Weyward
Ratings156
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings156
Average rating4.1
A riveting debut that explores witchcraft and female intuitive powers, told over five centuries through three connected women, for fans of Kate Morton, Diane Setterfield, and Sarah Perry.
I am a Weyward, and wild inside.
2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.
1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.
1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
Reviews with the most likes.
I had picked this book to read for our book club and I am betrayed by my own choices. I disliked it immensely and don't think I would have kept on reading if I read it on my own. I noticed quite quickly that I didn't like the writing style, I left the prose was very flowery and cliche in a way. I didn't connect with any of the characters as they were literally all the same fucking person.
Besides that fact, the story was not enjoyable. I had heard this described as a story of female empowerment, and I have no idea who the fuck thought that. The entire novel is about women in every generation being raped and abused and saying nothing, telling no one and just all around being the most docile little pushovers. They had absolutely no dimension and were defined often by either one thing or simply their relationship to a man.
During the reading of this book, I have read multiple books featuring abusive relationships all of which are better and more believably portrayed than this. All of the men in this book were fucking assholes and the lesson of the story also seems to be ‘all men are trash'. You could make a drinking game of all the abuse triggery shit these men do and you would be black-out drunk by the end.
The ending was also in no way satisfying. I was waiting very long for the magical realism this book is supposed to contain and had seen nothing of until literally the last 40 pages. When it finally showed up it was underwhelming and honestly boring. There were certain parts in the ending and epilogue where it was clear this was supposed to be an emotional bit and it all just fell flat.
ahhh i loved this book :') i didn't expect it to be as heavy as it was in some parts but over all it was such a good read :) i love women!! *edit to add: it's been 9 days since i've finished this book and i keep thinking about it and now that i've had time to really digest it, this was definitely a 5 star read! ✨
Wonderful writing and storytelling and a completely gripping book. I loved the characters, and the way the stories of the three women across the centuries was weaved together was done very skillfully
Talk about generational healing! This is such a powerful story of how one woman finds her truth while exploring the past behind her family. Told from the perspectives of 3 women born in 3 different eras from the same family of witches. It's such a fun take on historical fiction and the sprinkle of magic doesn't hurt. Even after closing the book, I wish I was part of a family of witches. I feel like I can hear and understand nature a little more too. Would definitely recommend - and would absolutely read again.
Trigger warning- there is mention of murder, abortion, rape, and domestic violence (in case that's not your thing)
