By Emilia Hart
SPOILER-FREE
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.
REVIEW
THEMES: HISTORICAL, FEMINIST, MAGICAL REALISM, MEDIUM-PACED.
This story follows three women through three different time periods (1619, 1942 and 2019). Each woman has to endure their own struggles, which are all at the hands of men – however, they find strength in the inheritance of being a Weyward woman.
This is such a beautifully written, powerful story and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I have come to really appreciate novels that switch perspectives every chapter or so. It keeps everything compelling and captivating. Opposed to having one point of view for five plus chapters – whilst this can be more immersive, it also stagnates the storytelling.
Having the chapters jump back and forth to different time periods really emphasizes the strength of ancestral bonds. It is touching how much their ancestry acts as a support for the not-so-different struggles they face throughout the story.
Some sensitive topics are covered, such as domestic violence and rape. Personally, I think Hart describes it in a way that captures enough to feel the emotions and anger – but not enough to become overly graphic or crass (to me).
This is such a powerful story that everyone needs to read. Historical fiction, feminist literature and magical realism readers would also enjoy Weyward.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
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