Weyward
Ratings219
Average rating4
I loved this book. She did a great job hopping between timelines and characters in a way that made them still feel somehow connected. I got to know these characters through their own experiences and those of the other women in the story.
This was beautiful. I try to be intentional with books I rate 5 stars. But this one is deserving.
Weyward is more than just a witchy story. It's also a journey of three women who are wrapped together by familial ties and deep traditions.
I love past and present timelines and this flowed seamlessly. I also loved the characters, the writing and the way this ends. Really good one for Spooktober too with the witchy vibes.
If you haven't read this one yet, grab it and give it a read. I sincerely appreciate St. Martin's Press for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Ah I just loved this! So atmospheric, gothic and witchy. It's the perfect autumn read.
The split narration kept me reading by creating mini cliffhangers but I overall wasn't that invested in any of the storylines? idk I feel like this is getting buzz for being ~literary fantasy but uhhhh there's better fantasy out there.
This book was depressing, to say the least. It was cool that they all had different ways that they connected to nature, but I hated all three of their stories. The constant bouncing to each character made it hard to keep the specifics straight. Could be because their lives weren't all that different, or because they all were equally boring and sad. I don't know. I was waiting for something more meaningful and dying for that locket key to open something much more fantastic than a cabinet with sad letters inside. I am clearly not the target audience for this book.
I adored this book! A tale about the strength of women and those who are weird or don't fit in. It was sad and heart breaking but also extremely powerful, perfect for anyone really but especially women, though I do highly suggest checking out content warnings. The three women in this book are strong, kind and fighting their way through a male dominated world. Though I often struggle with multiple POV books this one was done so well that I loved reading from each character, found that their stories wove together wonderfully, I hope this author writes more!
Talk about generational healing! This is such a powerful story of how one woman finds her truth while exploring the past behind her family. Told from the perspectives of 3 women born in 3 different eras from the same family of witches. It's such a fun take on historical fiction and the sprinkle of magic doesn't hurt. Even after closing the book, I wish I was part of a family of witches. I feel like I can hear and understand nature a little more too. Would definitely recommend - and would absolutely read again.
Trigger warning- there is mention of murder, abortion, rape, and domestic violence (in case that's not your thing)
Great premise, but why must books about witches always focus so much on women's pain at the hands of men?
Yes, men are horrible and have been for a long, long time. Yes, women have always fought back against men in their own ways. But I have read so many books like this—90% of it describing the pain and injustices, and right at the end, women finally getting their revenge, sprinkled with a tiny spark of hope.
I want to read stories where 90% is the hope, the healing, the nature, and the magic. Let the witches live and thrive and raise their daughters, in their cottages and their gardens, and let me read about it.
This was my 3rd pick from Book of the Month. As an aside, if I wasn't in another book club and a frequent buyer from my local bookstore, I'd totally stick with BoTM beyond my gift subscription. Good variety, very easy to use. Plus great covers! ANYWAY, I enjoyed Hart's debut effort. I think it could leaned into the witchery/magic realism more, honestly, there were elements across the three Weyward women's stories that felt too repetitious as opposed to harmonious echoes, and there was a missed opportunity for a more fleshed-out queer love story. But, it was nicely paced, with moments of real suspense, and is a beautiful ode to the natural world.
ahhh i loved this book :') i didn't expect it to be as heavy as it was in some parts but over all it was such a good read :) i love women!! *edit to add: it's been 9 days since i've finished this book and i keep thinking about it and now that i've had time to really digest it, this was definitely a 5 star read! ✨
This beautifully written story follows three women in different times, all with witches in their ancestry.
One fleeing an abusive relationship.
One facing a murder trial.
One living in a time where women have no rights at all.
All three have Weyward witches in their history, and maybe they have their own magic.
I loved the writing style. Very atmospheric. Very beautiful. You can't help but root for these women after the way they have been treated. Loved it!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.
CW: rape/ marital rape, domestic violence, bloodletting, pregnancy, stillbirth, abortion
This is my third back to back 4.5 star read and I'm just so glad that I'm reading again and loving the books.
This book was totally off my radar, which actually surprised me because I'm usually on top of my debut releases. It was only when my dear friend received an arc and then mentioned that she loved it that I realized that I may wanna give it a try too. And I'm so wowed by this audiobook.
This story is told in three POVs, all taking place across different timelines, centuries apart but I was really amazed at how well the author kept every single storyline engaging and compelling. We have an idea that the three women must be related but the author does a wonderful job revealing bits and pieces of information very slowly, so that we can figure out along with the characters how they are related. The magical aspect is also very present but subtle, with the characters being one with nature and being very attuned to insects and birds and animals - how these creatures provide solace and a feeling of safety is one of the beautifully written parts of this book. But what really is a prominent underlying thread of the story is also what made me extremely sad and angry - the characters may all be living across different time periods but the issues they face are too similar and it's so unfortunate that not much has changed despite women gaining many rights.
Kate in the present day is escaping an abusive husband and trying to figure out a way forward, which is complicated by her pregnancy. She finds solace in her deceased great aunt Violet's cottage and through finding out her story, gains the strength needed to move ahead in her life. Violet on the other hand is a young woman during WWII struggling to be more than a girl is allowed to be during her times, confronted with stunning truths about her mother's legacy and what that means for her future. Altha is a young healer in the 17th century who is accused of using witchcraft for murder and is scared of being executed, taking the time to pen down her real story. How these three amazing women find about their shared legacy and how this knowledge gives them the resilience to fight for what they want during adverse circumstances makes for a heart touching story.
Wow what an experience this was. With sublime narration by Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley and Nell Barlow, Weyward is a well paced, beautifully written debut - a compelling and exquisite tale of three women, their connection to nature and to each other, and how powerful female solidarity can be even when they aren't physically present with each other. This story is really unforgettable and I'm gonna keep thinking about this for a while. Highly recommend, but do checkout the content warnings.
Three different women, three timelines. One beautiful story.
I was very invested in this story and found that each story could easily be it's own stand alone book. I would love to read all of Altha's stories.
Perfect read for the fall.
Thank you Emilia Hart, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!