Reviews tagging 'Incest'

Weyward by Emilia Hart

203 reviews

p_a_griffin's review

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Interesting premise but not well executed. There is not much distinction in voice between the three characters/timelines. The sexual and physical violence relies on stereotypes. Overall, my biggest issue with the writing came towards the end, when the back-and-forth-structure of the narratives undercut all the tension in each timeline's climax. Then, there's an epilogue that just tells you all the things that didn't get resolved in the denouement. I hate a bad epilogue (which is actually most epilogues, imo). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Abortion

Moderate: Incest, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault

kbairbooks's review

I cannot think of a single good thing about this book. It was HEAVY with trigger warnings, at over 60% nothing good had yet to happen which led me to not wanting to pick up this book because it would drastically bring down my mood. The characters were so awful to each other. I just couldn't stand it anymore.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

itscarleesmith's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, and Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship

ashgalwoah's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.75

Weyward was an enjoyable read, that was engaging to read, however was a bit of an easy read and felt the writing stylistically similar to a YA novel (content is definitely NOT YA as there are so many content warnings!)

I enjoyed the intergenerational stories and how the three stories built off each-other and interwove with one another. 

Magical realism elements contrasted harsh, dark, and traumatic moments. Which there are many of. Trauma felt like a slight crutch of the book, but the story of Kate brought hope and conclusion to cycles of abuse.

I didn’t love the focus on birth, motherhood, and lineage. However I am not a mother. I was more drawn to the resilience and spirit of the strong women characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Abortion

Moderate: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit and War

annemarco's review

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Incest, and Rape

cerise_reads's review

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape

Moderate: Incest, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

imchelsi's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was a phenomenal read.  The three storylines were expertly woven together, showing us women across centuries taking back their power. This book deals with some tough topics. Please read trigger warning before picking up this book as I neglected to do.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Cancer

ccmarie_'s review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Stalking, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Death of parent

kris10akemi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Only maybe a spoiler but marking just in case.

Idk if this was the intention, but my main take away was men suck and there’s nothing like an empowered woman. I do love how the characters came to this realization by finding messages that were passed through the generations, but it’s also devastating how these women shared the same awful experiences over centuries. I think it does speak to the power of sharing your story and how it helps women recognize abuse. In terms of spookiness, Violet cast the type of spell I’d love to cast on all abusive men and I was living for it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

autumn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I'll be honest - I originally gravitated towards this book because of the absolutely gorgeous cover artwork. I know, they say not to judge a book by its cover, but this is one that absolutely lived up to my expectations. 

I was uncertain, at first, how much I would take to the shifting POVs, since it wasn't just a character shift, but a timeline shift (which was new for me), but reading through the experiences of the Weyward women as they each lived was immersive and engaging.

Generations apart, so different and yet so much the same, the stories of the Weyward women rang true to my own, and the lives of women I have known, leaving me reading while holding my breath.

I hesitate to say that a fiction book helped me work through trauma of my own, but after one particular chapter, I found myself setting down my Kindle and staring into space, realizing that the sympathy I had for the main character was something I should grant myself, as well. That's powerful stuff, right there.

This book is intriguing, gut-wrenching, painful, and triumphant, and one of my favorite reads of 2024.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Incest and Rape