Weyward by Emilia Hart

In my opinion...

I’d already heard about Emilia & her novel, from a friend who had met her through her job, so I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to review the book.

In fact it turned into a 'I stayed up late(very) to finish it' read!

To begin with I was a little concerned that the mechanism of using three different characters Altha, Violet & Kate to tell three different stories on three timelines wouldn’t work & would feel too formulaic, but I needn’t have worried as the author seamlessly wove the threads together.

With her legal background, I can only assume that the author’s research was thorough, it certainly felt authentic & I was caught up in the women’s stories. I felt that Violet’s language in the early chapters signposted a little too much her ‘era’ but didn’t notice it later on, instead I was caught up in the gorgeous, evocative descriptions of nature.

This is a novel about strong women who are survivors- what better metaphor than for the writer herself, who has fought through significant health issues to produce a first novel that is so enjoyable.

Want to know more?

KATE, 2019 Kate flees London – abandoning everything – for Cumbria and Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great-aunt. There, a secret lurks in the bones of the house, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

VIOLET, 1942 Violet is more interested in collecting insects and climbing trees than in becoming a proper young lady. Until a chain of shocking events changes her life forever.

ALTHA, 1619 Altha is on trial for witchcraft, accused of killing a local man. Known for her uncanny connection with nature and animals, she is a threat that must be eliminated.

But Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed…

Weaving together the stories of three women across five centuries, Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

My rating....

A bewitched 4 glasses to celebrate on publication day

Thank you NetGalley & the publishers for my ARC #NettGalley