A review by sophieblanca
Weyward by Emilia Hart

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

Weyward has an interesting premise. I enjoyed the characters, the atmosphere, the connections across time, and the descriptions about the beauty and wonder of the natural world. I listened to the audiobook, and the performance was excellent.

But the story itself is trauma after trauma, without much else to make up for it.
I don’t mind books that explore difficult themes—abuse is, unfortunately, a reality many women have faced—but this was overbearingly bleak. Around 70% through, I felt drained, wondering when these women would ever catch a break. It was exhausting.
 

By the time the main characters finally found freedom, revenge, or empowerment, it felt too little, too late. The amount of trauma far outweighs the moments of strength, leaving the story feeling sad, rather than empowering. It's very unbalanced and that's my biggest issue with Weyward.

I don't regret reading it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. If you decide to pick it up, I encourage you to look up content warnings first. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings