Absolutely loved this book and the journey of the 3 Weyward women and how they all share trauma and life experience despite the years between them. Goes to show we can connect to our past and each other regardless of age and other factors. Each woman's story was fully and beautiful told, this book was not lacking. Enjoyed how the magic/witchcraft was mostly rooted in nature and reality with small hint of supernatural and fantasy. Plot was well paced and also enjoyed the character growth of all three main characters.

Weyward tells the story of three women at different points in history as they face adversities by being "other" and by simply being women in a world of men. I was wary before reading, but I have to say the author knocked this out of the park. The story flows smoothly and there was enough of a mystery to keep me guessing at plot points.

The women are what really drew me in. I connected with Kate instantly because of the relationship she was in and because she was the most modern of the three. Violet and Altha were both relatable in their own ways, but also the most morally complex for me. I'm still not sure I agree with some of the decisions they made, but that's also what made this such a great novel- to wonder about the what ifs of their decisions.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read about generational trauma and needs a little bit of magic in their life.

✨ARC Review✨

“Sight is a funny thing,” my mother used to say. “Sometimes it shows us what is before our eyes. But sometimes it shows us what has already happened, or will yet come to pass.”

Three women, five centuries, one secret…is the tale of Weyward. It’s driven to describe a history of a generation of women, with special gifts. Altha, Violet, and Kate all describe their trials and tribulations of being a woman, being traumatized by way of men, and doing it under the guise of witchcraft. Each is a different generation of the Weyward women, and the chapters pivot through each of the three’s point of views. Weyward takes us on a journey through the 1600s, the 1940s, and the late 2000s; it details past trauma, secrets, witch trials, and male violence and oppression against women. Each of their lives is different, yet similar in ways. Each woman has some form of story to tell about women beaten and battered by men they trusted, loved, even married.

Although this was a gripping, powerful, and very heavy read, I didn’t love it. I thought it was going to be heavily focused on witches, and while there was mention of witchcraft and witch trials, it was just more of a story of women tirelessly trying to survive in their given time periods. With that said, there is alot of heavy content that many might find triggering.

What’s On The Pages:
-witches / witchcraft
-witch trials
-three generations of women
-trauma
-secrets
-male oppression against women/violence

⚠️CW/TW: domestic violence, rape, suicidal ideation, abortion

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC! Weyward is out March 7, 2023!

I love stories where we get to explore family ties through different generations, and Weyward certainly delivered. We've got Altha in 1619 who lives in a world where unusual women are persecuted and killed. Then we've got Violet in 1942, a girl transitioning into adulthood who has more questions than answers about her maternal side of the family. Finally, we've got Kate in 2019 fleeing from an abusive relationship.

All three of these women owned my heart and I was on the verge of crying so many times. From societal expectations to the suffocating patriarchy, they had to navigate so many difficulties mostly by themselves. One of my favorite things is that the witchcraft isn't done through spells, it's more like a connection to the world surrounding them. Weyward shows how overwhelming it can be for women to simply exist in a world that wasn't built for them, but how they overcame the very things that threatened to bring them down. I genuinely loved this and I'd read it again.

There's no introduction with this one, you jump right in and hit the first page running. This is told by three narrators - one in he 1600s, one in the 1940s, and one in the present time. At first, I didn't really understand the point of Kate's story, but after a few chapters, it all tied together. A steady theme carries this book along the three stories, but it doesn't get bogged down. I liked the little touch of magick combined with nature and the healing properties of the land. I think this author could fill another book with Violet's story as an adult. And I'd probably read it!

I received a copy of this book for my honest review, which I have provided.

This was so well-written! The prose was beautiful and the characters felt real and compelling.

I loved how empowering this book is to women. Despite the terrible things that happened to them before or during the story, it still felt incredibly hopeful. I also appreciated how supportive of each other the women characters were as you don't always get that in fiction.

It's also a great look at how, historically, women have been made out to be witches or monsters just for being different and/or independent. I especially found Altha and her mother's story to be compelling (I'd say more, but spoilers).

If I had any complaints, I'd say that I wish it was longer. I wish we'd had a little more time with the women, especially Violet and Kate (it makes sense that we'd get the amount about Altha that we did—though she was my favorite perspective to read from). I know the author had to balance the three women though, and she did a really good job of that.

Trigger warning for abuse, SA, and sexism. I think these were handled really well and in a respectful way, but they are there and could be upsetting for readers.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes stories of women finding their own power and courage in this world and lifting each other up.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a 3.5 star read for me, rounded up to 4 because it is extremely well done for a debut. The story itself-- a multi-generational tale of women without power connecting with nature and discovering their power and resilence-- is absorbing and was very well-written. The characters and their struggles with the patriachary of each era were complex and elegantly developed. I started to lose a little interest toward the middle of the end, but the book pulled me right back in for the finish.

I don't usually like to compare books, but for some reason, this book reminded me a little bit of The Lost Apothecary. Weyward succeeded in all of the places that, for me, The Lost Apothecary fell short.

An interesting tale, of three women, and the actions (usually by men) that shaped them. The time line jumped between generations, and I enjoyed the different timelines, and the mentions of witchcraft. It was a really strong debut and Hart is definitely someone that I will be keeping on my radar.

Altha, a girl accused of witchcraft in the 17th century, Violet, a victim of sexual assault living in the 20th century, and Kate, a woman fleeing her abusive boyfriend in 2019. They are separated by centuries, and the book does a beautiful job of weaving their stories together. I also love that it takes it's name from Shakespeare, since I am a massive Shakespeare nerd, and the name drew me in as well as that gorgeous freaking cover!

The book touches on the very sensitive topic of pregnancy/abortion and rape, which is very interesting to read from different time(s) perspectives. All the thoughts of the characters were written logically and believably - and I definitely respect being able to touch on something that is so divisive and sensitive, elegantly, was an amazing feat!

Dreamy cottages, animal friends, witches, all made up a wonderfully told story spreading generations. I loved Weyward. It was mysterious, engaging, and unique. I cannot wait to promote and buy copies for my friends.

This was a beautiful stories of three women, related through the ages, who all share a power that helps save them from the men who would harm them.

I wasn’t sure at first about the way the story develops in the book, I was worried I would confuse the different characters but once I got invested in each storyline for the three women I had no issues. The book to me was about generational trauma and how each of them had to work to overcome. There was a little of the supernatural, but I felt like there could have been more time spent on that part of their lives. I enjoyed the book but feel like it could have more to it, it just felt a little light in spots.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is about a legacy of witchcraft spanning centuries. In England in the 1600's, Altha awaits trial for the murder of a man who was trampled to death by his cattle. The villagers blame witchcraft and she must struggle to prove her innocence while hiding the fact that her mother was indeed a witch who schooled Altha on herbal remedies and detailed knowledge of the natural world. Forward to the 1940s where Violet is a prisoner of the culture of the time. Women weren't meant to be scientists, pick their own husbands or have a thought of her own. As Violet rebels against the constraints of society and her family by learning about insects and wanting to pursue a career as an entomologist. Her father locks her in her rooms until Violet agrees to meet a prospective match. She succumbs to his charms and finds herself pregnant with no prospects of marriage. Violet's abusive, domineering father banishes her to the family's ancestral cottage, called Weyward Cottage. It is there that Violet feels the presence of her ancestors and uncovers secrets that will help her survive on her own. Eighty years later Kate flees her dangerous, abusive partner and runs to Weyward Cottage, left to her by her Aunt Violet. The Cottage has fallen into disrepair over the years and as Kate begins her new life and fixes up her house, she learns of the family's secret which will help her move forward. Three generations of strong, resilient women use their bond with the natural world to survive in a world that isn't always kind to women on their own. Weyward is a well-written, well-plotted book. Fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will love this book . There is much to discuss which makes this an excellent book club choice. Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

Weyward
By Emilia Hart
Pub Date 07 March 2023
☆☆☆☆☆

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.

“After all, I am a Weyward, and wild inside.”

Weyward is a beautiful story of womanhood, magic, and the ties that bind us together. Told through the POVs of Altha, Violet, and Kate, each represents a different generation of Weyward women. This story showcases the strength of women and the love we have for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I start. What an absolute gem of a book. Think Alice Hoffman. The way the storylines are weaved and told are excellent.

Can we talk about the beautiful cover art? I know we aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one is STUNNING.

Weyward is an engrossing tale that follows 3 different women, over many generations. As an ADHD reader I usually find severed timelines difficult to follow, but I found Emilia Hart did a great job of keeping the storylines separate, but still related of course, and didn't cause too much confusion.

I loved the strong female voices, and discovering how these women were bound together by their shared experience. The content is heavy, so please read TW ahead of time.

If you take a story about the Salem Witch Trials and a domestic thriller you get Weyward, its an empowering read for women.

Beautifully told family history through the narratives of three women from three points in history and I absolutely loved every word. Throughout the timelines you assume the three women are related, but the author unfurls the relationships and their poetic likenesses, through small bits of information that plays out slowly as you read. These amazing women and their completely different, yet amazingly similar lives, were exquisitely written with compassion and depth and as a reader I found myself completely engrossed. If you love a witchy book then I wholeheartedly recommend this one goes on your TBR. And how about that cover! It's definitely in my top five favorites of all time.

Emilia Hart did a fantastic job at weaving three POVs to create a central story. I found myself looking for similarities between each of the main characters and how it impacted the overall story. Although some of the chapters did drag on a little, I was still engaged in the overall story. I loved the connections that Hart made with the characters and how powerful the message was. This was a great debut!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book is sure to be a hit with fans of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. This book has the same feel with strong female characters and almost believable fantastical abilities. A little slow moving a few times but not enough that you didn't want to stick with it.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
This book is told from the POV of several different women in the Weyward family who all have a special connection with nature, but sometimes that gift has been hidden away or blocked. I found the stories and connections between the women to be very compelling and it kept my interest throughout.