Welcome to Litsy!

Not a banner reading month for me, but cheers to the last week of classes! Here we go!

#weeklyfavorite #weeklyfavorites

I liked the anchoring of witchcraft in nature. I felt the mystery aspect (especially Violet's mother's backstory) could have been beefed up a bit, maybe to replace a bit of the narrative of Kate's journey to the cottage, for example. It did start to feel a bit predictable, as others noted, although I have to say the surprise in the Epilogue made my day (I usually hate epilogues).

A solid read.

I loved this story! We‘ve got three different timelines with three different women connected by blood and their penchant to have bad men in their lives. I loved each of their stories and watching them develop their voices and their strengths, even when it seems they‘d hit rock bottom. Beautiful, raw story! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

⭐️⭐️⭐️Beautifully written, but rough content. I like when books are told from multiple points of view, & Hart does an amazing job connecting the Weyward women across different timelines.I thought all three audiobook narrators also did a great job, and I wish that these same stories could‘ve been told just with less violence against all the women in these stories. Genre-wise this is more literary fiction than fantasy,& that wasn‘t what I expected.

Weekend read. HAPPY SATURDAY🍁🍁🍁🍁

Weyward is a 2023 debut novel by Emilia Hart that weaves together the stories of three women across five centuries: Altha in 1619, Violet in 1942, and Kate in 2019. The novel is a historical fiction with elements of magical realism, focusing on female resilience, the power of nature, and the cyclical struggle against patriarchal control.

TW: SA and abuse. This book tells the story of three Weyward women from three different eras. The Weywards are a long line of witchy women, connected to nature in such a magical way. And these women have had to endure such horrible things at the hands of men. It might be fiction, but knowing the truth in that for so many women made those scenes difficult to get through. Ultimately, the book reminds us that women are magic and they are survivors.

I loved the different POVs and the story each one told!

“We never thought of ourselves as witches, my mother and I. For this was a word invented by men, a word that brings power to those who speak it, not those it describes. A word that builds gallows and pyres, turns breathing women into corpses.”

This one was a good read. Two different women, two different eras, one bloodline, one relatable story. The deep connection to nature being turned into something evil mystifies me. This is an empowering story. They didn‘t burn witches, they burned women.

My next listen has been sitting in my Audible library for a while, but with October just around the corner I‘m in the mood for something witchy.

This was such a beautiful story about the power of blood, the power of women, the power of the natural world. Difficult to read in parts (please note trigger warnings), but in the end, karma won (with plenty of magical help). I loved it! #TBRtarot (book with a green and GORGEOUS cover)

The audio really pulled me into the historical/magical realism story about three women of the same blood line who all use their inherent gifts to retaliate against some awful men. Seriously, there‘s like one decent man in the whole book. I really didn‘t know what to expect, grabbed it off Libby in an impulsive fog, and glad it worked for me! Also, #bingo! #bookspinbingo

I read this book for the second time for book club because I completely forgot what it was about, even though I had just read it in April 2024. I hate it when my brain dumps information!

It did come back to me as I was reading it, and I enjoyed it even more the second time. It's historical fiction about female witches told throughout different generations. I'm really looking forward to reading this author's new book, The Sirens.

The story is about three women of the same bloodline and different generations who face struggles of their own.

Unpopular opinion: I so wanted to love the book, but it was too difficult to even finish it. Took multiple tries at it but there wasn't much happening.

I really wanted to like it but it didn‘t blow me away. And I think that‘s all on me.

It was written really well & the characters were three dimensional and unique, but I can‘t help but feel that I would‘ve liked it better if it was just from Altha‘s POV.

Either way, I‘m glad to have read it. I really enjoyed Altha‘s storyline & it was interesting to see the hedgewitchyness of each woman manifest in different ways.

Lots of trigger warnings in this book but I enjoyed it. Three generations of women from the same family and their stories. I enjoyed all three story lines equally. All three characters are strong and brave women. Just enough magical realism for me - maybe a bit too much in a certain part but in general it was a good mix of witch and real. It was a bit predictable but still good. Beautiful descriptive writing and I'll read more by this author.

It's raining on our last evening at the cottage so we are indoors for the night. Chicken and corn salad with baked potatoe and I'll be starting Weyward next. Couldn't decide what to read next so had our boy pick based on the covers. It'll be indoor smores and introducing the kids to The Sandlot tonight since it's supposed to rain all evening. I'm excited to read this book as I've had it on my shelf for a while.

#BookReport

I read Fundamentally (already returned to library) and The Crossing Places

I continued with my yearlong reads on the right

I continued Lamentation #ShardlakeBR and started Audition #CampLitsy25

I continued my audio, Weyward, and hope to finish today

#WeeklyForecast

Continue with the yearlong reads on the right

Pick up Lamentation again for #ShardlakeBR

I want to continue my audio, Weyward

I started Fundamentally earlier today. Once that‘s finished I want to start The Crossing Places unless Audition #camplitsy25 arrives from the library first

#BookReport

This was a week for finishing books 😊

I finished Northanger Abbey #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow, Tata and Please Do Not Touch This Exhibit

I read A Year Unfolding and The Adventure of the Three Gables #NoPlaceLikeHomes

I continued my yearlong reads on the right

I made great progress on my audio, Weyward

I‘m almost done with A Little Trickerie

Weyward is a beautifully written story of love, strength and a bond that women share. While there are triggering topics like rape and DV, they are heartbreakingly intertwined into the most incredible story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#WeeklyForecast

Continue with the yearlong reads on the right

Continue Weyward on audio

I want to finish Northanger Abbey #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow, Tata and maybe even Please Do Not Touch This Exhibit

I want to start A Year Unfolding and A Little Trickerie

#BookReport

I read Hvit Makt (White Power) and The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone #NoPlaceLikeHolmes

I continued my yearlong reads on the right

I continued this month‘s buddy reads; Northanger Abbey #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow and Lamentation #ShardlakeBR

I continued Please Di Not Touch This Exhibit

I‘ve started Tata

#BookReport

Finished:
📚 A Leopard-Skin Hat
📚 Sister in Law

Read:
📚 The Quest of the Missing Map #NancyDrewBR
📚 Small Boat
📚 The Blanched Soldier #NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Current:
📚 Please Do Not Touch This Exhibit
📚 My yearlong reads
📚 Northanger Abbey #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow
📚 Lamentation #ShardlakeBR
🎧 Weyward

#WeeklyForecast
Continue my current reads, read Hvit Makt (White Power), TAo The Mazarin Stone & start Tata

This is a wonderful book, so beautifully written and evocative. Nature breathes in its pages with a subtle loveliness and vivid power. Our three MCs are fascinating, complex women, each with their own issues and challenges, but with a strong thread drawing them together over history. The question of power vibrates through the stories, and is reclaimed with a vengeance. I loved this evocative tale, and look forward to more from the author.

I adored this 📖. I mostly listened to it on audio while pottering. I usually find audio 📚 a chore but not this 1. I wanted all the strong female characters to not just survive but thrive. It seems to be a struggle for women no matter when they are born! The modern day character gave me 💓. I preordered her next 1 and got into it straight away too. It‘s great so far. I hope she writes more and continues to look at the complexity of being a woman.

#WeeklyForecast

Continue my yearlong reads on the right

Continue with the buddy reads; Lamentation #ShardlakeBR, Northanger Abbey #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow and The Blanched Soldier #NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Continue Please Do Not Touch This Exhibit, Sister in Law and on audio Weyward

I‘m about to start The Quest of the Missing Map #NancyDrewBR

I also want to read Small Boat and get a start on Tata

Thursday I was exhausted and knew I had to perform a dance for the first time on Saturday that required me to be with it so I took Friday off to get on top of things. It worked and the new dance received first place and the old dance a highly commended in the eisteddfod in a town an hour away. Whilst picking up a click and collect I couldn‘t resist checking out the book swap. I scored! Niece and nephew will get the activity books next visit.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I too have an affinity for insects and critters (except for mosquitoes) and can‘t kill any of them (except for mosquitos!) 🦟 🍄‍🟫 🦅 🐞🕷️

Unpopular opinion. The prose and setting are good, but not much is happening and it‘s just boring me. Very similar to Lost Apothecary which I didn‘t like. #hailthebail

Good. I listened to the audiobook version of this. This was performed by three different women which added to the story and made it come alive and you could tell the difference between them. Follows three generations of Weyward women and their lives. Full of magic and nature.

#Audible

I really enjoyed this book and the linking of the main characters. It just kept getting better and better and the storyline‘s unfolded.

I‘m giving this a pick because it was entertaining but I did find myself snapping back at the audiobook, primarily with Kate‘s story. Her character was frustrating to me because she felt so flat at times. I think the author spent a lot of time on the drama but it detracted from the believability of the characters.

This book had me at the tag line. I knew it would be right up my street. Did not disappoint at all! I was immersed in the three protagonists stories and how they all intertwined. Really enjoyed reading, feel like I finished it too quick #pick #Weyward #EmiliaHart

I cannot recommend this enough. This is everything I look for in a book. Told through three POVs in three different timelines, these three Weyward women are all strong female protagonists. Historical fiction at its finest with a touch of magical realism; mwah! Chef's kiss!

Men hurting women. That‘s the theme in this historical fiction with a rotating POV. Altha in 1619, Violet in 1942 & Kate in 2019 all face abuse in their lives of the life of someone they love. The women have a deep connection with insects & birds. It‘s compulsively readable, but also made me roll my eyes many times with the bad choices & one-dimensional characters. I wished for more depth in relationships and less focus on the gruesome situations.

“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet” Adrienne Rich
This novel weaves together the stories of three women of the same bloodline: a 17th century witch trial; a young girl growing up during the war, kept closeted in her home by her father; and an abusive relationship in 2019. It‘s often a harrowing tale but I felt invested in the characters.

“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet” Adrienne Rich
This novel weaves together the stories of three women of the same bloodline: a 17th century witch trial; a young girl growing up during the war, kept closeted in her home by her father; and an abusive relationship in 2019. It‘s often a harrowing tale but I felt invested in the characters.

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
What are you reading?
#boleybooks #Weyward #emiliahart #bookbeast #bookbuds #bookchat #libby

#Bookreport

Pretty good reading week even if I only finished a single short story and a novel. The Aeneid is proving to be a whole project so I'm treating it like I treated Lud in the Mist, making various notes about the symbolism and history. It's been pretty interesting. It is a lot, but I will most likely finish it this week.

📚CR:

🎧Rise of the King
🎧The Witness for the Dead
🎧The Aeneid

Meh. Magical realism just isn't my cup of tea. But I really enjoyed the characters Hart created, I liked getting to know them and liked how their stories came together.

This was a poignant and visceral novel about womanhood and the mistreatment of women with a heavy subject matter. Most of the men in this novel are so awful and disgusting that I was rooting for their demise from my very being. It follows three generations of women from the same bloodline, their lives, and their struggles.

I would recommend this novel wholeheartedly but I will also issue a warning about explicit descriptions of SA, rape, and CSA

4/5🌟
3 different timelines about 3 related women generations apart. One is tried as a witch because of fear. One is naive about the ways of the world because her father turns their home into a prison and pays an awful price. One escapes an abusive relationship until her past finds her. Each one finds the strength to seize the story of their lives and build something new.

I liked this one, but I think I had it hyped up too much in my head based on other reviews and I was a little disappointed. It was good, but not as good as I ultimately was expecting.

4/5 🌟

This is an intergenerational story of three women connected by their Weyward legacy. Through beautiful writing, it tackles tough themes like abuse, assault and resilience. The audiobook is excellent.

This was one of my few high rated books. Great female lead with her coming into her power as a women which we love to see. I loved the way this was written with fantastic imagery that sucked me right in. Gave you that feminist feeling of wanting to stand up and fight. Much love for this one 💕

Happy Jolabokaflod everyone!! Thank you so much @booklover3258 … I can‘t wait to read the book and snack on the yummy chocolate!

Thanks @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting one of my favorite swaps of the year!

#jolabokaflodswap

Day 3 of my book Advent calendar.
I‘ve actually read this one, but it was an ebook. It‘s nice to have a physical copy of this one 👍🏻