Reviews with content warning for Body horror - Weyward

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.

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aimoftheme's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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

2.25

I've been thinking about this book a lot since I finished it the other day, and so many things have been weighing on my mind.

First, the good. I loved the vibes of this book. The cottagecore aesthetic screamed Pinterest witch learning crystals and tarot, which is right up my alley. I also loved the female characters of this book, and the relationships they forged with other women. #supportwomensrightsandwrongs if you know what I mean.

However, some things in this book really rubbed me the wrong way.

I didn't like how sexual assault and pregnancy was used as a plot device for two of the main characters.

It just felt a bit overused by the time I reached the end of part two.

I also didn't like the endings for two of the characters.

Violet inadvertently causing the death of Kate's father felt flat to me. It felt so out of character and really just destroyed all meaning the flashback had. I was also frustrated when Altha's character decided to sleep with a man just to get pregnant. Why not leave it up for interpretation?! We know she continues the Weyward line, but do we really have to know who and why? Again, completely destroyed her character. Altha clearly had no interest in men (the subtext of her friendship with Grace screams lesbian to me) so it felt extremely out of character for her to simply ask a man to "plant his seed" so she could have a child. Would have been better to not mention it, and leave the reader wondering. Maybe she bewitched a random man later on? Or did some other ritual? SO many options.

This leaves me feeling highly disappointed in this book. While I enjoyed the writer's style and descriptions, other factors just ruined the experience for me. In saying that, would I recommend it? Yes, but please check the content warnings before reading.

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alterasidera's review against another edition

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This was farcial. The characters were not fleshed out. Author has a clear message: men are evil and women do nothing but suffer.

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valodniece's review against another edition

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dark 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

5.0

A moving portrayal of three women across time, in the same family - and with the same special gifts. I think Kate was the most relatable, since she was the character of the modern era, however Violet's story was more haunting than the rest. A solid debut work.

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