Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by mitzee
Weyward by Emilia Hart
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.75
I enjoyed the subtle nods to witch craft and its association with the knowledge of nature and a connection to the natural world. Other stories about witches seem to focus on some force of magic that feels innate. Some of that innate magic was present here but moreso the connection to bloodline and nature was the magic anchor.
There was also a lot of pain, mostly emotional but also physical, and loneliness from the three different converging storylines. The cruelty of men was palpable.
Summary for myself:
Kate is in the current/modern world, escaping an abusive boyfriend who has been essentially keeping her a hostage.
Violet is a teenage girl living with her father and younger brother in their estate. Around WWII.
Altha is a young lady on trial for being a witch in the 1600s. Her story describes her helping a childhood friend abort pregnancies from her abusive husband. I get the sense that Altha was in love with Grace. Altha offers to help Grace get rid of him but Grace wants to make sure it can’t get traced back to her. In the end Altha causes a cow stampede to take him out and make it look like an accident- though she still gets put on trial for being a witch but her mother taught her well (always go to church and be seen so people can’t say that you don’t believe in god, don’t show anyone your real magic, stay away from other people and men especially)
Violet is a naive young girl whose dad kind of hates her - for some unknown reason. He invites their “cousin Frederick” to the house and while he’s there Frederick rapes Violet. She doesn’t tell anyone because she’s wholly unprepared for any type of romantic or sexual anything with men, having lost her mother at a young age and her father being absolutely useless in her education. Dad finds out that Violet is pregnant and locks her away in a cabin that used to belong to Violet’s mom. Violet leaves a note in one of her books stating what Frederick has done - because of course nobody would believe her if she told them.
At the house she learns about what really happened with her mother, who was also a Weyward witch and had a crow companion. She was used by Violet’s dad in a scheme to kill his parents and his older brother in a carriage accident - using her powers - because he claims is the only way to ensure their child would have a secure future. Then he claims she’s hysterical so nobody believes her when she tries to tell anyone what they did, and gets a doctor to perform a hysterectomy which she dies from.
Violet learns the ways of the Weyward witches on her own - she’s always been drawn to insects and plants. She performs an abortion on herself by creating a tincture to drink. Her brother Graeme helps her bury the remains and claim it was a miscarriage. They stay close after their father disowns both of them and leaves the inheritance to Frederick. Violet basically curses Frederick and the estate to be infested with the mayflies until the day she dies.
But before she dies she meets her brother Graeme’s daughter - who ends up being Kate. Weyward women are supposed to be the first born children but since Violet had that abortion (because she wasn’t ready yet) she wouldn’t continue the line. But she could see the line continued in Kate. So she looks after her and leaves the cottage to Kate in her will.
Kate finds out about the inheritance and makes a plan to leave her abusive partner Simon. Violet, having foreseen Simon in a vision, stipulates to her lawyer that when Kate is informed of the inheritance they have to speak with Kate directly and alone.
Kate saves up allowance to buy a separate cell phone (because he is tracking hers) and makes her way to the house after she learns she is pregnant. It takes her a long time to get out of the habit of talking down to herself like he would. She reconnects with her mother, who had moved to Canada once Kate was an adult. Simon had not let them talk to each other either. Her mom makes plans to come back to England for the baby’s birth. Kate learns how to have a backbone and think for herself in Violet’s cabin.
It all ends with Simon finding out where she lives and coming after her. Kate’s fear becomes rage and all these birds and bugs break through the windows and come in through the chimneys to attack Simon, scaring him out of the house.
There was also a lot of pain, mostly emotional but also physical, and loneliness from the three different converging storylines. The cruelty of men was palpable.
Summary for myself:
Kate is in the current/modern world, escaping an abusive boyfriend who has been essentially keeping her a hostage.
Violet is a teenage girl living with her father and younger brother in their estate. Around WWII.
Altha is a young lady on trial for being a witch in the 1600s. Her story describes her helping a childhood friend abort pregnancies from her abusive husband. I get the sense that Altha was in love with Grace. Altha offers to help Grace get rid of him but Grace wants to make sure it can’t get traced back to her. In the end Altha causes a cow stampede to take him out and make it look like an accident- though she still gets put on trial for being a witch but her mother taught her well (always go to church and be seen so people can’t say that you don’t believe in god, don’t show anyone your real magic, stay away from other people and men especially)
Violet is a naive young girl whose dad kind of hates her - for some unknown reason. He invites their “cousin Frederick” to the house and while he’s there Frederick rapes Violet. She doesn’t tell anyone because she’s wholly unprepared for any type of romantic or sexual anything with men, having lost her mother at a young age and her father being absolutely useless in her education. Dad finds out that Violet is pregnant and locks her away in a cabin that used to belong to Violet’s mom. Violet leaves a note in one of her books stating what Frederick has done - because of course nobody would believe her if she told them.
At the house she learns about what really happened with her mother, who was also a Weyward witch and had a crow companion. She was used by Violet’s dad in a scheme to kill his parents and his older brother in a carriage accident - using her powers - because he claims is the only way to ensure their child would have a secure future. Then he claims she’s hysterical so nobody believes her when she tries to tell anyone what they did, and gets a doctor to perform a hysterectomy which she dies from.
Violet learns the ways of the Weyward witches on her own - she’s always been drawn to insects and plants. She performs an abortion on herself by creating a tincture to drink. Her brother Graeme helps her bury the remains and claim it was a miscarriage. They stay close after their father disowns both of them and leaves the inheritance to Frederick. Violet basically curses Frederick and the estate to be infested with the mayflies until the day she dies.
But before she dies she meets her brother Graeme’s daughter - who ends up being Kate. Weyward women are supposed to be the first born children but since Violet had that abortion (because she wasn’t ready yet) she wouldn’t continue the line. But she could see the line continued in Kate. So she looks after her and leaves the cottage to Kate in her will.
Kate finds out about the inheritance and makes a plan to leave her abusive partner Simon. Violet, having foreseen Simon in a vision, stipulates to her lawyer that when Kate is informed of the inheritance they have to speak with Kate directly and alone.
Kate saves up allowance to buy a separate cell phone (because he is tracking hers) and makes her way to the house after she learns she is pregnant. It takes her a long time to get out of the habit of talking down to herself like he would. She reconnects with her mother, who had moved to Canada once Kate was an adult. Simon had not let them talk to each other either. Her mom makes plans to come back to England for the baby’s birth. Kate learns how to have a backbone and think for herself in Violet’s cabin.
It all ends with Simon finding out where she lives and coming after her. Kate’s fear becomes rage and all these birds and bugs break through the windows and come in through the chimneys to attack Simon, scaring him out of the house.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence