Scan barcode
A review by imaginaryalchemist
Weyward by Emilia Hart
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
This review is for the ARC version of Weyward. Some things might change for the official release.
The cover grabbed my attention immediately, and I knew I had to read it! From the moment I read the first page, I was caught in this book's spell.
Weyward, the debut novel of Emilia Hart, tells the tale of a family through three POVs:
Altha, who in a small English village. The year is 1619. She is on trial, accused of witchcraft after a man dies a mysterious death.
Violet, who lives in an English manor with her father and younger brother. She longs to know more about her mother, who died when she was very young. She has a strong connection to nature, with an intense fascination with insects.
Kate, who lives in a small apartment in London with her abusive partner. She knows she must escape for her own safety, so she flees to the cottage left to her by her late aunt.
The novel weaves together the three womens' stories, slowly unraveling the mystery of the Weyward women. They are powerful, unusual, and often misunderstood. They have been called witches for generations. It flows smoothly between the different perspectives. It never feels jarring or confusing. All of the mysteries are wrapped up in a satisfying conclusion.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves stories with strong female protagonists! Altha, Violet, and Kate are all badass in their own ways.
The cover grabbed my attention immediately, and I knew I had to read it! From the moment I read the first page, I was caught in this book's spell.
Weyward, the debut novel of Emilia Hart, tells the tale of a family through three POVs:
Altha, who in a small English village. The year is 1619. She is on trial, accused of witchcraft after a man dies a mysterious death.
Violet, who lives in an English manor with her father and younger brother. She longs to know more about her mother, who died when she was very young. She has a strong connection to nature, with an intense fascination with insects.
Kate, who lives in a small apartment in London with her abusive partner. She knows she must escape for her own safety, so she flees to the cottage left to her by her late aunt.
The novel weaves together the three womens' stories, slowly unraveling the mystery of the Weyward women. They are powerful, unusual, and often misunderstood. They have been called witches for generations. It flows smoothly between the different perspectives. It never feels jarring or confusing. All of the mysteries are wrapped up in a satisfying conclusion.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves stories with strong female protagonists! Altha, Violet, and Kate are all badass in their own ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Blood
Moderate: Incest, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, War, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Violence, and Confinement
This story has a lot of heavy, dark themes that may be upsetting to some. It includes mentions and instances of rape, abuse, physical assault, misogyny, parental death, animal death, stalking, and mental health. All of the characters have suffered greatly, which affects them all in different ways. I'll include more details in spoiler tags. Altha's story has themes of religious persecution and domestic abuse. It is revealed that her childhood friend Grace is being abused by her husband. At one point, Altha assists Grace with an abortion. The same method is later used by Violet, who was raped by her cousin Frederick. Violet's story deals with her trauma from the rape, including a suicide attempt. The suicide note is later found by Kate, and it is included in its entirety. Kate also contemplates abortion but decides against it. She was impregnated by her abusive partner. The story goes into detail about the abuse she suffers at his hands, including being burned by scalding hot coffee and being sexually assaulted. Kate is also haunted by her father's death, which she blames herself for. All of the womens' stories have themes of misogyny in different ways. Violet especially, who is constantly told that her interests are "unfeminine." She is almost forced into marriage with the man who raped her, her cousin Frederick. All of the abusive men get their comeuppance by the end, some of which is quite graphic. The story handles these themes respectfully, in my opinion.