Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Weyward by Emilia Hart

174 reviews

meaghanslibrary's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I had been seeing this book everywhere and I probably should have checked the trigger warnings. I highly recommend you do and I wish more people when advertising books did that.

The extremely graphic triggering part of the book doesn’t come in till like a third of the way through.

I liked the switching perspectives especially in the beginning. The chapters were short and there was a nice pace to the book. Toward the middle and end the chapters were long we and started to feel slow. The book was a bit predictable toward the end.

I did like the author’s writing style (although sometimes the dialogue got a bit cheesy) and would consider reading her future works.

What really irked me and took me out of the story is at the end Kate’s abusive ex-husband finds her and instead of immediately calling the police or her friend (which she later admits she should have done) she concocts this more complicated plan to hide in the attic.  I just didn’t understand why she didn’t ask for help earlier in that crisis.  Also I’m not sure why she came down from the attic, I would have phoned for help as the animals were attack Simon. I don’t intend to victim/survivor blame but rather point out that as a reader it took me out of the story because I was thinking “what are you doing?”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

clairelisebella's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, and Classism

zgreyz's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really like how everything connected throughout the book.  I thought i'd be more grossed out by all the bugs but surprisingly it didn't bother me, because of the context i think.  I really liked the writing. very trauma heavy though and have some mixed feelings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Abortion, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, Blood, Medical trauma, and Car accident

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Death of parent

brashknuckles's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

melissadawson79's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy

maur1vannistelrooij's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy

poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An interesting narrative of three women across generations.  If you like the stories where women triumph over the cruelty of men, then you will love this one.  Check the content warnings.  It had lovely prose and sympathetic main characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

taryn_g's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt and War

readdanoread's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

kelly_e's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Title: Weyward
Author: Emilia Hart
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: March 7, 2023

T H R E E • W O R D S

Harrowing • Atmospheric • Absorbing

📖 S Y N O P S I S

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.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Weyward was one of those historical fiction novels I held at a distance for the longest time. I finally decided to give it a try when it was selected as a featured read of the month in my book club. And I was absolutely blown away by the power and resilience of this atmospheric debut.

Following three generations of Weyward women across three different timelines, this story is filled with family secrets, all of the witchy and magical vibes, and a cottage with character. Each of the timelines was engrossing, which kept me immersed in the story. It was at times uncomfortable and heavy (check content warnings), yet what stood out to me was the resilience and strength of this women.

And then there is the lyrical writing and gothic vibes. Emilia Hart has done a fabulous time capturing the atmosphere of the times and weaving the natural world into the narrative in such a way in truly felt like its own character.

It's no surprise Weyward was the 2023 Goodreads Choice winner in the historical fiction category. I was completely surprised with how much I enjoyed this story. If you're looking for a book you can get lost in, this is the book for you. I am eagerly anticipating Emilia Hart's 2025 release and there's no doubt in my mind she has a bright future ahead of her.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• novels spanning centuries
• female resilience
• Kate Morton

⚠️ CW: domestic abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, violence, toxic relationship, misogyny, sexism, pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, infertility, blood, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, murder, death, death of parent, child death, grief, car accident, incest, child abuse, confinement, injury/injury detail, medical trauma, alcohol, stalking, gaslighting, vomit, animal death, war, alcoholism

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Nature, to us, was as much a life force as the very air we breathed."

"The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Incest, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, Medical trauma, Stalking, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War