This was such a fun read, I love all the books this author puts out. You need to add this to your tbr!!

Olivia Atwater does it again! A historical fae fantasy that I won’t be able to stop thinking about. I look forward to this series continuing. I loved the Half a Soul series and have been hungry for more content from her. This book delivered completely! Everyone I know will be reading this.

A gothic victorian manor historical fantasy with fae. You can count me in! I don't want to give too much away, but I must say, this was a good read. Olivias (the author) way of creating a dark atmosphere whilst keeping a soft romantic flair is just magical. The characters are fun, romance was lovely. Try this book if you like a) victorian era, b) fae and c) romance!

* 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 (𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒚) 𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚, 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. *
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the Author for providing this ARC!

Thank you to the publisher and author for this digital arc. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Witchwood Knot is about a young woman who arrives at Witchwood Manor to become the new governess for Lord Longfell's son, Robert. Our FMC has some secrets as does her new employer and his household staff. She soon meets the mysterious 'butler' Mr Quincy, who is lying about his true identity and things suddenly start to spiral downhill for her. Her charge is abducted and everyone in the town and manor becomes endangered. And only our governess can help stop the curse.

The premise of this book sold me immediately and I was so ecstatic to receive the arc to read and review. This book took me 2 days to read on my Kindle as it was only 330 pages and written fairly easily to understand,. This book was a bit different than I expected, but I mostly enjoyed it. I liked the gothic Victorian vibes and creepy sinister manor as well as the fairytale element. There were ghosts and faeries lurking around every corner and the main character was spunky and fun and not fearful of anything. The writing was decent and fit the era of this novel. Now, what didn't quite work for me...The enemies to lovers trope in my opinion wasn't much of a romance...there was very little in the way of slow burn and no chemistry until suddenly they decided to kiss out of nowhere. There was literally no indication at all the two characters were attracted to each other so I was shocked suddenly there was a page on romance. I felt this book being marketed as a romance was a bit of a stretch. At times, I felt a bit confused with the backstory and some of the characters as there was little explanation as to who they were and their importance within the storyline. I read in another review however that these characters had been introduced in the author's other novels. Had I known this book was not truly a standalone book, I probably would not have requested to read it. I felt knowing more about these side characters and the backstory of the FMC would've helped me going into this book. The title of the novel also was not explained until the end, so the characters tossed around the idea of the 'witchwood knot' as if the reader was supposed to know what it meant and understand what was happening and that was frustrating. At least, give us an idea that it was a curse on the manor. Another issue I faced was the pacing. Not much occurs for the first half and then the last part has one big conflict, however it's rushed through and not explained well in my opinion. In fact, the explanation was told to the reader in one short chapter by the other main character in the form of a fairytale. I would've preferred our FMC to slowly discover this over time as the book unfolded. It was a bit of a let down and felt much less dramatic done this way. Much of the book in fact felt this way...the reader being told something in a matter of fact way rather than the reader gleaming tiny details and putting together facts to unfold the bigger picture. I did appreciate a few scenes that gave me anxiety and felt truly terrifying for the fmc but they were so short lived. 90% of this book was just more of a cozy vibe and not as gothic as I wanted. Overall, I'm rating this book a 2.5 stars as I just could not connect to any of the characters that well and honestly did not care what happened to them. The author did not attempt to build up their backstories enough or make us feel anything for them until the very end. We only received a bit of their past once we were in about 80% so it was much too late to start caring. The plot overall felt boring, slow, and lacking. Not much happened at all and the resolution seemed so obvious and easily rectified. The writing was fine, but not able to salvage this book for me. Sadly, it won't be a fantasy I will recommend.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this e-arc!

Atmospheric and eerie. Beautiful prose, and intriguing characters. This has everything I love: gothic elements, faerie lore, a Victorian setting, and a strange world.

The romance was sweet and not overpowering.

This was my first book by the author, I would like to return to her works and read through her back catalog now.

Governesses. Manors. Faeries. Brooding butlers. Iron & burning candles. A house full of curses, of an otherworldly strangeness.

"People often have a soft spot for pretty things."

Pretty Winifred Hall, Winnie, our MC who knows her way around the cruel world, with a tiny cat skull named Oliver. A task by the Lady Dowager herself - protect Robert, Knave of Hearts, more than teach him.

At the mention of Lord Longfell, Lord Sorcier, I am brought back to the Regency Faerie Tale Series & I miss it all over again.

Winnie brings a unique spin to this world I love so much - by being a black magician; also she is a Knave of a diamonds, a liar and a cheat, and a survivor who just once would like to be a savior to someone besides herself.

Apparitions, ghosts, hauntings in the dead of night. Mysteries run amok in this house of three Knave cards. Whispering, fairy tricks.

A bodyguard disguised as a pretty governess. The Faeries want him for themselves, in a house built from WitchWood oak.

"There are faces in these walls."

Introduced to the story next is the father of spoiled little Robert, Lord Longfellow himself. A gracious, handsome gentlemen, already offering her his support back to the Manor. As hard as she tried to keep injuries to herself, he cannot help but worry and care for her. But all is not as it seems.

Lord Hollowvale. The Hollow Lady. Lady Mourningwood. Noble fairies with nonsensical rules with their games and their tricks. Requiems & funeral marches. The pianoforte. Horrible powerful creatures love such beautiful sounds.

Mr. Quincy. Games of Ecarte. Our main character has turned out to be a surprising bundle of magic- a cartomancer, a diviner, equipped with her knife chatelaine.

This was such an endearing, fast-paced read. I really hope this is not the last book spun up in this darkly strange, magical world. A WitchWood knot labyrinth, full of the mad and the ravenous.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone with a taste of conniving, evil fairy tales. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

This was simply fantastic!
I very rarely give 5 stars, but this was one of the books, I could have started all over again the moment I finished it.

It has a classic gothic setting with a sweet, convincing romance, that doesn't overshadow the main plot. The tradional old english faerie lore and celtic mythology, as well as the victorian setting all seemed well researched and authentic, I loved it.

The only other book I have read by the author so far was Half a Soul, which I already loved a lot, but this one was even better.
It is set in the same world as the other books and the story still has the same whimsical quality to it, but this time with a bit darker, more gothic touch, that I highly enjoyed. The story is connected to her Regency Faerie Tales series (being set around 50 years after Half a Soul) and contains major spoilers to those books, which I unfortunately wasn't aware of, else I would have read them first. It can definitely be read independently from them without missing out on anything, but if you are planning on reading any of the others I would recommend doing so first, before picking this one up. This one also isn't a standalone book as the others are.

Witchwood Knot was very engaging right from the beginning and kept on getting better as the story developed. I enjoyed the mix of beautiful prose and witty writing style, that tied the intriguing setting and complex characters together very well. All the characters had a depth to them and I was especially taken in by the main character, a competent and clever female protagonist with a mysterious past and emotional baggage to enravel.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the Witchwood Knot for reviewing purposes.

This book was, in some ways, delightful. Sure, it has strong gothic vibes, so it sounds a tad strange to say that it is delightful, but still I think that in this case, the term applies.
We have a growing tension, while things start happening but it is never too much, and so I think that you can say that skirts the horror genre but it doesn’t dip into it. And I am pretty happy about it!

And the best part of the book is not the general atmosphere, but the characters and their relationship. I am not talking about romance here, but about the relationships that developed here between the different characters. Winnie and Mr. Quincy are my favorites by far, because they feel real, and they are not only great characters themselves, but they form a reluctant team that is top-notch. And Oliver is the cutest ever! (Also, he is a ghost cat, how cool is that??).
Winnie has two sisters and they sound like amazing characters too, but we don’t see a lot of them. We met briefly Bellamira, and the meeting was too short for my tastes because she sounds like an amazing character, and we know of Clarimonde, we see her through a letter and Winnie’s memories and thoughts, and she sounds great too. So I would have loved to meet them and see them around, but I hope that my wish will be granted in the next books. (Sure, the story could finish here, but since there are things that could be still done, I hope that we’ll get some more books soon!).

All in all it was a delightful read, with an interesting plot and more interesting characters. It was a pleasure to read, and I am really happy with it! It was my first book by this author, but it won’t be the last!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review!

I greatly enjoyed this romantic fairy tale!

My absolute favorite character is the cat skull, Ollie, I love him, and I may tear up if I think about him too long.

I do have to say this, though, the rat tail thing is gross and weird. I'm sorry. It was weird when Cardan in The Cruel Prince had a tail, and it's even weirder now. I tried to ignore it. I also didn't really understand the card games at all but they were a fun addition to the lore and I liked hearing about them, even if it got a little too detailed without explanation at times.

As many other people have said, the blurb does the book a disservice, as the blurb begins halfway through the book, which confusingly sets expectations and sort of spoils things. I would rather just get the premise from a blurb than plot points.

There are some real heart-wrenching moments, namely with the fetch, Winnie's childhood, and the origins of Witchvale Manor, which are so beautifully painful. The book also takes a sudden turn for the romantic about 2/3rds through, which I'm not opposed to, but it is sort of out of nowhere and also there is a rat tail. That being said, I did really enjoy the romance.

I'm really interested in seeing where this all goes! I can't wait for the next installment. Four stars.

I do love me a bit of gothic witchy vibes. I've learnt a lot more about magic, fairies and other mythical creatures. It is a somewhat an enemies to lovers story, with adventure thrown in for good measure.

This is an engaging, evocative and cleverly plotted Gothic faerie tale set in the Victorian era. We meet the two main protagonists when Winifred Hall, governess, arrives at Witchwood Manor and meets butler Mr Quincy in an atmospheric and somewhat eerie first chapter. But neither is what they first appear to be and once a couple of chapters in I was swept away by this immersive and intelligent story.

Winnie has been brought to Witchwood in the guise of a governess in order to protect the dying Dowager's grandson from the curse of Witchwood Manor. His father stalwartly refuses to acknowledge the existence of faeries, even when very few locals will venture near the place. So when the boy is taken by the fae and replaced with a fetch, it is up to brave and resilient Winnie to save him from the many Otherworldly dangers hiding in the Witchwood estate, as she works tirelessly to unravel the mysteries of the Witchwood Knot.

Both main characters are very strong, intelligent and self assured, yet both achieve a good level of character growth as their paths become increasingly intertwined and I really liked and appreciated both, as well as Winnie's amazing cat familar.

In all this clever, twisty, magical book is well worth reading, especially if you like classic gothic romances such as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights crossed with faerie folklore and magic! This is the first Atwater novel I have read and I will definitely be reading more.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is a captivating fantasy story set in the Victorian era filled with faeries, slightly creepy houses and loveable characters!

The slightly Gothic setting of the house really kept me hooked, and I loved how we got to see the kind of duality within the house, as well as seeing how the house played a large role in how our characters acted. The entire book is set within the house and I really enjoyed how we got to see it develop, and we kind of explore the house with the characters.

I loved Winnie she was such a lovely character to read about. She was sweet and charming but she also had this edge to her. I think if you liked Effie from a studying drowning you would really like Winnie as they were very similar to me, they had the same kind of what it means to be a woman in the world when men feel the need to dominate. I also loved Robert who is the child that Winnie is the governess for he was so like sweet and then how he acted at the end just had my heart melting.

One of my possible favourite aspects of this book was how the lore of the world was told telling was told through storytelling and we got to experience it as if we were there. The imagery was so vivid and I really understood as the book went and how our main characters and how their pasts influenced how they acted in the present.

Whilst the romance isn’t particularly my favourite, I do think that the romance itself is very intimate and well done. The actual romance is something that I did enjoy reading about, but I’m not sure how I feel the love interest. However, I do think the development that led there was crafted in a way that it didn’t overpower the story and take away from either of our main characters.

if you’re looking for a Victorian era fantasy filled with magic and faeries and slightly morally grey characters, this is absolutely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

think I went into this one with too high expectations. After loving Half A Soul I thought that this one was going to be even better but it didn't quite live up to the hype I gave it. This one is set in Victorian England and follows a governess Winifred, who is set on getting back her charge who was swapped by the fae in here area. I really enjoyed the relationships that Winifred developed especially with the butler Mr. Quincy. I am excited to see where the author goes next with this series.

The Witchwood Knot is the gothic novel of my dreams! The quirkiness and whimsy of Heather Fawcett's Emily Wildes Encyclopedia of Faeries mixed with the darkness of JJA Harwood's The Thorns Remain. The Witchwood Knot has magic, faeries, and a mysterious manor with a curse set upon it, and even a light sprinkle of romance to top it off. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book (in one evening) and I look forward to reading more of Olivia Atwater's work in the future.

I loved this book.
The dark Victorian vibes.
The magic
The commentary on the nature of men and the struggle of being a woman.

I wish that we got more atmosphere of the Victorian Era!
But, it was still a really fun read!

I enjoyed this one! I read Half a Soul earlier this year and really liked it so I wanted to check this one out when I heard about it. I wasn’t expecting there to be any tie in to the other series but was pleasantly surprised that there was some crossover! I liked the plot overall and the characters as well, however I almost think the book should have been longer. I think there should have been a bit more depth in background given to both the FMC and MMC, and the romance aspect could have been fleshed out a little more as well, I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

I don’t know what was holding me back from reading this book sooner.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed The Witchwood Knot more than Half a Soul.I love Winnie; she would do anything to survive, and it’s fascinating to read. And the banter with Mr.Quincy built up well. One interesting part for me was when they tried to know what the truth was about each other by playing cards! How the world collides between the real world and the fairy world keeps me awake to read it more.

Note that this book has a trigger warning for sexual assault, so this book isn’t as cozy as Half a Soul. There’s a Half a Soul character that the book mentioned, so I think the new readers would be clueless if they hadn't read Half a Soul before reading this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and i adore Ollie!
Thank you, Netgalley and Starwatch Press.

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the witchwood knot by Olivia Atwater

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5

Despite not having read the regency faire tales i had no issues devouring and loving The Witchwood Knot, which is placed 30-40 years after Half A Soul (the first book of the regency series).

The main protagonist, Winnie, gets placed at Witchwood Manor as a governess to assure the son of the building does not stay more than necessary. What starts with a simple task ends with a plot filled with faeries, screaming faces contained within the walls, and a monster hiding in the forest.

Along with Winnie, her familiar Ollie follows her to secure her safety during the task, but despite this, she is constantly reminded that there is no happy ending.

This book is everything I hoped it would be, if not more. I am obsessed with Atwater’s writing along with the gothic faerie tale. I implore you to read this without knowing too much about the book, as its surprises made me devour it in a span of two days.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this for an honest review in return. You can get your hands on The Witchwood Knot in selected bookstores and on Kindle today!! ⋆˙⟡
#NetGalley #TheWitchwoodKnot
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"The Witchwood Knot" by Olivia Atwater is an enchanting Victorian faerie tale, masterfully set in a magically altered England. The story unfolds around Winifred Hall, a governess, who embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her young charge from the clutches of faeries. Although my usual genre preferences lie elsewhere, I always find myself engrossed in Atwater's novels.

Mr. Quincy, the faerie butler, is an intriguing character, albeit one that I struggled to fully embrace largely because he is described as having a rat's tail which to my mind is just about the worst thing possible - seriously barf inducing and I'm hoping that it is some kind of temporary curse. It sounds shallow but I found it so utterly repellent that I struggled to engage much with his character which is a shame as he is quite interesting.

Our heroine, Winifred Hall is a beacon of strength and relatability in the novel. Her plucky spirit, intelligence, and resilience paint her as a deeply compelling protagonist. Her journey, fraught with the dangers and mysteries of Witchwood Manor, is a testament to Atwater's skill in crafting strong, dynamic heroines. Hall's character development, her responses to the challenges she faces, and her evolution throughout the story are particularly engaging aspects of Atwater's writing.

Atwater's world-building in "The Witchwood Knot" is rich and immersive. The backdrop of a Victorian England interwoven with faerie lore provides a unique setting that is both familiar and fantastical. The vivid descriptions of the landscapes, the atmospheric detailing of Witchwood Manor, and the seamless integration of magical elements into the Victorian setting create a tapestry that is as visually arresting as it is narratively compelling.

The plot of the novel expertly intertwines elements of gothic romance with fantasy, creating a reading experience that is both unique and intriguing. The story's pacing is well-managed, with a mix of suspenseful and reflective moments that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Atwater's writing style is both elegant and accessible, making the book suitable for a wide range of readers.

The supporting cast of characters adds depth to the narrative. Each character, from the residents of Witchwood Manor to the denizens of the faerie realm, is well-drawn and contributes to the richness of the story. The interactions between these characters and Winnie provide insight into their personalities and motivations, adding layers to the overall narrative.

I'm looking forward to the next installment where Mr Quincy very hopefully loses his tail!