I unfortunately struggled with this and DNF it. I found it too dark and the change in narrators was confusing at times. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC, via NetGalley.

An atmospheric tale told from 3 generations of female protagonists, who are all related and are all witches! They are connected to animals and insects, all their familiars and this connection with nature forms an integral part of the story.

I read this on a very clichéd, dark and stormy night! It is a beautifully told, the description of nature and the animals so beautifully interwoven. You can hear the bees buzz, sense the crows nearby, smell the soil. The three leads are all very likeable, and it is easy to switch from the different eras as they each get their own chapters throughout the book.

It is by no means a whimsical tale; indeed the story explores toxic men and domestic abuse, including rape, so it may be triggering. It is not overly graphic in the violence but I felt it important to mention it is there.

I know we are rating the story, but a bonus heart from me for the cover art, which is simply stunning. (Both the UK and the US versions but I prefer the US cover myself, on this occasion)

A really enjoyable book, one I 100% recommend.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @HarperCollinsUK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review and congratulations to @emiliahwriter on a stunning debut.

Weyward is a compelling historical novel told through three timelines and three generations of women. It was exactly what I'd expected from the cover and the blurb: an easy-to-read novel exploring the well-trodden themes of witchcraft and womanhood.

There are, as you'd expect, a fair few cliches along the way, but I still found it an engaging read - the plot is well-paced and I liked the use of interwoven narratives. A welcome addition to a popular genre.

I've just emerged from the rich, sensory world of Weyward and I am satisfied.

It's a story of three women in peril - Altha, Violet and Kate. There is something about each of these women, from different times, the humming of the unused powers within them.

Emilia Hart's elegant writing pulled me into each of their worlds, with friendly spiders, stalking crows and damselflies. The magic of this book is in how quickly I accepted the peculiarities of the characters. I particularly enjoyed Violet's company as she tried to hide her curiosity about nature, which her stern father took for wildness.

Although the stories take predictable turns with reliable villains and Altha's sections didn't always have a sense of forward motion, for the most part, well-judged pacing, layered revelations and a sprinkling of magic made it feel new.

What a beautiful, beautiful book. I hope there will be more.

Three women in three different eras, bound together by the thread of family and something far stronger. I loved this book and the three distinct voices – and the descriptions of the natural world were entrancing. This really came to the fore towards the end, with a bewitching, compelling ending. A powerful book that will be a big hit in 2023.

Sadly I didn't enjoy this one as much as I was hoping to enjoy. Too one dimensional and dark. Not a sliver of hope in sight. If you want to be happy be alone---seems like a hopeless piece of advice. It is 2022, I thought we were well past the need for "woman good, man bad" stories. Not a single piece of nuance in sight.

A story that absolutely lives up to its promise; a bewitching tale that sprawls across time, with roots that run deep. Three women, from three different ages, each facing their own unique challenges, although even these have a common thread: the struggle that women so often face when men feel threatened by their power and independence.
Thankfully not all the men in this story are lost causes, although the good ones are rare.
This is a beautiful story of women whose lives are closely entwined with nature and the strength they draw from that.
Delightful, gentle and fierce.
Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins U.K. for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Intriguing read. Really enjoyed it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

This book centres around the lives of three women Altha, Violet and Kate, who are bound together by ancestory and 'witchcraft'

The story tells the three womens point of view, their affinity to nature and the torment and struggles they overcome; caused by the men in their lives.

This book made me feel empowered to be a woman and that its OK to be different and embrace one's true self.

I was extremely impressed with how the author portrayed 'witchcraft' in its truest form; spellbinding, powerful, majestic, and at peace with the natural world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this ARC.

This is the intertwining story of three women, Altha, Violet and Kate. The plot is set over three timelines, following the lives of each of the main characters and the bond that unites them. What is the real secret of the Weyward women?

This was a a real treat to read. Full of atmosphere and intrigue, the writing superb. The bringing together of each strand in the story was very well done. I enjoyed how the story of each character unfurled and evolved and how they coped with the events that led them to take extreme measures to survive.

If I have one gripe, it is that the Kate storyline was very predictable and something of a cliché. However, there is a nice little twist in the epilogue that goes some way to redeem this.

A very enjoyable read, would definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley.

This book was amazing, with me not wanting to put it down. I loved every character ( the main ones) and there was points in each of their lives that I didn’t want to know how bad it was going to get because I felt so deeply with them I wanted everything to be easy. There are things in this book I could easily relate to and the feelings were spot on that they felt. I loved the connections when they came through.
The pace and depth of each character was just right and it was a great enjoyable read with witchiness spanning the three different ages. Perfect!

This is a story of three women of the Weyward family and the narrative weaves its intricate way over three timelines. It is a beautifully written debut novel, a tale of women's innate power and men's destructive deceit. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Things I liked about it:
This story is told on 3 timelines which kept it interesting, plus I enjoyed each narrators voice.
I loved the focus on nature and how it can be healing.
The focus on empowerment was also brilliant.

Things I didn't like:
Things could get confusing at times! It could be complicated to figure out how everyone was related and if I fell asleep halfway through a chapter(this happens frequently!) it was tricky to work out who's story I was reading.

'Weyward' didn't always have me gripped but it kept me going back.

Wayward by Emilia Hart is a unique spin on the whole witchy genre and its the perfect book for a rainy day with a cup of tea. It follows 3 generations of women who are witches and I found myself rooting for all 3 women as we learn about these women and disliking some of the male characters in their lives. The characters and the world is fascinating and the writing style is so engaging. This book is out in Feb and I highly recommend.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

Thank you Netgallery and Harper Collins UK for an arc for an unbiased review.

This book is about 3 separate Weyward women. Kate, in 2019, finally leaves her abusive boyfriend. To leave she needs somewhere he doesn't know, and that is where Weyward Cottage comes in. It is a recent inheritance from her Great Aunt, and here she unearths secrets about previous generations of Weyward women. In the process, she discovers more about herself.

The other Weyward women we meet are Altha in 1619, who was, as many were during this time, tried for witchcraft. Then in 1942, we meet Violet, who in in the midst of WW2 and all that entails.

This whole book was raw, emotional. The time hops through the story work extremely well. The connections are believable. We see compassion, survival, heartache. We see unfairness, misogyny, anger.
What I found the most striking was just how the stories of how these women have gifts that linked them. It was done in a realistic manner, that allowed us to explore beyond the norms, and the book felt all the more complete for me as a result.

A book I have pre-ordered, and will gift readily. In fact I have 2 extra pre-orders for others I know will love it. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. I sincerely hope we see many more novels from Emilia Hart.

I have no hesitation giving this 5/5 stars ✨️

Three women, three time periods, and always the same old shit of male coercion and violence.

This book affected me strongly. It made me sad and fuelled my rage. It made me want to incite my friends to form a coven. It reminded me how passionate I used to feel about women's rights when I was a teenager in the 70s, and how defeated I feel now as I watch the world and see how little things have really, fundamentally improved.

Have you seen the data on domestic violence during the pandemic? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

Weyward is a totally absorbing, immersive story about so-called "wayward" women. AKA women who resist and fight back. It's so important, especially today, for women everywhere to be aware of their vulnerability (we've seen that it doesn't take much for womens' hard-earned rights to be overturned) and their strength (as I write, Iranian women are battling to survive and regain their lost rights...)

So yeah, in short, girl power. Come on women, rise up! Be wild!

Three generations of wayward Weyward women - and their survival despite the men individually and the patriarchy generally that impacted upon them and their lives.
Really engaging - and frustrating - but ultimately powerful and hopeful

Few things strike fear into the hearts of men quite like a woman with power. And when men are afraid women will suffer.

It’s 2019 and Kate runs from London to escape an ugly and cruel relationship. As luck would have it her great Aunt Violet left her a cottage in her will. And with nobody knowing this but her it becomes the perfect place to hide, heal and hopefully find a way to start anew.
Here in Weyward Cottage she finds more than she ever could have imagined, with a light being shone on a family history that starts all the way back in 1619. With a young woman put on trial for witchcraft…

This book is one story built from three and it does so with an effortless grace. Each one is a blend of hard edges formed by brutally realistic themes, which harmonise with the soft and warm heart of the fantastical. When I learned that this was Emilia Hart’s debut I was, and still am, astounded. Each story was gripping and magical, heartbreaking and empowering. At times it was a difficult read due to the emotion connection formed with the characters but that just propelled me further. It also led to two nights where I barely slept being unable to put the book down, so thanks for that Emilia. All three women and their tales are woven together perfectly to form a full tale which will give 2023 a strong start that will be difficult to top.

This is a beautifully written story revolving around three generations of Weyward women over the ages. The story bounces between three main characters, Altha in 1619, being tried for witchcraft, accused of killing a local man. She is feared by the villagers for her ability to connect with nature and animals, and for her ability to soothe and heal. But when that ability fails and someone dies, they quickly turn on her.

Violet is struggling in 1942 war torn England, living in a remote manor house. She despairs of social norms, and of becoming a proper lady, preferring instead to explore the manor’s grounds, finding and befriending insects and climbing trees. The constraints of growing up, becoming a lady, and the expectations of her father are too much. Then something happens that she doesn’t quite understand, but will change the direction of her life forever.

Meanwhile Kate, in 2019, has finally worked up the courage to flee from London and her controlling and abusive boyfriend. She runs to Weyward Cottage, a recent discovery, inherited from her great-aunt, and somewhere her partner knows nothing about. While there she starts to unearth secrets about the past, about the generations of Weyward women, and about herself in the process.

This book really brings you into the lives of the three women, and makes you feel like a part of the story, and feel the connections building. The time shifts, which can be hard to manage, work really well in this case, serving to really draw you into the lives of the women. The stories told work to bring you on a journey of the suffering women have endured through the ages, for being different, for having special talents, or for simply not fitting in. It is a story of love and endurance, of survival, and of compassion. In the end the power of women endures and prevails. A beautiful read, I devoured it in one sitting. I am glad I stepped outside of my normal boundaries and picked this one up.

*I received a copy of this from NetGalley for review but all opinions are my own.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I absolutely loved this book, it grabbed me from the first page.

The book centers on 3 generations of Weyward women spanning many centuries.

Altha is on trial for being a witch in 1619 after a man was killed by his cows stampeding.

Violet is living in a great house with her Father and her younger brother in 1942. Her mother died whilst giving birth to her mother, or that's what she thought. She is not very lady-like, loving insects, birds and climbing trees must to her father's disgust.

Kate is running away from her abusive boyfriend. Her great aunt Violet has left her a cottage and he doesn't know about and this is where she flees to, with a secret of her own.

These 3 women have gifts that link them all. The story moves between all three women as the linking story starts to connect them.

I would recommend this book, it really draws you in, straight away and it's hard to put down. (Hence why I read in 2 days and the TV didn't go on).