by Emilia Hart
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.
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.
Reviews-
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Starred review from January 9, 2023
Hart explores in her triumphant debut sexual desire, violence, and personal autonomy in the lives of three strong-willed English women from the 17th century to the present. In 1619 Lancaster, 21-year-old healer Altha Weyward stands accused of witchcraft after using powers learned from her mother to provide women with reproductive care. In 1942, 16-year-old Violet Ayres passes time by observing the creatures around her family home near the village of Crows Beck. Her widowed father keeps her confined there because she exhibits the same strange behavior as her mother, Elizabeth Weyward Ayres, who had the ability to command crows, but Violet nonetheless lusts after an army officer who visits the house. In 2019, pregnant 29-year-old Kate Ayres flees her abusive boyfriend and moves to a cottage in Crows Beck that was left to her by her great-aunt. As she settles into her new home, she finds documents about the Weyward women’s powers. Hart skillfully weaves together the stories of the determined women, showing how they confronted a patriarchal society to take control of their lives. The magic harnessed by the characters feels completely real in this captivating outing. Agent: Felicity Blunt, Curtis Brown. (Mar.)This review has been updated to clarify a plot point. A previous version of this review also incorrectly stated the Kate character was married. -
The lives of three women are intertwined in this debut audiobook. Altha, portrayed by Aysha Kala, is on trial for witchcraft in 1619. Kala conveys Altha's fear that she will be convicted, as well as her confidence that she did the right thing. Nell Barlow presents Violet. In 1942, she's a sheltered 16-year-old who suffers at the hands of her tyrannical father. Barlow shows Violet's resilience as she overcomes having been raped by her cousin and breaks free of her father's dominance. Helen Keeley tells the story of Kate, who in 2019 flees her abusive boyfriend. Keeley captures Kate's growing confidence as she learns to become her own person. Each narrator maintains the stories' tension and suspense and keeps the listener engaged with these characters. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
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June 10, 2024
Hart's compelling debut tells the story of three women, separated by centuries but connected by an indefinable bond and an otherworldly attachment to the natural world. In 1690, Altha faces a witch trial; in 1942, Violet leads a sheltered life that results in her exploitation; in 2019, Kate flees an abusive relationship. Despite their differing obstacles, they are all drawn to Weyward Cottage, where they discover their ancestral secrets and find a mysterious strength to overcome anything. Hart presents a powerful, provocative story of tragedy and triumph. 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. From Cumbrian brogue to London lilt, their voices transport listeners to the haunting, harrowing worlds of the enigmatic leading ladies. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an atmospheric blend of historical and literary fiction with an intense and intricate plot. Recommended for fans of Laurie Lico Albanese, Jacqueline Winspear, and Sarah Penner.--Lauren Hackert
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
