I have so much love for this debut! And I can’t believe this is a debut. It’s so perfectly woven. It’s a beautiful story of strong women through many centuries and their connections to the earth, insects, animals, and each other. Witches, multiple POVs and timelines, and badass women finding their way— I loved it all! I loved each storyline and didn’t feel there was one I had to trudge through. They were all captivating in their own way with their own voices.

Altha is being charged for murdering a neighbor as a witch in 1690s. In the 1940s, Violet is trapped in her family home with her father and is constantly chastised for her love of nature and desire to learn. And finally, Kate is escaping and abusive past and hiding in a cottage left to her by her aunt Violet in 2019. Kate learns of her families past and all the puzzle pieces fit together into a well crafted novel.

I highly recommend this one! Audio or physical book- actually get both versions so you don’t have to stop reading. The narration fits so well with the setting and the characters. You can grab a physical copy from @bookofthemonth now too!

Many thanks to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for an eARC and ALC. I enjoyed every second of this book!

Spanning five centuries, Weyward weaves together the lives of three women: Altha, accused of witchcraft and awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer; Violet, trapped in her family’s grand estate and longing for the education her brother receives, science and languages, rather than needlepoint and knowing which fork to use; Kate, fleeing London and an abusive boyfriend, driving through the night to reach a ramshackle cottage inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers.

WEYWARD was about as perfect as a novel could get. Truly a book written specifically for me, this read like a checklist of Things Leah Loves: an intricate family saga with past/present storytelling, magic, nature (if you have a bug or bird phobia maybe take a pass on this one), discovered letters and manuscripts, crumbling estates, even the time periods (WWII and the witch-hunts in particular) were very much on brand for me and I lapped it all up.

Typically when I’m reading a book with multiple POVs I find that I prefer one over the rest. But here, they all flowed seamlessly from one chapter to the next and each story was so connected that it worked beautifully. I was just as invested in Altha’s story as I was Violet’s and Kate’s and never felt that itch to skim other chapters to get back to one woman’s tale.

While I was completely enthralled by this book, readers should note the content warnings. This is not a happy read: five hundred years of women being treated horribly by the men in their lives. There are multiple instances of abuse in numerous forms (sexual, physical, gaslighting), miscarriage and abortion (both wanted and not), more than one woman mentioned has been literally locked away from the world and cut off from any outside contact. Every single man in this story (save for Kate’s father who died when she was a child and Violet’s brother) was a cruel, violent person.

I understand Weyward will not be for every reader but it was without a doubt a book for me and I loved it. That gorgeous cover is only the beginning of the magic that lies within its pages and I’m floored this is a debut. I’m so looking forward to what Emilia does next!

What is going on between the covers

Weyward is a compelling story that combines historical fiction, magical realism, and modern feminism that weaves in some of my favorite themes around the oppression of women while exploring the conventional idea that a woman’s identity and role is to marry and have children. Told through three distinct, brave, resilient women, all victimized, oppressed, and controlled by weak men and subject to their whims and abuse in different ways. The story alternates between Altha, who is on trial for murder in 17th-century British witch trials, and her fate is in the hands of men. In the 1940s, Violet, who her father isolates and controls as she unravels the secret of her mother’s death by mysterious circumstances, and our modern witch Kate, who escapes her controlling, abusive husband who sees Kate as someone to give him a child.

My Two Cents

It’s all about female power and resilience but not about female revenge and rage, even though I do love a good female revenge/rage story. We see each woman find strength and power from their connection to their female line and to nature. Emilia Hart gives each woman something unique as they can creepily communicate with nature in a yet powerful way. While even the thought of some brings on some irrational fears, it felt empowering and fitting to the story.

The story is well-paced and beautifully written with vivid imagery, with a strong connection between the characters that come together with a rewarding ending.

excellent, especially for a debut. Definately not light subject matter, but for those of us who find comfort and a sense of being understood in reading about people with similar experiences and trauma to ours, a masterpiece. Similar to They Drown Our Daughters, I think this will be a book I can't neccessarily recommend to everyone, but the ones who do appreciate it will be in love

I really wanted to enjoy this book because I love generational sagas. However, there were many graphic scenes that really made me uncomfortable. Thus, it was very hard to continue. I really do not like reading about abuse in novels. It is an overused trope. There are many ways a woman can be empowered that does not have to involve abusive husband. It does not make me feel emotional or gripping but uncomfortable. Therefore, this was not my cup of tea.

This book is astounding. Told from the perspectives of three Weyward women, this is the story of love and loss, choices and consequences, and above all the power within and the hope of tomorrow being a new and better day. I loved this book. Absolutely loved it!

This book didn't get "readable" until after sixty percent. It was shallow and very dime store romance-y. I now know why so many ARC reviewers DNFed it. If it hadn't been a review book I would have DNFed it in the first half, too. That's what the publisher gets for trying to pass this off as Women's Fiction/Literary Fiction. If it quacks like a Romance and waddles like a Romance... it's a Romance. If this had been listed as Romance on Edelweiss, I wouldn't have requested it; therefore they get this honest review.

I was on the fence about giving it two stars instead of one, but even after it became more palatable there were too many coincidences and plot conveniences, continuity blips, and not very well researched biology elements.

Also, please stop romanticizing witch trials. The victims were not fantasy witches with magic spells, they were real, falsely accused women. There is a fine line with this subject in fiction and this story crossed that line more than once.

I would like to begin this review by thanking Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of Weyward by Emilia Hart in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the incredible stories of three women from the same Weyward family lineage. However, I would like to give a trigger warning that this book does contain depictions of sexual assault.

Despite my initial concern about following three different lives, I found this book to be extremely captivating. The storytelling was done very well, which surprised me since this was a debut novel. Although the story of Kate was fast-paced, it did not overshadow the other chapters. The stories of Kate, Violet, and Altha were woven together seamlessly, and I finished reading this book in just a matter of days.

The connection to nature and the descriptions were beautifully written, and at times, whimsical. I appreciated that this book was entirely about a lineage of green witches and not the typical story about witches that includes cauldrons, black hats, and spells. It all felt very enchanting and captivated me from the beginning until the end.

A story of the shared secret of three women, spanning five centuries. It's a clever and interesting premise. While the narrative became muddied at times and the characters were very basic, the novel was an enjoyable enough read. The different timelines were intriguing--I usually love a book with two different storylines, such as the Lost Apothecary or the Broken Girls--but this was not carried out as well as I would have liked. At times I had to flip back to a previous chapter to understand and I had trouble placing the events in a mental timeline. This made it harder to connect to the characters and the overall plot. 3.5 of 5 stars.

Thank you to Emelia Hart, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a digital copy of Weyward in exchange for a honest review.

Five centuries of feminism are combined in this novel that focuses on the lives of three women in different timelines & their unique relationships with nature.

Altha is accused of witchcraft in 1619, even though all her mother ever taught her was their own form of natural magic that helped heal others who were sick. In 1942, Altha’s descendent Violet is expected to stop climbing trees to study birds & insects & instead become a docile housewife. Fast forward to 2019 & Violet’s great-niece Kate has inherited the Weyward family cottage & uses it as a refuge from her abusive partner.

In each of these stories, we see the women slowly embrace their power as Weyward women & fall in love with the natural world as they reject societal convention & discover the magic that has been passed down to them through the generations.

I love being outside in the fresh air but have never cared much for insects, & this book gave me a different perspective on bugs of all kinds.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an ARC.

3 women in three different time periods, all related and share a secret. They have a powerful connection to nature and to animals, but also have powerful desire to overcome their fears and protect themselves and those they love.

A great spring time read, steeped in imagery of nature in a beautiful countryside setting to fulfill all of your cottagecore desires! This is a character-driven story, divided into three perspectives from three different timelines across history. The author's use of language and descriptions were impressive in the way they seemed to fit each era so perfectly. I enjoyed Altha's and Violet's perspectives a lot, but found Kate frustrating for much of the novel.

I was surprised by some of the more graphic descriptions, so -
CW for on page domestic violence, sexual assault, suicidal thoughts, car accident, death of parent, abortion.

Oh, look that cover - isn't it gorgeous? Even better is the story that awaits you in Emilia Hart's debut novel, Weyward.
Hart's book unfolds through the narrative of three women over the course of five centuries. In 1619, Altha is on trial for witchcraft. In 1942, Violet is virtually a prisoner in her family's manor house. And in 2019, Kate is on the run from her life in London.

What ties the three together is their family tree and Weyward Cottage. There's more of course, but not all of them are aware yet of their strengths, abilities or what came before.

Hart tells her story in rotating points of view, often ending at a place I couldn't wait to return to. (Makes for lots of late night reading!) And as those time periods flip, you realize that the more things change, the more they stay the same. 'Nuff said. "The thought sparks fury in her. She's not sure if it's a new feeling, or if it was always there, smothered by fear. But now it burns bright in her blood."

Hart's descriptions of nature are beautiful and remind us to appreciate what grows and lives in a garden. And to take solace and peace from Mother Earth. "For I had begun to suspect that nature, to us, was as much a life force as the very air we breathed."

Weyward is a brilliant, bewitching debut. I can't wait to read what Hart writes next.

A fabulous tale of three woman connected by blood from three different times.
Hereditary witches that don't realize that they can do more than heal until they are forced to reach deep inside for their power.
This book keep me up reading way past my bedtime. I recommend it highly.

Special thanks to #Netgalley and #St.MartinsPress for the ARC!

So, this was actually difficult for me to rate. The writing was great, and I loved the multiple timelines and the way the characters intertwined. Some of the connections and events were obvious, but I still enjoyed the story. The difficulty is mostly due to the graphic nature of some of the events. There was a time in my life, after a recent pregnancy loss, that I would not have been able to read this. I do feel that some of the scenes were a bit barbaric and disturbing, so just keep that in mind, because I was surprised by it. After carefully balancing all the pieces, I feel that I can’t give it less than a 3.75 to 4 stars.

Weyward By Emilia Hart is a multigenerational novel about 3 women who are tied to a name and a cottage. They are all related and have to stay in the cottage. It’s 2019 and Kate is in an abusive marriage. She she’s no way out but out of the blue, she finds out she has inherited a cottage. The cottage will be her refugee, her safe place. She just has to be brave enough to run.. Altha, lives in the same cottage but it is 1619. Her mother taught her magic. She knows how to treat all kinds of illness and she is very good at it. But she is accused of using witch craft and she needs to protect her freedom at any cost. The same cottage is the home of Violet. It’s 1942 and WWII is raging.. Violet loves the outdoors and the animals. Her mother has passed and her father is a cold man, who doesn’t relate to her, at all. Her days are boring and she can’t wait to get out of the house. Little does she know, the cottage will soon be her home. The author does a great job telling the stories of all three women. I really liked how she tied them together. Will the cottage be a refugee or cause more trouble? Can the ladies find happiness here? This was a four star read for me. I really enjoyed it so much. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

Lovely debut about three generations of women across 5 centuries. Three women discover their connection to the natural world, and the power that results from such connection. Female resilience after pain and heartbreak. I really liked how the stories of Kate, Violet and Altha came together, allowing them each to realize their power and the ability to survive.

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.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Weyward by Emilia Hart follows three stories of women set at different times through history who all have the same mysterious connection to wildlife around them, particularly insects. Altha's story starts off with her in jail, to be tried as a witch in the 1600s. Violet is living in an English manor during WWII, trying to find out anything about her deceased mother. Kate is in an abusive marriage, trying to imagine a way out. All the stories are connected by the Weyward women line, though the characters may not know it. You have to read to find out if the strength that each has, and their unique connection to the wildlife around them will be enough to save them from the dangers they face!

I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy some magical realism, historical fiction, and strong female characters facing difficult challenges. The book does have potential triggers for some readers with violence against women, and a female's right to make choices about her body. That being said, the difficult subjects are met with a sense of resiliency and empathy. The stories are woven together beautifully, though at the end of each chapter I found myself not wanting to jump to the other story line as each separate one pulled me in! Overall, 4.5 stars rounded up. Be prepared to have a hard time setting this one down!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Emilia Hart for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Outstanding! What an incredible book, weaving together the lives of three women and their family lineage and inherent skill with the natural world. All face the horrible reality of abuse and restriction, still facing women today, which makes the story incredibly timely. I loved the atmosphere, the fact that the cottage is almost one of the characters of the book, and the way the author made points without being preachy. A truly mesmerizing read.

An incredible debut that follows the lives of three strong Weyward women across different time periods as they navigate dangers and misogyny at the hands of men they thought they could trust. I loved the focus on the natural world mixed in with a unique brand of witchcraft. Moving with unforgettable characters and a gorgeous cover!

The author did a great job seamlessly interweaving each of the women's stories and highlighting their different struggles as they dare to be different in a world that punishes women for having the audacity to exist outside of societal norms. Recommended for fans of Rachel Griffin or Philippa Gregory. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies of this book in exchange for my honest review!