Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Weyward by Emilia Hart

590 reviews

gwalt118's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.0

It's the best time of year to read a book about witches and female empowerment, and this buzzy book from last year may be a great choice. Massive disclaimer that the thread of abusive men and miscarriages throughout this novel made it unexpectedly difficult for me to read at times. 

Weyward is a feminist novel about misogyny, witchcraft, power, justice, and sin through the eyes of three women in three very different time periods. It is about society's - mostly men's - repeated attempts throughout history to control women's bodies and the ways in which women have had to fight back. Some of the abuse felt gratuitous, but it serves a purpose -- abuse of power by men is closely linked to accusations of witchcraft, and Hart is making a statement about modern-day iterations of the same practice. Know that not all men in the novel are abusive and terrible, though. I loved the inclusion of some good and kind men. 

The connections between Altha, Violet, and Kate are incredibly well-plotted and well-written. I loved the insight in the author interview in the back of my book (not sure if it's in all of them), where I learned more about Hart's idea generation and writing process. I also appreciated the continued reading suggestions in the back of this one, most of which I haven't read. I'm intrigued by Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, which I've added to my fall TBR for this year. 

Hart's next novel, The Sirens, releases in March 2025. Fingers crossed my request for an ARC on NetGalley comes to fruition! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Abortion

Moderate: Murder

jennw3415's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Gaslighting

rberdan's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Many content warnings here. There are multiple toxic men and various forms of gender-based violence. They all serve as pathways for the Weyward women to connect with their power, but I recommend looking at all of the content warnings to see if this is right for you. 

This was a strong debut. I appreciated how the stories of these three women were woven together and distinguished from each other. I also appreciated the author’s use of tense and POV to delineate between the three. The women had commonalities that made sense given their connections, and also had their own stories that distinguished them. 

I tend to agree with another reviewer who said that women don’t NEED to have traumatic experiences with men in order to find their power, and yet, it’s not unusual that these experiences DO have that impact in real life. I can see a reader at a certain point in her own healing finding some kinship in these women.

While I didn’t notice the anachronistic language pointed out by another reviewer RE the stories in the past (in this kind of story, I tend to focus more on the lives of the characters), I can see it in hindsight. It didn’t bother me in this particular novel because it was less about being a “period piece” but I can see how it might take a certain kind of reader out of the story. 

Personally, I was drawn to  aspects of the story that point to power within as well as the connections  between living beings. Overall, the pacing was well done, the story was engaging, and there was enough hopefulness to balance the darkness. I would read more by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide attempt

jennlongb's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Abortion

Moderate: Rape

wncowling's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Murder

jessrox's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Loved this book so much! The feeling of womanhood and love is enough to make you cry. It will be added to my bookshelf because I will want to read it over and over again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

bookiesncreme's review against another edition

dark hopeful tense

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Incest, Rape, Blood, Vomit, and Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

ksilvio's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

urmm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

This book covers some very dark topics but as the threads of the different stories unravel it becomes powerful and optimistic. This book made me cry with pride at how the characters developed and discovered their true strengths. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

cuppajo16's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy