A review by serendipitysbooks
Weyward by Emilia Hart

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 Wayward blends historical and contemporary fiction with a dose of magical realism. It's about feminist rage, resilience, and revenge against abusive men. Readers who have a fear of birds, crows in particular, might want to give it a miss, though. In 1619, Altha is accused of witchcraft, blamed for the death of the husband of a childhood friend. In 1942, Violet, an intelligent nature lover with a particular interest in etymology, has her ambition and potential stymied by her controlling, misogynistic father and an abusive cousin. In 2019, Kate flees her abusive partner and moves to a cottage left to her by her great aunt. I don't want to say much more for fear of spoilers, but I enjoyed watching each individual story unfold and seeing how the three separate strands threaded together. This was a satisfying story well told, a reminder of the persistence of male abuse against women, yes, but also of women's resistance, and a cautionary tale of their capacity for revenge. 
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