I don’t read a lot of historical fiction. It’s not because of strong negative feelings, I just don’t find myself drawn to that style of storytelling very often. But as is becoming a pattern, I have been chosen to read Weyward: A Novel by Emilia Hart, courtesy of my book club. Winner of two GoodReads Choice Awards and Hart’s debut novel, this book has a lot going for it in terms of witchy magical realism and focusing on the stories of historical women.
Book Review: Weyward By Emilia Hart
There are a few key things to be aware of when reading Weyward — the story is made up of multiple intertwining storylines (three total that still stand out and shine individually) and it has a very beautiful writing style; Hart has a very firm grasp of language and wields it wonderfully to wave a book tapestry that is very pleasant to read. This serves as the vehicle to explore the experiences of women who all have a connection to the novel’s namesake:
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 suspects 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. When Altha was a girl, her 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 of witchcraft is laid out against Altha, she knows it will take all 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 astonishing debut, and an enthralling novel of female resilience.
Weyward: A Novel. Emilia Hart. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250280817/weyward/
What I appreciate most about Hart’s debut novel is how it brings to light serious feminist themes without being overtly, preachy, or obviously feminist. This is not a book that was made to be stereotypical feminist, yet it is so by the very nature of its existence and by the nature of the topics it dives into. It’s inherent. With alternating POV’s that are very easy to read along with and become invested in — each with optimal pacing — Weyward showcases the feminine struggle and how it’s manifested throughout hundreds of years:
Being accused of witchcraft for being in touch with nature and knowing more than a man. Pursuing academics and the sciences. Leaving abusive relationships and building a life after them. Rape. Being blamed for said rape. Abortion. Suicide. The very nature of choice being stolen away. Forcibly taking that power and choice back.
All this is matched with a strong spiritual connection to the natural world and a hint of magical realism that brings each female character back into the light. This is a novel that doesn’t shy away from dark and extraordinarily challenging things — rather it embraces them and showcases the healing and defining power of women. This is a very strong debut novel and fills a very unique niche in fiction — historical; meaningful; deep; realistic; and packaged like a poem.Weyward is a book about finding yourself, taking back power, and strategically placed mayfly eggs.
The other debut novel I know I’ve read is This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer which is still my top pick, but this debut is a very close second; and it’s not as prominent of magical realism as The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston, it’s much more subtle and mysterious, but still a welcomed part of the story. I enjoyed reading all about these Weyward women and I’m happy to have this in my Audible library.
My Hot Takes (Spoiler Warning)
- Kate’s mother? GURL. You knew something and didn’t say something? You’re a shitty mother.
- The connection each main character has with crows and insects gives me Mother Of Dragons vibes, especially in the ending of Kate’s storyline.
- After reading this I want to be a forest witch in a cottage with a pet crow.
My Rating: ⅘ Stars
