Weyward: A Novel

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 29,830 ratings

Price: 11.99

Last update: 07-16-2024


About this item

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF TWO GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS (Best Debut Novel & Best Historical Fiction)

An Indie Next March 2023 Pick • A LibraryReads March 2023 Pick • An Amazon "Best Books of the Year So Far" 2023 Pick

"A brave and original debut, Weyward is a spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft." ––Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The London Séance Society

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 suspects 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. When Altha was a girl, her 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 of witchcraft is laid out against Altha, she knows it will take all 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 astonishing debut, and an enthralling novel of female resilience.


From the Publisher

Weyward Emilia Hart
Weyward Emilia Hart Sarah Penner quote
Weyward Emilia Hart Sarah Addison Allen quote
Weyward Emilia Hart Publishers Weekly quote
Weyward Emilia Hart E! Online quote

Top reviews from the United States

Linda S Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2023
It's so hard for me to believe that this is a debut novel. It was so good. Excellent. Took my breath away. Very well written. Kept me turning the pages and gritting my teeth at some of the horrible things that happened. Well done Emilia Hart. Very well done.

This book is about three women. All from different eras. Altha 1619. Violet 1942. Kate 2019. These three women are such strong women even though it takes them a while to realize it. What happened to each was horrible. Altha was accused of being a witch and put on trial for murder. Violet was raped by her cousin who her father brought there for a visit and I got the feeling he wanted possibly a marriage out of it. Gross right? Kate ran from a horribly abusive marriage after finding out she is pregnant. The last thing she needs is for her husband to have a child to hold over her forever and possibly abuse.

This book is full of nature and things that will make you feel the strength of these three women. They are all Weyward women. All from a long bloodline. Possibly they are witches in a way. Or they are just gifted. . They are nature lovers also. Birds and insects respond to them in a way that is quite magical. Each has to find their way. The way to live and make peace with things that happened to them. Altha was tried as a witch. Violet was raped. Kate was abused in many horrible ways. They have to find their way to live and carry on. To raise their children to be better. To know of their heritage if you will.

There are things that happen that will make your skin crawl. Make you want to smack someone. But these women find they can handle things. With the help of a crow they find their way about. Never underestimate the crow. If you see them flying around you just might look out for what may come. They seem to be very protective of women.

While this book sheds light on some very abuse men we have to admit that not all men are cruel beasts. But when there are some out there hurting others, especially women, we might call on the insects and birds to help. You'd have to read the book to understand. I detested almost every male in this book. From the Drs to the dads in many cases. I did love Violet's brother Graham though. He was a good one. He cared. Kate had a great dad also. Only mentioned vaguely but you still know he was a great dad.

I enjoyed this book very much. From start to finish it was perfect in my opinion. I think it was beautifully written. While sad in many parts, it was also happy in many. Things could be bad but they could also be beautiful. The cover of this book fits it perfectly. It sure grabbed my attention.

I gave this one 5 big stars. It deserves that and more. I loved it.
Aleshia (Mad Scibrarian)
4.0 out of 5 stars Very beautifully written debut novel about witches that doesn't focus on magic or spell-casting.
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2023
This is a story of three women across three different time periods:

Altha, year 1619: a young village healer who is under trial for witchcraft

Violet, year 1942: a 16 year old girl growing up in the country on her father’s estate during WWII. Her father is inviting older cousin, Frederick, over during his break from the warfront

Kate, year 2019: a young woman fleeing from an abusive relationship to her great-aunt’s cottage in the countryside

The synopsis and marketing for the book is that it’s about witches. And it is, but it’s not heavy on the magic or spells. Instead it is a character study on each of these women overcoming the misogyny and abuse that they each encounter.

I thought the book was beautifully written. There are several quotes that are worthy of highlighting:

“Witch. The word slithers from the mouth like a serpent, drips from the tongue as thick and black as tar. We never thought of ourselves as witches, my mother and I. For this was a word invented by men, a word that brings power to those that speak it, not those that it describes. A word that builds gallows and pyres, turns breathing women into corpses.”
“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet.”

Each character was really distinct, and the book keeps you invested with each of their stories. The chapters alternate between each character, so when you get to the end of each chapter, you want to keep reading to find out what happens. It does a great job at building the oncoming tension that you know the characters will face.

I will say that Altha is my least favorite. Her story starts out with the trial, and the first half or so of her plot is just that. The trial is full of interviews, so it’s not the most engaging setting. Following that, her story focuses on things that happened in the past, which made it a little confusing as to the order of all the events. Also, I’m not sure if I want to critique it too much for this, as the style it is written in makes it much easier to read, but the 1600’s time setting is written with very modern dialogue. It takes you out of the setting a bit, but again, it is easier to read.

Violet is my favorite, but Kate is a strong second. They were definitely the chapters that had me keep turning the pages. Kate starts out in a pretty tense situation and it calms down before building again, while Violet is in a not-great living situation, but safe. But you can tell her narrative is going someplace dark, and you want to know how she’ll overcome it.

This is Ms. Hart’s debut novel, and it’s quite impressive. I hope she sticks with something at least vaguely fantastical tales such as this, but her writing is so lovely that I may pick up other genres, too. I recommend it if you're looking for a feminist story that connects women across history and don’t mind a little witchcraft. It is a heavy read that deals with some darker topics, so please check content warnings from some other reviewers if they are helpful to you.
A. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly magical and empowering
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
Weyward is a masterfully written novel that weaves together the lives of women from three different generations. This book will make you cry, yell, laugh… and at the end you will feel empowered and more connected to your own power, to your own special magic, than you could ever dream was possible. This may be one of the top five books ever written.
Talulah
5.0 out of 5 stars So engrossing!
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
This book was so engrossing right from the start. The author seamlessly weaved a tale that transpired over multiple characters and timelines. I was so enthralled that I finished the book in one day. Can't wait for Emilia Hart's next book. You have a devoted follower.
SH
4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2024
The writer masterfully writes the story and develops strong characters and plot lines. While I was not the biggest fan of the story itself, kudos to the writer.
Alksped
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting take on witches…
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024
This book oscillates between the lives of three women, Altha, Violet, and Kate; their connections to each other, to nature, and the culture of suspicion that surrounded women that were non-traditional healers or “witches”. It was a fascinating story, if not at times too fantastistcal for my liking, but it did have some surprising twists and kept my attention. Overall a pretty good story.
Megs
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
The cover of this book drew me in. The plot made me buy it. The well written story that included differing time lines, strong women with respect for animals and healing made me absolutely love it and recommend it to friends. I look forward to reading Emilia’s upcoming novel!

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