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Weyward cover art

Weyward

By: Emilia Hart
Narrated by: Aysha Kala,Helen Keeley,Nell Barlow
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Summary

They tried to cage us.

But a Weyward woman belongs to the wild.

We cannot be tamed.

In 2019, Kate flees an abusive relationship in London for Crows Beck, a remote Cumbrian village. Her destination is Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great Aunt Violet, an eccentric entomologist.

As Kate struggles with the trauma of her past, she uncovers a secret about the women in her family. A secret dating back to 1619, when her ancestor Altha Weyward was put on trial for witchcraft...

Unique. Original. Unforgettable. Discover the power of being Weyward in 2023’s biggest debut.

©2023 Emilia Hart (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"A brave and original debut - spellbinding." (Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary)

"Humming with a sly, exhilarating magic." (Bridget Collins, author of The Binding)

"Beguiling, absorbing and exquisitely-rendered." (Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter)

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What listeners say about Weyward

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Enticing story of the persecution and endurance of women across time

Loved the characters, warmly drawn and individual. It did feel a little bleak that there was only really 1 male character who wasn’t monstrous. The voices were well done but I did find it very odd that a book so clearly set in Cumbria with a real sense of place made no effort to get the accents right. Alva was voiced by a Geordie and none of the other accents were even from the north west. The north is not all one place!!

A strong tale of female empowerment, with gripping and satisfying revelations throughout though.

3 people found this helpful

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Loved the echoes of Crawdads

Where the Crawdads Sing was my book of 2020, read during Lockdown, which is when I believe Emilia Hart wrote this book. I loved the echoes of Crawdads in this story, the relationships of females, which society labels as being different, to the men in their lives, and of course the insects and animals and nature.
I thought it was a clever interweaving of the generations and I loved how the author brought their stories together and the symbolism and situations that ran throughout the story.
Really enjoyed it and I recommend it.

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Just brilliant

I could hear the bees buzzing, smell the fear and feel her empowement. A real success with our bookclub

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Really great story

I so enjoyed this book I didn’t want it to end.
Hopefully Emilia will bring another out soon.

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Spellbinding

I became totally absorbed by this story, so much of which resonates with me.
Beautifully written & performed.
I am sad to have reached the end & miss Altha, Violet & Kate.

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Wonderful unputdownable tale!

What a debut novel! Format, with three different narrators, makes this listen exceptional. More to follow, I hope.

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Spellbinding

The story was fantastic, has kept me gripped. It was read beautifully. Absolutely raced through it. Thoroughly enjoyable.

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Magical connections

It is a truly enchanting book that captivated me from beginning to end. Its gentle yet powerful narrative beautifully explores the bonds between women and their inherent strength. The three natrators brought the story to lude with stunning performances, leaving me spellbound and reluctant for it to conclude.

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Brilliant

Listen to this over a few days. So interesting and engaging. I liked all three women equally and each story was as compelling as each other.

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Wonderful!

I absolutely loved this story and found myself completely immersed very quickly. The characters really come alive whilst their stories are being told. I loved the historical and geographical detail but most of all I loved the thread of empowering female strength that ran through, making it uplifting and joyful. Seeing women find their voice and strength despite being down-trodden and held back by men, kept the vibe of hopefulness running through. I found myself sneaking off to places where I could listen uninterrupted and was very frustrated if someone appeared and started talking to me, needing me to press the pause button! Wonderfully absorbing and the best thing I've listened to in ages, I feel quite bereft now it has come to an end....