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seamtressstenny's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Alcohol
seraphinin's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
gwalt118's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Weyward is a feminist novel about misogyny, witchcraft, power, justice, and sin through the eyes of three women in three very different time periods. It is about society's - mostly men's - repeated attempts throughout history to control women's bodies and the ways in which women have had to fight back. Some of the abuse felt gratuitous, but it serves a purpose -- abuse of power by men is closely linked to accusations of witchcraft, and Hart is making a statement about modern-day iterations of the same practice. Know that not all men in the novel are abusive and terrible, though. I loved the inclusion of some good and kind men.
The connections between Altha, Violet, and Kate are incredibly well-plotted and well-written. I loved the insight in the author interview in the back of my book (not sure if it's in all of them), where I learned more about Hart's idea generation and writing process. I also appreciated the continued reading suggestions in the back of this one, most of which I haven't read. I'm intrigued by Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, which I've added to my fall TBR for this year.
Hart's next novel, The Sirens, releases in March 2025. Fingers crossed my request for an ARC on NetGalley comes to fruition!
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Abortion
Moderate: Murder
jennw3415's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Gaslighting
rberdan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a strong debut. I appreciated how the stories of these three women were woven together and distinguished from each other. I also appreciated the author’s use of tense and POV to delineate between the three. The women had commonalities that made sense given their connections, and also had their own stories that distinguished them.
I tend to agree with another reviewer who said that women don’t NEED to have traumatic experiences with men in order to find their power, and yet, it’s not unusual that these experiences DO have that impact in real life. I can see a reader at a certain point in her own healing finding some kinship in these women.
While I didn’t notice the anachronistic language pointed out by another reviewer RE the stories in the past (in this kind of story, I tend to focus more on the lives of the characters), I can see it in hindsight. It didn’t bother me in this particular novel because it was less about being a “period piece” but I can see how it might take a certain kind of reader out of the story.
Personally, I was drawn to aspects of the story that point to power within as well as the connections between living beings. Overall, the pacing was well done, the story was engaging, and there was enough hopefulness to balance the darkness. I would read more by this author.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicide attempt
jennlongb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse and Abortion
Moderate: Rape
wncowling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Murder
jessrox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
bookiesncreme's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Incest, Rape, Blood, Vomit, and Abortion
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
ksilvio's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail