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poetsofsweetpea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Misogyny, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Car accident, Infertility, Sexual violence, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and War
themdash'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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Rape, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and War
livl_ouise'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
kelburke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Car accident, Infertility, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, War, Confinement, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexism, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, and Grief
linneak's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Rape, Domestic abuse, Blood, Sexual content, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Incest, and Infertility
wanderingwonderbread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Abortion, Miscarriage, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
skimkaye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Infertility and Religious bigotry
kelly_e's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
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."
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Miscarriage, Infertility, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Grief, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Child death, and Car accident
Minor: Stalking, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Animal death, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, War, and Alcohol
taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Gore, Abortion, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Infertility, and Incest
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Xenophobia, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
wickeddelights'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
4.0
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.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Rape, Stalking, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, and War