I can’t help myself when witchy books come out! I’m a hardcore thriller/ horror reader, but I have a soft spot for all witchy fiction. Weyward is a new book, about generations of healing women, or witches. It’s everything you think it will be and some.
Told through the eyes of three Weyward women, from different generations, this story is a history of the oppression of women and the rejection of natural medicine. Each women tells the tale of her coming into magic, how it’s perceived by outsiders, and what drove them to use it. It’s beautiful, sad and uplifting.
I loved all three women, and how their stories intertwined. The modern story is the real culmination of all the women, and the most inspiring. You can’t read this book and not feel the power of the story. Emilia Hart is a wonderful storyteller.
I loved the narrators for the audiobook. Their accents gave authenticity to each woman’s story. Altha’s story felt more real and recent because of the emotion and age in the narrator’s voice. I could listen to these women all day.
If you liked Hester, you’re going to love Weyward. While Hester is more of a love story, Weyward is about finding your own way and embracing it. This would make an excellent book club book. I also recommend it for young adult readers.

Weyward by Emilia Hart follows three women, Altha, Violet, and Kate, that are separated by generations. Each woman has her own struggles to overcome and secrets that she's trying to keep. I really loved the alternating perspectives in this book and I feel like the alternating narrators in the audiobook really made for an exceptional listening experience. The three main characters are all well-developed and readers are given backstory and insight into each of their lives, which really helps build a feeling of connection with all of them. I enjoyed the slow unravelling of the women's stories and was satisfied with how everything was resolved. Parts of the book are unsettling and even disturbing, but I feel like these hard parts reflect the reality of hardships that women have faced throughout history.

I would recommend this book to adult readers that are looking for stories of female empowerment. I think it would especially appeal to those that are interested in stories of witchcraft and/or historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review an audio ARC of this title.

Three woman representing generations a family of women and their bond to the natural world. This is the story of how Alva, Violet, and Kate discover their connection with nature and use it to save themselves from the machinations of men.

The narrators do a good job of giving voice to the women.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for this ALC.

Wow wow wow. I was blown away by this audiobook!! The story, the narrators, the characters- all perfection.

This book followed three generations of Weyward women, and told the story of how their generational magic changed their lives. Each women had an impact on the next, without ever knowing it. The way the author weaved their stories together was exceptional. It was a feminist masterpiece that fully awoke my own feminine rage! & I mean that in the best way possible.

The three narrators were amazing. Macmillan Audio always has stunning narrators that add even more depth to the audiobook.

Would highly recommend reading this, especially for those who love and support women.

Beautiful. Heartrending. Empowering. 𝘞𝘦𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 by Emilia Hart was a gorgeously written novel told from the perspective of three generations of Weyward women: Altha in 1619, Violet in 1942, and Kate in 2019. Theirs is a story of triumph over darkness. A story full of magic, secrecy, nature, violence, primal bonds, sisterhood, love and loss, betrayal, survival, self-discovery, and family. And so much more than even that. For the most part it was hard to put𝘞𝘦𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 down, though at times it was admittedly hard for me to get through because of the brutality they experience (TW for SA and DV). But, ultimately, I did get through it because these amazing, complicated, fierce ladies had stories to tell and I needed to, wanted to, hear them. And I’m so glad I did. The audio, which I listened to, narrated by Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, and Nell Barlow, flawlessly and vibrantly brought Altha, Violet, and Kate to life. This is definitely a book that will stay with me long after it’s finished, and as long as you pay attention to trigger warnings, I highly recommend it.

This is a story about 3 woman Alva, accused of being a witch in the 1600's and sits on trial, Violet is a eccentric young naïve girl who in the 1940's who finds herself rapped by her cousin, and Kate, flees an abusive relationship after finding herself pregnant to Wayward Cottage that she inherited by her Aunt Violet that she never met. This story weaves a tale of these Wayward woman and how their stories connect and the truth of the weird situations with their connection to the earth. This is a story celebrating the female spirit and empowerment. The narrators for each woman on the audiobook are spot on. It was very easy to get hypnotized by their voices and this story. Love it!

Women across generations fight against abuse.
Altha - accused of witchcraft
Violet - her father and cousin
Kate - her partner
They fight for their survival, their independence - forced to do whatever they can.
Generations apart, they connect; they are bond together - fighting for their independence.
Loved the narration. Very well done.

Weyward was an interesting book, but it didn't have quite enough witch plot for me! There was a subtle hint at witchcraft and magic but not as much as I would have liked. The story follows 3 storylines of Weyward women through their experiences with family, witchcraft, and finding their way in this world. I enjoyed the most recent storyline of Kate the most. I wanted to hear more of her story but I also understand the need to have all of the stories and only being able to fit in so much for each story. Overall this was good, just not my favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to an advanced copy of this book.

Very skillfully written. The characters are well rendered. The plot is full of tension, culminating in an exciting ending. The timelines are tied together well. Would recommend to people who love Practical Magic-y type fantasy and the idea of women having secret, subtle powers. The narrator is also excellent.

From the first huanting words of this story, told in three distinct POV, I was completely obsessed. WEYWARD follows three generations of Weyward girls and women some try to label as witches, yet they give no label to at all. I felt the love and pain of these women, each kicked down by foul men. The magic of kindness and truth and doing what's right rather than what's expected or even safe..The thread of power within each woman slowly unravells over time and twines through time itself to bring their stories together. WEYWARD is brilliantly done. It captivated me from the first and it is now one of my favorite books. I can't wait to read more from Hart. Thank you so much for letting me read this early audiobook. I love, love, loved it so much! HIGHLY recommend.

WEYWARD by Emilia Hart and narrated by Nell Barlow, Aysha Kala, & Helen Keeley was an absolutely beautiful debut.

Altha Weyward is heading to her trial as a witch in 1619 after a man was trampled to death by his cows, accusingly set to alarm by a crow.

Then we meet Kate in 2019, in an abusive relationship that has gone on too far. She is ready to flee and has a perfect place in which to retreat; her Great-Aunt Violet's Weyward Cottage which was recently left to her in her aunt's will.

We go back to 1942 to witness the 14-year-old Violet begin her brutal transformation of naive, passive daughter to the eccentric yet fearless adventurer she became, haunted by the memories of her trauma.

The women in this story are all being used by men, and all have a power deep inside to help them conquer. It is through the passing of their histories, ever trying to be silenced, that they gain strength from their foremothers to stand up and forge their paths. They are not easy paths and don't look like the fairytale ending in stories with magic, but the freedom in becoming and owning who they are meant to be is worth any monetary loss.

The journeys of each of these three women were captivating. Multiple POV'S can be tricky, but Hart masterfully pulled them all together with same amount of tension and revelation. I will admit that Violet's story was the hardest for me, both for her level of naivete as well as the trauma she endured. She also became such a linchpin who I loved. The full story of Altha was full of drama and a familiar story of women helping women at great risk. Then Kates story of harnessing the strength inside her to protect herself and her growing child was one to cheer.

I was lucky to win a Goodreads giveaway from St. Martins Press of the physical ARC, as well as the Audio from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio. This was a perfect combination as the multiple narrators gave brilliant voices to the characters and I was able to read the words with the italics and emphasis in the visual format. I have already gone back over the physical book, re-reading parts that felt full of premonition.

Definitely add to your list!

Weyward follows three women from different time periods. It was really interesting to watch their stories unfold and connect together. TW: Abuse. It was a sad and powerful read. I enjoyed it and was completely invested to see how these three stories connected by the end. I really enjoyed it.

4 stars

Weyward starts off fairly slowly, taking some time to build the story up and weave the tales of Kate, Violet, and Altha together. It took a bit before I was able to get fully invested but once I did, I wanted to hear more about the lives of these three women. For a debut, Emilia Hart does a wonderful job. Beautifully written, engaging characters, and a vivid setting. It may take a while, but if you're willing to give Weyward a chance, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audioarc in exchange for an honest review.

While this novel started off slow, the stories of Kate, Violet, and Altha are filled with drama, interwoven with love and persistent young women fighting against patriarchal abuse.

Kate and Violet's stories were the most interesting, although Altha's story is helpful to learn where the Weyward tradition began.

Each of the women are faced with decisions that force them to reconcile with their past to survive.

I like this one. I see the word atmospheric being thrown around a lot when reading other reviews about this book and let me tell you, that word suits it perfectly. The book is written beautifully and the narrator did a great job. There are scenes of domestic violence so please be aware of that. It is very cottage witch and I love that. I think others will too.

Engaging, enchanting and expertly narrated. This is a recommended purchase for collections where witchy historicals are popular.

As I said about the novel, it failed to impress me. About the audiobook, I loved the multivoiced narration because it always helps with the characters construction in the readers mind. I think that the cast was very well picked which makes the overall listening experience a very pleasant one.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the audiobook.

Its always exciting to stumble upon a debut book that expands your world. Emilia Hart's Weyward did that for me! Part historical fiction and part witch lore, Weyward makes you think and tugs at your heart.

First sentence: Ten days they'd held me there.

Audio version - I enjoyed listening to narration by Aysha Kala; Helen Keeley; Nell Barlow. They felt true to the timelines and completely held my attention.

Synopsis: Weyward follows three related women in three different timelines. In 1619, Altha is being tried as a witch and a murderess; in 1942, Violet is coming of age and dealing with a controlling father trying to prevent her from turning out "like her mother." And in 2019, Kate has just fled an abusive relationship. All three have Weyward blood coursing through their veins, and all three must use it in the best ways they can to save themselves.

Weyward is a hugely enjoyable read. Although witchcraft does indeed play a part in the story, for me, this is a tale about women who don’t fit into the pigeonhole someone else has created for them, and how, when pushed to their limits, their inner strength will come through. Weyward is set over multiple timelines and each one is as good as the next. I could pick a favourite if I tried. Each was seamlessly interwoven and helped illustrate the impact of the past on the present. I found myself rooting for each woman in each timeline.

The location and natural world that surrounds the tale is bewitching. There is a darkness to this story, the abuse and violence is handled with empathy.

Ultimately, Weyward is about gender and control – about the long echoes of male violence through the centuries. But more than that, it is a celebration of nature, female power and breaking free.

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and Emilia Hart for a tale that held me spellbound!

I loved this book! Once I started listening to it I absolutely could not put it down. I love the three different viewpoints of the different generations of Weyward women. This book had both the comfort and the magical atmosphere of an Alice Hoffman book with the historical element of Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese. Readers of both of the those authors will devour this book!

Loved this book! I felt transported to Weyward Cottage and it was the perfect escape for the start of this week. Also, what’s better than dual timelines? Tri (not sure what it is even called) timelines!