“Weyward” is Emilia Hart’s debut novel. Historical fiction mixed with magical realism and gothic tones, the novel became a New York Times bestseller and won two Goodreads Choice Awards: best historical fiction and best debut novel for 2023. “Weyward” is a split narrative following the lives of three women across five centuries. After I finished reading, I knew I wanted to write a book review about it. I found it to be a genuinely good, well-crafted story.
• 1619: Altha Weyward recently lost her mother — her only family and companion — to illness. Her mother taught Altha the ways of medicine and healing, but with caution. The healing Altha came to know from her mother is that of natural remedies, herbs, mixtures procured from nature — far from the practice of placing leeches on the sick as a form of treatment, as doctors commonly did. When Altha’s mother becomes sick, she makes Altha promise to keep these ways of healing and other secrets safe and not to draw attention to herself. Altha and her mother know their village is not a safe place for them as unmarried women who practice healing, especially with the way animals seem to respond to Altha, and the pet crow her mother keeps. Yet Altha cannot help putting down all their secrets and her deeds in a book she locks away in her cottage. Soon after the loss of her mother Altha finds herself on trial accused of witchcraft following the death of a man in her village.
• 1942: Violet Ayres has always had a fascination with plants and animals, the mechanics of the natural world. She lives with her father and brother on an estate in complete isolation, and her closest friends are the spider that lives under her bed, her nanny and the insects she befriends while about their estate. Violet’s mother died when she was young, and her father is an unloving guardian, more interested in keeping Violet away from society so she doesn’t “become like her mother.” When Violet meets her cousin for the first time, she is fascinated by someone new and by the way he looks at her. All her observations of insects do not help her understand her cousin or the ways of the world. When Violet suddenly finds her safe world harshly torn apart, she is forced to live alone in Weyward Cottage, once owned by her mother. Violet begins to discover why she might have such an inclination for animals and the natural world, and the history of her maternal side, helped along by a crow and a book she discovers, authored by a woman named Altha.
• 2019: Kate Ayres takes her burner phone, the funds she has been secretly stashing away and a suitcase, and flees her husband. Her destination: the cottage her great-aunt Violet Ayres, a woman she met in childhood but barely knew, left for her when she died. But anything is better than the repetitive abuse she receives from her husband. Over the years, Kate has found herself shrinking from who she is, lessening her hobbies and passions, cutting out her mother and friends, all to avoid her husband’s anger. Her father died saving Kate’s life when she was a child, and since then, her love for animals and nature has been silenced. Kate is alone, scared and does not know what to do next. Yet when she arrives at Weyward Cottage she begins to find herself in Violet’s belongings, in the garden, insects and crows, and in a book left under lock and key by a woman named Altha.
The chapters of “Weyward” tell Altha, Violet, and Kate’s stories bit by bit, revealing how the three women and their stories connect, even separated by centuries. All three find themselves alone and isolated following life-changing experiences. Yet they are not truly alone, for in themselves and by way of their connection to one another, they find healing and purpose. “Weyward” is about the resilience and strength of women, the connection that comes from sisterhood, and trusting in oneself. Witchcraft and magic are an implied elements, more of a supporting character to the women’s stories rather than front and center. I found “Weyward” to be a magical novel. Despite my being able to guess what was about to happen throughout the story, Hart managed to make the storyline seem new. Hart’s prose runs smoothly, her character development enough to have developed characters while also leaving room for imagination, and the audio version was read by three different narrators for Altha, Violet and Kate — I’m a big fan of that. “Weyward” is perfect for readers looking for some magic and female empowerment in their lives.
Note: If you are considering reading “Weyward,” I suggest reviewing the content warnings before picking up the novel.
Sarah Turner-Hill is the adult program coordinator at the Joplin Public Library.
