A remarkable debut novel from Emilia Hart!
Atmospheric, with a triple timeline, triple POV mix of historical and women's fiction with magical realism.
In 2019, Kate escapes an abusive relationship and heads for Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great Aunt Violet, an eccentric entomologist. She will uncover a secret about the women in her family there. A secret dating back to 1619, when local authorities tried her ancestor Altha Weyward was tried for witchcraft.
Well-written and gripping, each timeline stands on its own yet weaves together its parallel themes. Difficult topics are not shied away from as a stark look is taken at a few issues, including the mistreatment of women across the centuries. I rooted for each woman as she found strength and power, particularly her magical power and connection to nature. The characters are likable and well-developed, the imagery is vivid, and the setting is stunning. And I am in love with the cover of this one!
I was impressed with this debut and look forward to what Hart writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this ARC. I enjoyed it!
My steep was Lucid Dreams by Club Magic Hour. A tulsi, turmeric herbal with traditional chai spices and the addition of orange peel and coconut flavorings. www.clubmagichour.com
Synopsis:
Three women. Five centuries. One secret.
‘I had nature in my heart, she said. Like she did, and her mother before her. There was something about us – the Weyward women – that bonded us more tightly with the natural world.
We can feel it, she said, the same way we feel rage, sorrow or joy.’
In 2019, Kate flees an abusive relationship in London for Crows Beck, a remote Cumbrian village. Her destination is Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great Aunt Violet, an eccentric entomologist.
As Kate struggles with the trauma of her past, she uncovers a secret about the women in her family. A secret dating back to 1619, when her ancestor Altha Weyward was put on trial for witchcraft…
Weyward is a stunning debut novel about gender and control – about the long echoes of male violence through the centuries. But more than that, it is a celebration of nature, female power and breaking free.
#stmartinspress #emiliahart #weyward #womensfiction #historicalfiction #magicalrealismbooks #bookreviewswithteapairings #booksandtea #readthisandsteep
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