Three women, three very different eras, one secret in common that could either free them or destroy them.

Altha, 1619, locked away in a stinking rotten cell in Lancaster awaiting trial. A trial that will decide on her fate, if she lives or dies.

Violet, 1942, locked in her own home by her father, with a war raging in the world and wanting nothing more than to learn about the things around her. Can the arrival of Frederick be the thing that breaks her out?

Kate, 2019, locked in a life she hates with a man she despises, desperate to get away and start a new life. Will what her great aunt bequeathed her be Kates saving grace?

Reading this has been quite a journey.

The book follows the three women, generations apart as the each try to escape their problems before it’s too late. There are parts about witch trials I’ve read before in other books so it was good to hear another take on it. The book flicks between the women’s stories and looks at the many differences but also the similarities throughout the years. There are some big topics covered including suicide, rape and baby loss.

I’ve really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.

I was hooked right from the start. I read so many positive reviews prior and needles to say that they got my interest itching with the excitement to read this book.
An absolutely fascinating book, holding three stories across different timeliness of three women from Weyward family tree.
Three timeliness slowly unravelling in each chapter and colliding all together at once.
Thrilling mystery book that holds a strong message of: embracing that divine feminine energy, stanfing up to bullying and sexual assault - these are such powerful and inspiring messages from the book.
If this speaks to you, you should pick this read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I sincerely enjoyed it.

have read quite a few novels this year with historical British Witchcraft as their subject and would say this is one of the best that I’ve read .The author uses the stories of different women throughout history who are all from the Weyward family even if they initially are unaware of their special abilities and family background .As the book progresses we see the women come to terms with their abilities and are shown subtlety how they have all had similar experiences in life despite their different eras in which they live. Initial section about spousal abuse nearly made me out the book down as it was quite triggering I was glad I continued however as in context the abuse was significant .It was telling that in all times Living without a man marked the women as witches
I found the link with Insects creepy in particular the Old dude in decaying stately home surrounded by dead insects .
The author has a clear flowing easily read prose style I enjoyed reading the book and didn’t want to put it down
I enjoyed the character development of all the women who were narrators of the story
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published in the Uk 2nd February 2023 by Harper Collins Uk ,Harper Fiction .This review will be published in Goodreads and my blog Bionic Sarah’s Books

An evocative, character-driven exploration of three women and their connection to nature and each other. Like many others I was surprised this was a debut; Emilia Hart writes with a confidence and fluidity that many experienced authors lack. Altha, Violet and Kate are distinct and well-drawn, and their stories are beautifully interlinked across the centuries. Each timeline gripped me in ways I wasn't expecting. Poignant and beautiful, WEYWARD is no doubt the first step in what will be a long and illustrious career for Emilia Hart.

This book follows 3 women over 5 centuries and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed reading about the lives of Altha, Violet and Kate and now they all linked to each other. The book explores witchcraft and the witch trials, family secrets and how people fear what they don’t understand, which makes for a really good read!
Trigger warning: rape, domestic violence, baby loss

Unfortunately I had to stop reading this around 20%. This is personal opinion as some of the themes were quite triggering around abuse, domestic violence and coercion for myself. Its a shame, I enjoyed the layout and pace of the book for the portion I read, so would recommend to those who are okay to read these particular TWs.

Altha, Violet, and Kate are all survivors of violent and abusive men. Kate has run away from London escaping her abusive husband., Violet is treated as a second class citizen by her controlling Father, and Altha is ostracized by her community for her knowledge of the healing powers of nature. The Women are separated by centuries, and connected by nature and witchcraft; 'Women are the most feared, the most problematic, and, potentially, the most transforming force on the planet'.
A beautifully crafted tale about power and abuse, and how we are all connected by nature

Initially, the cover of this book did not interest me however the description was something that instantly grabbed my attention - three women? In different time periods? One suspected of witchcraft? All interconnected somehow? I was sold instantly.

The world-building is very small but it has meaning, every small detail is meaningful to the story progression and that's what makes it even more immersive and whimsical. It was beautiful to read and, despite the descriptions throughout the book, it was easy to read as well. I adored the area it was set in and did, in fact, look on the internet to see whether any of the places were real or were the cause of the inspiration because I wished to visit them. It was magical.

The main three characters were all interesting and I found it easy to connect with them, empathise with them, and be pulled into their individual storyline alongside the main storyline. They were all well fleshed out and developed, in my opinion, and each held flaws rather than being perfect which made the story even more engaging. I enjoyed how full circle the plotline went, also.

Following on from that the supporting characters were all also very interesting and I would have liked to have known more about where they came from, what happened to them, etc. I always find that this leads to a good plotline and something I thoroughly enjoy so it was a pleasure to discover whilst reading.

I really recommend this book to others as it shows incredible insight into how prejudiced a small village can be towards women and the generations that come before them however it also showed how times had changed for the better whilst also exploring some other harder topics including finding the strength within yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this title.

My thanks to the Author and publisher's for advanced readers copy paperback of this book to read and honestly review.
An excellent debut absorbing atmospheric clever descriptive totally engaging from first to last page. Told in alternate chapters across three timelines the intelligent tale of three Wayward women. A beautifully written character driven story at times dramatic and tense, sometimes funny others mysterious poignant and sad but always interesting. As a sixty five years old grumpy Yorkshireman I doubt I am the target audience for this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and completely recommended it.

Multiple timelines featuring 3 women born into the Weyward family. First Daughters of first daughters, powers have been passed through generation to generation. But some of this at a time when strong independent women were tried as Witches.
I loved how this novel moved timelessly telling the story of Altha, Violet and Kate, all battling against injustice and mistreatment by the men in their lives. A story of women's empowerment and strength with a touch of nature between the pages. But so much more too, a fascinating book that will stay with me. One to read again and again

I adored this and read it one day. I loved the triple narrative and found the storytelling and revealing of various secrets riveting.

Truthfully, I found myself much more drawn to Altha and Violet than to Kate - something about their stories felt fuller somehow.

Overall, just brilliant.

I really liked the sound of this book, which is set in Cumbria and about three women from the same family, Altha, a young woman accused of witchcraft in the 17th century, Violet, living in isolation with her abusive father in the 1940s, and modern day unhappy Kate who doesn't know anything about how special the women are in her paternal family.

I thought it was a really good idea which was well executed. I was very keen to find out what happened to each of the women, and it is certainly a page turner. The different voices and eras made it easy to follow the three individual stories, and I liked all three, which is unusual (I usually have a favourite when a book has multiple timelines.) .

I loved the idea of the three women helping and supporting each other through time. Each of the three main characters was engaging, likeable and believable in their own way. The book certainly makes you think about male power and violence, and it does this really well.

The setting was beautifully described and the power of nature was another compelling part of the book. I had no trouble immersing myself in the well described environment. I have never liked crows, but I think that now I will have a new found respect for them.

I would definitely recommend this book. It would be good for a book club discussion and would appeal to readers old and young. I am really glad I read it.

Well this book was my surprise read of the year so far!! I was intrigued but also wary going into this thinking it would feature a fair amount of magical fantasy. Wrong!! This is definitely more of a thriller featuring three women who, despite living in completely different eras, face similar challenges and somehow manage to help one another break free from the oppressive men in their lives. Each character is so well crafted that as I got to know them I became thoroughly invested in their well-being. This book has hope, freedom and revenge. And I loved it!!!

Enjoyed this A real page turner to read in front of the fire of an Autumn evening. There are times we all need to be a bit more Weyward.

Weyward is a great story covering three women from different eras. A powerful and gripping read which I would definitely recommend.

Weyward was a perfectly enjoyable historical fiction centred around the interconnected stories of three women of the Weyward family, Altha, Violet and Kate, highlighting the inequalities faced by women across four centuries, from 1619 until present day.

There were similarities in each of the characters stories which made for interesting connections across the ages, rather than what could have been fairly heavy repetition. I really enjoyed how the relationship between entomology and witchcraft was portrayed and would recommend this to anyone who loves witchy historical fiction.

What a story! So powerful and atmospheric and a gripping read. Set in 1618, 1942 and current day it tells the story of three women - Altha, Violet and Kate. It needs a biyt of a tidy up before publicaiton but it's excellent. Just one point that niggled - women in 1942 didn't wear tights, they weren't available n UK until the late 1950s. A bt later they become stockings. I hope that gets sorted out before it goes live. With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a e-ARC of this book to read and review.

The novel takes its title from Shakespeare’s original description of the witches in Macbeth as “Weyward Sisters”.
’The Weyward Sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go, about, about,
Thrice to thine, thrice to mine,
And thrice again to make up nine.
Peace, the charm’s wound up.’
MACBETH

The story is told by three women from different eras, living very different lives yet sharing a common bond:
- 1600s: Althea. A “wise woman” who was tried for witchcraft
- 1940s: Violet, born into an aristocratic family, is a “strange child” with a desire to pursue her love of insects and resents being pushed into a traditionally female role. Her life changes forever when cousin Frederick comes to visit
- 2019: Kate is escaping her abusive partner by fleeing to the cottage she inherited from her great-aunt.

From such different backgrounds, and living in such different times, these three Weyward women have much in common. All have a deep connection to nature. All have reasons to reject patriarchy, with the actions of men changing the women forever. The way the author is able to weave three stories together is clever and the book switched between the different women’s stories seamlessly.

The writing is evocative, descriptive and draws you deeply into the world that surrounds Crow’s Beck. The ancient, the past & the present are all given due consideration and there is suitable inclusion of detail about daily life in all eras along with a natural world magic that is not forced or invented, just there to be found if you stop & listen. I like the imagery of the crows, a bird long associated with witchcraft or magic, such as in ancient Greece, where the crow was a symbol of Apollo, the god of prophecy.

(If you have some understanding of the “evidence” that was sought during witchcraft trials in the middle ages, such as “familiars” and “witches marks”, you will gain an understanding on a deeper level, though it is not a requirement for understanding the story )


Recommendations

If you are expecting witches of the pointy-hat & broomstick variety, this book is not for you. If you have an awareness/interest in the wise-women or herbalists of past times who were often designated as 'witches’ (a word “invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not to those it describes”) I would highly recommend this book.

Weyward will work its magic long after the final page has been turned.

One of my favourite books of this year 🙌🙌

I have truly loved following the tales of all the Weyward Women. They are truly inspirational characters and this is a brilliant read.
Will be recommending to so many women!

A great book. It did take me a little while to get into it, but then I was hooked. Thank you for letting me read it.