I’ve been reminded recently about how much I enjoy a historical novel. This one focuses on three women from the same family spanning multiple generations and focuses on the ripple effects of secrets and decisions over time and history repeating itself.

I love a multiple timeline story so this was no different. In fact, the timeline on this was far greater than you usually find which really added to my interest and enjoyment.

Each of the three main characters/narrators - Altha, accused and on trial for witchcraft; Violet, thrown from her home; and Kate, on the run from her abusive boyfriend - all find themselves within the safety of Weyward cottage. The three Weyward women were strong and inspiring and with themes of revenge, female power and feminism, this was a truly incredible read.

Unfortunately I DNF this book quite early on as I decided it wasn't for me. The writing/story seemed quite basic and there are so many things I want to read, I didn't feel this book was up there enough to invest time into.

I was intrigued by the novel initially for its beautiful front cover but also because of the name of the book. ‘Weyward’ is such a loaded term, one that seems aimed more at females and attributing blame or scorn on individuals seen as not fitting the mould. Weyward is indeed centred around this idea. It called to mind the ‘weyward sisters’ in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ three women who operate on the fringes of society and are treated with scorn and derision. In this text, it is more specifically the family name of three central female protagonists who are deemed outsiders because of their actions. Like the three sisters in ‘Macbeth’ it seems to be their individuality and power that instils such fear and consequently, violence.
Firstly, there is Altha in 1619 who is on trial for witchcraft, there is also the narrative of Violet who desperately searches for information about her deceased mother, another wayward woman. Then there is Kate who bravely escapes the tyranny of domestic abuse and flees to Crows Beck in Cumbria. Over the course of the novel the reader begins to understand the connection between these three fierce women and understand more of what drives them.
Moments when the women are alone in the natural world are some of the most powerful within the text. The healing and restorative impact of nature is a reoccurring idea. Emilia Hart describes a moment with Kate, in the later stages of pregnancy where the boundaries of the self become less tangible and she is given power by being outside in the garden of her aunt’s home, ‘There’s a feeling, in her stomach and in her veins of something wanting to get in.’ This almost supernatural element brings about a joining or a communion of the natural world which in the book is almost exclusively female. The impact is female agency and autonomy which is set in contrast with the dominant patriarchy that seems to offer only violence and subjugation.
More than this harmony with nature, female figures within the Weyward family also hold a power that is innate from birth, a power that connects them over the centuries. Altha, who at the beginning of the novel is on trial for being a witch states, ‘I don’t profess to know much of souls myself, I am not a learned woman, other than in the ways my mother handed down to me, as her mother handed down to her.’ This particular knowledge of power is unacceptable in society and has to be kept secret, particularly from men. Men, who seem to be a collective enemy, do not feature well in this book. Many are judgemental and dismissive at best or violent and abusive at their worst. This notion again made me recall the significance of the title and the labels that are put on women when they are seen as acting outside of acceptable societal boundaries.
In Altha’s time it was the label ‘witch’, ‘for this was a word invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not those it describes.’ Whilst this is no doubt true, I did think the book perhaps lacked a nuanced exploration of male protagonists as they sometimes boarded on being caricatures of evil villains. However, in saying that, the writing in parts was beautiful. Through the representations of these characters, it felt like the writer was asking us to consider how much society has changed. As Altha contemplates that in the future there might be a time ‘when women could walk the earth, shining bright with power and yet live.’ Contemporary readers will no doubt see that this is something still much desired today and we still have a long path to tread.
All the female characters were well drawn and compelling, the novel does not shy away from uncomfortable issue such as domestic abuse, rape and ostracization. The tenacity and bravery of these women are matched by the author who herself has had to overcome so much adversity to write the book and become a published author. It is a book that seeks to remind us to strive always for the person we want to be and take pride in our individuality.

Weyward is an intermingled tale split across three women and three timelines; a witch trial of the early 1600's, a wayward teenager of the 1900's and a woman fleeing domestic abuse in the current time. All three women are different in their time, all have trauma and all have a connection to the natural world. All are Weyward women in one way or form.

Weyward caught me. It captured my attention and even when it chucked me from timeline to timeline, I couldn't tear my eyes away. It's unusual for a split perspective novel to be so completely gripping regardless of what perspective you are in, yet this managed it. I was completely invested in each of the three character perspectives.

This a masterpiece of interweaving tales that all loop back in together by the end. Three women across generations. Similar themes cross over between timelines. Some overtly, others less so. It's cleverly written. And the characters absolutely carry it. There's magic, maybe. But mostly it's individuals standing against the odds and holding fast. It's strong women and adverse circumstances.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my review copy of this title.

This is an enchanting book that I'll definitely recommend to others.

Altha, Violet and Kate are all part of the same family, and their tales unravel via three different timelines over five centuries.

Kate is the contemporary character who has run away to escape her abusive partner. Violet is a misunderstood, naive young woman in touch with nature who finds out not everyone has her best interests at heart, and Altha is facing trial for witchcraft. It seems difficult to imagine all these timelines intersecting, yet they do in an accomplished way. I felt onside with all the characters, wanting only the best outcomes for them.

Although some tough topics are covered in this book, I loved how nature runs like a thread through all three stories binding the women together.

absolutely incredible amuat read !beautiful story of several generation of women going through hardship

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.