Weyward by Emilia Hart

A clever mix of historical fiction and fierce feminist literature, Weyward is a timeless story that touches upon the topics of liberty, patriarchy, nature and what it means to be a woman, across the ages. By cleverly bringing together the lives of three women across different ages, connected by their steely resolve to maintain their individuality, dignity and pride, using their wits and perhaps aided in parts by something supernatural. 

Weyward doesn't read like a debut, more like an assured work of fiction from a new voice, Emilia Hart, successfully stringing together an engaging narrative that doesn't flag, despite it being stretched across three POVs, three different timelines. Juggling the lives of three very different women, who are nevertheless, very similar - in that they are all "weyward" linked by their bloodline but also in their earnest need to protect what they believe so earnestly in. Their own freedom of expression, supported by an ability to be deeply bonded with nature. 

Among the three story arcs, while Kate's is the one we can relate to the most, the strongest character arc and resolution for me, is the story of Altha, the healer, a healer in the year of 1619 who gets accused of witch-craft and murdering a farmer. While this story is restricted for most parts to a courtroom drama, where the trial of Altha plays out, the suspense draws out beyond the court. And Emilia cleverly orchestrates this, giving us the shielded version of truth in the later half of the book. This part of the narrative, narrated as Altha documenting the truth for her later generations truly takes flight and is absolutely unput-downable. 

Kate’s story is a familiar one, a lonely young woman stuck in a loveless marriage, trying to escape her abusive husband and her own fate. Kate escapes from London to the beautiful rustic surroundings of the Weyward estate out in the countryside and tries to bring some sanity to her desperate fearful existence. Discovering the life of her Grand-Aunt before her, Violet who was the last owner of this Weyward cottage. Violet’s perspective is from the time when she is hardly sixteen years old but undergoes a life-changing traumatic experience that really shapes her resolve and her future. 

Emilia, as I noted earlier, effortlessly strings together a cohesive narrative across time and space between these three different but similar women, who are all brave and fiercely protective of their own individuality. The pace sometimes takes a hit, especially in the earlier parts of the story as Emilia is still painting up the harrowing circumstances that define her protagonists' lives. But it all comes together in the latter half of the book. Weyward is fiercely feminine book with an unflinching portrayal of these brave women who stick to their ideals and beliefs despite the harrowing circumstances that just strengthens their resolve. A very engaging blend of drama across slices of time and history, recommended.