Gothic fantasy with Atwater's brand of whimsy. I enjoyed alot of this. Would highly recommend as a spooky mood read. I did have some issues with pacing and world building. It got a bit confusing but Atwater's characters and quirky writing kept me engaged anyways.
Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Read this if you were ever attracted to the Rat King in the Nutcracker. I’m in my Dark and Twisty Era and this was ohhh sooo good. Faeries, magic, shadow daddy, gothic mansion. This aptly named story *feels* and reads like the unraveling of a tangled knot. Every detail is exquisitely crafted. Impeccable storytelling and a delightful read.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: November 28, 2023

This is my first book by author Olivia Atwater. The book is promoted as a dark fairytale and while it is fairytale-ish, I’m not sure I would categorize it as dark.

Winifred Hall is invited to an English village to be the governess for a young spoiled lord of the manor. But it’s his grandmother that has summoned her and the role of governess is a cover for her dark magician magic.

Dark fairy magic is running through Witchwood manor and Winnie needs to figure out how to get to fairy to right a few wrongs. Her first evening at the manor she wakes to an alternate version of the house called the Witchwood Knot, where the fairies and magic run free. Each evening while she should be sleeping Winnie ventures to the knot in search of answers.

When the young Lord Robert goes missing, Winnie must go deeper into the Witchwood Knot to uncover the secrets needed to defeat the powerful magic that has the young Lord trapped.

I liked this story but didn’t love it. There was potential for it to be great but I felt the magic and fairy details could have been better explained. I did enjoy the writing though so would be interested in another book by this author. This is a 3 star read for me.

#NetGalley #oliviaatwater #thewitchwoodknot

The Witchwood Knot is a historical fantasy novel set in Victorian England. Winifred Hall is hired as the governess of a young boy who is heir to Witchwood Manor. Upon arriving, she realizes that the manor is infested with Fae, who torment the human inhabitants. She also realizes that her charge was stolen by the Fae and replaced with a changeling. To get him back, Winnie has to solve what is truly going on in Witchwood Manor.

How fun of a premise is that?? I read this book during spooky season because I thought the vibes would not disappoint. They certainly did not! Gothic mansions, magic, curses. Yes, yes, and yes. I liked Winnie as a main character and enjoyed her putting the pieces together to solve what was really happening at Witchwood Manor. The Fae in this world are much darker than I think we usually see, which I really enjoyed. I thought we were really going to see strong, dark Fae villains. Aaaannndddd then the romance starts.

I think I would have liked this book more if it stopped before the romance. I didn't understand it at all. I guess I'm just not into love interests with tails (to my boyfriend's relief), or really rude non-humans as well (also to my boyfriend's relief). That part of the story didn't work for me.

Overall, I had a good time reading this book and recommend it if you're looking for a gothic fantasy read. I'm knocking it down a couple of stars for the romance and the tail, so 3.55 stars from me rounded up to 4. Thank you to Starwatch Press and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, my thoughts are my own!

Thank you Netgalley and Starwatch Press for allowing me to read a digital ARC of The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater in exchange for my honesty review.

Cardan walked so Mr. Quincy could run.

But seriously, if you have any issue with rat rails then this book might not be for you. Luckily, I could and did enjoy this release by Atwater very much! At first I was unsure about the romantic aspect of the book (i wasn't sure it was going to happen at all) but by the end of it I was very happy with how the relationship between Winnie and Quincy progressed. I liked seeing two people take back their autonomy and go after what they truly want.

I don't think it leaned into the gothic themes enough for me, but that didn't take away anything from the book for me. I enjoyed it enough to finish it within 24 hours of starting it and will definitely be keeping my eye out for future sequels.

The world-building was good, a bit confusing, but I caught up to speed quickly. I loved our FMC and thought the romance was done well. The heavy topics were done seamlessly.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author!

I have loved the Regency Faerie Tales series by Olivia Atwater, I read all of them in preparation for this!

I am so glad she did a gothic version of this!!! Totally my favorite out of them all!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up adoring this book. It was twisty and fun and magical with fae and a spooky house. I will note that I think going in having read her Half a Soul series will better enrich the experience

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved everything about this book, absolutely everything.

We meet Winnie, who has arrived at Witchwood Manor where she has been hired as a governess for the Lord's young (and spoiled) son Robert, it turns out that not only is Winnie not a governess, the manor is also haunted! Winnie was actually hired as a protector for Robert in the form of a magician to protect him from all kinds of fae folk. Along the way we meet Mr. Quincy (the not-butler with red eyes), a cook who knows her way around the house and a housemaid who only steps foot inside to work and returns home every single night, refusing to sleep in the manor. Low and behold Robert is kidnapped by the faeries and Winnie must do all she can to get him back.

This is a gothic fantasy (with a small, tiny bit of romance) set in Victorian England, but with a twist, with a whole mix of faeries, magicians, familiars, and necromancers. Atwater's description of her characters, her settings and her attention is detail is phenomenal, the amount of research that went into the book is mindblowing, and I am absolutely here for it, it absolutely paid off!

We get a wonderfully strong FMC who takes absolutely no sh*t which I love to see and characters the blend so nicely together, you are rooting for them from the very start, even if you don't like them! Woven in between chapters are 'real-life' faerie stories which were a lovely addition, it really brings the story to life. Also a special mention to her kitty familiar Oliver, this really tugged on me with three cats of my own, I love him.

I cannot wait for the next book in the series (!) and I can't believe this is the first book I've read by Atwater, when she has a whole host of them, I can't wait to delve further into her worlds!

This was a standout of the year from me, if I could rate it higher I would.

What to expect:
• enemies to lovers
• gothic fantasy
• strong FMC
• haunted mansion
• magic + faeries
• bloodline curses

4*

I really enjoyed Atwater's previous work and I was excited to return to the world of Half a Soul. Witchwood Knot paints a beautiful and haunting gothic romance set in Victorian England, peppered with fae and magic.

Witchwood Manor is the story's cornerstone and it is full of mystery and danger and helps to shape Winnie's character arc and drive this rich story forward. It also helps to set the scene perfectly for the slow burning romance, which Atwater sculpted deliciously.

This story is perfect for fans of the Labyrinth and and continues Atwater's legacy of supreme storytelling.

My goodness was this perfect. From the deliciously gothic storytelling to the setting of Victorian England, this was my bread and butter through and through. The enemies to lovers was tension filled and had me positively swooning, while the writing was dark and captivating- everything i love in a book. I highly recommend checking this out if you liked starling house by Alex E. Harrow.

There’s a lot of dark elements in this book which I really enjoyed! The writing is engaging and very easy to read, I went through this book quite quickly. The magic in this book is quite sinister, and the story speaks to reclaiming one’s identity after suffering through terrible trauma. This wasn’t cozy, not like the author’s other books, but it was fantasy world-building and very interesting. I adored the romance in this one, highly recommend! This is a gothic romance set in England with faeries, magicians, familiars, & necromancers, and it kept me very entertained!

Winnifred Hall is not a governess. She is a black magician, sent by and old friend to help her in her time of need. Winnie arrives at Witchwood Manor posing as a governess to protect her old friend’s grandson whilst using her skills as a magician to discover what haunts Witchwood Hall. While there may be ghosts, it is the fair folk who haunt the halls of Witchwood Manor, led by the mysterious Mr. Quincy. When her young charge seemingly is replaced overnight with a fetch, Winnie must venture into the faerie side of the house to protect young Robert and end the curse on Witchwood Manor once and for all.
The Witchwood Knot is the first book by Olivia Atwater that I have read, and it has instantly become a favourite. I loved this mix of faerie lore and gothic novel. This book would appeal to readers of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries. I can’t wait to read more by Olivia Atwater!

Thank you to Netgalley, and Starwatch Press for giving me early access to this book, I am so sorry that it took me so long to write my review. I love Olivia Atwater and was so excited when I got approved for this arc. Unfortunately, as a student some things slip by me, and writing reviews is one of those things.

This book follows Winifred Hall as she embarks on a new job at Witchwood manor as a governess, this, of course, is just a cover for the real reason she's been hired, to protect the boy she's suppose to be a governess for from the powers of the fae. But not all is as it appears.

This book really dives deeper into the world created in the Regency Faerie Tales series, and includes references to some beloved characters. This book has just the right amount of a dash of romance to keep you on your toes without letting it get too in the way of the plot.

I really enjoyed all the characters and their development throughout the story. No one was left without some sort of larger story, which I really appreciate.

This was just a fun spooky time and I would highly recommend it. Atwater is an auto read for me now.

Olivia Atwater's The Witchwood Knot takes a darker, atmospheric, and eerie new vibe. This was not the first book I have read from the author but the writing remains impeccably good and engaging through and through.

Honestly, this was not the type of book I usually read but I enjoyed it, hence, took me long enough to finish the book. Also, I'm still processing my thoughts about this because it feels like all the things that I want to say are inside the box. This was a good read but I don't know how to articulate enough how good it was. I have nothing to say. Additionally, I was low-key rooting for Mr. Quincy and Winefred and I was very happy they happened.

I just hope this review makes sense. Even though I, am confused and lost with all the things I am writing right now. But don't let this review be a sign to put this book off just because I can't justify or can't give a satisfactory review, this was nothing but immensely good for an atmospheric and gothic fairytale. Olivia Atwater did not disappoint

Arc

This book tells a gothic story set in classic regency England but with fae present.
I haven’t read the regency fairy books but I get the feeling a few familiar faces pop up in this book.
Also any book with an animal familiar sucks me straight in.

Thank-you to NetGalley and the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this free eARC in return for an honest review.

I requested this book from NetGalley, despite having not read any other Olivia Atwater, having seen that it came thoroughly recommended by Alix E Harrow, which was recommendation enough for me. I look forward to working my way through the rest of her back catalogue!

I enjoy a good faerie tale, but can find gothic a bit hit and miss, but this was one of the best books I've read from NetGalley all year, and I attacked it voraciously (and probably would have finished it in under a week if I hadn't been double-fisting with The Skeleton Key at the same time).

This was some beautiful world painting, with a feisty heroine who I warmed to without her becoming over bearing and annoying. The back story and faerie tales were skilfully interwoven with the contemporary story, while the faerie elements wove together nicely with the more mundane aspects of the narrative.

Overall it was a skilful piece of writing and an enjoyable narrative. 5/5 would thoroughly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This should be more like 4.5 stars. It is the first book by Olivia Atwater that I have read but it wont be the last. Although this does reference her other books, it doesn't interfere with the story too much but I think if you've read her other books you'll get a lot more out of The Witchwood Knot.

The story really sucks you in from the get go and I really thought I was going to get more of a haunted house tale but wasnt at all disappointed with the faerie aspect. The half star that I took away was because of Winnie. She seemed just too capable and everything that happened was more of an inconvenience than a serious problem. Overall a light fantasy that was perfect for the dark evenings.

4.5 stars but I’ll round up. I really liked this! Especially fun if you’ve read Half a Soul; it almost felt like a true sequel to that because I get so much from Lady Hollowvale.

I love this universe — it’s such a lyrical, fresh take on the uber-popular faerie fiction. I also think it’s so refreshing to have romance without smut. I really, really recommend this book and others from the author.

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is the perfect Fall read to get your spooky vibes vibing. Its blend of dark fantasy, gothic horror, and slight romance felt like a cozy, warm blanket over the cozy, warm blanket I was already wearing.