Genre Fiction
![Emilia Hart - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_emilia_hart.jpg)
Weyward: A Novel
"A spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft."
––Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
I am a Weyward, and wild inside.
2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.
1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha's mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.
1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
––Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
I am a Weyward, and wild inside.
2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.
1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha's mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.
1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
Editorial Reviews
"A triumphant debut...the magic harnessed by the characters feels completely real in this captivating outing." ––Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The three timelines and the compelling stories of each of the women intertwine and are layered with the natural magic that runs through the female line of the Weyward family―magic that will help and heal. This combination of magical realism and historical fiction is perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman and Megan Giddings." ––Library Journal
"A generational tale of female resilience." ––The Guardian
"Weyward glows and glimmers with hidden powers, thrills and danger…[and] draws readers inexorably to a glorious conclusion that celebrates connectedness and the power of women and nature...A suspenseful, magical debut." ––Shelf Awareness
"It seems to be the year of the witch book, and this is the best so far. A gripping debut."
––Good Housekeeping (UK)
"Tension and suspense are skillfully maintained as these women seek to extricate themselves from dire circumstances and discover secret strength. The result is a tale of magic and female empowerment and an atmospheric, gripping read." ––Booklist
"Gripping...Thoughtful and at times harrowing, this novel is a successful blend of historical fiction and modern feminism." ––Kirkus
"A promising debut…Hart links the three stories very cleverly in this entertaining read about witchcraft, maternal ties and the power of the natural world." ––The Times (UK)
"Hart evokes a powerful sense of place in each of the narratives, and elicits mystery and a rich atmosphere at every turn. A brave and original debut, Weyward is a spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft."
––Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
"A totally unique debut that shines a light on the female experience. I loved it."
––Gillian McAllister, New York Times bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time
"
"The three timelines and the compelling stories of each of the women intertwine and are layered with the natural magic that runs through the female line of the Weyward family―magic that will help and heal. This combination of magical realism and historical fiction is perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman and Megan Giddings." ––Library Journal
"A generational tale of female resilience." ––The Guardian
"Weyward glows and glimmers with hidden powers, thrills and danger…[and] draws readers inexorably to a glorious conclusion that celebrates connectedness and the power of women and nature...A suspenseful, magical debut." ––Shelf Awareness
"It seems to be the year of the witch book, and this is the best so far. A gripping debut."
––Good Housekeeping (UK)
"Tension and suspense are skillfully maintained as these women seek to extricate themselves from dire circumstances and discover secret strength. The result is a tale of magic and female empowerment and an atmospheric, gripping read." ––Booklist
"Gripping...Thoughtful and at times harrowing, this novel is a successful blend of historical fiction and modern feminism." ––Kirkus
"A promising debut…Hart links the three stories very cleverly in this entertaining read about witchcraft, maternal ties and the power of the natural world." ––The Times (UK)
"Hart evokes a powerful sense of place in each of the narratives, and elicits mystery and a rich atmosphere at every turn. A brave and original debut, Weyward is a spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft."
––Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
"A totally unique debut that shines a light on the female experience. I loved it."
––Gillian McAllister, New York Times bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time
"
Readers Top Reviews
Sally Zigmond
I begin on a positive note. I bought this novel because it contains everything I'm interested in: historical fiction, the history and psychology of witchcraft, and feminism. It tells the alternating lives of three women. It is highly readable, and at first, it was dramatic and gripping. In the early 17th century, Altha is on her way to Lancaster to be tried for witchcraft and faces burning or hanging. I was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, the stories of Violet in the mid-twentieth century and Kate in the 21st are less exciting because the more and more I read, the more ridiculous the stories became. When reading historical fiction, I will tolerate one or two anachronisms. After all, the best fiction always suspends readers' disbelief. but as the novel progressed, they became so frequent, I had to laugh. Tea-drinking in 1619, women wearing tights in the 1940s are bad enough but when an old woman nips up and down from London to the Lake District without any mention of motorways, congestion, comfort breaks, plus with a crow as familiar, flying beside or above her, well I had to laugh. This completely spoiled what could have been a compelling novel. Reading other reviews here proves I'm in the minority. C'est la vie.
MagdalenaDavid Harpe
Weyward is a story about three women that all have a special gift, but this gift is also in a way a curse since it separates them from others. And, that makes people afraid. Weyward is a book that not really turned out to be as interesting as I hoped it to be after reading the blurb. There are good bits in it. I liked Altha Weyward's chapters the best, but I struggled quite a bit with Violet's story since it was so predictable and a bit boring to read. The present story, Kate's was a bit so-so, the best part was her discovering more about Violet and Althea. The ending was great and quite surprising. I wish the book had been more like that, instead of just so-so for the most part. I think the main problem I had was that I never really connected with the characters or the story.
