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.

A well written absorbing story covering the lives of three 'Weyward' women who all share special magical gifts connected to nature. The story blends seamlessly between the three, leaving the reader bereft to leave their lives. Predictable in places, especially the ending but this does not detract from this very enjoyable read. Perfect for fans of historical dual timeline fiction (or triple timelines as in this case) who like a bit of witchcraft and family saga woven in.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance review e copy.

Weyward is a stunning debut novel about gender and control – about the long echoes of male violence through the centuries. But more than that, it is a celebration of nature, female power and breaking free. Wow what a rollercoaster of a ride… Instantly hooked… I literally couldn't put it down…

I loved this book so much! I became so invested in the lives of these women, I didn’t want it to end. Hart manages to move deftly between the different time periods and make you feel fully immersed in each story. The nature writing was beautiful and I loved the balance struck between the ethereal and real life. 1000 stars from me! 🌟

From start to finish I was immediately invested in the lives of our three protagonists. We follow Altha, a "wise woman" on trial for witchcraft in the 1600s; Violet, desperate to pursue her dreams and study science in the 1940s; and Kate, escaping from an abusive relationship in the modern day. What these three generations have in common is bound by a magical secret.

Hart expertly drives the novel forward with a powerful narrative from all three women. There are impactful scenes of humiliation and cruelty carried out by the men around them with a spotlight on gender issues and male violence.

We see these women grow from enduring their torments to learning of and harnessing their inner "power". The strength of female relationships dominates in the pages and it's a delight to see our protagonists blossom from this. By the end you feel like everyone can be a Weyward Woman if they put their mind to it.

Thank you so much to @harperfiction @boroughpress @emiliahwriter @netgalley for the chance to read this incredibly powerful novel!

Magical! Beautifully written and page-turning. I would like to have read more of Altha’s story and the plot is fairly predictable, but compelling all the same.

HOLY HELL THIS BOOK WAS GOOD. It was well written with a compelling and powerful storyline and well developed characters - some of which I loved. This was both a spotlight on male violence in history and the differences in gender as well as an exploration on femininity, the power of women and nature.
It was full of vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I loved it.