Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Weyward by Emilia Hart

97 reviews

brynne_hannah's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Incest, Rape, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Car accident

kelly_e's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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." 

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Content Warnings

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

chiara_dose's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, Blood, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Violence

corriejn's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Abortion, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Stalking, Medical trauma, Medical content, Child abuse, Alcohol, Car accident, and Confinement

Minor: Vomit, Miscarriage, Child death, and Forced institutionalization

amygardin's review

dark hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Stalking

Moderate: Rape, Car accident, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Body horror, Grief, and Confinement

sarahkorn's review against another edition

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!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, and Stalking

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Rape

Minor: Death, Blood, Gore, Death of parent, and Child death

wickeddelights's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

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

kimveach's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Medical trauma, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Bullying, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Vomit, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Stalking, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Classism, and Sexism

nad_books623's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Stalking

Minor: Grief, War, and Infertility

aimoftheme's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Rape, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Stalking, Incest, Sexism, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Body horror, and Blood

Minor: Abandonment and War