Absolutely LOVED this book! I did not want it to end. The three women’s stories were incredible, how they were so different yet with so many similarities. This is definitely a book I will want to read again and again.

I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down, a sure sign of a good story. I loved the division of the narrative between the lives of the three women, and particularly enjoyed the witchcraft aspects of this as I’ve been fascinated by the subject of witch trials for a while. All in all a really unique read and well worth a recommendation.

Weyward, Emilia Hart.

Three women. Five centuries. Incredible power.
Kate is fleeing her abusive boyfriend, Altha is on trial for witchcraft. Violet wants to live free and wild until something changes her life completely.

These three strong, non-conforming women with boundless power and courage are reminiscent of Naomi Alderman’s The Power, of any Atwood heroine, of the Owens sisters of Alice Hoffman.
As each woman works through her own story and struggles the inevitable and endless expectation of women is a line drawn in the sand and then crossed. These Weyward women are not prepared to surrender to their patriarchal destinies and instead their captivating passion and power offer them another way.
I really loved this.
Huge thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for the AC.

This novel although based on witches, violence and loss is a delicate delight of a read.
Three women across the centuries - Altha, Violet and Kate are Weyward women - by name and also that this word meant witches (it's past inclusion in the First Folio of Macbeth by Shakespeare had passed me by....
Sometimes novels in which time changes can be challenging the beginning took a little while to settle - more so in Kate's story and bringing her to Cumbria but the setting of Altha in 1619 and Violet during WWII were clear, pertinent to women's place across society in different generations and set the basis for Kate's discoveries and evolving safety.
The references to literature and poetry added a nice dimension to the text and the descriptions of nature - be they the mayflies, the trees and of course our friends the crows were beautifully written and evoked the scene at Weyward Cottage for each of its inhabitents.
I was glad Violet's brother Graham got a good role as it did seem we were never to find a decent man in the tale and his sibling care for Violet in horrendous conditions was an emotional highpoint for me in the story.
The trials of women as witches has been a theme of three books I have now read so far this year. It seems witchcraft is having a literary renaissance. This novel is to be highly recommended for the characters and the stunning manner in which the village of Crows Beck settles so well in our imagination.

Wow, this was good, so good that I thought about it for days afterwards. I read it through in two sitting (stopping to eat seemed like a good idea). It is such a compelling storyline and I enjoyed each of the three main characters. Definately on my best books of the year list.

I absolutely loved Weyward by Emilia Hart. Told in three different timelines, it follows the story of three generations of women, each of them facing challenges in their own times. The historical detail was phenomenally good, and the story whipped along at a real pace. I was equally invested in each timeline. Hugely recommend this if you enjoy reading about witches, nature, and the power of female endurance.

Loved reading about the 3 woman from different generations. Really enjoyed the characters, the vivid imagery that the author creates and that the 3 woman's storylines interweaved seamlessly.

Went on a real journey with this one. In parts I was really intrigued with the story and I thought it was spread really well between the three narrators. I liked Altha and Violets stories but felt a bit meh when it got to Kate. The ending was great and was not something I was expecting and I felt it tied it up really well.

In 2019, Kate escapes an abusive relationship and runs to an old cottage inherited from her Great Aunt Violet. In 1942, Violet is more interested in becoming an entomologist than in becoming a proper young lady. In 1619, Altha is on trial for witchcraft. All three come from the same line of Weyward women, living in different centuries but bound by their connection to the natural world, and their parallel battles against the patriarchy.

I found Weyward to be quite a slow-burn novel. The chapters alternate between the three women, which made their character and story development feel a bit stilted, but they do come together quite neatly later in the book. I found Kate’s story less interesting than the other two, but it worked well as a bridge to the modern day.

Overall, I don’t really have much to say about it. It’s a good book, but not particularly memorable.

In the course of this beautiful, emotive debut novel, we follow three generations of women as they struggle against the binds of the patriarchy.

Down the centuries, the Weyward women of Crows Beck in Cumbria have shared a gift: the ability to connect deeply with and seemingly communicate with nature at all levels. They are at one with mother nature, but this gift could also be considered a curse considering its implications on their lives.

These women are also victimised and controlled by men in various ways. In 1619, healer Altha is put on trial for witchcraft after having been seen near a field where a farmer is trampled by his cows and because she and her mother are suspected of being witches for their role in helping treat people in the village of varying ailments, plus they dare to live without a man.

Moving on to the early 1940s and Violet Ayres doesn't want to submit to the heavy-handed scrutiny and control of her father, so she struggles to learn more about her mother, Elizabeth Weyward, who died under mysterious circumstances when Violet was young.

In the present day, Kate Ayres has fled her abusive boyfriend before he can discover that she’s pregnant, taking refuge in her great-aunt Violet’s cottage as she attempts to rebuild her life and protect herself and her baby.

The story of these three strong women is told in an interweaving tale rather than a chronological order. This works well in getting the reader more invested in each character and their interconnectedness.

Weyward is a gripping novel. The twists of the story are not all that surprising, but that doesn't detract from the excellent character development. It is nonetheless an engaging novel that captures the ways patriarchy has sought to limit women for all of history and the ways women have found to carve out freedom for themselves. But, of course, not all men are wicked and to be feared; thankfully, here we met some kind hearted souls, too, like Graham and the butcher's son.

Though rather harrowing to read at times, this novel is a unique and spectacular blend of historical fiction, magical realism modern feminism. A delight to immerse yourself in 4.5⭐

Thank you Publisher and Netgalley for this dvanced copy.

Weyward was such a unique book. Of course in a good way. Emilia Hart proses were so beautiful. The pacing was a bit slow but still enjoyable.

3.5⭐️ A powerful and emotional feminist tale that explores what it means to be a Woman, and a Witch, through three different women from three different centuries.

This was a very intriguing and interesting read that compelled you to unpick the events that each of the three protagonists faced. I liked that it invoked the Maiden, Mother, Crone symbolism and there were some brilliant quotes, my favourite (that I'm obsessed with) being:

'We never thought of ourselves as witches, my mother and I. For this was a word invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not those it describes. A word that builds gallows and pyres, turns breathing women into corpses.'

I enjoyed the three different women, their situations mirroring or running parallell to eachother despite the centuries between them. It did feel at times like the interactions and language used in the courtroom in the 1600s sometimes felt a little bit out of place or modern and pulled me out of the narrative by making me question the validity of this. There was also occasionally the use of colloquialisms such as 'Nowt' but these weren't used consistantly by that character and just seemed quite sporadic although this is more of a niggle to my northern brain!

What I would also say about Weyward is that it is a very emotional and thought provoking book that covers many difficult topics including Abuse, Abortion and Rape. It left me feeling raw, a sign that the author did a great job, however, I wasn't prepared for the narrativeto be as intense as it was and I feel like this could potentially benefit from a trigger warning at the start.

This was a solid read and I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those relating to witchcraft and women. This was one of the better books of this genre that i've read and is perfect for fans of The Lost Apothecary, A Witch in Time and Cunning Women.

Weyward does a great job of telling three separate yet connected stories of women suffering abuse at the hands of men. Each of the women feels distinct, and the stories echo each other without ever feeling like retreads. Because the stories themselves have a clear and focused narrative, it can feel like they are stretched just a little beyond what is needed, particularly as a lot of what is shown was already implied (the epilogue feels especially like an unnecessary, if sweet, add-on), but the emotional impact is retained. The big drawback to this kind of story is its lack of intersectionality: it makes a lot of sense that this text purely focuses on gender (and in particular aspects of biological sex) to really emphasise its point, but it nevertheless makes the book feel a little outdated for so recent a release. As a story of specifically white, able-bodied, and (mostly) straight women, it does a good job, but readers might find themselves wanting a bit more.

This is a story about 3 women, all from the same family, but each from a different generation.

Altha, from the 1600's in facing death by hanging after being accused of killing a man. She remembers all her mother taught her of the natural world and that women who are different are deemed to be dangerous.

Violet, in the 1940's is a 16yr old girl., living in the confines of the grounds of her father's estates, while her brother is allowed the freedom and education that she yearns for. She is not a usual young lady - preferring to climb tries and play with insects.

Kate, in 2019, is fleeing an abusive relationship and goes into hiding in the 'Weyward' cottage that has been left to her by her Great Aunt Violent.

I think that each character was given the same amount of focus in the book, and I really enjoyed following the story of all three. The book begins with Kate and immediately I felt pulled into the tension an angst of the situation she was in. Equally, I was very immersed in the chapters talking through Altha's experience and the ruthless way her trial was held, as per the norm for those times.

I thought it was a captivating story and an enjoyable read. For me personally, although I enjoyed the stories of the three women's lives and how they connected, I was not keen on the magical realism element of the nook. This is just down to personal taste, and no reflection at all of the writing. I thought the story for what it was was executed very well.

A few too many creepy crawlies in here for me to totally relax into the story! :-)

Also, thank goodness for Graham, Violet's little brother - the one male character that had some decency.

If historical fiction, women empowerment and witchy vibes is your thing then this is the book for you. Be warned though, although the women in this book are strong, they each have to go through totally awful experiences which are explained in a fair amount of gory detail.

3./5 stars, A good book.

Weyward is a story of three generations of the Weyward women, spanning four hundred years between 1619 and the present. Its three protagonists are Altha, the healer, put on trial for murdering a man and accused of using black arts; Violet, a fifteen-year-old girl, a daughter of a viscount, who is subjected to an assault with far-reaching consequences which only she, the victim, is expected to suffer; and Kate, a woman running from an abusive relationship with the father of her unborn child.

Each of the women is subjected to brutalities which are sanctioned by the laws and mores that are designed to destroy them and to protect their oppressors. Each of the women embarks on a journey of self-discovery and undergoes a moment of empowering awakening.

Society shuns the Weyward women as witches, but this book isn’t about trickery, boiling cauldrons, warts and superficial gimmicks. It is about what it means to be a woman and stay in touch with your inner femininity, to commune with nature, to command and serve it. It is about building resistance to male dominance and man’s voracious drive to subjugate women. It’s about natural justice. About the freedom of choice.

The book throbs with sensitivities that only a woman can describe. There are scenes of unspeakable violence, including rape and physical abuse. The response to those, from the point of view of the victims, is powerfully realised. The detail, every sublime sensation, the textures and the minutiae of shape, sound and form are all masterfully crafted. The prose delivers the story in assured strokes of the author’s brush.

I relished the story, was shaken by it and inspired to reflect about my own femininity, from girlhood to my ripe oldish age now. The book brought to mind Ann Rice’s Mayfair Witches of The Witching Hour. A great read.

An interesting debut historical fiction,, with three interwoven pov, telling the stories of three different Weyward women. With an overarching theme of witchcraft and an innate understanding of the nature, each narrative thread held links back to and reflections of the others. Initially I was really hooked and wanted to know more, but as the novel progressed it fell into a few cliches and I found myself waiting for something unexpected to happen. Overall though a promising debut and I would definitely be interested to read more of Hart’s work as her writing matures. I will be recommending this to several customers who I know will enjoy it enormously.

Three women linked through blood with one secret. How far will women go to protect themselves.
This book was totally out of my comfort zone and I’m so glad I read it. It’s beautifully written and the audio book was perfect.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Spanning across 5 centuries, this story is centered around 3 women of the Weyward family. Through alternating chapters we meet Kate in 2019, running from an abusive relationship and taking shelter in her late great Aunt Violet's cottage. From here we travel back to 1942 to Violet's youth, a young girl who is more interested in nature and climbing trees than conforming to her strict Father's idea of being a proper lady. Through horrific events in Violet's tale, we are introduced to Altha in 1619, on trial for witchcraft for the murder of a local man. The tales of these three women are woven together beautifully and themes of abuse, misogyny and resilience are apparent throughout. Each woman finds her power through the story of the last with the help of the nature surrounding Weyward cottage. I loved this book and would definitely recommend!

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. The Borough Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Weyward’ by Emilia Hart.

This stunning debut novel weaves together the stories of three women, each touched by magic, across five centuries.

In 2019 Kate flees London and her abusive boyfriend and travels to the remote village of Crow’s Beck, Cumbria. She had recently learned that she has inherited Weyward Cottage from her great-aunt and sees this as a chance to find a new life. Unknown to her a secret lurks in the bones of the house, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

In 1942 sixteen-year-old Violet Ayres had grown up in Orton Hall, the seat of the Viscount Kendall. Yet she is more interested in climbing trees and collecting insects than in conforming to society’s expectations for a lady of her station. Then a chain of shocking events changes her life forever.

In 1619 Altha Weyward is the daughter of the local wise woman. Both women have an uncanny connection with nature and animals. Following her mother’s death Altha takes up the role of healer in the local community. However, she finds herself on trial for witchcraft, accused of killing a local man.

Each of these women are linked to the Weyward bloodline and at heart each belongs to the natural world and the wild.

I felt that Emilia Hart skilfully chronicles the lives of her three Weyward women. Each experiences a sublime connection with nature, though with Kate it is rather suppressed due to living in an urban setting.

Kate finds this changes as she seeks information about her ancestors and lives closer to nature and beginning to wake with the sun, spends time in the garden and takes walks in the country.

Emilia Hart approaches the supernatural/paranormal aspects of her tale in a subtle manner such as the strange behaviour of birds, insects, and animals.

Overall, I found ‘Weyward’ a beautifully written novel, well deserving of its prepublication praise. After such an assured debut, I will be looking forward to Emilia Hart’s future projects.

Highly recommended.

An actor died by suicide in India, in 2020. His partner, also an actor, was immediately arrested, on absolutely no evidence at all, jailed ( for what is not a non-bailable offence), and tried by public opinion, because obviously a woman leading her own life was evil, right? One of the main accusations by her, that was getting shared widely on social media, was of witchcraft. It's horrifying to think that this is a charge by which women can be condemned, in cities in the world, in this century. Weyward is an attempt to take back that word, and correct the narrative that women living by themselves, and not being dependant on men, was inherently because of deals with the "dark side"and so on. It's an interesting book about three generations of women trying to survive in a patriarchal society. It's a quick read, but Hart's proposition, of a sisterhood and women's networks that support each other is belied by the story itself-the women in the story barely help each other and there are some glaring loopholes-for instance, it's not very clear why one of the characters does not turn to her clearly sympathetic mother for help in a difficult situation. Interesting book, if not as powerful as the reviews make it seem