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Sign up todayWeyward
A Novel
Length
10 hours 51 minutes
Language
English
Narrators
Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley & Nell Barlow
This audiobook uses AI narration.
We’re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.
Learn moreBookseller recommendation
“This feminist take on a family whose women show an uncanny connection with wild creatures from damsel flies to crows is both stellar historical fiction and an ode to the natural world. Three parallel narratives follow generations of Weyward women, Altha, accused of witchcraft in the 15th century; Violet, living under the cruel control of an unfeeling father during World War Two; and Kate, a modern woman caught in a horrific abusive relationship. Each finds their true calling in through a connection with nature, and each finds a way to succeed in spite of patriarchal societal norms that could destroy them. The use of three narrators, one for each Weyward woman, brings these women vividly to life. ”
— Claire • Honest Dog Books
Bookseller recommendation
“This is an excellent read if you love well-researched historical fiction and multiple familial timelines. While I have read a few reviews that chastise the book's lack of positive male figures, I respectfully disagree. The patriarchy was entirely in charge during the Witch Hunts of the late 17th Century, as it was during the turmoil of aristocratic England during World War II. Kate's realistic modern-day story reflects the stories of women I have met in controlling and abusive relationships. Author Emilia Hart's use of metaphor and internal dialog assisted in my understanding of each woman's struggles as she attempted to live in a world that sought to control her 'wayward' gifts, forcing them to conceal their secrets. The three narrators who lent their voices to Altha, Violet, and Kate greatly assisted with developing the setting and the storyline. From fear and anger to resignation and joy, I'm always amazed at how talented narrators can truly make a story come alive.”
— Linda • Mind Chimes Bookshop
Bookseller recommendation
“Three women with a deep connection to nature maneuver their way in a world where men try to corral and control them. In 1619, Altha knows what it means to be a Weyward woman, taught healing skills by her mother and understanding her connection to nature and its power. Not surprisingly, she is accused of witchcraft. Violet, in 1942, and Kate, in 2019, each learn that they are Weyward women and what that means only after tragedy and violence. Each woman ultimately not only embraces her strength, but uses it to bring some justice against misogyny. A captivating and empowering narrative.”
— Nancy • Raven Book Store
This is a multicast program.
"A spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft."
—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
"Narrators Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, and Nell Barlow are a magical, moving trio. Their emotional and expressive performance of the parallel narratives ranges from touching and timid to tense and twisting."- Library Journal
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
Emilia Hart is the author of Weyward and The Sirens. She grew up in Australia and studied English Literature at university before training as a lawyer. She now lives in London.
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Reviews
"A triumphant debut...the magic harnessed by the characters feels completely real in this captivating outing." ––Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Tension and suspense are skillfully maintained as these women seek to extricate themselves from dire circumstances and discover secret strength. The result is a tale of magic and female empowerment and an atmospheric, gripping read." ––Booklist
"Gripping...Thoughtful and at times harrowing, this novel is a successful blend of historical fiction and modern feminism." ––Kirkus
"Hart evokes a powerful sense of place in each of the narratives, and elicits mystery and a rich atmosphere at every turn. A brave and original debut, Weyward is a spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft."
––Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
"A totally unique debut that shines a light on the female experience. I loved it."
––Gillian McAllister, New York Times bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time
"Weyward spans three women's lives in three different centuries, connected by blood and one very unique gift. The writing's beautiful, the women are wonderful, and each narrative is as compelling as the next. Alive, vivid, gripping. Real magic." ––Abigail Dean, New York Times bestselling author of Girl A
"A very poignant story of female endurance and hidden power, humming with a sly, exhilarating magic." ––Bridget Collins, Sunday Times bestselling author
"An utterly absorbing page turner. Emilia Hart has written a brilliant story of the strength, resilience and power of three women spanning decades, against a stunning backdrop of the frailty and beauty of nature. This is an outstanding debut and worthy of all the stars."
––Abi Daré, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl With the Louding Voice
"Scuttling with insects and dripping with dark magic, this book got its claws into me and simply refused to let go. An astonishingly accomplished debut, it is beguiling, absorbing and exquisitely rendered, with prose as finely-crafted as a dragonfly's wing. With Weyward, Emilia Hart bursts onto the literary scene with a howl of feminist rage."
––Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter
"Beautifully written and intricate as a spider's web, Weyward weaves an intergenerational tale of sorrow, love, and strength. Though separated by decades or even centuries, these three Weyward women—Altha, Violet, and Kate—are each other's heritage and legacy, and the power they each possess pays tribute to the connections between women, nature, and family." ––Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters
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