Emilia Hart’s debut novel, 𝑾𝒆𝒚𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅, is an intricately woven gothic tale of three generations of extraordinary women. This beautiful novel speaks of the resilience of women and the inner strength that enables them to rise above even the worst of circumstances. From the very first page, this book kept me enthralled. I loved all three of the women in this book. I felt for each of their plights so profoundly. The detailed descriptions of the natural world, especially Cumbria’s countryside’s plants, trees, birds, and insects, created a wonderful backdrop for the story. I also loved the ties between the three women, especially through the family heirlooms passed through the generations. I could not wait to see how each woman’s story ended. I have always loved books with a touch of magical realism. 𝑾𝒆𝒚𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 is a fantastic addition to the genre. As a huge Jane Eyre fan, I was delighted to see a slight similarity. We had the old mansion, the mad wife locked away, and even a servant named Miss Poole. Be still my classic loving heart. I am looking forward to reading anything this author publishes in the future.
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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜:
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.
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