When Kate Richards inherits a dilapidated English estate from her estranged grandfather, she finds herself thrust into a world full of hostile new family members, mysterious Romany tenants, and strange visions of "the net" – an invisible web that connects everything in the universe. Kate thinks she's losing her sanity, but the odd family stories and disturbing tales of the locals convince her that something sinister is going on at Weaverfields, while the inescapable pull of the net draws her deeper into the secrets of her new home.
But with those secrets come danger, and an old evil that refuses to let go of its hold on the net — or on Weaverfields. The only person who seems to understand is Joe, a Romany street artist with his own ties to the land. Kate and Joe must master the net before the past intrudes upon the present… in very ugly ways...
David Bridger and his family settled with their two monstrous hounds in England's West Country after twenty years of ocean-based mischief, during which he worked as a lifeguard, a sailor, an intelligence gatherer and an investigator. He writes science fiction and fantasy novels.
This novel is how I met David, some years ago, when he asked me to critique it. I’m a blunt, detailed critiquer, and I’ll admit that I was a little worried over the reception of my feedback, worried enough that I sent him the first chapter to make sure he knew what he was getting into. Not only did David thank me, but he asked me to give him the full treatment.
That level of persistence marks both David and his characters, making the fact that he found a publisher for this wonderful story not surprising at all.
The Weaverfields Heir is a complex, multi-layered novel that reminds me oddly of Outlander, though I read the first version of David’s a long time ago and Outlander only recently. The story starts in modern times with an art teacher who chooses to leave her steady job in favor of trying to make a living as an artist.
However, she never gets the chance as, on the way home the day before leaving forever, she is struck by what looks like a net of awareness cast over everything. She’s thrown into sensory overload, the first step in a journey that takes her to discover the truth about her grandparents and her inheritance, an ancient estate, and the ability not just to see through the energy in everything but also to manipulate it.
The net has more power than that, though. It gives Kate, and later Joe, the ability to relive key moments in her family history, allowing the two of them to discover what has driven their ancestors in both selfish and altruistic ways.
This is a powerful story of motivations and destiny. Faced with the ability to learn from history, the main characters embrace it and grow not just from their own life experiences, but from the strengths and failures of those who came before.
While there’s a fascinating magic system, ultimately this is a people novel, focused on the complexities of a family divided and the impact of history and circumstance on the choices people make. It’s well worth giving a try.
An amazing story spanning over more than 100 years. Wonderfully interwoven plot flitting between past and present. Strong characters that come to life on the page. Romantic, powerful, otherworldly. And just when you think it's over, there's a little twist at the end.
Loved Kate as a character and found myself spurring her on during developments in the story.
Peter's story was so well thought out and complex. I loved reading about his life so much and when
What stood out for me in this book, apart from the very intricate plot was the romance between Peter and Catherine. It was beautiful, and I found myself swept up in it completely.
I'm a fan of David's work anyway but The Weaverfields Heir has, in my opinion, taken his writing to the next level. Conflict galore, moments of real emotion and characters that make you think.
I loved this book. The characters were strong, the story gripped me and the relationships and events were so beautifully woven. To cap it all, it has one of the most stunning endings I have read in a very long time (no spoilers here!). David has created a thoroughly enjoyable read here and I am looking forward to the next one
Normally I'm not a big fan of books that go back and forth through time, but Bridger does an amazing job of it, especially the way he blends the generation switches with the magic of the book. A great fantasy-romance and definitely worth the read.