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kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse
megharris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Vomit
lillianfc's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Confinement, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
fohale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
hgalvin's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
lawbooks600's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Score: Five points out of ten.
So this one won the Debut Novel and Historical Fiction Awards. Why? I found Weyward at my library alongside other books, and I noticed it won some titles as mentioned above, so I headed in with high expectations when I picked it up and read it. When I finished it, I only felt depressed. If Maame or Chain-Gang All Stars won Best Debut, a Black author would've won. Same with The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store or The House of Eve for the Historical section.
Weyward starts with the first three characters I see, Kate, Violet and Altha, all Weyward family members, each facing their predicaments. Kate had to run away to Weyward Cottage to escape her abusive partner, while Violet defies society's expectations placed on women in the 1940s. She would rather climb trees and study insects (future entomologist?) than be a 'proper' woman, until some events force her to escape to Weyward Cottage. Altha lived in the 17th century when she is accused of witchcraft due to her connections with the earth and murdering another person. Weyward was a heavy read, in fact, the heaviest read of 2024. I hoped it would get better, but it didn't, so I had to wait until the concluding pages for the mood to change from miserable to hopeful. I'm glad all the women could find all their happy endings, but Weyward felt like exaggerated and glorified trauma to me. I also didn't like how the male characters were all evil. I'm sure not everyone is like that. The fantasy aspects are barely there, so maybe that's why some consider Weyward to be more of a historical fiction or a piece of magical realism than a speculative composition.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Blood
Full trigger warnings: Sexual abuse and assault, abusive boyfriend, blood depiction, physical injury, emesis, death of a person in a car crash, animal attack, pregnancy, childbirthem_n_ay's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Vomit, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Animal death
fruitwash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexism, Bullying, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Child death, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
oceanxbluess's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Sexual assault, Blood, Domestic abuse, Child death, Death, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cancer
lillimariexo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Violence