Scan barcode
A review by rberdan
Weyward by Emilia Hart
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Many content warnings here. There are multiple toxic men and various forms of gender-based violence. They all serve as pathways for the Weyward women to connect with their power, but I recommend looking at all of the content warnings to see if this is right for you.
This was a strong debut. I appreciated how the stories of these three women were woven together and distinguished from each other. I also appreciated the author’s use of tense and POV to delineate between the three. The women had commonalities that made sense given their connections, and also had their own stories that distinguished them.
I tend to agree with another reviewer who said that women don’t NEED to have traumatic experiences with men in order to find their power, and yet, it’s not unusual that these experiences DO have that impact in real life. I can see a reader at a certain point in her own healing finding some kinship in these women.
While I didn’t notice the anachronistic language pointed out by another reviewer RE the stories in the past (in this kind of story, I tend to focus more on the lives of the characters), I can see it in hindsight. It didn’t bother me in this particular novel because it was less about being a “period piece” but I can see how it might take a certain kind of reader out of the story.
Personally, I was drawn to aspects of the story that point to power within as well as the connections between living beings. Overall, the pacing was well done, the story was engaging, and there was enough hopefulness to balance the darkness. I would read more by this author.
This was a strong debut. I appreciated how the stories of these three women were woven together and distinguished from each other. I also appreciated the author’s use of tense and POV to delineate between the three. The women had commonalities that made sense given their connections, and also had their own stories that distinguished them.
I tend to agree with another reviewer who said that women don’t NEED to have traumatic experiences with men in order to find their power, and yet, it’s not unusual that these experiences DO have that impact in real life. I can see a reader at a certain point in her own healing finding some kinship in these women.
While I didn’t notice the anachronistic language pointed out by another reviewer RE the stories in the past (in this kind of story, I tend to focus more on the lives of the characters), I can see it in hindsight. It didn’t bother me in this particular novel because it was less about being a “period piece” but I can see how it might take a certain kind of reader out of the story.
Personally, I was drawn to aspects of the story that point to power within as well as the connections between living beings. Overall, the pacing was well done, the story was engaging, and there was enough hopefulness to balance the darkness. I would read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicide attempt