Weyward

A Novel

By: Emilia Hart

Narrated by: Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, Nell Barlow

Long-listed, Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year 2023

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.

©2023 Emilia Hart (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic 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

Just Buy It!!!

I can count on one hand the number of books I have awarded five stars. Outstanding!
All three of the main characters stories are beautiful and beautifully intertwined. All three are perfectly voiced.

Predictable

The readers were excellent and the three featured women were easily distinguished. The story was predictable but still, it was entertaining enough.

Loved it!

So moving and the narration was spot-on! I could visualize it so clearly and it tugged at my heartstrings. Couldn’t put it down!

Bewitching

I love all things that are feminist and witchy and this is no different. If like the works of Sarah Addison Allen or Alix E. Harrow, you’ll enjoy this.

I’m keeping this one

Loved it! Kinda sad. Well done Emily Hart! What’s next from her. Wonderful Story. I

Excellent story and performance

Highly recommend- I loved this book start to finish. The writing is poignant and performance is marvelous.

A lovely story/performance

This was an enjoyable story with an exceptionally well done narration. I will be searching for additional books by not only this author but this narrator as well. If you enjoy stories about women discovering their innate strengths in the face of adversity then you should enjoy this as well.

Great story

The connection between the Weyward woman is captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed the telling. The narrators did a wonderful job.

Amazing

I was so in love with this book. I hope there is a follow up.

One of my all time favorites

Love love love this story!! Narration is very good. I hope they make this into a movie or series!!