Synopsis
2019: Kate flees London for Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great-aunt. 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 hidden in the cottage 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. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her the kind of magic that is rooted in knowledge of the natural world. As the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her power to maintain her freedom.
1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family’s estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the education her brother receives, and for her deceased mother, who was rumored to have gone mad. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word “weyward” scratched into the baseboard of her room.
Weaving together the stories of three women across five centuries, Emilia Hart’s novel depicts female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
Rating
★★★
Thoughts
I just didn’t enjoy this book. I was drawn to the cover and the witchy premise, but we weren’t a good match. While I’m no stranger to feminist studies, this book was missing a certain something to make it resonate with me. I could appreciate the challenges these oppressed women faced in their respective eras, but I didn’t feel connected to them. I felt like the most descript parts of the story were concerning things I’d rather not read about in great detail because they were unpleasant—from abortions to bugs. I recognize the importance of using story to draw attention to issues like human rights, but this book fell flat for me there.
Weyward had a few positive points. I liked the fact that the women were survivors. I also liked the role that nature and tradition played in their lives. While I didn’t find the story to be inspirational or exciting, the pace wasn’t sluggish, which is always a plus.