A tale about 3 different generations of Weyward women, set in the 17th, 19th and 20th centuries. Well written with great appreciation for the natural world and the stories kept me engaged throughout. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book is amazing, itsawhholeother level, I loved this somuch I’m awaiting Waterstones special edition to arrive as I type . I love that it centred on women , that it felt realistic, the characters made making realistic choices, they were so easy to relate to. I loved the empowerment of women, the connections they had between each other, family, friends and nature. I can’t praise this enough, you need to read this book.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest review

TRIGGER WARNINGS

Rape
Domestic Abuse
Miscarriage
Stillbirth/late term miscarriage
Death

I’m not even sure how to classify this book, there are elements of mild fantasy but this is mostly a study of a bloodline, of three women from said bloodline centuries apart, yet suffering from recurring themes and traumas. So, read on to find out what I thought!

Here’s the blurb for Weyward…

“KATE, 2019

Kate flees London – abandoning everything – for Cumbria and Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great-aunt. There, a secret lurks in the bones of the house, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

VIOLET, 1942

Violet is more interested in collecting insects and climbing trees than in becoming a proper young lady. Until a chain of shocking events changes her life forever.

ALTHA, 1619

Altha is on trial for witchcraft, accused of killing a local man. Known for her uncanny connection with nature and animals, she is a threat that must be eliminated.

But Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed…

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

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book from the blurb. As a pagan I’ll admit I was worried about the portrayal of ‘witchcraft’, as I usually am in such situations, but I needn’t have worried as this is not witchcraft as most would know it. In fact, it is closer to my belief system - the respect of the natural world, although I am sad that I don’t have the Weyward women’s extra touch of power! As much as I have an affinity for animals I am not able to get them to do my bidding, my cat is evidence of that!

The true story of this book has less to do with such power than it has to do with the stories of women. Of hardships and traumas we have suffered throughout history. Of rape and domestic violence. Of accusations of witchcraft if we lived outside the norm for society. Of the dangers of maternity, the risks involved with pregnancy and childbirth. Of men’s fear of strong women. All three stories, which run parallel to each other in alternating chapters, follow similar patterns and themes. From Altha and her trial and the reasons behind the accusation, to sheltered Violet and her cruel awakening to the ‘real’ world, and lastly Kate who believes she is running away from something yet may be running towards her salvation, these stories truly came alive for me and resonated so deeply. Generations of women fighting to survive against the odds, while keeping the truth of their line and its history alive for hundreds of years, despite the best efforts of men!

If you think that all sounds terribly depressing, you’d be very wrong. Emilia Hart has managed to create an uplifting and inspiring story that draws you in and hooks you from the start, each tale layered and linked to the others. Even when you start to realise what links them all there are still surprises, and more LIFE to discover.

I think that the word ‘life’ is what truly sticks in my mind after reading this book. How precious it is, how easily lost in can be, and how its beauty can be seen in so many unexpected ways. Not to mention that life wins, just when you think all is lost life somehow finds a way.

This is a truly beautiful book. Fascinating and alive. It’s unlike any other book I’ve read and is one of my favourite books of the years so far…and I think I’ll still be saying that in December too! An easy and happily given 5 stars. I look forward to reading more from Emilia Hart!

Thank you to Emilia Hart, NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review. As always all opinions are my own.

Having taken a short reading break, Weyward was the perfect title for me to find my way back. Hart alludes to Margaret Atwood in the book and her acknowledgments and there’s definitely echoes of her in Weyward. The story follows several generations of the Weyward women as they come into their own, and it is so captivating. Hart writes beautifully, navigating difficult themes such as domestic violence and rape from start to finish and I really felt a connection with the Weyward women. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who identifies as a feminist and enjoys fiction with a mystical element. I particular liked the nature theme that weaves its way through the book. I was hooked from the moment I picked it up and didn’t want to put it down.

Weyward brings us the story of three very different women who, although separated by time, have a common bond, and it is this bond which links the Wayward women through five centuries. They each face a battle against ignorance and prejudice which when brought up to date with Kate's battle against abuse in the present connects her with her ancestor, Altha who was on trial for witchcraft in 17th century Lancashire. When Kate's great-aunt Violet bequeaths her Weyward Cottage, in the remote hamlet of Crows Beck in Cumbria Kate is glad of the bolt hole but once at Crows Beck she starts to sense an encroaching atmosphere and the final loosening of family secrets which have been long buried.

Deftly keeping all triple strands of the multiple narratives together, Weyward is a nicely written historical time slip novel which has poignancy, excitement and danger in a story which brings to the forefront the manipulation of women whether it be in the 1600s, the 1940s or the 21st century.The story moves along well with each of women having their own individual chapters with none of them seeking to outshine the other. There is enough historical detail to make the older elements of the story feel authentic and the modern moments are well described. Weyward is the story of three strong female characters who are linked together by both blood and strength of will.

I loved it. The story was both cosy and gripping. The descriptions of the magic gave perfect cosy vibes but the stories of the three women kept me invested in the story the whole time.

After inheriting a remote cottage from her estranged great aunt, Kate realises that the time is right to escape her abusive boyfriend so that she can keep herself, and her unborn child, safe. Whilst there, Kate discovers the hidden truths about the lives of Violent, her great aunt, Altha, her 17th century ancestor who was tried for witchcraft, and herself.
This was a really enjoyable read, encompassing the lives of three women across five centuries. I felt as though I was invested in each woman’s story, and it was interesting seeing how those stories weaved together across time. It was refreshing also to read a book that felt like it was about female empowerment, without resorting to man-hating. It was also wonderful to read a story that had such a strong theme of connection to it, connections between women, between family, and to nature.
I really enjoyed the setting, and the writing style. I wasn’t sure that I’d really enjoy this as much as I did, as usually I don’t really like books that are set across multiple timelines, but each character felt so distinct, and their situations so interesting that this novel very quickly became a page-turner. I’m so excited to see what this author writes next! Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my copy in return for an honest review.

A fascinating tale spanning three generations of Weyward women and their intricately woven lives and fates. Each must overcome stigma and male oppression in order to not only survive, but to thrive and ultimately to nurture the golden cord that exists within the female line of their family.
A very accomplished debut by a new must-read author.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is an outstanding debut book by the author. The storyline and the characters of Altha, Violet and Kate were fascinating and their individual stories told as part of the Weyward women’s family history narrated over five centuries were totally engrossing.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading other books by the author
Highly recommended.

This is a good debut novel which spans 500 years and follows the lives of three women at different time periods from the same family who all have a gift of connecting to nature and wildlife. I liked the different POVs from the three main characters who are all going through very similar issues and there was so much depth to each of the stories that intrigued me. Overall I did find it a little slow in some parts but it is a deep read perfect for fans of historical fiction.

I love books that focus around women. The characters felt realistic. making realistic choices, saying realistic things, having appropriate reactions which made is so easy to connect to the characters and enjoy reading about them and getting to know them. The way they were all so connected and the stories had parallels despite being years apart was amazing.

Would you believe this is a debut novel? I definitely would not believe it if I didn't know. It is a beautifully crafted story, the writing is incredible and the depth of the writing is almost unmatched in a debut. The author is a real talent.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and well drawn characters. I really enjoyed the parallels through time. Would highly recommend

A debut book that everyone should read. One that will make you think, weep, and feel stronger just by reading it.

A spellbinding blend of magical realism and historical fiction that has the strength of women right at it's core. The three women, Kate, Violet and Altha, go through the most horrific lows over the span of five centuries, a family cursed by female tragedy.

You feel as though you know the women throughout, they all feel like people you know, people you love and want to protect. It makes you feel uncomfortable and frightened but you're rooting for the characters when you witness them getting stronger after horrendous circumstances. A true female experience on page.

This was a heavy read but almost a necessary one. Content warnings are needed for this novel, so be mindful.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 4*
Characters: 4*
Pace:4*
Guessability: 3*

This was a book I went into with seriously high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. The imagery was the absolute standout highlight for me, her writing was incredible. Each of the 3 different narrators were transported to their era with such ease. The difference in the writing style and wording was subtle but definitely noticeable. All three characters were unique and likeable and added to the story in their own ways, and Graham was the standout co-star of the whole book.
The only reason for the 4 stars and not 5 was I knew exactly where things were headed at the end and I wasnt surprised at any point. But as I say I had a thoroughly enjoyable time and will be recommending this to lots of different readers, Thriller, HF and mystery fans alike.

I love it when a book is sophisticated and delicate inside and out. Look at this beautiful cover - you can expect a similarly enchanting and fabulous story. Three stories to be exact.

This book is the embodiment of strong female characters, and to be honest I missed at least one somewhat likeable man in the whole book to counterbalance them. As if the real companion, partner and love to the Weyward women were nature, birds, insects and flowers, instead of men.

The middle timeline, Violet's narrative, was my favourite, and I was always looking forward to her chapters. I enjoyed reading about Altha and Kate too, their story was a bit predictable to me though.

Unbelievable, that it's a debut novel. And a great one for that matter.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an Advance Review Copy.

This did not feel like a debut, in the best way.
The writing had me gripped from beginning to end.
This isn't a story heavy in magic. But instead a sort of coming of age of three different woman across different generations. As they find their strength through "magic"

Each of the storylines are as compelling as the woman they focus on. Sometimes multi POV and timeline can have a weak link but not here.
While there are heartbreaking scenes for each woman there is also some empowering moments as they find the strength to stand up to those who harmed them.

I had seen so much advertising and hype about this book that I just had to read it: I can happily say that I was not disappointed. Beautifully written with captivating characters, I did not mind whose story I was reading as long as I could keep going!

As the blurb states, the voice has multiple storylines and three distinct voices from very different time periods. I was surprised to read how the gap between the three different characters narrowed. Each female had to battle, in her own way, against male oppression and find a voice of their own. I was transfixed as the links between them was carefully revealed. I think Kate's story was most heartbreaking for me - possibly because it was set in a modern timeline and it was easy to understand how she found herself in such terrible circumstances. The horrors of her childhood took a very long time to abate.

Violet's childhood experiences, while completely different, seemed to have similar outcomes and both women had to trust their own inner voices to take power and control of their own destinies.

A fascinating portrayal of an inherited form of witchcraft! Don't miss this fabulous read!

Weyward is the story of three woman, in three different timelines. Kate, Violet and Altha are all victims and are all related by blood. Altha is on trial for witchcraft in the seventeenth century, having been accused of provoking cattle to attack a local farmer. Violet is the eccentric daughter of a landowner who is seen to have brought shame onto her family in the early part of the twentieth century and Kate is her great-niece who has inherited her run-down cottage in the present day. Kate escapes to the cottage in an attempt to get away from her controlling partner and starts uncovering some of her family’s mysterious past. The three stories have their parallels in terms of misogyny and abuse and the empowerment of women to overcome adversity. Intriguing and highly compelling.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I fell in love with this book. It's told in three strands, each covering a different generation of the Weyward family, the women of which are gifted with a strange ability to commune with nature and heal sickness. It's a powerful and thoughtful exploration of feminine power, self-belief and recovery from trauma, and the descriptions are masterful. The imagery of the old country house entirely covered with metallic insect wings has stayed with me since reading. A gloriously witchy celebration of womanhood and empowerment.

I love a witchy historical fiction, and this was everything I was hoping for. We follow three women across three different timelines: Altha in 1619, Violet in 1942, and Kate in 2019. I absolutely adored all three of these women, and I loved how the more we got to know of each of their stories, the more connections we uncovered between the three women!

All three of these women’s lives were heartbreaking to read about. I’d suggest looking up trigger warnings for this book as it was very emotional and upsetting in several places, and there was a particularly graphic miscarriage scene that was very difficult to read! Despite the tough topics, they were written about in such a beautiful way and very sensitive to the issues at hand. Nothing was gratuitous, and merely gave us a small insight into what life was actually like for women in these times.

I loved Violet’s relationship with her brother Graham. They had such a beautiful and unbreakable sibling bond and the things they went through together and supported each other through were so powerful to read about.

The pacing of the book was really great - we really got to know all three of these women in such depth, but there was also plenty of tense and exhilarating plot points and short chapters to make it a very bingeable read!