Initially, the cover of this book did not interest me however the description was something that instantly grabbed my attention - three women? In different time periods? One suspected of witchcraft? All interconnected somehow? I was sold instantly.

The world-building is very small but it has meaning, every small detail is meaningful to the story progression and that's what makes it even more immersive and whimsical. It was beautiful to read and, despite the descriptions throughout the book, it was easy to read as well. I adored the area it was set in and did, in fact, look on the internet to see whether any of the places were real or were the cause of the inspiration because I wished to visit them. It was magical.

The main three characters were all interesting and I found it easy to connect with them, empathise with them, and be pulled into their individual storyline alongside the main storyline. They were all well fleshed out and developed, in my opinion, and each held flaws rather than being perfect which made the story even more engaging. I enjoyed how full circle the plotline went, also.

Following on from that the supporting characters were all also very interesting and I would have liked to have known more about where they came from, what happened to them, etc. I always find that this leads to a good plotline and something I thoroughly enjoy so it was a pleasure to discover whilst reading.

I really recommend this book to others as it shows incredible insight into how prejudiced a small village can be towards women and the generations that come before them however it also showed how times had changed for the better whilst also exploring some other harder topics including finding the strength within yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this title.

My thanks to the Author and publisher's for advanced readers copy paperback of this book to read and honestly review.
An excellent debut absorbing atmospheric clever descriptive totally engaging from first to last page. Told in alternate chapters across three timelines the intelligent tale of three Wayward women. A beautifully written character driven story at times dramatic and tense, sometimes funny others mysterious poignant and sad but always interesting. As a sixty five years old grumpy Yorkshireman I doubt I am the target audience for this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and completely recommended it.

Multiple timelines featuring 3 women born into the Weyward family. First Daughters of first daughters, powers have been passed through generation to generation. But some of this at a time when strong independent women were tried as Witches.
I loved how this novel moved timelessly telling the story of Altha, Violet and Kate, all battling against injustice and mistreatment by the men in their lives. A story of women's empowerment and strength with a touch of nature between the pages. But so much more too, a fascinating book that will stay with me. One to read again and again

I adored this and read it one day. I loved the triple narrative and found the storytelling and revealing of various secrets riveting.

Truthfully, I found myself much more drawn to Altha and Violet than to Kate - something about their stories felt fuller somehow.

Overall, just brilliant.

I really liked the sound of this book, which is set in Cumbria and about three women from the same family, Altha, a young woman accused of witchcraft in the 17th century, Violet, living in isolation with her abusive father in the 1940s, and modern day unhappy Kate who doesn't know anything about how special the women are in her paternal family.

I thought it was a really good idea which was well executed. I was very keen to find out what happened to each of the women, and it is certainly a page turner. The different voices and eras made it easy to follow the three individual stories, and I liked all three, which is unusual (I usually have a favourite when a book has multiple timelines.) .

I loved the idea of the three women helping and supporting each other through time. Each of the three main characters was engaging, likeable and believable in their own way. The book certainly makes you think about male power and violence, and it does this really well.

The setting was beautifully described and the power of nature was another compelling part of the book. I had no trouble immersing myself in the well described environment. I have never liked crows, but I think that now I will have a new found respect for them.

I would definitely recommend this book. It would be good for a book club discussion and would appeal to readers old and young. I am really glad I read it.

Well this book was my surprise read of the year so far!! I was intrigued but also wary going into this thinking it would feature a fair amount of magical fantasy. Wrong!! This is definitely more of a thriller featuring three women who, despite living in completely different eras, face similar challenges and somehow manage to help one another break free from the oppressive men in their lives. Each character is so well crafted that as I got to know them I became thoroughly invested in their well-being. This book has hope, freedom and revenge. And I loved it!!!

Enjoyed this A real page turner to read in front of the fire of an Autumn evening. There are times we all need to be a bit more Weyward.

Weyward is a great story covering three women from different eras. A powerful and gripping read which I would definitely recommend.

Weyward was a perfectly enjoyable historical fiction centred around the interconnected stories of three women of the Weyward family, Altha, Violet and Kate, highlighting the inequalities faced by women across four centuries, from 1619 until present day.

There were similarities in each of the characters stories which made for interesting connections across the ages, rather than what could have been fairly heavy repetition. I really enjoyed how the relationship between entomology and witchcraft was portrayed and would recommend this to anyone who loves witchy historical fiction.

What a story! So powerful and atmospheric and a gripping read. Set in 1618, 1942 and current day it tells the story of three women - Altha, Violet and Kate. It needs a biyt of a tidy up before publicaiton but it's excellent. Just one point that niggled - women in 1942 didn't wear tights, they weren't available n UK until the late 1950s. A bt later they become stockings. I hope that gets sorted out before it goes live. With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a e-ARC of this book to read and review.

The novel takes its title from Shakespeare’s original description of the witches in Macbeth as “Weyward Sisters”.
’The Weyward Sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go, about, about,
Thrice to thine, thrice to mine,
And thrice again to make up nine.
Peace, the charm’s wound up.’
MACBETH

The story is told by three women from different eras, living very different lives yet sharing a common bond:
- 1600s: Althea. A “wise woman” who was tried for witchcraft
- 1940s: Violet, born into an aristocratic family, is a “strange child” with a desire to pursue her love of insects and resents being pushed into a traditionally female role. Her life changes forever when cousin Frederick comes to visit
- 2019: Kate is escaping her abusive partner by fleeing to the cottage she inherited from her great-aunt.

From such different backgrounds, and living in such different times, these three Weyward women have much in common. All have a deep connection to nature. All have reasons to reject patriarchy, with the actions of men changing the women forever. The way the author is able to weave three stories together is clever and the book switched between the different women’s stories seamlessly.

The writing is evocative, descriptive and draws you deeply into the world that surrounds Crow’s Beck. The ancient, the past & the present are all given due consideration and there is suitable inclusion of detail about daily life in all eras along with a natural world magic that is not forced or invented, just there to be found if you stop & listen. I like the imagery of the crows, a bird long associated with witchcraft or magic, such as in ancient Greece, where the crow was a symbol of Apollo, the god of prophecy.

(If you have some understanding of the “evidence” that was sought during witchcraft trials in the middle ages, such as “familiars” and “witches marks”, you will gain an understanding on a deeper level, though it is not a requirement for understanding the story )


Recommendations

If you are expecting witches of the pointy-hat & broomstick variety, this book is not for you. If you have an awareness/interest in the wise-women or herbalists of past times who were often designated as 'witches’ (a word “invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not to those it describes”) I would highly recommend this book.

Weyward will work its magic long after the final page has been turned.

One of my favourite books of this year 🙌🙌

I have truly loved following the tales of all the Weyward Women. They are truly inspirational characters and this is a brilliant read.
Will be recommending to so many women!

A great book. It did take me a little while to get into it, but then I was hooked. Thank you for letting me read it.

Do not think of witches with broomsticks and pointy hats when you pick up this book. These three timelines focus on women with an affinity, a close bond with the natural world This is a world of the magic of nature, how it can sustain and heal. We have Altha in the 1619s, Violet in 1942 and Kate in 2019 and the author weaves an intricate web to show us how the three women are connected, and how they discover that all share the same gifts. I don't want to give too much away, but I really loved the way that each timeline gripped me. There was not one moment when I felt like skipping over one timeline to read the next. There was also an undercurrent of fear that clung to Kate's story. This is a story about the power that women have and I'm sorry that I'm not writing more, I just don't want to spoil it, i want you to discover this super debut for yourself.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no large gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book therefore a star is lost for this.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book when I started it - but I was soon proved wrong. The three main characters, Altha, Violet and Kate are all, in very different ways, controlled by domineering males who make their lives very unpleasant to say the least.
The chapters focus on each of the three women in turn and develop the stories of each of them, gradually, building the tension page by page. The chapters end at very decisive moments which makes it hard to stop reading. Reading the book you really feel for the women and what they go through. It is extremely well written with lovely descriptive passages giving a vivid picture of the different times in which Altha, Violet and Kate live; the 1600’s, the 1940’s and the present day. The way the book ends by tying the individual stories together is very clever and very satisfying.
A really excellent debut.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Weyward.
I found it a wonderful story following three weyward women across multiple generations with links to witchcraft. Perfect for Autumn nights read.
My favourite Weyward was Altha I enjoyed reading her story/perspective from 1619

An interesting story that reminded me of Little Eve or The Mercies- but not as scary! It had a really strong sense of place and I enjoyed seeing how the stories of the three generations of women intertwined, though I would have liked a bit more complexity, perhaps, than the usual cunning women good church men bad narrative. But for what it was it was compelling and I though it touched on some important topics.

DNF. Loved the sound of it, but by a third of the way through I gave up. No real characterisation, just women who are clearly witchy, and no real interest in what happened to them

Stories reaching across multiple generations of weyward women. Beautiful story for autumn as it has witches of a type and it’s just a great book. 5/5 stars for me. Really enjoyed it.