2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.
1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.
1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family’s grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart’s Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet.”
Weyward by Emilia Hart
My Thoughts
I was interested in this book because I usually enjoy fantasy/witchy vibes. Although a fair warning, this isn’t as witchy or fantasy as you might think. Don’t go into this book thinking its going to be fantasy or have strong witch vibes because you will be disappointed. I would go into this book expecting historical fiction. It also has some strong feminism themes.
Despite the fact that it wasn’t as witchy as I was hoping, it was still pretty enjoyable for me. I gave it a 4/5 stars. I honestly don’t have much to say about it but if you go into this book as a Historical Fiction novel with slight witchy vibes, it can be enjoyable. Most people were disappointed going into it as something it ended up not being and therefore rated it low.
Be forewarned there’s some pretty traumatic scenes in this book and if you think you’ll need spoilers, check my spoiler warnings below.
Content Warnings
As some may consider content warnings a spoiler, I have hidden them behind a spoiler warning.
Sexual Assault, Rape, Miscarriage, Abortion, Domestic Abuse, Physical Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Toxic Relationship, Sexism, Child Abuse, Incest, Murder, Injury