Emilia Hart's debut novel follows the stories of three women, Altha 1619, Violet 1942+, Kate 2019, as they navigate the world around them, and the control and influence men have on them while hiding a family secret that could get them killed or ostracized.

"This wildness inside gives us our name...Weyward they called us, when we would not submit, would not bend to their will. But we learned to wear the name with pride."

I often find chapters with varying POVs a little hard to follow, but Hart does a magnificent job weaving the three stories together and giving each woman a clear voice that doesn't make me have to reread a bit to stay with each particular character. I enjoyed each woman's POV and felt they were pretty well-developed characters. The men in their lives, aside from being abusive, dangerous, or oppressive, are not as well developed, but I didn't mind that much since the stories were really about the women and their finding strength to be who they are supposed to be in spite of the hardships they face.
From the moment I started this book, I found it hard to put down. I wanted to know what happened next, and with each swipe of the page, I was not disappointed.
This was a great read for March, and I think readers of multiple genre interests can find something to love about this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Give me all the witchcraft. The cover is stunning and the story keeps up - not always the case! Can’t wait to reread this one in the fall.

Read WEYWARD by Emilia Hart if you love multi-generational narratives, witch trials, relationships with nature, dealing with generational trauma, insects, confronting sexual assault & domestic violence, heirlooms, cozy cottages, and crows.

"The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet" - Adrienne Rich

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women, bound by blood, across Five centuries. Weyward is a spellbinding, heartwrenching, and stunning tale of female resilience among the betrayal of men they hold dear.

First of all, this book is GORGEOUS to look at. The cover is unique, stunning, and eye-catching and then the small illustrations throughout really add to the over aesthetic of the book. I loved holding it in my hands almost as much as I loved reading it.

What an incredible debut by Emilia Hart. I loved the three main characters so much. They are beautifully and perfectly developed and I was so invested in all of their storylines. This is an example of alternating viewpoints done so well and the fact that the timelines were so far apart, yes still intertwined, was unique and enjoyable. The author takes such care in crafting each storyline and it's really remarkable.

This book is not for the faint of heart. Some parts are raw, real, and very difficult to read so please be aware of some trigger warnings going in. It's very powerful to know that no matter the century these women can unite through similar trials and tribulations and find their magic within.

Truly breathtaking.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is one of those novels I know I loved. I have notes that say I did, and my immediate ratings reflect that I loved it. Unfortunately, even though I finished it one month ago, I could not remember anything about the book, even though I do remember details about books read before and after it. I had to read the synopsis before finally remembering the story. Now that I remember Weyward, I still stand by my initial reaction, but I will have to adjust my ratings because the story has no longevity.

The story occurs over three different timelines. From the outset, you know the three protagonists share the same bloodline, and part of the fun is attempting to predict how they relate to one another. Thankfully, Ms. Hart does keep us guessing. What could be a very predictable bloodline ends up being a pleasant surprise.

We spend most of our time switching between modern-day Kate and World War II-era Violet. It makes sense to have Kate as the main protagonist because hers is the modern timeline and also because we can better relate to her flight from an abusive marriage and the whimsy of living in a remote cottage. Violet's narrative, however, drives most of the story, as hers sets up Kate's future. Altha's story exists to emphasize that their family has a history of being bossed around (i.e., abused) by men who profess to have their best interests at heart. While Altha's story has her confronting the reality of the death penalty, what the other two women face is just as haunting.

One cannot discuss Weyward without discussing the abuse all three women face. Ms. Hart does not fade to black during those scenes. She shows us exactly what each woman experiences at the hands of men. These scenes are ugly, raw, and uncomfortable. The worst part is that the abuse is not just physical or sexual but also psychological and emotional. You cannot escape any of it. As if that isn't enough, Ms. Hart heaps on misogyny and gaslighting to further her point about men ruling over women. It is a brutal picture of female-male relationships.

Thankfully, Ms. Hart also includes some positive female-male relationships to show that it isn't all men or all relationships. The relationship between Violet and her brother is particularly heartwarming. Graham makes mistakes, but his love for Violet is unconditional. The steps he takes to rectify his mistakes are the ones that have the most impact on Kate's life. More importantly, they help show that women are capable of anything without patriarchal oppression.

Interwoven throughout the three narratives is a familial magic that makes the women highly attuned to nature. Altha, in particular, is also knowledgeable in plant medicine, which, of course, makes her a witch. While their abilities play a large role in their fates, I feel the magic isn't as important as their interactions with others, especially with men. In my opinion, Weyward is a novel of self-discovery and healing, and the magic is simply an added but perhaps unnecessary bonus.

Despite its darkness, Weyward is a beautiful story. Ms. Hart brings 1619 and 1942 back to life in a way few authors can achieve. While each woman undergoes traumatic hardships, it is obvious that Ms. Hart cares for her protagonists and celebrates their successes as much as we do. It is so unfortunate that I forgot all of this in a matter of weeks. A truly great novel has staying power, and I cannot consider Weyward to be a truly great novel simply because I could not remember a single thing about it until I read the synopsis.

A generational novel with darkness, mystery, intrigue, with a little bit of black magic. The novel switches between three bloodlines from The author's unravels the mysteries of a family line when Kate leaves her abusive husband and hides out in her estranged -- recently deceased -- great aunt Violet's cottage. Strange things reveal themselves as Kate learns and discovers more about her aunt from the nearby townsfolk and the cottage itself. The chapters switch from Kate and her Aunt Violet as well as their long distant relative from 1619, Altha. Aside from their bloodline, the common thread between these women are their "otherness" and almost forced isolation by either the community or family.

Altha and her mother are ostracized yet needed by their community for their knowledge in herbal medicine, but are quickly looked at as witches when odd things happen in the community. But the town may not be far off as Altha's mother has a strong connection with the natural world who silently communicates with her crow Morg. The symbol of the crow and natural elements appear in Violet's story and Kate whom seem to be protected and use the natural world for their own power.

With these three different tellings, Emilia Hart, successfully captures the historic setting of 1619, the gothic atmosphere of Violet's world, and the contemporary mystery of Kate's. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction, supernatural, or even a thriller, this book will appeal to any reader. Fans of The Thirteenth Tale will devour this book in one sitting. A great choice for book clubs.

I received this book for free from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Man will take advantage of you and rape you.
That's it. That's the plot. Cover is gorgeous, in theory, the multigenerational tale of witches is fun, but my god. Kate was an idiot, Violet was naive, Altha was cool.

This is an exceptional multi-generational narrative that has a profound and emotional impact. The story follows three women who are interconnected through their strong bond with nature. Despite experiencing various forms of abuse, each of these women has managed to harness their inner strength to survive and thrive. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. As we delve into the book, we are taken on a journey through the lives of Kate, Altha, and Violet, going back and forth in time, allowing us to witness their personal growth and transformation as they navigate their paths towards self-discovery and empowerment.

This narrative beautifully illustrates the power and resilience of women, and the magic that often lies within them. The characters are beautifully crafted, with a remarkable depth that immediately captured my attention from the first page. The progression of the characters throughout the novel is a testament to the strength and natural abilities of women. Overall, this book is an incredible read that will leave a lasting impression on readers.

4.5 stars

despite being a bit outside my usual genre, this novel took me by surprise and I ended up really loving it! a historical women's fiction novel with a bit of magical realism incorporated, I thought that the way that the author melded the 3 different story lines of these women was so well done and intriguing. seeing how interconnected the women were and their connection to each other and nature was so beautiful.

the beginning was a bit slow for me and it took me a night to really get into the story but as I continued reading, I just kept getting more and more invested. as the three women's stories began to tie together, it got more compelling. I thought that this book offered such an interesting view into the way women were and are treated and the challenges that they faced as their thoughts and feelings were invalidated. each woman had a slightly different story but they all faced similar issues, dealing with societal expectations and horrible actions by the powerful men in their lives.

overall, I just thought this book was so good and would highly recommend it! the way the story went back and forth and tied together so seamlessly was wonderfully done - such a well-written and thought provoking book!

Great female energy is presented through multiple generations of Weyward women. Weaving their stories together, we learn of their struggles, their loss, their wildness and how their legacy carries on.

While at times their stories felt a bit repetitive, I enjoyed how we peeled back layers of each Weyward woman as they slowly discovered their wildness. Each in turn battled with their inner voice, wondering if this calling was a power or a curse. It’s easy to make assumptions about how all the women’s stories would connect, so it was fun to see how it all came together.

“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet.” Adrienne Rich

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced digital copy.

This is a great read if you like witchy stories from different time periods - but more of healing with nature witches and not so much cauldrons and broomsticks. This also has strong feminist plots where our main characters are facing obstacles that many women face - during their respective time periods and for all time.

This story gives us POV chapters from 3 different points of view - one is Altha in the 1600s, on trial for witchcraft. The second is Violet, a teenager during World World II living on her father's wealthy estate. And Kate, a young woman in a volatile relationship in 2019. All these women are fighting different battles, but they each have their own love of nature. Their stories are intertwined, and they each have ties to the small Weyward cottage in a small village. But will each of these women overcome obstacles to find the inner strength that unites them all?

Honestly, this is such a good debut! I will happily read other books by Emilia Hart. It was beautifully written, with an equally beautiful cover. I bought the book from Book of the Month when I was only part way through reading it, because I knew I needed this beautiful book on my bookshelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

"The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet."

Weyward is a story of generations of female resilience and their strong connection with nature. I wanted to like this book but something about it did not fully come together and give that experience I was expecting.

There were parts of this book that were well written and resonated with me. Political and religious commentary from the days of witch trials to domestic abuse and the right to choose that still continue in current times. I related with Kate burying herself into reading and the stories in times of adversity. Altha and Violet's storylines were interesting and what kept me going to finish this book.

However this book felt a tad too long, with some chapters that could have just been skipped altogether. Throughout the book I felt for the women and their predicament but I felt very little about their bond with nature. It just felt like some bugs and birds were constantly brought up but only in the epilogue did I feel any semblance of oneness.

Strong trigger warnings on miscarriage and sexual abuse

Thanks for St Martin's press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an ARC of the audio and ebook.

This was such a great book. I found the premise of following three women from the same family but existing in different generations to be super intriguing. I'm glad that I did. I thought this book was really well done and I was invested in the story really early on. I was initially drawn into this book by the cover and I'm glad I was. I think this is a wonderful historical fiction with the way it depicts the trauma that women endure and the way it survives through the generations.

While this isn't what I normally recommend, I think it's always nice to change things up. I will be recommending these when someone is looking for impactful historical fiction with a magical twist.

I love stories of women reclaiming their power, their heritage, becoming more than they imagined is possible. Throw in witchy & magical elements, historical elements and beautiful writing? I'm over the moon! Highly recommended!

I know it’s only March, but this will probably be one of my top 5 reads for the entire year. Kate, Violet, and Altha each struggle with otherness and isolation, but in distinctive ways. They handle their grief, fear, etc. in believable ways (at least until magic gets involved). There were also some wonderfully whimsical moments. I particularly appreciated Violet’s pet spider Goldie.

An accused witch, a young woman forced to conform to her father's rules, and a modern day wife on the run from an abusive partner . . .

I groaned when I started this book and realized there were three different women telling their tales across a span of hundreds of years. Whenever this happens, I always find one of the characters far more interesting than the others . . . but not in this case. I was held rapt by each story-line, and loved how they all meshed beautifully in the end. This beautifully written tale about the lives of women also offers an appreciation of nature, and the importance of living in harmony with all creatures.

A wonderful story, and one of my favorite books of the year so far.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this arc!

Absolutely stunning read - full of mystery, intrigue, and history of three unique women who are trying to survive in a society that targets their wit and ancestry. All three women are brave and smart, despite the rules of the men around them who keep trying to stop them from progressing and finding joy. The words flow lovely and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Gorgeous. Amazing writing. This being debut is mind-blowing. It is a fantastic novel.
Witches and I am in, historical fiction now that is a hard sell, but I was instantly hooked with the tinges of magical realism. The novel follows three women of the Weyward family, each woman tells her story, and the reader follows along how each story helps the next member of the family. I will be telling everyone to read this, but there is need for content warning: Domestic Abuse and Non-Consensual Sex

"I am a Weyward, and wild inside."

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read Weyward by Emilia Hart. This debut novel seemed to be right up my alley; the cover was gorgeous, a multi-timeline plot (Three women in the family, in different times, dealing with witchcraft, and abusive relationships. I did find it difficult to read due to some of the content, and the pacing was slow Others may not have the issues I had, but subject content includes domestic violence, rape, incest. 2 1/2 stars rounded up.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

I don’t always love multiple timelines in books, but this one was so well-paced, with each of the women experiencing similar things in vastly different timelines while also moving the story forward. The timelines were so well-woven together, that it didn’t feel awkward or jolting to switch to another person’s story.

In many ways, this reminded me of Jenna Walsh Evans’s “spells for lost things” in the emotions it evoked and the way connections were made between women separated by generations of time—though that one was decidedly YA while this tackles more adult topics.

Speaking of, here are a few CONTENT WARNINGS: sexual assault, abuse/domestic violence (physical, sexual, financial), abortion, verbal and physical threats of violence, miscarriage, loss of a parent, death, murder, and lots of insects (not sure if this counts, but I’m not a fan and the descriptions were almost too good).