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A review by lunep
Weyward by Emilia Hart
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book was sad and a little depressing, it kept me hooked, but I was just…astonished at all the suffering. My heart broke for Violet every one of her chapters since like the middle of the book, I think she was the one who had the most tragic story out of all 3 main characters.
I liked the book, but all the suffering Altha, Grace, Violet and Kate went through + the way 99% of the men in the story were straight up abusers and rapists left a sour taste in my mouth. This is supposed to be a story about female empowerment, and while I did like how Violet and Kate found out about their powers through Altha’s book, and how that gave them strength to face their abusers, it didn’t erase the TON of abuse they went through, and I just didn’t enjoy that 3 out of 4 women (counting Grace, who isn’t a Weyward, but is an important character in Altha’s story) were repeatedly raped, impregnated against their will, beaten and emotionally abused; as well as the fact that the Weyward women are supposed to be alone bc men just wouldn't understand their magic. I know there’s tons of terrible men in the world, but we cannot let the idea that “all men are bad” take place in society (not to sound all #notallmen, bc of course, even if not all men, yes all women), bc then, young boys will grow up believing that, and what we will have is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Also I was not prepared for the way the book centers around pregnancy (which for some can be good, and I didnt completely hate, but also wouldnt have excited me had I known it was gonna be there).
I liked the book, but all the suffering Altha, Grace, Violet and Kate went through + the way 99% of the men in the story were straight up abusers and rapists left a sour taste in my mouth. This is supposed to be a story about female empowerment, and while I did like how Violet and Kate found out about their powers through Altha’s book, and how that gave them strength to face their abusers, it didn’t erase the TON of abuse they went through, and I just didn’t enjoy that 3 out of 4 women (counting Grace, who isn’t a Weyward, but is an important character in Altha’s story) were repeatedly raped, impregnated against their will, beaten and emotionally abused; as well as the fact that the Weyward women are supposed to be alone bc men just wouldn't understand their magic. I know there’s tons of terrible men in the world, but we cannot let the idea that “all men are bad” take place in society (not to sound all #notallmen, bc of course, even if not all men, yes all women), bc then, young boys will grow up believing that, and what we will have is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Also I was not prepared for the way the book centers around pregnancy (which for some can be good, and I didnt completely hate, but also wouldnt have excited me had I known it was gonna be there).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Suicide attempt, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Gaslighting
Also graphic humiliation: forced nakedness. And moderate mentions of stillbirth