"You will soon find that Witchwood Manor has great trouble keeping servants," he told her. "If you are indeed the new governess, then I suppose we shall discover your mettle in short order."

Winnie is the new governess of Witchwood Manor, but it seems she is enlisted for her knowledge and mettle for all things magical. This includes the curse on the Manor which seems to involve faeries and stops anyone from talking about it.
With the help of her trusty undead cat, the Cook, and the devious ‘butler’ Mr Quincey, aka, a disguised faerie, Winnie delves into the mirror world of faerie to save the young lord she has promised to protect.

“This world devours those who are too bold_ but those who hide and refuse to take risks are also taken unaware by danger."

I have to preface this review by saying I have never read anything Atwater has written before (something I do want to remedy), so cannot comment on this book in comparison to her other works. I just knew to expect humour, strong female characters, soft and whimsical magic, and sweet, endearing romance.

The story only truly begins at halfway through, and I think the blurb does an injustice as the pitch only comes about at 55%.

Winnie is an extremely strong character, however I think her bluntness and arrogance irritated me. Her dislike for children is reiterated again, and again, and again, and she classically (cringe-ly) ‘thinks out loud’, is quirky, extremely pretty yet uninterested in the rich lord, and seems to know when someone’s lying with unnerving accuracy. Basically, she seems too good to be true.
Perhaps that explains why she was chosen when so many before failed, yet I like characters to have some development and hesitancy as they explore new environments and dynamics.

I felt like there was just so much of the world we were missing out on and it felt like this was a second book in a series with hinted-at backstories and characters that are important, but we had of them in passing.

I do think this offered good commentary on being objectified and the object of desire. How we feel belittled by others and our own humiliation.
This definitely felt like a nod to Victorian gothic fiction such as Wuthering Heights.

It was somewhat flattering, Winnie realised, to be considered as a worthy opponent, instead of as a woman.

Sadly, I felt myself quite bored and the characters didn’t charm me as I was assured Atwater excels at.
I’m hoping this is only the case for this book, and that her previous books will endear me!

Thank you to Starwatch Press for providing the arc in exchange for a review!

Another brilliant faerie romance from Olivia Atwater. I have loved all of her previous novels and The Witchwood Knot did not disappoint. Winnie was an interesting main character to follow and I loved her development over the course of the novel. This one is definitely a slow-burn romance (to the point where I wondered if it might not be a romance, but just a fun fantasy story with gothic elements). It was great to ready over Halloween, with plenty of dark and creepy faerie tricks. I can't wait to see where this series goes next.

As someone who has not read Olivia Atwater’s other novels (specifically anything from the Half A Soul series), and rarely anything that can be referred to as “cozy fantasy”, I was unsure about whether or not I would enjoy The Witchwood Knot. However, as a whole, I found the book, described as a “gothic faerie tale” to be an enjoyable mystery with likable characters set in an immersive darkly gothic atmosphere (I would NOT call this book “cozy”)

Our main character Winnie is a strong and stoic former orphan who finds herself at Witchwood Manor, an sinister and imposing gothic mansion, posing as a governess while she barters and tricks her way through a dark faerie underworld to ensure the dying wish of her mentor is upheld.

The standouts in this novel include the deeply gothic atmosphere, which can be recalled with clarity days after reading, and the charismatic cast of characters, including a cook, would-be butler/cunning dark faerie lord, a spoiled little boy I could not not help but picture as Dudley Dursley, and the dying lady of the manor, all of whom have their own motives and varying degrees of moral ambiguity. The diverse cast of characters lent to a “merry band of misfits/found family” vibe that is reminiscent of T.Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone (without the same levity - despite the witty dialogue).

The plot had a clear direction but was quite narrow, giving the story a novella or short-story type feel, and yet it was a satisfying conclusion to the first of a new series. Also, although described as a gothic romance, I would use the word romance lightly as it was only towards the end of the book that this aspect started to develop, which leaves room for future books in the series to capitalize on the relationship.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review The Witchwood Knot as an Advanced Reader Copy

I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this story.
It came just in time for the spooky season. I usually don’t enjoy period pieces, but the cover really attracted me.
I loved that Heroine wasn’t a delicate princess type. The heroine was cantankerous, prickly, and hella intelligent. She was incredibly likeable in my eyes.
I enjoyed the world-building as well. The way it was written gave the story an atmospheric feel.

This is the first book I’ve read from Olivia Atwater, and it won’t be my last.
Thank you, Olivia and Net Galley, for allowing me to read this book early.

An eARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This title will be published on November 28, 2023.

I haven't read any of Olivia Atwater's books and was slightly concerned that I might not be able to get to grips with the world without first going back to her previous books. This worry was unfounded, though, as the book works perfectly as a stand-alone (although I really hope it will be part of a series). The explanation of the fae and magic was great without info-dumping so I didn't feel like I needed to read anything to keep up with it - although I will now be reading more from this author!

The story is set in a fictional Victorian era in which the fae exist alongside people and where some people also have magic. This adds a great gothic feel to the story that works really well and creates a tense atmosphere from page one.

I loved the main character as she is smart, a bit malicious and not the usually doe-eyed heroine you often find in books about the fae. She has agency and drives the story forward by making things happen, rather than things simply happening to her.

I did feel as if the book didn't necessarily need the romance, as it didn't add a whole lot to the story. I appreciated the characters' relationship changing as they learnt more about each other but I think the romance could have been more of a slow burn, especially if there is going to be a sequel, or skipped entirely.

In all, I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. The writing style and pacing were great, to the point that I managed to get through the whole book in just over 24 hours. I highly recommend it if you're a fan of Belladonna, One Dark Window, Ink Sister Scribe and Hollow Vows.

This book is honestly right up my alley and I enjoyed every word. The gothic/haunted house vibes??? Perfection. Our main character??? Loved her. The cat??? My favorite. Mr. Quincy??? My other favorite.

From the get, this book/world was so easy to immerse myself into and I loved how we slowly got the lore of the house and the characters we follow in the book. Winnie is a great main character, she's so clever and I loved having her POV. Mr. Quincy is so interesting, and I also really liked his story and development throughout the story. The romance aspect of this book is very slow burn, but believable and I loved it.

This world was so interesting and I just want more of it. So many things are hinted at that I wish I had full on books for. I know this book ties in with other books, so I'll definitely have to read those. (note: I thought this book was really accessible even though I hadn't read anything in this world before)

This feels like a book I already want to reread, and I miss being in this world already. Easily 5 stars for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwatch Press for this ARC!

ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.

Winnifred Hall has been hired to be the new governess at the cursed Witchwood Manor. Winnie’s new position comes with a few challenges one of which being Fairies. Iron may be hung through out the manor however that doesn’t stop the young lord-to-be from being kidnapped. Winnie enlists the help of the butler, Mr. Quincy to aid in her retrieval of Robert. As they adventure deeper into Witchwood Manor otherworldly dangers await them. Can Winnie’s clever tricks and black magic truly be enough to succeed and who can she really trust.

Olivia Atwater does such a great job immersing the reader. The gothic fantasy vibes were written perfectly for this magical haunted tale. The Witchwood Knot is the first in the Victorian Faerie Tales series, while it does have some tie-ins to Atwater’s previous Regency series I did not feel it was essential to read those prior to this book. Winnie is a touch FMC who uses her whits and brain to outsmart her foes. I do wish we had gotten to see more of her black magic though. I adored the bond she shared with Oliver, her familiar cat and found it to be a fun twist on how typically familiars are depicted in books. The dynamic between Mr. Quincy and Winnie was delightful and I want more of them instantly! The plot was a tad slower but once you hit the half way point it really picks up. There are some trigger warnings that I feel make this read darker than Atwater’s previous work, the description of dark gothic fantasy or even calling The Witchwood Knot a gothic folklore retelling are perfect descriptions for this book. In the afterword Atwater states being enticed to write a gothic story since reading Wuthering Heights and that same gothic energy is as definitely accomplished with this work.

Anyone who is intrigued by spooky period pieces mixed with magic, enemies to lovers, eerie forests, and a dark gothic manor will love reading this book! I can not wait to see where the rest of this series goes!

The Witchwood Knot comes out November 28, 2023.

Thank you NetGalley and Starwatch Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A powerful relationship, with so much emotion and raw sharp edges and people finding comfort in each other when they need it most.
I love how strong the characters are, bold and brave and very in depth in their own ways.
It's very gothic horror, with mythical fairytale vibes and just enough world building to keep you invested but not be too heavy.
And yet its oddly cosy, and warm, and therefore is the perfect fall read as its spooky but like a big hug at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I did not expect to enjoy this book quite as much as I did. I loved the initial trilogy in this world, but I was nervous to have to say goodbye to the familiarity of the regency era's faerie tales. It was clear very early on that my concern was entirely unnecessary.

Atwater expertly crafts a world in which mortality and magic meet and does so through the perspective of the absolutely brilliant main character of Winifred. I liked her rather quickly and my love for her grew as she did throughout the novel. It was an absolute joy to see her growth and the arc she followed as the novel progressed.

Without a doubt, my favourite character is Oliver the undead cat. But anyone who knows me would have guessed as much the moment they knew a cat was a character. He is just absolutely precious and his relationship with Winnie is just gorgeous.

A really fun read and I very much look forward to where this series will go.

This was the perfect fall read! I've been picking up and putting down so many books lately. But this one... I devoured in such a short time. If you're craving cozy fantasy with a dash of romance, look no further. It has all the wholesomeness of HALF A SOUL by this author, but a bit darker and a lot more gothic.

Winifred is easy to root for. She is a fierce character (without falling into the typical "feisty FMC" trope). She is calculating, sometimes cutting with her words, but has the strength to lean into her vulnerabilities.

The romance was slow burn but rewarding. This author is so good at crafting relationships that make sense and fit with the characters' personalities. There is always space for their shortcomings, because no relationship can be perfect. Instead of jamming in a nonsensical romance here, she crafts a connection that is borne of rivalry, then a tentative friendship--with mutual respect throughout.

"It was somewhat flattering, Winnie realized, to be considered as a worthy opponent, instead of a as a woman."

Even the side characters were easy to adore. Most of all Winifred's undead cat familiar.

I was surprised to discover that this story is connected to the author's previous Regency Faerie Tales series, which is a plus to those of us who adored those books. But this definitely can stand alone! If the ending doesn't leave you wanting to explore all the other books in this world, it surely will leave you craving the next installment to this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwatch Press for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

I’m a massive fan of Olivia Atwater’s particular brand of whimsical, historically bent faerie tales and was so excited to delve into her latest— a gothic romance with secrets woven into every corner of the mysterious house our protagonist Winnifred is sent to join. Under the guise of acting as a governess, Winnie is an undercover dark magician with a special set of skills and know how when it comes to magic and faeries. Upon her arrival to the Witchwood manor, the dowager sets her upon a task of protecting the dowager’s young grandson from the sinister faerie curse taking over the home. Whisked to an alternate Witchwood as she sleeps, Winnie must navigate the mercurial and secretive Mr Quincy, a complex curse and the rather nasty master of the house before the curse enacts its final toll.

I really enjoyed this, perhaps even more so than the Regency Faerie tale series as I just adore a good gothic story. Winnie was remarkably fleshed out and I really enjoyed seeing her confidence and intelligence in how she navigated the challenges laid before her. Atwater didn’t shy away from delving into Winnie’s past with sexual assault and I really appreciated how delicately she handled Winnie getting her revenge. The romance was slow to develop and, as a romance lover I would’ve liked slightly *more*, I found it heartwarming and a gentle show of love between two people used to forging their paths on their own. I also loved Winnie & Robert’s relationship, especially seeing Robert’s childish animosity and Winnie’s impatience wear down into a really lovely connection between them.

Overall, this is a great set up for what’s sure to be a wonderful series, and I’ll eagerly away the next instalment!

I absolutely adored The Witchwood Knot.

Olivia Atwater writes the cosiest fantasy novels. This one is darker than the others (being a gothic romance), however, it is still a hug in a book.

I can't wait to read more from this series.

Hopefully a publisher in Australia snaps up the rights to The Witchwood Knot soon, because our customers will love this.

Having read Half A Soul, I'm so excited to back in this world and what a fantastic dive back in! Atwater is at her best here and her version of the fae is just so fun! I think fans of half a soul and newcomers alike will eat this up.

I was excited to dive into The Witchwood Knot as soon as I downloaded the ARC. This was my first book by Atwood and October is the perfect time of year to read gothic romance. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read her Regency Faerie Tales series first. Since I'm not familiar with the world, I feel like I didn't get the full story.

I really liked Winnie's character. She's brave and selfless when it comes to what she thinks is the right thing to do. I would have liked the MMC to be more fleshed out. He was interesting and I would've enjoyed learning more about him. As for the magic system, I was confused at times but I'm sure those who have read her previous books didn't have this problem. The beginning was a bit slow but a little over 50% through, the story picks up and I couldn't put it down. For how slow it was in the beginning, it felt like the ending was rushed.

Overall, I did like this book and the characters! I just wished there was more world building, the characters were a little more fleshed out, and the ending wasn't quite as rushed. I hope there's more books to come in this series because I would love to learn more about the characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Starwatch Press for the ARC.

Set in the same universe as Atwater's excellent "Half a Soul" books (just a bit later in time), this magic-and-manners tale is an echo of all those gothic Victorian books which include a plucky heroine, a sketchy householder, bratty children which must be trained up and protected, and ghostly scares a-plenty.

Winnifred, one of Lady Hollowvale's foundlings, is brought to Witchwood Manor under the guise of being a governess, but really, to protect the grandson of the Lady of the house, and to ferret out a way to rid the house of its ongoing faerie problems, which is a much more difficult prospect than first appears.

The tone of this novel is different from the earlier works, mirroring a change in circumstances, and a change to the grittier tone of gothic novels. Content warning: implied child sexual abuse, creepy guy sexual harassment - not explicit, but still, those who need to know, be warned. The author provides a warning for this at the beginning of the book.)

The perfect book to read on a rainy afternoon.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

This was my first Olivia Atwater book, and I adored it.

The story follows Winnifred (Winnie) Hall, a young woman no stranger to magic or the fae. The lady of Witchwood Manor has hired Winnie as a governess for her grandson, but that's not the real reason Winnie is there. There is something rotten at the heart of Witchwood Manor, and Winnie has been tasked with finding it and protecting the young master of the house.

The characters in this book are authentic, likable and believably flawed. One of the first things we learn about Winnie is that she is a liar, and while I do wish that had led us somewhere in the way of an unreliable narrator, watching Winnie navigate her way through dangerous situations with one well-placed lie after another was thoroughly entertaining.

The relationship between Winnie and the mysterious Mr Quincy was a highlight of this story for me, and its development felt natural and earned. Their clever banter and intellectual battles for the upper hand were an excellent way to add tension to their dynamic.

Witchwood Manor itself is at the heart of the plot; however, most scenes take place in a handful of rooms. Personally, this didn't impact my enjoyment as I was hooked by the characters and the mystery at the core of the plot; readers who like a deep sense of place may find that lacking slightly here.

The story is written in close third person, however, I found myself wishing it was written in first person. This is unusual for me as I generally prefer close third, but something about Winnie made me want to be even closer inside her head and see the Manor, the Witchwood Knot and Mr Quincy more clearly through her eyes.

Overall, I had an excellent time reading this book and will be keeping an eye out for what Atwater does next.

Thank you Netgalley, for an eARC of this book.

This is my first book by Oliva Atwater. I started reading and I was a bit confused about the world, but I just decided to roll with it, and I had a great time reading this. I really liked Winnie from the start. She was secretive and sassy, and I like that she professes to not like children and while having to maintain this governess ruse. Final thoughts are that this is a lovely little gothic mystery tale with a smidge of romance, a perfect book for fall.

The Witchwood Knot is book 1 in the Victorian Faerie Tales series by Olivia Atwater.
This is one of the best gothic romance dark fantasy stories I’ve read in a very long time.
I so enjoyed these characters and the world building in this low angst story.
The writing is delightful, impossible to put down.
A stunning gothic romance and a very entertaining dark faerie tale set in a magical version of Victorian England.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Starwatch Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Starwatch Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This is a spin-off of Atwood’s other series, the Regency Faerie Tales, and while I have not read that one yet (though I know the gist of them), I found that this was easy to follow. The Witchwood Knot is a gothic haunted/cursed house story where the protagonist, Winnie, is asked to be the governess of the dowager’s grandson. The house is deeply unsettling and when first arriving, Winnie notices something is wrong. There is also a slow burn romance in this, but it is a lovely side plot instead of taking center stage.

I honestly loved this and had a lot of fun with it; I love gothic horror and while at times it took a slightly more gorey turn than I’d been expecting, it ultimately isn’t all that scary, just very atmospheric and tense. I loved Winnie and Mr. Quincy, as well as the novel’s secondary characters (and, of course, Oliver). I really enjoyed Atwater’s faeries and the way she wove faerie lore into this story, and I really enjoyed the overarching plot that I’m assuming will make up the series as a whole. The Witchwood Knot is definitely a slower book; I found that it picks up around the halfway mark, but it does take its time up to that point. Regardless, it was super easy to sink into the story immediately, and I was swept up into the atmosphere.

Atwater’s handling of Winnie and Mr Quincy’s sharper edges and learning a level of vulnerability was really nice, and I loved Winnie as the main character/point of view character. I really enjoyed seeing her reclaim her agency and I loved her voice. I also liked how Mr. Quincy’s past and how it informs his present was done, and both were very compelling characters. The way this ends makes me very excited to see where Atwater’s Victorian Faerie Tales will go, and it sets up a really interesting series premise.

Overall I had a wonderful time reading this and am so delighted to have gotten to spend time in this world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwatch Press for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review!

I was so thrilled to receive this e-arc. I love Olivia Atwater's style of writing it is both cozy and eerily atmospheric in the best way. This gothic fantasy follows Winnie as she works as a "governess" at a manor beset by a curse. Everything is not as it seems including Winnie.

I don't want to include any spoilers in my review but I will say the way Winnie regained her agency in the novel as well as Mr. Quincy doing the same was so perfectly executed. I found the plot "twists" to be enjoyable and I didn't guess them immediately as I usually do.

Mr. Quincy is a terror with a rat tail and I love him.

I can't wait to see where this series goes!