ŷ������

This is the discussion thread for the Winter 2024 Group Read, Weyward in the category Fiction: Celebrity Book Club Picks. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

I enjoyed this one even though multiple timelines aren't my favorite since most of my books are audio and sometimes that makes it harder to keep track of where you are in time.
I liked the different reactions to pregnancy that the different characters had. I also thought it was cool that the Weyward female line transferred to Kate since Violet didn't have any children. I liked the quiet (and not so quiet) support that the women in this book give each other. And I was cheering for them at then end of the book.

I found this book just ok. The blurb on the back said it was original, but I found it very predictable, and very depressing. We get to see women being mistreated by men in 3 different eras. If it wasn't for this being picked here, I would have quit after the first chapter of each woman. Yes, the women get to express their power at some points. And I felt the book was overwritten, many hints about the mysterious women - gee, could she be a witch? And many instances showing her connection to nature. I get it, already!

The different timelines didn't bother me, though I agree that on audio it would be a challenge.

I have love/hate relationship with celebrity book picks, and this book was on-hold well before this season started so I thought it was a sure sign when it became available when the season began.

I liked the book, I liked the way that the three different time lines paralleled each other, that these women were almost destined to share the same fates. And then come into their own in similar ways. They were all mistreated in their own way which made them become stronger and embrace the abilities of their lineage.

Some of the book was a bit repetitive and I don't think it needed quite so much travesty to get the point across. I tend to really enjoy magical realism but even so, the nature and bugs in this book were a little far fetched? Maybe too weird (even for me who reads about dragons)? I'm not sure, but not my favorite.

This was 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars for me. I was invested in the conclusions of each woman and enjoyed some of the cast of characters.

Amy B

A friend of mine had reviewed this book and said she didn't normally enjoy multiple timelines because there's always one you like less and dread going to back to. But that this one was different. And I agree - I found all three of the narrators equally compelling. And although the men in the story are mostly portrayed as dastardly (a bit too stereotypical for me), I liked the story. I actually switched back and forth between the audio book and the paperback and think the producers did a good job of picking different voices for the three characters to make it easier to follow the jumps in timeline. A good book, glad it was chosen for the group read.

I cannot say that i either loved or hated this book. It has a background of withcraft passed through the female line. I was quite invested in the modern timeline and also in the most historic character but simply found the mid time protrayal uncomfortanle. It would not draw me into more by this author

While I would hesitate to recommend this book to anyone, the subject matter is too disturbing, after the first few chapters I found myself caught up in the story. I listened to the audio version and I'm sure that a good deal of my enjoyment was due to the wonderful narration.
It's a book I would have passed over or not finished, had it not been for this task, but sometimes it's good to stretch your comfort zone, which this definitely did.

Kim wrote: "...I would hesitate to recommend this book to anyone, the subject matter is too disturbing..."

How front-and-centre (and critically, how graphic in the case of Kate) is the mistreatment of the women in the book? I was considering grabbing this from the library for 20.10, but if it's especially in-your-face then I doubt I'd be able to handle it.

@Jayne I'd say it's pretty in your face. It's not gratuitous per se, but certainly it's a constant during the book.

I did enjoy it, though like Jecca, I think maybe slightly over-egged the many different and yet identical ways that men oppress and abuse women. Hurrah for Graham, though. the redeeming light of manhood.

now to find a lighter read!

Cat wrote: "@Jayne I'd say it's pretty in your face. It's not gratuitous per se, but certainly it's a constant during the book.

I did enjoy it, though like Jecca, I think maybe slightly over-egged the many di..."

Hmm, okay. Might have to pass on this one then! Thanks for the insight - time to go look at the other options.

This book was just ok for me. I did enjoy the narrators in the audio version. Definitely could do without so many spiders and bugs. I liked the way the three storylines came together and with the narrators it wasn't as hard as some to follow in audio versions.

I was on the fence about this book as I don't typically read books that are endorsed by celebrities. As it turns out, I didn't particularly like it. Too dark and repetitive. I didn't like that three generations of women were subjected to the same treatment by men. Not surprising really but disturbing nonetheless.

I don't think I'll read anything else by this author.

I liked the eerie atmosphere of the book. You have the witches who are seen as the monsters but actually the real monsters are the men around them. Surprise sursprise. The multiple timelines did get a bit confusing with the audio version but I enjoyed all three.

I really enjoyed Weyward - I read as a advance reader copy so long before it was “celeb endorsed�� and it was a 5⭐️ read for me
I do think that some people go into this book expecting “magic�� or paranormal or fantasy or witches of the pointy-hat & broomstick variety & it isn’t that �� if you have an awareness/interest in the wise-women or herbalists of past times who were often designated as 'witches�� (a word “invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not to those it describes��) or any insight into the witch trials particularly in the UK I would highly recommend Weyward ��

My review if it helps anyone:
/review/show...

I wasn't planning on reading this for the group read - since I normally go the NF route - but I discovered this was available in kindle unlimited vs. needing to wait on other books from the library - so I went for it.

I think much of my thoughts have been captures above - I didn't necessarily find it all that unique, but I appreciated the storyline. I actually liked the third female POV, since most books only focus on 2 - also this idea of if you fool with fate (like violet did) - what are the results - what would have happened if she hadn't conflated the 2 visions she had into one and Kate's father had survived? I thought the storyline with Grace (through Althea) was probably the weakest and I wanted more - Grace went from testifying against her to needing her help like that, it just felt a bit too ehh....

overall 3 stars

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I loved the multigenerational story being told and how they were similar in many ways. I felt it was more of a story with the struggles of women than a witch story. I really appreciated the tone and the atmosphere of the story to really fold in the issues of violence against women.

Robin P wrote: "I found this book just ok. The blurb on the back said it was original, but I found it very predictable, and very depressing. We get to see women being mistreated by men in 3 different eras. If it w..."

20% in on audio and I am considering DNF... I'm just not engaged and probably also not in the mood

Extremely enjoyable read for me - 4.5 stars.
I thought the three stories were really well connected, with similar incidents and themes across all three storylines. Yet each was distinct enough to make them easy to follow and interesting. The quick chapters jumping between the three women worked really well, I was always disappointed to leave one story but excited to get back into the other. I flew through this very quickly.

I found the book to be an engaging read even if the storylines were somewhat predictable. I was interested in all the time lines and I agree that it was more about women finding their power than fantasy and witchcraft. I was not bothered by the nature sections. I tend to sit outside in the summer and keep flowers all around my patio that attract bees, so it didn't seem all that farfetched to me;)

I saw some of the negative reviews, so I wasn't expecting much from this one. Happily, I liked it much more than I thought I would! I saw certain things that could have been considered problematic, and bits were a bit predictable, but the plot remained interesting throughout and I was thoroughly engaged and invested with all three characters. The narration was good (I did audio) and I found it really well written, especially for a debut novel. My only real complaint is all the damn bugs. 🐜🐝🕷

I listened to the audio version of this book and did have some trouble initially with the multiple timelines. As the storylines progressed that became less of a problem. Because of that, I did have some trouble getting into the book. I was about half way through when I became wholly engaged in the book. While some things were predictable, I ended up really liking it.

This was a bit of a disappointment. The story strongly focused on the violence experienced by women, and it felt like this overshadowed the empowerment aspect. Because of this, the book felt quite heavy in terms of themes, and I would have liked something lighter to balance out the dark themes.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought the tie in and different call backs throughout the different timelines was well done, and I enjoyed the stories of the women rising against the darkness. Was a very quick read!

Although there were many good points about this book, overall I found it a depressing read. I agree that all three POV were equally well done, and I didn't mind switching between them, as can sometimes be the case. I found the historical settings convincing (they aren't always), but I wouldn't recommend it.