / repulsion and bring us along in these women’s stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

This story is beautifully written and incredibly powerful and relevant. I loved how all three stories were finally woven together to bring vindication to Kate at the end. I loved the narration. The cover and title are eye-catching and spark interest. I finished the audio book in 4 days!

Weyward Cottage holds memories and secret knowledge – and it offers asylum for three women in a story that transcends time, with a nod to the three witches (weyward, or weird, sisters) of Shakespeare’s "Macbeth."

Altha (1619), descended from a line of women who heal, is on trial for witchcraft after a man is trampled by his own cattle. She has lived in Weyward Cottage all her life. Violet (1942), with her affinity for the insect world, first understands the mysteries of the cottage when, not even out of her teens, she is sent there to wait for her fiancé who is serving in the British armed forces. Kate (2019), married and living far from the cottage which she has inherited, soon finds her way there as she seeks safety.

Members of a long line of wise women who understand the ways of nature, and maybe the ways of magic, each woman lives in the cottage separated from the others, as the rules of time would dictate – but when help is most sorely needed, the boundaries of time becomes fluid and permeable. Each woman has the opportunity to transmute her victimhood into independence, sometimes with the help of the Weyward women who came before.

Weyward is filled with magical realism (always a plus for this reviewer) – the earth and its creatures offer care and solidarity to the three heroines. The “women good, men bad” theme is further emphasized by author’s tight focus on just the three heroines and two or three satellite characters associated with each of them. The line from heroine to heroine is firmly anchored and does not branch, so the reader’s view is focused on the wrongs done to these women and the gender of the people in power who committed those wrongs.. The few non-evil male characters are either incidental or powerless. This feels simplistic, but maybe the same battle is playing out over again for each woman, furthering the sense of time’s fluidity.

Regardless, "Weyward" is an engrossing listen or read. Emilia Hart has mastered the trickiness of navigating smoothly among three time periods to tell a story that hovers just outside the confines of time, and narrators Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, and Nell Barlow are the perfect voices for the three Weyward women.

Weyward follows three women in one family across many generations. They each have an affinity to nature, though they are aware of it to varying degrees. Their stories echo one another as they are faced with men who hurt women. The stories are difficult and graphic and told in a matter-of-fact style that is haunting and reflects the brutality of nature itself. As the women embrace their affinity, their gifts, and as they confide in and rely on other women, they are able to move away from cycles of violence. It should not escape our attention though that they are facing the same issues in 1619 as they are in 2019. What has changed in that time, and what hasn't? This novel is at once beautiful and brutal.

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me an early listen. This book will be published March 7, 2023.

This is told from the perspectives of 3 women in the Weyward family and each POV has it's own narrator. I thought the narration was well done, Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, Nell Barlow really brought Emilia Hart's story to life and I appreciated that Altha, Violet and Kate had their own physical voice so you knew which time period and which character was the focus of the story. As the story progresses we learn how the three women are connected, but I liked that each chapter focused on one of them specifically and the narration followed suit.

I would look up trigger warnings before delving into this book. While this focuses on women finding their own power, there is mention of physical and verbal abuse as well as SA, there is also miscarriage and abortion. None of of it is particularly graphic and most of it happens off page, but there is enough there to make the reader uncomfortable.

Altha is being tried for witchcraft, Violet's affinity for insects makes her strange and undesirable, and Kate is fleeing from an abusive marriage. These women all come from a long line of Weyward women who have an affinity for nature and have power within them if they are willing to tap into it. Kate has been left her Aunt Violet's estate, and seeks refuge there as she figures out to do after leaving her husband. Violet was a bit stranger, preferring to spend her time with insects and wildlife instead of people, but as Kate spends more time in her cottage she discovers that there was more to her aunt and her family than she knew. As the book unfolds we get to know Violet and Altha and the hardships they faced as women and how they found the courage to overcome them.

I thought Hart did a great job of showing the historical accuracy of how women were treated and how we as humans treat things we don't understand throughout history. Men are able to do evil things to women, yet women are still shamed as it was in Violet's case. This still happens today. Kate's situation was portrayed very accurately, and unfortunately many women are victim to those types of relationships. I definitely got the feeling that this was trying to portray that women are good and men are evil. I do also feel that Hart was trying to send us a message about body autonomy as well, which is still a pretty hot topic today.

Overall, this is an interesting yet dark historical fiction with a hint of magical realism. I thought the switching back and forth between the POVs and timelines was interesting to connect the three women, however their character development suffered a bit because of it and there was a bit of repetition throughout.

This was hard to get into at first because I was not a fan of the present day protagonist, which is on me and not Emilia Hart or the narrators. Once I got into it though, this was a great story with so many elements of feminine strength. Altha was definitely my favorite character and I was consistently drawn to her story - awaiting the next round and disappointed when her chapter ended. Violet, she was so incredibly naive - through no fault of her own, her father deliberately forced that upon her. So watching her come into her own was beautiful but also heartbreaking because of what it took to get there. And Kate, like I said, initially did not like her, but again - she was a product of her environment and watching her evolve was fantastic.

This was a stellar, DEBUT (literally cannot believe this was a debut) novel that highlights all of the different ways women can be subjugated by men and by society in general. It was sad and beautiful and I highly recommend. The narration was on point as well.

This book follows three women in different times through heartache and joy. Witch trials, abusive husbands. It has it all. I love how the author intertwined the family saga and brought them all together as one in the end!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A beautifully crafted novel that follows three women over a span of five centuries with one secret that binds them all.

In the present, we have Kate, who finally runs away from her abusive relationship to Crows Beck a remote village. Weyward Cottage is her sanctuary, a place she inherited from her Aunt Violet.

In 1942 we have a young sixteen-year-old Violet Ayers, who is trying to uncover the secrets of her own deceased mother.

In 1619 their descendent Altha Weyward has been accused of witchcraft and put on trial.

Wow, what a stunning book. A beautifully crafted debut novel that spins a seamless web, smoothly connecting three women through time with a family secret. I absolutely adored everything about it. From the writing to the immersive, atmospheric storytelling that draws you in from the very first page. I love how strong-willed the three women were as they navigated the treacherous landscape of gender and control. Weyward women are wild and therefore cannot be tamed.

Each voice is unique in its own as we follow their stories of perseverance and empowerment, breaking free of the binds that tied them down, to discover their innermost self and what tethers them together. Gripping, magical, and absolutely hard to put down.

I cannot express how much love I have for this book, the writing, and the underlying message the author has portrayed. A story that stuck with me long after it is finished, and leaves me hopeful and wishing for more from this author. I am looking forward to seeing where Emilia Hart goes next.

I love how the author weaved magical realism so smoothly into the story. I adored the characters. I felt for all the characters, and I enjoyed watching them overcome their obstacles.

I listened to the audiobook and although the accents took a while to get used to, I enjoyed the narration and thought it was really well done.

I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

I judged Weyward by it’s cover, which is absolutely gorgeous. And I’m so glad that I did, because the story it houses is exceptional. This family saga follows three generations of Weyward women across 5 centuries. We follow Altha, who is on trial for witchcraft in 1619; Violet, a teen in 1942 who has never been off of the family estate and yet still ended up suffering mistreatment; and Kate, fleeing from an abusive relationship in 2019, after finding out she’s pregnant and refusing to bring a child into such a toxic environment.

This is a fiercely feminist story across all three time periods. I would summarize each of the three stories as follows: hell hath no fury like a woman abused who has finally had enough, but with a little bit of witchcraft. The patriarchy is undoubtedly the enemy in every branch of this story, and yet Hart manages to convey this in a way that doesn’t portray every male of the species as inherently evil.

I loved the affinity each of the women had for nature, and how nature fights for them when called. This affinity, combined with the way the stories begin to mingle toward the end of the novel and finally tie together in the conclusion, are what sets this tale apart as Gothic magical realism instead of a straight Gothic mystery containing a family drama. It was a really interesting balance.

The writing is lovely without being lyrical, because the prose wasn’t the focus. The settings were beautifully described without getting lost in detail, and were very atmospheric. Especially Weyward Cottage. The characters’ development were all different enough to not get confused with one another while also following similar familial patterns. Characters, setting, and writing all took a backseat to the stories being woven, and I loved how Hart braided the three together in the end.

I was fortunate enough to get an early audio copy of this through libro.fm’s ALC program, so I was able to tandem read the audio alongside the digital copy. That’s always my favorite way to read, as I find it incredibly immersive. All three storylines here were voiced by different narrators, all of whom did a lovely joy. Whatever your preferred format, I highly recommend Weyward. It’s a lush, emotional, fierce, empowering story that kept my attention from the first page to the last.

A story about three naturally gifted women in a multigenerational family. The Weyward women:
Altha-1619 Tried for witchcraft because of the death of a neighbor trampled by livestock.
Violet-1942 Forced by her cruel father to prepare for marriage to a violent man during WWII.
Kate-2019 A modern day abused woman who escapes her husband and flees to the cottage she inherited from her aunt.

Magical realism, fairytales, witchcraft, historical fiction, women’s issues and feminism along with abuse and trauma. Weyward is a rich and captivating debut. I listened to the audiobook and all three narrators were excellent at bringing the characters to life. I found all three stories enjoyable, but I was partial to Altha and her story.

Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio @emiliahartbooks for an early audio copy of Weyward. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to buy a hardcover for my library. The cover is gorgeous too!
Pub date: March 7, 2023
Pages: 336

The Weyward women….a line that descends centuries…are featured throughout this book.

Three distant generations….from the 1600’s to the 1940’s to modern day.

What a beautiful fantastical story of women and their struggles against the box society wants to put them in.

A complete triumph and intricately woven story that was fast paced and absolutely intriguing.

This is the best book I’ve read all year!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A powerful story of women's survival. I enjoyed this way of storytelling through 3 generations and the overarching messages of strength shared. However, this should not really be marketed as a witchy book based on how little that comes into play. If anything, those pieces need to be refined and strengthened in the story and could add so much more to it.

Major trigger warnings for abuse, rape, incest, and trauma.

Narrator did an amazing job with the audio. Each character had a distinct voice and personality that made the story come alive and easy to follow.

This book was fantastic. Told in three stories across centuries, it was a wonderful exploration of women, power, and the men that try to control. The narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life. Everyone should pick up this book.

Three voices of three women in the same family line, tell their stories as Weyward women. Weyward women with their strong ties to nature and the beast, birds and insects that inhabit it.

Alva is accused of witchcraft, charged with causing a herd of cows to trample a man.

Violet, the ignored daughter of a stern viscount, struggles to find her place in a family where no one will discuss her mother.

Kate, an abused wife, finds a way to escape, when her barely known Aunt Violet leaves her Weyward Cottage.

Each woman, striving to fit in, to know herself, to acknowledge her power, to fight against her victimization, has a story that breaks my heart. I love the subtle ties between stories, the layering of strengths and hopes.

A well-told tale of sisterhood and motherhood, of past-down stories and our need to know who we are.

Oof. This cover pulled me in. Description words such as: historical fantasy, magical realism, and witches did as well. I really wanted to like this book. I think a lot of people (mainly women) will, I just wasn’t vibing.

Apart from all the triggering content, I didn’t particularly care for any of the three women we followed throughout the story.

It’s mainly about generational trauma. To sum it up… Men are evil violent creatures. Women are powerful but just need to find that power. A lot of unwanted pregnancies, abortions, rape, incest, domestic violence, all the abuse you can think of. A lot of repetition.

These Weyward women are supposed to be connected to nature, nature witches if you will. But they have no education about the nature between men and women..? That was frustrating.

I just didn’t have a good time reading this. Nothing made me feel warm and fuzzy. This is a very heavy read.

I wish there was more witchyness.. I had to make up a word here.

Like I said, I really wanted to like this book. It was ok. Nothing I would ever reread. Some of the ending was satisfying though. Altha was my favorite pov to follow. I was a bit bored with the other two, Violet and Kate.

The audiobook was amazing narration. Narrators get a 5 star.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

Very enjoyable audio read. Love the story of the three lets say - the three charmers. After all nobody is a witch or are they? Weyward has three story lines. Alva, Violet, and Kate and how they are all connected over hundreds of years. I wasn't sure I was going to like it after the first few chapters I fell in love with it. Easy to listen to, easy to follow through the years. Definitely belongs on LibraryReads list It is a great read for my Book Club. Thank you Emilia Hart for reminding us about the power of Women..............But we already new that didn't we LOL ****

This debut novel Emilia Hart was so incredibly powerful!!
The story follows three women as they struggle against the confines of patriarchy in 1619, 1943, and today. Their lives are intrinsically intertwined through blood and a magical connection to nature. Often drawing from the lessons of the women before them, the Weyward women break free from those who try to control them.

I listened to the audiobook by MacMillan and the three narrators brought unique emotion, nuance, and suspense to each of the three plot lines while connecting deeply to their historical context.
I was captivated the entire time by the beautiful prose which evoked a range of emotions from outrage, fear, heartbreak, love, and joyful celebration. I beg each of your to give this book a place on your TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio for this advance listeners copy in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed the three perspectives in this book. I liked the women's abilities and their relation to the natural world. The story kept me interested. Great narrator