Altha
This book revolves around three main protagonists who lived at various different times. Altha’s narrative takes place in a small British village in 1619. This is a time when witches were thought to be very much real and Altha suddenly finds herself one of the accused in the wake of a simple trampling accident that killed a local farmer.
As was often the case, Altha’s witchcraft did not spring fully formed from paranoia and superstition. She has followed in her mother’s footsteps in providing healing services. These healing powers are the type that can easily fall under the guise of practicing witchcraft to those already prone to looking for such explanations.
Not helping the situation any is Altha’s predilection for claiming the ability to communicate directly with birds and bugs. Eventually all her peculiarities combine with local fearmongering to put her on trial for practicing witchcraft. Successfully subverting the death penalty that a guilty verdict would ensure, Altha makes extensive notes of her life and work in a notebook.
Violet
Violet’s story takes place in England during the upheaval caused by World War II. Far removed from Altha’s circumstances, she calls what was once a stately manor home. Orton Hall has fallen upon hard times with the crumbling of aristocracy throughout Europe in the opening decades of the 20th century.
The shifting power of aristocrats plays a major role in Violet’s life. A man named Rupert married Violet’s mother to manipulate his way to a title. As Lord Rupert, he attempts to put Violet’s mother away under the guise of madness but eventually, she dies as a result of surgery related to childbearing. History appears to be repeating somewhat as Violet is raped and impregnated by a cousin.
Violet goes into hiding in Wayward Cottage—where Altha lived centuries before—to hide her shame from the world. While in hiding at the cottage, she discovers Altha’s journal. Within the journal lies the secret to avoiding the shame of giving birth to a child by incestuous rape altogether.
Kate
The new millennium finds a woman named Kate on the road from London. She is escaping an abusive boyfriend and, like Violet, trying to deal with a troublesome pregnancy. She heads for Wayward Cottage to go into hiding.
Kate inherited what is now a very rundown cottage from a great aunt who is barely even a gauzy memory from her youth. While the cottage has certainly seen better days architecturally, it turns out to be a prize gift for Kate. She stumbles upon papers indicating she is also heir to the unusual powers and communication with nature that got Altha into such trouble.
The abusive boyfriend eventually manages to track her down. By then, however, Kate has acquired new strength and powers that she can call upon to completely turn the tables. Summoning the full danger presented by birds and insects to the well-being of humans, Kate’s boyfriend is forced to make an unexpected departure. This leaves Kate alone to give birth to a girl she names in honor of her predecessors who called Weyward Cottage home.
