I listened to this book and it is superbly well done, although the themes are serious, including rape, abuse, and abortion. It is atmospheric and compulsive, and frankly a relief when it is over.

There was a quip that the term witch only serves the one naming and not the one named, and that seems clear to me. There is a witch trial here in 1619, and the story focuses on the accused, and her relatives in other centuries– two other women, one during WWII, and another in present day.

This is not about magic or pacts with the devil. These women are strong, defy patriarchy, love nature, and know their own mind. On top of that some are healers. If that’s all it takes to be on trial for witchcraft, I’d probably qualify myself, although I have no particular affinity for crows.

Weyward is about women as survivors of what the world spews on them, and I was made better by reading of their overcoming. This is not a book to be taken on lightly (I’ve read plenty others recently for that) but it is well written and the multicast audio was terrifically done. If you are willing to deal with these themes, I recommend this novel and give it five stars. This is the best thing I’ve read in many months.

The book ends with this quote by Adrianne Rich: