Weyward was everything that I wanted it to be: family, women's fiction, magic, power, and discovery.
I loved this book so much. There is a special way of thinking and feeling that comes to me as a reader when I read stories of empowered, smart, protective women--cis or trans. I come to books like Weyward looking for a chance to feel magical and powerful. I definitely found that here.
I would recommend this book to readersof Once and Future Witches, The Lost Apothecary, Juniper and Thorn, When Women Were Dragons, and The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare.

Pub day: 3-7-2023

This is a bewitchingly beautiful story of the gifted Weyward women. I absolutely loved all three of the women in this book and their respective timelines. There’s a quaint cottage and friendly crows that create an atmospheric backdrop for the truly beguiling experience of reading this story.

From the minute I met the first Weyward woman I was besotted! These are fierce and formidable women who stayed as such even as they encountered unimaginable things and marched headlong into the most difficult of moments.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric read that gives the perfect amount of witchy vibes, add this to your list. You can’t go wrong reading this any time of the year but it would be an absolute perfect one for fall!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this alc in exchange for an honest review.

For fans of Alice Hoffman… this is your next feminist/nature/witchey book! I could not put it down! Beautiful writing connects three Weyward women together spanning time fighting for their own power and discovering their natural magic! Stunning debut!

Weyward by Emilia Hart (audiobook review)
Narrated by Aysha Kala; Helen Keeley; Nell Barlow
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available March 14th

My thoughts:
Although Weyward is women's fiction, there is a strong supernatural element to it. The narrators do an excellent job of bringing the story to life. If you enjoy fantasy, you will enjoy the Weyward audiobook.

Synopsis:
Kate is the victim of domestic abuse by her husband. Having inherited a cottage from her aunt Violet, she escapes to it. The history of the cottage would soon reveal secrets dating back 500 years with three main characters. In the present, Kate is fleeing abuse, in 1619, Altha is accused of witchcraft, and in 1942, Violet battles social pressure in the midst of World War II. The story is an inspiring mixture of history, magic and resilience.

Thank you NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio, for sharing this incredible audiobook with with me.

3.75 stars

This is an exciting debut that fans of women's fiction, historical fiction, and a touch of magic will enjoy.

Three generations of Weyward women - Altha (1619), Violet (1942), and Kate (2019) - and their stories come together in this piece. Each of these characters not only shares lineage but also (as expected) challenging relationships with oppressive men and with what they want from their own lives (versus what is expected and demanded by others.

I really enjoyed the flow of the narrative overall, but transparently, I did have a bit of a tough time following it here and there, and I'm attributing this scenario to listening to the audio version versus reading by sight. The audio is excellent, and I recommend it, but if, like me, a prospective reader at times is more attentive to print versus audio detail, this is something to be aware of when selecting the method of delivery.

It's also important to note that there are some challenging scenes relating to reproductive issues (this is my non-spoilery attempt). Folks who are especially sensitive to descriptions of various stages of un/wanted pregnancies may want to take a beat here. There are also discussions of all other kinds of violence committed against women, so take a moment to read up on CW and TW before pressing play/flipping the page.

Overall, I enjoyed this and will look forward to more from this author.

Generations of the Weyward women are connected by their unusual power and the terrible men who attempt to break or use them for their own gain. Even though harmed, each woman finds a way to defend or protect herself or those she loves.

So happy to be able to recommend the audio version of Weyward. After a string of lackluster listens, this one was a solid journey. Also surprised to discover it is a debut novel, so hopefully author Emilia Hart has a long and successful career.

As a reader, 2022 has been the year of strong female characters breaking free and Weyward gives us multi generations of women who have faced abuse, trauma and struggles and do so fiercely. I loved the periods in history which told the story of these women - 1619, 1940s and 2019 - this kept the story moving and my interest piqued.

As a lover of setting being a strong character, Weyward Cottage was integral to each of the characters, and connected the generations beautifully.

Well done.

This one is scheduled for release March 7, 2023. Add it to your tbr now.

I really enjoyed listening to this - with 3 distinct narrators for each woman, it was quite enjoyable. I loved the connection they all had with nature and the animals. As is known, I'm a fan of magical realism, and this definitely made its mark. ♡

This is the harrowing tale of multiple generations of women in the same family, faced with secrets and a family legacy that is unrivaled.

This was such a beautifully written debut novel, which absolutely didn’t seem like a debut. The women we follow are strong and brilliant, but each face some terrible acts committed against them. It’s in how they handle those things like abuse, scorn and control being ripped from them that show their true strength.

I love books about witches and long family lines. This book goes through five centuries of time in these pages, all culminating in empowerment and tenacity.

I listened to this in audiobook and the narration provided by Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, and Nell Barlow was superb.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook. Fantasy is not my typical genre so I thought I would branch out with this book. It sounded very interesting and it did not disappoint.

This was amazing, beautiful, and heartbreaking. I loved the entire experience of listening to this. I would reccomend this to every woman I know.
The best part was the crows!

Oh my goodness, I enjoyed this one! I am so thankful to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Emilia Hart, and NetGalley for granting me both Advanced Listener's Access via audiobook. I am also sending lots of grateful love to the fabulous team at St. Martin's Press/Macmillan for sending me an excellent PR package made complete with a physical copy of the book and some nature-bound accessories. Publication for this book is set at March 7, 2023.

Weyward tells the story of three generations of Weyward women who, for hundreds of years, were fighting the oppressive side of history that sought to cast them as failures, witches, and just weird. Altha is just struggling to survive the gallows in 1619; Violet is also navigating how to live in 1942 as a motherless outcast, and Kate is escaping the harmful hand of her abusive husband and now with child.

Kate flees her husband after learning she is with child, not wanting to put another life in danger of his grasp, and heads to the countryside to claim her inheritance of her estranged Aunt Violet. Overridden with bugs and weeds, Kate adapts to her new home and the town around it. Between this adjustment, the reader receives flashbacks to 1942 and 1619 as Violet and Altha are coming to be the women they are escaping lashes for their crimes, all for the betterment of those they love.

Weyward reminds me a lot of Hester, for we see several women learning to stand up for themselves and their causes, pushing down the patriarchy and thriving/surviving forward and onward. I can't wait for this one to hit shelves for the general public, for I think it will score high on booklists to come!

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.

I read a physical copy of this and wanted to see how the narrator got the narrative voice across and I am happy to report that this was spectacular.

Kate is fleeing domestic abuse when she runs to the remote cottage her aunt left to her. The cottage holds a definite appeal to Kate, and not because it's a respite from violence. The bones under the house would indicate that her great aunt had some pretty big secrets. It turns out those bones go back to the 17th century when a young woman, wise in the healing properties of plants is accused of witchcraft. Telling the story in three timelines, Kate in the present, Altha in the 17th century and Violet in World War II, a young woman who yearns for the freedom to live free from the conventions of the time. Three different women, all persecuted, all remarkable tell their stories across 500 years in this beautifully constructed story