Reviews with content warning for Stalking - Weyward

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."

Content Warnings

chiara_dose's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

corriejn's review against another edition

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5.0

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amygardin's review against another edition

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dark hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Content Warnings

sarahkorn's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.75

I tend to prefer the horror end of magical realism, and really loved this book. The haunting atmosphere was impeccable, and I was similarly invested in the stories of each of the three women, which is rare for me with story structures like this. I couldn't, largely, predict the plot. I had a hard time putting this one down and flew through the last 100 pages. Things were not so neatly tied up where I moved on from the book quickly -- this one will stick with me.

Check the trigger warnings first!

Content Warnings

wickeddelights's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

I enjoyed this book. It isn't the style of my usual reads, but it had a way of holding your attention and beckoning you to turn the page. The story is one that so many women have faced, and in that sense it was familiar. And yet it was a story I was glad to see to the end regardless.
I wish we could have seen a glimpse into the life of the last child in the book. To know if her fate could be better. But it still feels complete.

Content Warnings

kimveach's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I had high expectations because this was the Goodreads Choice Awards Book of the Year (2023)—perhaps too high. It was a good book, but I felt the three good storylines were one too many. With stories set in the 1600s, 1940s, and the present day, the story constantly jumped around. If I had been able to read it in one sitting, it might have worked.

Content Warnings

nad_books623's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

This book was incredibly sad and beautiful. I love how the author connected these women together throughout the book. To see each women’s growth and finding freedom despite men trying to cage them is inspiring. I think everyone woman could relate to something that was mentioned today.

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