To be totally honest I put off reading this book for a while because I assumed I wouldn't be able to get into it. Books with a gothic atmosphere have failed to draw me in, in the past. But by the third chapter I was so sucked in, and now find myself looking for more fantasy books with gothic elements. The prose of the story was so charming and it actually felt like I was reading a fairytale. It felt very proper and polite but with a whimsical feel to it.

The main character Winnie was amazing. I usually find the main character in a story to be boring and they end up coming across as very mid to me. But Winnie didn't come across this way, she was strong, funny and resourceful. I loved the way her magic was described, although I wish we would have sent more of it in action. If she was hired to deal with this fairy problem, I'd assume she had more than just her card magic up her sleeve but that's all we really saw.

I loved that the romance was on the back burner for most of the novel and we were able to focus more on Winnie and her journey. Everytime you caught a whiff of it, you'd kind of question, "wait...but IS there romance in this book." But then by the time the romance has come into play it's so quiet and lovely. Although I have to admit this was one of those books were I really had to ignore the provided description of the male main character and imagine him in any other way. Everytime a tail was mentioned it was like a jumps are lol.

Winnie arrives at Witchwood Manor, ostensbily to play governess to grandson of the lady of the manor. In truth, it's more like she's there to protect him and she's not really all that fond of children either. Winnie is met at door by the butler but she later discovers there is no butler. There's a lot of darkness and mystery in this book along with some good-humored pokes at the gothic genre. All is revealed by the end and it's a pretty satisfying finish at that. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy gothic stories, but only if they don't mind it being turned on its head just a little bit. I really like the characters of Winnie, the butler and the grandson. The lady of the house and her son are also of interest and I liked the way the rervelations came along through the story.

I rate this four stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Starwatch Press for giving me an advanced reader copy. I look forward to reading more from the writer.

It felt like I was reading a nothing classic fairytale and I'm here for it. I love the building and tension. I will be keeping an eye out for more books by this author

Victorian England, Magic, immaculate gothic vibes, what more does one really need in a story!?

The Witchwood Knot is my second read by Olivia Atwater and it certainly wont be my last. From the moment Winnie, our MC arrives as Witchwood manor readers are transported to a world that is both lush and evocative. Atwater does a wonderful job building tension and unease in true gothic style and yet she perfectly balances the impending doom with classic fairy tale like whimsy. It's a brilliant mix of tones that really worked for me!

Readers will find themselves drawn in quickly and soon find themselves fully captivated by this tale.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I always enjoy Olivia Atwater's writing, and this is no different. We have a fun and rootable main character, who grounds the story and has a great character arc throughout. The writing was entertaining, and the spooky house was atmospheric. Overall it was a great fun read, but two things stop it being a 5 star read for me, one being the romantic sub plot pacing, which felt a little rushed in the end. And secondly, a lot of the stakes for the plot were introduced too late. We only realised the significance of certain things about the Witchwood Knot as they were being solved. That said, it was an interesting concept, and I enjoyed the book so will likely carry on with this series!

Given that The Witchwood Knot takes on some decidedly weighty subject matter and exquisitely embraces its penchant for dark, gothic vibes, I found that it still retained a strangely cozy undertone throughout. I loved the fairytale feel of the storytelling, and this was a surprisingly quick read for me.

While I appreciated how Winnie's backstory was threaded throughout the narrative, it felt like it could've done with a bit more fleshing out; similarly, I really enjoyed a lot of the characterizations, but the pace clips along just a bit too quick to really feel like you've bonded with the characters.

Overall, this was a beautifully penned tale, which made use of an enchanting blend of sinister & soft storytelling that definitely hit its mark. I'll absolutely keep an eye out for future installments, as I'd love to see how this series progresses!!

As an established fan of the Half a Soul trilogy, I consider The Witchwood Knot to be (again!) Olivia Atwater at her best!

Fans get to see cameos featuring Dora’s other half and some familiar fae faces (approximately 30 years later than their last outings), but the story and characters feel fresh and new, and somewhat darker and more Gothic than those original Regency faerie tale romances.

There are some quite haunting ghostly apparitions and a mixture of monsters, supernatural and human, plus an entirely new species from the fae realms to contend with. And the origins of Witchwood Manor gave me actual night terrors! So this book is not for the faint-hearted or sleep-deprived.

Perhaps even more disturbing are the references around coercion, child abuse and sexual assault which form an important part of the story and the main characters’ development, so those triggered by such material should proceed with caution. Personally I found the subject was handled with both realism, empathy and sensitivity, with no graphic detail or attempt to titillate or shock.

I absolutely adored the characters – Winne, of course, but also Mr Quincy, Oliver the spectral familiar and the brave servants-who-become-allies of the Manor. Even young Robert had his moments… the less said about his father, the better, though.

Those who love fantasy frenemy romance stories, however, will enjoy this delicious mixture of dark magic, mystery and perilous adventure as main character Winifred Hall attempts to rescue her young charge whilst also pursuing her personal quest to investigate fae disappearances across England.

This leads to a wider storyline which remains unresolved at the book’s conclusion, causing me to cross everything that this is the start of at least another trilogy. I will be buying them all for my keep shelf, of course!

https://lynns-books.com/2023/12/05/the-witchwood-knot-by-olivia-atwater/#comments
4 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Gothic setting, dark tricksy fae

The Witchwood Knot is a gothic, light romantasy set in a haunted mansion that is creepier and holds more secrets than you first imagine.

As the story begins we meet Winnie as she arrives at Witchwood Manor. These early chapters were so good at pulling me in, I felt at times as though I was visiting a Bronte novel. The approach to the manor, the overall sense of foreboding and then Winnie is met at the door by a butler – but it turns out later the manor doesn’t have a butler. Anyway, I was hooked from the opening chapters to be honest.

Anyway, Winnie, on the face of it has been employed by the Lady of the Manor to act as Governess to her grandson, in truth she’s actually there to use her wiles and her magic to protect him. Witchwood Manor is haunted and to be frank, the ghosts are the least of the problem. Although, Winnie is no lover of children and her new charge isn’t exactly enamoured with her and from the outset makes her life difficult.

Witchwood Knot is set in the Victorian period, this lends itself particularly well to a story with fae. This is a time of great invention and the new and old were clashing and this plays into the central theme of this story. Here we have a young woman trying to find out why the fae seem to be disappearing, at the same time we have a manor with a past, one that is barely keeping the fae at bay with old magic that is coming to an end.

In terms of the plot. I don’t really want to overdo the description here. Suffice to say that the fae are crying out for the hunt. They take Winnie’s charge and leave a changeling in his place and Winnie is determined to bring him back, with the help of the mysterious butler.

What I really liked about this story is the writing. In fact I would say that I think this could have done with filling out a little more. It felt almost too fast paced. I wanted to take my time a little more and really see things for what they were. I loved the descriptions, the fairytales and spending time with the characters but I felt like the story was in a rush and I wanted it to hold back a little.

That being said, there’s some fantastic imagination at play here, the dream sequences, the way the house is haunted, and the backstory.

In terms of the characters, well, Winnie can be a bit prickly but her back story makes this understandable. Over the years, she’s had to build up her own defenses and whether that means telling lies (which come remarkably easy to her) or doing whatever is necessary then she’ll do it. I liked her though.

Criticisms. I’m not totally sure I felt the romance but in fairness it’s not the sort of romance that takes over the plot and it certainly isn’t love at first sight so I didn’t have those issues.

Anyway, overall, I had a good time with this. The writing is brilliant. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to sleep in this Manor and push come to shove I’d like Winnie on my side. Also, I’m definitely on board to read more from this series and by this author.

I received a copy through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I absolutely loved Half a Soul and this wasn't *quite* as compelling to me! The atmosphere is really great, but I feel like we could have used a little bit more of the 'haunting' buildup to really get it there. Winnie is a good main character but I would have liked to see her magic used more.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I loved Olivia Atwater's book "Half A Soul" and was excited to see that this book takes place in the same world. I would say that the Witchwood Knot has a much darker feel not just in the magical realm but the very real evil of man as a predator...our heroine faces this grave circumstance, but it is not explicit (or simply off page and hinted at such atrocity.)

Winifried is hired as governess to take care of Robert at the Witchwood Manor. A place inhabited by ghosts, fairies and other creatures. There is magic, mystery and secrets galore! Our hero, or should I say anti-hero, is Mr. Quincy. I enjoyed his brisk, dark demeanor and backstory that is slowly revealed throughout the book to give a deeper understanding of his morally gray character. The banter and exchange of wits between Winnie and him added much to the storyline.

Robert is kidnapped and exchanged with a magical imposter. That is when our main couple really build in character development as well as in their relationship as they travel to the fairy land to get him back. I wasn't sure how a romance between the two was going to work (Mr. Quincy has a rat tail for goodness sakes!) but the author managed to give them a sweet awakening of feelings and by the end of the story, I was wishing them a happily ever after together.

A satisfying ending and many directions a book two could take...

4 stars

I love Olivia Atwood's writing (Half A Soul is an all time fave) so to have another slice of her amazing talent here is joyous!! This enchanting and captivating tale will have you hooked right till the end.

This book is a gloriously unsettling and creepy love letter to gothic horror with a wonderful dash of romance. It draws the reader into the claustrophobic and deeply dark Witchwood Manor and doesn't let go. I was glad to have the confident FMC Winnie as my guide as I was in danger of being as lost in the otherworldly Witchwood Knot as the faerie trapped there.

Having not read Atwater's previous Regency Fairie Tale series I was a little apprehensive at entering this world, however I should not have worried. The author plunges us straight into a Victorian setting that is very near to our own history and it was not difficult as a reader to simply mentally add mercurial, cruel faerie, witches, wizards and magic to the proceedings.

As a main character our heroine and witch Winnie is easy to root for and we are soon caught up in the same web she is - a manor house in the middle of nowhere that feels cursed, terrified staff, the child she is supposed to be governess to swapped for a copy and most disturbing of all, the mysterious butler that is sometimes not there, Mr Quincy. Her friend the Dowager who brought her there to protect her grandson, does what she can to help Winnie navigate her way through a tangle of lies, dark promises and faerie rage but ultimately her greatest ally is a surprising one.

There was nothing about this book I didn't like. The writing is moody at times but brisk (a bit like Winnie), the characters all well-drawn and the plot easy to follow along to a desperate and dramatic ending. I look forward to reading more from Atwater.

Lastly I feel that the publisher could have put more effort into making this a September or October release to capture the Halloween spooky season market (immaculate gothic vibes), rather than having it come out so near to Xmas. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Witchwood Knot is the first book in Olivia Atwater's new Victorian Faerie Tales series, which are a spin-off from the Regency Faerie Tales. While it isn't necessary to have read the latter, there were multiple references to characters and events of the Regency Tales that I appreciated more because of that prior knowledge.

In Atwood's alternate England, faeries have all but vanished, and the pathways into Faerie have been blocked off. Winifred Hall takes up the post of governess to the Honourable Mr Robert Murray at Witchwood Manor. But when her bratty charge turns into a well-mannered and obedient young man overnight, Winnie realises that the real Robert has been taken by the Fair Folk of the Manor.
As Winnie's employer doesn't believe in faeries, she enlists the help of the mysterious faerie butler Mr Quincy to rescue the boy. But Mr Quincy has a few secrets of his own, and Winnie will need all her wit in order to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot and rescue Robert.

What sold me instantly on this novel were the gothic setting of a haunted house, with a governess taking up a challenging new post - a motif I enjoyed in some of my favourite Victorian gothic novels. So reading a modern novel, set in an alternate period contemporary to those texts appealed to me.
I absolutely loved Atwater's Fair Folk, who are dangerous, wicked tricksters. The setting was perfect - it didn't feel too eerie, but there was a darker tone to this novel than to the Regency Faerie Tales. Where the novel really shined in my opinion was the characters. Mr Quincy and Winnie's romance was masterfully elaborated - two complex characters that don't trust easily due to past experiences, who slowly learn to open up. I was also a huge fan of Oliver the cat, who is a solid contender for favourite animal sidekick ever.

Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Atwater and Starwatch Press for providing me with an ebook. I provide this review voluntarily and opinions expressed are my own.
This novel comes with a trigger warning for non-graphic sexual harassment, which some readers might find disturbing.

This gothic fairytale was just the right balance between dark, mysterious, and whimsical. With devious faeries, buried secrets, inspiration from Wuthering Heights, and one adorable ghostly cat companion, The Witchwood Knot was a great start to a new series by Atwater.

Witchwood Manor holds more than secrets and dark shadows—it is home to wicked and cunning faeries lurking in the depths of the estate. When a new governess arrives with her own source of magic to rival the trickery of the conniving faeries, she seeks to protect the young lord of the estate. When he suddenly goes missing, she finds she must work with one of the manor’s faeries and discovers a much bigger thread binding all of Witchwood Manor inhabitants together.

I adored the elements of whimsiness and quirkiness Atwater added as a layer to balance out the dark and sometimes unpleasant themes of the novel. It helped bring the characters and their varying personalities to life, sparking color against a gothic backdrop. It makes me excited to continue her other series and return back to those cozy and fun elements set in one of my favorite periods to read about, Victorian London.

This was a fast-paced read filled to the brim with inspiration from fairytales and gothic allure, a combination I loved—and a perfect autumnal read.

3.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

The Witchwood Knot is everything I’ve come to expect from Olivia Atwater’s writing. It’s at once heartfelt, cunning, and cozy in all the best ways. While this is the beginning of a new Faerie Tale era, it builds off of the world and characters we’ve come to know in the Regency series. I lobe interconnected universes like this. However, with that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. I think to fully grasp the scoop of this world, you’ve got to read the first trilogy. That way you know the history and the landscape of the world. Each story is technically a standalone about a different couple, but they’re all building toward larger stories, it seems.

Of Atwater’s Faerie Tale world, Winifred my be one of my favorite heroines yet, next to Dora. She’s clever, cunning, and willing to do what she needs to do in order to survive a world of faeries and monsters. She has a traumatic past, but seeing her reclaim her own desire was amazing.

This is a delightfully gothic tale, with all the classic trappings of the genre. The mysterious, dilapidated manor, the gothic father/monster duology, and an atmospheric sense of isolation. Atwater combines this flawlessly with her existing world. It’s creepy, it’s heartfelt, and it’s a great time. While I occasionally found myself a bit confused, I felt that by the end I had all the answers I needed. I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

The Witchwood Knot is the first book in the Victorian Faery Tales, a new spin off series set after the events in the Regency Faery Tales series. I had not read the prior series and still enjoyed this book so much, in fact right after finishing it I went back and read the first series since I was so enchanted by the world and Olivia Atwater’s writing. But, I saw there are a lot of nods to at least Half a Soul that I would have gotten a little more out of if I’d read it as well.

Winnifred has come to Witchwood Manor to help solve a mystery and a curse on the house. The lady of the keep is ill and wants desperately to keep her grandson safe. The Fae though, have infiltrated the manor and causing no end of trouble for family and the servants. There are actually only a few servants willing to work there, because those who sleep under the manor’s roof have a tendency to be transported to a pocket faery realm and the fae in the realm are no end of trouble to the mortals transported there. Winnie is supposed to keep her charge safe and figure out how to thwart the curse. Just one problem, she has already lost her charge, replaced by a changeling boy and now she has to rescue him.

This was a little dark with so many great reveals along the way. The house and its history, what was released from the ground there and so many other questions posed I hope will be answered in the rest of the series, that I think will feature Winnie’s sisters who are still in London. Winnifred finds an reluctant ally in the house to help her on her quest to save the young master snatched away to Faery and we get to see the Knot. Mr. Quincy has played the butler in the Manor and Winnie has found a way to bargain with him to find the missing boy in the heart of the Knot. There are many dangers in Faery and in the Manor that they will have to traverse if they are going to win.

There was no happy ending, here– but she could choose the unhappy ending which most suited her. That had to be enough.

I enjoyed this story, the gothic romance, the mystery and the set up for the next two books in the series. I am pretty desperate to find out more of Winnie’s sisters and why the pathways to Faery in London have vanished. This was a great set up for the overlaying arc it seems we will get in this series. Having now read the original series, I can say that The Witchwood Knot is a bit darker in a delicious kind of way, more like a true Faery story. Winnie and the way she sees the world is really fantastic and I loved seeing the Curse of the Manor through her eyes. Otherwise the story might have been more scary than interesting.

Great start to a new series blending Gothic Romance with Faery Stories.

4.5 Stars
I am a lover of all things fairytale and this did not disappoint! This was told in third-person single POV, and I was immediately struck by how strong Winnie’s voice was. Her character was layered, and we got a sense for her personality and outlook right away. She also sees some really great development, as she learns value of caring for and loving others, and healing some of her traumatic past.

The author did a good job of communicating atmosphere; the setting of a dark Victorian mansion only got more eerie as the mystery unraveled, and we learned more about its history. The fairytales woven between chapters actually strengthened the plot, and contributed to the overall tone.

I would say the romance element is fairly minor, and that this is first and foremost a fantasy-mystery. But the romance was endearing nonetheless!

I will say, I did not get a chance to read her Regency Fairytales series before this, and while I don’t think you *need* to, I could tell that some references and context would have been more potent if I did!

Side note:
I want to emphasize to mind the trigger warnings, because those listed (sexual harassment, and SH of a child) and quite prolonged and graphic, rather than a passing mention. However, I do think it was handled well.

This was a delightful read. Perfect for the fall weather.

We follow our FMC Winnie to the spooky Witchwood Manor where she takes a job as a governess. The manor seems off putting and she notices a lack of staff upon arrival. The backdrop of the manor is gothic, and mysterious. Nobody will tell Winnie what's up with the manor. Are there ghosts? Faeries? Curses? Creatures in the wood?

We meet the aloof butler Mr Quincy, who let's Winnie into the manor. We find out he's not who he says he is and the mystery ensues around his identity.

This story was fantastic at slowly revealing little bits of character backgrounds and stories within the main story. Like the Dowager and her son. I was intrigued by the myths and surrounding the faeries and other creatures. I also liked that the magic was creative and really played with your mind. The young Robert had an imposter made of sticks and ribbon.

The side characters were great, I loved Oliver the cat. A sassy cat sidekick is always welcome. And cook with her scones. She makes valid points about having the world crumble without good food.

Mild spoiler- I always love an alternate dimension. I like how you can really open up worlds and fantasy aspect of the secret doors. Atwater does such a great job of the sequences between the world's and Winnie's consciousness. I do wish this started sooner in the book. My only real complaint is the beginning is a tad slowly paced compared to the rest of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley for the digital copy in an exchange for an honest review.

I'm not familiar with Atwater's previous works, but enjoyed this and would pick up her backlog.

✅ This is a perfect read for fall, or Halloween.
✅ Faeries that are wicked and tricky.
✅ A tiny bit of Victorian era romance.
✅ Mystery and suspense

How am I meant to function when there are eerie manors and wicked butlers to dream of?

This is one of those stories where you’re better off going in without knowing the synopsis. The events described don’t happen until the halfway mark, which is where the story finds its footing. Fortunately, I’d forgotten all the details of the synopsis before starting. I think I would have found it a little frustrating or boring if I’d gone in anticipating a certain kind of story when you instead get something that’s slower, more contemplative. Here is what you should know:

The Witchwood Knot is a Victorian fantasy novel drawing on the darkness and malevolence of both faeries and humans. Winnie ventures into a manor with a troubling faerie problem and attempts to unravel the secrets of the estate while overseeing a young lordly ward. There’s a cat, who may or may not be one of my favourite characters, and predatory men, who are very much not and are chill-inducing because of how close to reality they feel.

I’ve seen the story described as gothic. While we do get the aforementioned eerie manor, the story could have been more vivid if these elements were described in greater detail. If anything, I’d use the word sensible for the story. Whenever anything vaguely eerie happens, Winnie frowns at being inconvenienced, before handling whatever faerie trickery is sent her way. It’s actually quite amusing to read, though it negates tension from the story because you’re never really worried that things won’t work out. Parlour tricks come to mind. It’s when things start to go wrong that you become invested in the story.

The story as a whole progresses rather quickly, but not all that much happens. It serves as a way to lay the framework for future installations in the series, which never bothered me. Speaking of future installations, the novel is set in the same universe as Olivia Atwater’s previous trilogy, though you don’t have to read it first. I haven’t (though now I want nothing more than to read everything Atwater writes, forever). There’d be moments where events or characters would be emphasised and I could tell they were from the previous books, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment or understanding of the story.

Despite not all that much happening in terms of plot and there being a lack of gothic atmosphere, I find myself abundantly attached to The Witchwood Knot and its cast. This is where the story truly shines, with Winnie and co. as light amidst the darkness that lurks within the pages. These characters have faced the evils of the world and have hardened themselves as a result. Slowly, they open themselves up to softness, and it makes for a surprisingly healing read.

The rational and critical part of me can sit and nit-pick the novel for flaws, but the larger part of me simply loves the book for what it is. This is one of those stubborn stories I’ll not be able to forget, and will surely reread ad nauseum. I cannot wait.

I loved this book! It was exactly what I was looking for in a gothic fairytale!! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

The author did a great job creating the two worlds and developing the characters. She also depicted a more traditional view on the faeries. It tickled my spooky little soul in the best way!