Growls and Grimm
Review of Weyward by Emilia Hart
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Review of Weyward by Emilia Hart
Historical Fantasy | Magical Realism and Fantasy | Women’s Fiction
“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet.” – Adrienne Rich
Family secrets sometimes span generations, and those same secrets can also empower the newest person in the family line. Kate is propelled into a journey that has her exploring her family’s past, while also trying to escape her current and possible future life
Leaving home forces Kate to confront the women who came before her. Through Violet and Altha, she begins to understand that the strange threads running through her family are not coincidences but a legacy, one that has shaped generations of Weyward women and will ultimately shape her as well.
Should You Read Weyward?
If family secrets, layered historical settings, and powerful female characters are what you’re looking for, this book is likely a good fit. Weyward is best for readers who want a character-driven story, and magic, rather than a fast-paced story, with extensive world-building and predictable relationships.
Given this story takes place along three different timelines, each one is unique to the age that it is in. Regardless of which character the author has the reader focused on, it is easy to visualize the world that they live in. It was easy to picture London through the ages, which allowed for a fully immersive read.
Relationships shape each woman’s story in different ways. Altha and her childhood best friend Grace, Violet with her father Rupert and her brother Graham, and Kate with her boyfriend Simon. It shows how the people in their lives can be supportive and how others see them as a means to an end. The relationships are almost at the heart of the story, leaving Kate to learn from those who came before her.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how naturally each woman’s power develops over time. How they tap into that power, and ultimately learn how to fully embrace who they are. Whether it is to help others or themselves, that writing makes each character memorable
What stayed with me most was how naturally the three timelines came together. Rather than telling one woman’s story, Weyward explores generations of women learning to reclaim their voices, their power, and their place in the world. The quiet thread of nature magic running through each timeline strengthens that theme without ever overwhelming it.
If you enjoy quietly magical stories about resilient women, family legacies, and the strength found in reclaiming your own voice, Weyward belongs on your shelf.
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