Several generations of women struggle to use their power despite the domination of cruel men. They are witches, in tune with nature, whose power threatens men.

An excellent debut novel

I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.

Weyward is a fantastic debut novel by author Emilia Hart. If you like all things to do with an eerie aesthetic, nature, and witches, then this one is for you!

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to follow our three MC’s- Kate, Violet, and Altha. I do feel as if the plot could have been slightly more developed, but overall this was a quick and entertaining read. Readers may also want to look up trigger warnings before starting this novel.

I loved this book! The perfect mix of past and present, magic, and the power of women. Thank you @NetGalley for this!

"Weyward" is used in the First Folio edition of Macbeth. In later versions, "Weyward" was replaced by "Weird".

Weyward tells the story of three interconnected women from 1619 to 1942 to 2019.

In 1619, Altha is on trial for killing her friend's husband. She claims that she didn't touch him, but everyone knows she's capable of doing it without being close to him. She's a witch, after all. However, Altha knows that's not the case. Ever since she was little, the animals and plants would come to her, not the other way around. It's not her fault that her mother taught her how to use the land to cure ailments and it's also not her fault that some community members chose to come to her for help instead of the town doctor.

Fast forward to 1924 to Violet. Violet is a teenager living in Orton Hall with her father, who despises her, and her brother, who doesn't understand her. Her mother died when she was young, but Violet doesn't remember her, and staff members won't tell her anything. A little weird, Violet would rather be in the trees listening to the insects and talking to the birds than doing her chores or learning French. Everything changes when Violet's dad invites Cousin Frederick to their home. Fresh from the war, he tells Violet that he knew her mother and that she was different. She walked around with a crow perched on her shoulder and spoke under her breath when he was around. Frederick even claims that she left a toad in his bed when she was locked in another room. How can she do that? Excited to learn more about her mother, Violet unknowingly falls under Frederick's spell, and her life changes forever.

2019 has come and so has Kate. Living in an abusive relationship with a man named Simon, she finally gets the courage to leave. Rushing out in the middle of the night, she only has one place to go: her dead Aunt Violet's cottage. Kate is trying to anonymously start over but keeps hearing whispers about her Aunt Violet and the Weyward family. Is it true that the women of the Weyward family are witches? What else doesn't Kate know about her family?

4 stars!
This book seemed to come to me at the right time. I'm feeling a little "Spook-ish" as the weather changes and it's getting closer to September and Fall. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had me questioning how each woman was connected and how they all overlapped in history. There really wasn't much mystery beyond that, instead, this is a story of women and their strengths. If you're anything like me, by the end, you'll want to be sitting in the woods talking to the trees.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Weyward my Emilia Hart had a beautiful concept and reminded me a lot of The Lost Apothecary, which I read earlier this year. I misread the Weyward's summary and overlooked the "escaping an abusive partner" plot. Reading Kate's perspective was uncomfortable. Secondly, the prologue was in first person, but then the next chapters were in third person. The transitions between first and third person was jarring. The characters and the story were lovely and I do recommend picking up Weyward.

I'm not normally into books where we're jumping around in time periods but I read this book in one sitting. I had to know what happened next and didn't want to stop reading. The quote on the last page was the perfect ending.

Weyward tells the stories of Altha, Violet, and Kate jumping between the 1600s, 1940s, and present day. It is the perfect spooky season read - not a thriller or scary, but all the witchy, fall vibes! All three of these women had mesmerizing stories that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommend and I can't wait to see what Emilia Hart does next.

This book takes you on a few journeys. It’s written so you follow the story of 3 women. women all connected by blood and nature. Please make sure to look up trigger warning for this book since at times it gets a bit heavy. I enjoyed the female empowerment I felt and the sense of connection all the weyward women had. I would recommend this if you are into witchy things and love when books showcase STRONG women.

I had to look thrice to see that this is actually a debut novel’!! Well done, Emilia Hart-

Weyward gives me all the appropriate spooky fall vibes that I could ever want- but not scary.
Witches, women being wronged - and bringing their powers that be back to help them- just hits me in my core. What a beautiful generational story. Will definitely be purchasing a physical copy Because not only is it a beautiful story, it has a beautiful cover as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Wayward is the story of a line of women throughout generations. It focuses on the stories of three women in a familiarly- Altha, Violet, and Kate, all set during different time periods. I especially loved the storylines of Altha and Violet!

Overall, this is a story about the innate strength that women have in spite of adversity. What a great read!

Weyward by Emilia Hart is a great historical fiction that gives us three stories about three formidable women bound together by family, life, love, nature, and magic.

This is a wonderful book that gives us the stories of three women that are part of the same family, generations, and sometimes centuries, a part that at first seem like they might not have too many things in common…but as the reader continues onwards, we see how each woman has similar struggles, fears, hopes, desires, and talents.

The way the author is able to weave three stories into one cohesive unit and the magical, earthy elements that are balanced perfectly with historical and contemporary life and detail, is just great.

A true gem from a debut author.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/7/23.

As a women in this world, this book both broke and healed my soul.

Alternating between the view of three young women - Altha, a woman accused of witchcraft in the 1600s, Violet, a women of the 1940s with a burning desire to be closer with nature, and Kate, a women of today escaping an abusive relationship - this story takes you on a journey to discover the strength of women despite the many faces of subjugation we have faced throughout time. The beautifully written imagery of this work will connect you to nature as you witness the heartbreak and rebuilt strength of these three women.

Emilia Hart has a stunning way with words, making you feel every moment of natural wonder of the world through her beautiful prose to the deep pain of what it means to be a woman in a often unforgiving patriarchal setting. With this novel, Emilia Hart has immediately become an automatic read for me with anything they publish in future.

If you’re looking for a beautifully written piece of fiction that will break you and heal you up stronger, with a touch of witchcraft, I highly recommended this book.

Thank you NetGalley for supplying me with an advanced reader copy of this book.

Trigger warnings: sexual assault, miscarriage, domestic abuse

This. Book. Was. AWESOME. It had me hooked from the very beginning and kept me on my toes the whole time.

This book made me want to get out into nature and find my own witchy powers. It me feel extremely connected to myself as a woman and proud of the strength of all women.

Weyward is a beautifully gripping exploration of contrasting themes. The main characters learn to push back against the cold, isolating cages of the patriarchy in their time.
In 2019, Kate has finally managed to escape her abusive boyfriend, seeking refuge in an inherited cottage in the woods.
In 1942, 16 year-old Violet yearns to study biology while her father attempts to leash her into the perfect young lady.
In 1619, Altha is on trial for the murder of a local farmer and husband of her former best friend Grace.

These three women yearn to understand the Weyward woman who has come before them, their connection to nature, and to free themselves in the process.

Weyward is beautifully written and the characters are incredibly complex. Hart does a wonderful job of juxtaposition and subtly evoking meaning and feeling to the reader.

You’ll like this if you enjoy: century-spanning family connections, mystery, secret powers, exploration of matriarchy vs. Patriarchy, stories about strong women saving themselves.

Content Warning: physical and sexual assault, self-induced miscarriage.

This story was good but a bit confusing at times.
It’s a about 3 generations of women who all have surprisingly similar lives despite living in different time periods.
I really Enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone

'Weyward' is a story of wild women, mayflies, crows, and of heartbreak, loss, and survival. The story is a triple timeline set in the Cumbrian countryside, that follows the lives of three women- Altha, Violet, and Kate whose lives intersect through tragedy. Through their powerful ancestral and intuitive connections they are able to forge a deep connection to the natural world that helps them to blossom into the powerful wild women they are.

This is not a typical witchy book as it focuses on the magic of nature to inspire, heal, and protect. It’s a story that is rooted and grounded in the regenerative and destructive aspects of nature. The writing was beautiful and had a suspenseful enchantment that had me bewitched. The author captured the beauty and wonder of insects, animals, and plants that gave them a sense of magic and mystery. While I was reading this story, I kept having the feeling that something magical was about to happen, even though it didn’t. There are no spells or rituals in this story but rather, a psychic relationship with nature that conjures the strength of the feminine for each character. Heavy subject matter is present throughout the entire book as they are the catalysts for the characters' rebirths.

A powerful story about what it means to be a wild woman having to navigate the seen and unseen worlds of everyday life using the magic and power of nature to transform, heal and free oneself from shame, guilt, and fear.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is a sweeping story.

Hart's work is beyond amazing. Her writing is flawless and the characters and storyline of this book are perfectly developed.
The writing style was great and she swept away with it.
Also the way Emilia developed her characters was nothing short of amazing. I think the characters had depth and a little intrigue and I really just wanted to know everything about them.
Three different women Altha, Violet, and Kate went through some hard times and the way their story was told is something special. The different timelines was phenomenal.
Weyward is a book that that kept me engaged, intrigued and flipping the pages for hours straight.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

St. Martin's Press,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Kate is fleeing domestic abuse when she runs to the remote cottage her aunt left to her. The cottage holds a definite appeal to Kate, and not because it’s a respite from violence. The bones under the house would indicate that her great aunt had some pretty big secrets. It turns out those bones go back to the 17th century when a young woman, wise in the healing properties of plants is accused of witchcraft. Telling the story in three timelines, Kate in the present, Altha in the 17th century and Violet in World War II, a young woman who yearns for the freedom to live free from the conventions of the time. Three different women, all persecuted, all remarkable tell their stories across 500 years in this beautifully constructed story

Weyward is a beautiful novel that encapsulates the lives, and struggles, of three women. Spanning across centuries, the novel follows the lives of the Weyward women and their unique power - a connection to nature that sets them apart and empowers them. Even with years separating them, the women struggle and overcome societies, and to be blunt, men, who seek to break them.

Weyward is beautifully written, with characters that you both connect to and feel for, regardless of the different era they may come from. The book highlights the age-old problem of gender violence and sexual assault, and the power that each woman finds within themselves to overcome it. Sometimes a book that flits back and forth through different points of time can be confusing, but this was well woven together, amounting to the perfect build to the climax. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is a breathtakingly beautiful novel that explores the dangers of patriarchal control and celebrates the enduring power of the feminine. The narrative expertly intertwines the lives of three women separated by five centuries: 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.

The novel takes its title from Shakespeare’s description of the witches in Macbeth as “Weyward Sisters”. Altha, Violet, and Kate, all females from the Weyward line, have a deep connection to the natural world. Altha is a healer, gardener, and animal lover, but she does not use the term “witch” which is a word “invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not to those it describes.” When Violet inherits Altha’s cottage, she discovers her ancestor’s narrative before passing the cottage on to Kate, who in turn discovers Violet’s letters, piecing together the powerful family destiny.

I loved every word of this perfectly paced book which drips with the pain and joy of life. Altha, Violet, and Kate suffer tremendous hardships, but beneath their struggles is a wild strength and love of fairy tales that helps them vocalize the untold stories of all women. Fans of Alice Hoffman will love the writing style and uplifting message of this book which connects women across generations and lets them know they are not alone.
Weyward will draw you in and take hold of your imagination long after the final page has been turned.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.