I was lucky to be approved for an advanced digital copy by NetGalley and to provide an honest review.

This wonderful book follows the intertwined stories of three Weyward women. From the beginning this book had me hooked. The characters and lives of these women and their connection to the natural world and how they overcame the oppression and prejudice was interesting and intriguing.

Please please read this book! Passing it on to another Weyward woman to enjoy!

One of the best historical fiction novels I've read; this needs to be on your 2023 TBR list. Perfect for fans of Outlander and The Mercies.

Altha, Violet, Kate. Three Weyward women in three different centuries. Each fighting against the constraining circumstances of their times and the men controlling their lives. Each linked to the other, connected to nature and a little...uncanny.

A brilliant and powerful debut novel threaded with witchcraft, female empowerment and oppression. I devoured this in a weekend and couldn't stop myself from reading the last 40% straight through. I thought about it for weeks afterwards.

Emilia Hart's writing is fantastically compelling; it really puts you into her characters' heads and all three protagonists have their own unique voice. My favourite storyline was Altha's in the 17th century as she stands on trial for witchcraft. This was written in the first person, which made it seem more immediate and riveting and really hyped up the tension. It gave me serious Outlander vibes.

I was struck by Hart's skilful weaving of storylines set in different times, the strength of the female relationships and how dangerous it was to be a "weyward" woman. I love her parting message to pass Weyward on to other weyward women. So I pass it on to all of you; you need to read this!

Weyward is Emilia Hart's debut novel and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. It releases in February 2023.

*Weyward deals with deep and difficult subjects and ethical choices. Please do check the trigger warnings.

Set over three different time periods with three strong-willed women of the Weyward family. Each one aces difficulties because their actions or the situation they find themselves in. Repressed by society, a domineering father or belittling partner each must find their true nature. The author captured a strong sense of time and tension as the stories of the women developed and each faced a crisis.

An interesting storyline and I like how the different generations are linked together. The writing was very clever and well done. I liked the witch aspect, as it was important to the storyline but not too much - so this book will be good for people who like reading about witches and magic, but also good for those who don’t. Three very strong characters all helped to create a great book.

Kate senses a connection to The Weyward Women; their echoes call at her from unexpected places. The voices sharpen when she’s treading her forebearer's footsteps. Little does she know how entrenched she is in the lives of the women who walked the world before her. She’s soon about to discover her ancestors in ways she could never have imagined.

Adored this dual-timeline dip into the Weyward world. The beating heart of this novel drums in tune with nature's beat, every page pulses and hums. Bit of a slow burn, hence the four stars, but I loved the way everything aligned as the story progressed to its satisfying end.

An enjoyable read, albeit a tad frustrating at times when the stryline was in the present. However the past was cleverly interwoven into the tale and overall this was an enjoyable read.

Wow. I don't know what I expected going into this, but this exceeded all expectations I had tentatively made. When I see a book is about witches, Iget hopeful, but more often than not I find myself disappointed with the outcome. This one looked good though, and I liked the blurb (though, as is typical of me, I gave it the most cursory glance as I prefer to go in knowing as little as possible).

I. Was. Hooked. From the beginning, I was taken in. The story effortlessly weaves the tale of three women across centuries together, offering intrigue, heartbreak, suffering, redemption, empowerment, and hope. You get invested in the tales of Altha, Violet, and Kate, and Emilia Hart writes beautifully, as the prose draws you in and flows wonderfully, truly lending more to this story.

Genuinely, I really liked this book and can highly recommend it, and will definitely keep an eye open for more of Hart's work.

4.5⭐️ and genuinely one of my fave reads of the year!

Thank you so much to HarperCollins for this eARC of Weyward, all opinions are my own.

Heartbreakingly good and thought provoking.
Straight into it, I loved the three POVs from different time periods of the Weyward women. All three characters gripped me and had me looking forward to each of their stories. The obvious link being relation but also each women’s strife with accusations of false guilt and maltreatment by cruel men. Violet especially being but a young girl really tugged at my heart strings.

I not only can empathise with each character but also relate personally to each, drawing from my own experiences when reading. Such relatability had me turning page after page.

I truly recommend this for anyone who not only enjoys the witchy side of things but who also suffered at the hands of someone they believed loved them. A truly fantastic read!

What a beautiful book. I was rotting for all of the protagonists and their various story arcs and threads.
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and infinitely readable and it is definitely a ten out ten read.
Thank you for this opportunity to read Weyward.

My gratitude to NetGalley for a free ARC of "Weyward" by Emilia Hart.
An atmospheric Historical Fiction with elemements of Magical Realism.
Three wemen, three diferent timelines, all being caught up in patriarchy that is trying to control them.
Altha is a witch that practices white healing magic and is sentenced to death because of it.
Violet is my favorite perspective from the book as I can see a strong feminist in her. Her curiosity for the misteries of nature are wonderful to watch.
Ungortunately because of Kate's POV I had to put aside the book at 24%. She wants to escape her abusive husband, but her mentality was deppresing to read. Her guilt over an accident from her childhood is repeated at almost every other sentence. I just could not continue.
This being a debut I think the author has a great chance to improve in the future.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is an ambitious story about three different women at three different times but all three need to escape their trapped lives.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion
The story of three women suffering from surprisingly similar problems is at times harrowing. Kate in 2019 is trapped in an abusive relationship and has escaped to a cottage she has inherited from her Great Aunt. Violet in 1942 whose father controls her life to an extreme degree and Altha who as a clever independent woman in 1619 is accused of witchcraft.
I loved how the three women's stories eventually connect with each other. They all learn how capable they are and the magic they possess to take back their lives from the men who seek to control them( and also take a little revenge along the way).
The fantasy and magical elements are subtle and beautifully described, so the book will appeal to both historical fiction as well as fantasy fans. This isn’t a book packed full of action and magic but the plot moves quickly and I finished it off in one sitting.
The book touches upon some difficult themes especially the impact of childhood trauma and the fact abuse comes in many forms- Violet’s father may never have harmed his children physically but the damage he inflicts on them is just as bad.
I did find Kate a little boring but her journey from victim to a strong woman was one of the best arcs in the book but Violet’s story was the one that grabbed me the most and I could have happily read a book just about her.
Content Warning
Rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse, cohesive control
Perfect for Fans of
The Leviathan

Weyward tells the story of three women: in 2019 Kate Ayres flees from her abusive boyfriend to a rundown cottage passed down to her from her late Great Aunt Violet. In 1942 young Violet Ayres feels trapped in her family home by her controlling father and rumours of what happened to her mother. While, in 1619, their ancestor Altha Weyward faces a trial of witchcraft accused of the death of a local farmer.

The three generations of Weyward women each facing their own unique difficulties and finding their strength combined to create such a captivating story, I just couldn’t put it down.

Each woman has her own unique voice and you really find yourself rooting for them all!

The tones of witchcraft and the supernatural made it a perfect autumnal read. This book is definitely a new favourite and I can’t wait to read more from Emilia Hart!

Thoroughly enjoyed this story. This is told in 3 perspectives - Altha who was tried as a witch in 1619. Violet who has an abusive father in 1942 and her great neither Kate who is fleeing from a very abusive relationship in 2019. Loved the witch vibes and the references to historical witch cases. Check TWs

I really loved Weyward. I have a proper weakness for books about strong women, and this book is all about matriarchal family lines and women who have the determination and resolve to thrive despite those opposing them. All three of the women whose stories are told in this book suffer at the hands of men (although it's worth noting that there are sympathetic men in their lives too), and all three overcome with the help of their heritage as Weyward women.

Weyward women have a resonance with nature and the land, a wise woman power that perhaps could be called witchcraft. It's rare to find an original take on witches, but this felt so new, whilst still clearly linking to tradition. The characters were very believable, and I cared about them all, although Violet was the one I sobbed over and wanted to help. I was, quite frankly, thinking of her as a real person, and I really wanted to know more about her later life - she sounds like a formidable woman!

This is a fabulous book - very readable, utterly enthralling, and a nicely rounded satisfying ending.

Loved this book . The story was interwoven by 3 women from different eras and their stories of how Altha was tried as a witch , Violet and Kate were related. Their stories come together and how they manage to get through their lives all the women are Weyward women.
Absolutely worth a read .

This book was so good! One of the best debuts I’ve read!

Before I delve in to how it made me feel the cover is absolutely stunning! It just gives me all the rich silks in oil painting vibes.

I was really hopeful for this book and it did not disappoint, it did not disappoint at all, the writing is rich, the book is well paced and takes you on such a journey.

What I loved about this book was the generational timeline, three women, three very different time periods and yet the experiences are so relatable- this is an incredible empowering novel and a hard stare at the violence men wield towards women. I am not a fan normally of past/present timeline as I find it hard to jump back and forth this does not happen Emilia Hart seamlessly takes us on this journey. I thought it was also really clever to have Weyward cottage as an anchoring point, a centre of past and present.

The first part of the book is slower but Hart very cleverly creates a tension that pulls together threads from each of these women’s stories and stitches together one heck of a tale!

There’s witchcraft and exploration of British Witch trials an area where I have such an interest, the abuse of power, family intrigue and mystery and it’s so clever how nature mirrors the women’s experience.

This is not an easy read the themes explored are heavy and could be triggering so please check your triggers.

This book is a powerhouse, can’t wait to read more from Emilia Hart!

A really gripping tale with 3 timelines, laced with witchcraft and showing how women find ways to survive and deal with controlling and cruel men. It’s fast paced with fairly short section for each woman - Althea in 17th c who is caught up in the Witch trials; Violet in early 20th c who is stifled by her father and Kate in the present day with an abusive, controlling husband. There are some unexpected twists and some heart-stopping moments and I think this book will fly high in the charts as a page-turner with wide appeal.

🏷️Thank you to Emilia Hart, Netgalley and The Borough Press for an ARC of this brilliant book in exchange for an honest review.

📙If you loved The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner or The Familiars by Stacey Halls, I bet you'll enjoy this

I love stories laced with witchcraft and simmering tension, ones where women take control of their own lives. Weyward delivers exactly those things, but in a way I've not often read in historical fiction. I never thought I'd enjoy a book with so much insect content, but I'm glad I read this book! (And a bit jealous of Hart's excellent research skills)

The way the story connects the three protagonists through time, hardship, location and the natural world is incredibly compelling. Notably, the more triggering subjects mentioned in the book are handled carefully.

Once I'd hit about 40% of the novel, I was completely hooked and didn't stop reading until I finished the author's acknowledgements!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Can't wait to see what Hart writes next!

Thankyou to Net galley and Harper Collins for an e-arc of Weyward by Emilia Hart. All opinions are my own and are based fully on the book.

This was such a fast-paced book. I absolutely adore a dual timeline and narrative! I really enjoyed all three different parts and felt the story was just so compelling. Couldn't put the book down which surprised me as i didn't think it was going to be my kind of genre- happily admit i was wrong and it in fact helped me to come out of a reading slump!

Coming in 2023: an emotional story about wild witchy women from the same family at different points in history ✨

🦋 'Weyward' by Emelia Hart tells the story of three women in the UK. Kate's story is set in present day, and starts with her escaping an abusive relationship and fleeing to live in a spooky cottage left to her in the will of a mysterious great-Aunt. Violet's story is in the 1940s, and starts with her trying to unravel what caused her mother's death. Altha's story is set in 1619, and starts with her on trial for witchcraft.

💜 The structure of this was great. I loved how the three strands of the novel constantly echoed each other - when one character encountered a certain challenge, the other two timelines would shed light on what she was going through. Fans of intergenerational novels such as 'Of Women & Salt' will really enjoy this.

✍️ Emilia Hart has an obvious talent for historical fiction and really shines when she's writing about the past. I felt so much more engaged & interested in Violet and Altha's timelines (sorry Kate!), all the little details really contributed to the sense of place. If she writes more novels I'm crossing my fingers for historical fiction!

📖 This is a novel which rewards the patient reader. I'm very impatient & found myself chomping at the bit during the first third or so - but stick with it, the pace really picks up in the final third & will have you desperate to find out how the three stories link together and what happens to these witchy women.

👇 This book is perfect for fans of:
🌿 'Hamnet' by Maggie O'Farrell (themes of childbirth and wild healing women)
🐝 The Change' by Kirsten Miller (themes of revenge & being in tune with the natural world)
🐍 'Stone Blind' by Natalie Haynes (explores fear of monstrous / misunderstood women throughout history)

📆 'Weyward' comes out 2nd Feb 2023

Thanks to @netgalley for my advance reader copy!

- Katie

Review posted to Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClRpeD-o7sT/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Short review to be posted on Twitter this Friday: @katiespencey