I was offered this novel as an ARC via NetGalley. It is an interesting novel, written from the perspective of three generations of women. It is unusual in that Altha's sections are written in first person and the other two in third. The characters are complex and engaging but the reader should probably be aware that there is a strong theme of domestic violence running through the whole novel.

What a superb book. Well written, engaging the reader from the start. Author wise, it is a Barbara Erskin meets Stacey Halls amalgamation. Set in 1600’s. 1930’s and current day offering a wide scope for mindsets and attitudes towards women.

This is the first book I have read from this author and won’t be the last!

Three women, three timelines and their stories interwoven revealing a thread of abuse, feminism, nature, witchcraft and ultimately power. I felt connected to each of them in equal measure and that is a testament to the quality of the writing and depth of character achieved. Hart maintains a deftness and pace that ensures it is a page turner while creating three distinct worlds and voices that seamlessly move together yet separately. It is all at once magical, realistic, thought provoking and ultimately empowering. Hard to believe its a debut!

Kate flees London and her abusive partner by moving into a cottage willed to her by a great-aunt. It's here that she frees herself from the life she fell into and recreates her own. She is helped along by the two other protagonists, her Aunt Violet and her ancestor, Altha, from the 17th century. Each of them has a story but there are parallels in their lives and it's through understanding her ancestors that Kate is able to be true to herself for the first time in years.

Much of the book is about women who have been ostracised, either by society or by individuals. Altha is thought to be a witch because she is good with herbs. Violet is the daughter of another who was not accepted and grows up an outsider despite having been confined to her home all her life. Kate has allowed her partner to coerce and control her to such a degree that she must break away from him and the life he has created for her.

Within these stories, there's a bit of magic that moves things along, sometimes to great advantage. It's all a matter of discovering one's abilities and making the best of use of them. Each of the three women develops within her own story and it's interesting to see where each is led by what she learns. I mostly liked this book but I do ponder the generations between Altha and Violet due to the huge gap. I realise it's impossible to cover all of them but they seem to be quite hidden away from the history of these women. Still, it's quite a joy to read about each of them and see how they make something of themselves.

Overall, I give this four stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for giving me an advanced reader copy with no obligation. I have provide this review voluntarily.

I loved this multi layer story spanning four hundred years, telling the story of 3 women in different generations in the same family and how they used their own innate powers to survive and enact revenge on the men that hurt them and others.

A very powerful, moving read, with the most beautiful, lyrical description of nature and buildings.

Loved this one!

I saw a lot of talk about this book on social media before I requested it and DO believe the hype!

A beautifully tense story full of twists and turns. The atmosphere and prose were absolutely addictive! Believe me when I say that I sought out every opportunity to read this book, even on the loo!

The main character Kate, is so well developed and I enjoyed following her thoughts as she tries to escape an abusive relationship.

A very satisfactory ended too. Highly recommend.

This is an absorbing blend of historical fiction and women’s fiction. It is about three related women separated by decades or even centuries and their individual battles to escape the shackles of their gender and find their strength. Kate is the modern-day character who leaves her abusive partner and hides out in a house inherited from her great-aunt. Violet is the great-aunt who longed to be a scientist but was pushed into a more traditional woman’s role. Their ancestor, Altha, was a naturalist and tried for witchcraft in the 17th century. All three women’s stories are told in alternating chapters and highlight their similarities, both in their connection to the natural world and in the abuse suffered at the hands of men and their struggles to empower themselves.

Witchcraft through 3 different centuries told by 3 different women, this is intriguing, enchanting and compulsive reading. I hope this novel inspires more writers to pen in this style the composition reads well. I really liked it a lot.

Beautifully written, engaging and evocative, this was a joy to read. I raced through it and was utterly absorbed by the characters and the interwoven narrative threads.

A beautifully tense story full of twists and turns. The atmosphere was absolutely addictive, and tense throughout and I especially liked the intensity of Kate's character and her thoughts as she tries to escape an abusive relationship. The threads of the story came together very nicely Would highly recommend.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE READS OF THE YEAR. This has to be one of the best debut novels I've ever read. It has something for everyone. I love the multiple POV's and timelines, generational trauma, relationships (familial, plantonic and romantic), and the magical elements of the story. The depictions of nature and the Weyward cottage in particular are so beautiful.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this story weave together; you can definitely tell that the plot was so well thought out before reading.

I am looking forward to getting my hands on a physical copy of this book in 2023 and cannot wait to read more from Hart.

Thanks: Received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Saga about Weyward women, weird, wise, healing women, women who were declared as witches in our past.

The story starts at 17. Century with Altha, who is accused as a murderer and a witch, continues with Violet, an entomologist, and Kate, the modern woman of today, yet abused by her husband, who escapes from him to Cumbria, where she inherited a little cottage from her great aunt Violet.

Can Kate finds herself again, connects with her ancestors, and reveal all the secrets that suffocate her family for so long?

It is a story about emancipation, empowerment, and raising women's awareness. It also describes the violence of men against women and ignorance of times that didn't respect the healing power of nature and balance of duality in the world.

Beautifully written, the novel is poetic and an ode to nature and love.

Thank you to Net Galley for giving me early access to review this book. I truly am at a bit of a loss for words on how much this book affected me. Although a fantasy work of fiction this has to be one of the most female empowering books I have ever read. 3 generations of women linked by their power and history's many different ways of exploiting it. Thank you Emilia Hart for creating such amazing characters that I can't imagine any women couldn't relate too. I could not put the book down and the fact that it is a debut novel is outstanding. I look forward to hopefully reading many more books from this author. Cannot recommend enough.
I aspire to forever be a Weyward woman

This book flits backwards and forwards between generations, which can sometimes be confusing, but in this case it works. A spell-binding tale of three generations of women who despite living in very different times have similar stories. I like how the discovery of their heritage and their 'gift' unfolds. Well-written debut novel and I love what is written on the last page. It would make a good gift for a female friend!

An immersive character driven read following three women and their challenges, finding hope in each other, nature and in their heritage. These women swim against the tide, rebelling against conformity. A stunningly beautiful read.

An interesting premise letdown by a cliched plot and an on the nose symbolism that rams in its metaphors rather just telling a good story.
First of all let me clarify by explaining that this book is NOT a thriller, it’s more of a blend of historical fiction and women’s fiction.
The story is told from three female POVs who are ancestors:
- Kate is the modern day narrator who is escaping her abusive partner by hiding in her great-aunt’s house. It’s there she finds clues about her past and the wayward women.
- 1925. Violet (also Kate’s great-aunt) who wants to study but is pressurised by her dad into being the docile woman and her life changes when her cousin Frederick arrives and grooms her.
- 1600s. Althea. Another weyward ancestor who was tried for witchcraft.
Althea’s story was the most suspenseful one, however the reveals were tedious and again the metaphor of a “free” woman as a wild woman was on the nose. The story tries hard to be a feminist story but then the plot is all about pregnancy 🤰 a recurring storyline in all three arcs cause. I mean if women are more than their bodies then please give them a narrative where they can show that and are more than pregnancy 🤰 plot-lines. Cause nothing more exciting happens in our lives (!) It also doesn’t help that writing is dry and bland. Not much suspense and the thread between the women is weak. I mean Kate finding out her ancestors were called Weyward and gasping finding a W on Violet’s grave. Oh. My. God. A W. And look. A W necklace. 🙄. I just couldn’t care less.

This was really good. I think the author really got the characters right. It was an interesting read.

A story of three women, following their own personal battles and the realisation of their strength. I was hooked from the beginning, beautifully written and incredibly emotive. I loved the different take on witches and magic which I found refreshing. Each woman's story tragic in their own way, and yet empowering and enjoyable to read.

An interesting tale, of three women, and the actions (usually by men) that shaped them.
I enjoyed the different timelines, and the mentions of witchcraft.
I felt just the right amount of time was spent with each character, so you got a proper feel for them, and how strong they actually were .
A very good debut, that makes Hart one to keep an eye on.

Well, that was an absorbing read. Told in the voices of three women each during different times, not getting to know each other or about each other until later, everything seems to fall into place. The story starts slowly and builds up while jumping in time and weaving through one long-lasting family history.
It's a story about the women in different times, in similar situations, and their path to finding power and strength in themselves, and their lives, Being different, honest and true to oneself is something that always has been difficult for a lot of women. Nowadays, it is becoming a bit easier to be yourself and it is also easy to take it for granted. This book is a reminder, to look for connection with the history, and find strength in other family women and like-minded folk outside the family.
Great use of symbols, twists of history, easy flow of language - hence reads fast and well.
The book touches on the very sensitive topic of pregnancy/abortion and rape, which is very interesting to read from different time(s) perspectives. I may not necessarily agree with it all but all the heroines' thoughts were written logically and believably - and I do respect that.