I was very excited to receive an advance copy of this book, because I loved Half a Soul and Ten Thousand Stitches. I love reading faerie tales and with the added benefit of cute romance I was really content. I wanted to love this one as much as those, but despite enjoying it, it fell a little flat for me.

This tale is more gothic, a bit spookier than prior novels. Winnie Hall arrives at Witchwood Manor to act as a governess for a spoiled rich boy, but she has an ulterior motive: to investigate the mysterious stories surrounding Witchwood, using her powers as a cartomancer. She immediately crosses paths with a fae butler, Mr. Quincy, who is doing everything in his power to drive Winnie and the other mortals away from the Manor. Monsters are lurking not just in the wood surrounding the Manor, but in the Manor and in its residents' dreams themselves.

I loved Winnie as a main character, particularly her dry humor and her cleverness. Overall, however, I must say this book was a bit boring. A decent amount of the book is spent sitting, sleeping, or in anticipation of sleep. Also, while I thought there were cute moments between Winnie and Mr. Quincy, their romance was just lacking in development. They really didn't spend much time together, and especially when I have the romances from Half a Soul and Ten Thousand Stitches in comparison, it really was a disappointment.

Netgalley and Starwatch Press provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was such a neat world to dive into. I had not read the authors other works, but now I definitely want to!

This combines faeries, a spooky gothic house, and fairy tale vibes in the Victorian era. So many fun things to explore and a vivid world was created.

4.5 stars

THE WITCHWOOD KNOT is a gorgeously gothic fairy tale in a house attacked by fairies, following a governess who will protect her charge no matter what.

This is darker than Olivia Atwater's previous Regency Fairy Tale series, both in terms of how it means into the vicious, dangerous fae and in its themes, most notably sexual assault of minors and staff. It handles this topic so sensitively. I loved the route it took and the author's note at the end explaining why she followed a less common approach.

It also leans into the gothic of the house with its unexplained events - rattling halls, a butler who is not the butler. It was a really fun blending of traditional gothic houses and the darker side of faeries, but also retaining that very fairy tale feel at the same time with stories told throughout.

This novel is set in the same universe as her Regency Fairy Tales series though is set about a generation later, now firmly in the (early) Victorian era rather than the late Regency. There are call backs to that trilogy but you certainly don't need to have it to follow what is happening.

This also seems to be the start of a series that is not a set of related companions as there is a clear villain set up in this book for later books to develop and keep fighting. The primary villain here is defeated at the end of this book though, leading to a satisfying ending. I still want the next book though!

From slow burn fantasy romance to creepy, evil faerie vibes, The Witchwood Knot has something for everyone. I always enjoy a gothic horror so when I read the premise, I knew this would be right up my street - and I wasn't wrong!

Winnie is such a strong female character and I loved her wit and charm throughout the book. Quincy is equally likeable and I really enjoyed the romance aspect of this story, especially as it picked up a bit more during the second half.

One thing I would say is that I wish Winnie's magical abilities had been delved into a bit more as I feel like these were only really briefly touched upon in the last few chapters. But that's pretty minor and is my only negative here.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who's into fantasy romance/horror. It's the perfect read for spooky season!

Having read the trilogy of Regency Faerie Tales last year and absolutely loving them, I've been so excited to hear that this is the start of a new series: Victorian Faerie Tales.

The Witchwood Knot follows the story of Winifred Hall, who after leaving the work house and children's home takes up the post of governess at an old hall (so far, so gothic!) Winnie is also a magician though, and has expertise in cartomancy and dealing with the Fae folk in other realms. As governess she must do all she can to keep the young heir of the family, Robert, safe. But with so many shadows and apparitions stalking the house, along with servants who may not be human, the mysterious butler Mr Quincy included. Winnie must draw on all her skills to keep Robert safe.

I really enjoyed this, the perfect Halloween read and I'm already looking forward to reading the next in this series!

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries meets Jane Eyre in the latest historical fantasy novel by Olivia Atwater.

This book was an absolute delight! I love the idea of faeries and other mythical creatures roaming about Victorian era England, and I found this book to be just as charming as Half a Soul. All the fantastical elements--magic and familiars and faeries, oh my!--were great and I love how everything tied together plot wise.

Winifred is a fantastic protagonist and I love that the author uses some not-so-savory elements of the time period to frame the story. It is so empowering and insightful to give voice to the darker aspects of history alongside the more fanciful magic. Mr. Quincy is an alluring villain-like character and love interest. I really like how the relationship between him and Winifred progresses through the story.

Some of the main plot mentioned in the synopsis does take a while to get going, but overall, I found the story to be a great addition to the world Atwater has created and I look forward to reading a sequel.

This book is connected to Atwater’s other series, the Regency Faerie Tales, but I don’t think you have to be familiar with them to enjoy this story.

My reaction to this book has two phases.

First 70% of the novel: OMG, it's beautiful, I'm loving everything, I want to go buy all the other books by this author, I've discovered my new favorite author.

Remaining 30% of the novel: meh.

Around the moment that marked the turning point, the love story begins to develop. What upset me wasn't this narrative twist in itself (which was entirely expected; it's a must in this literary genre). But indeed, it's probably the love story that made me fall (a bit!) out of love, because I found it forced and, frankly, way too rushed. The impression I got is that of two characters who suddenly start making out, in despair, on the eve of a risky venture that could kill them both, which of course could be a very valid motivation, if it weren't clear from the context that the author's intention was to portray True Love. As True Love, it's too hurried; and since the novel is clearly meant to be the first in a series, I'd say there was really no need to rush things, as we're only at the beginning of the narrative arc.

If it weren't for this, I would have easily given the novel five stars. It's a good read, with a gothic-but-not-too-much plot and a fantasy setting that's not trivial but not so complicated that it requires the reader to memorize too many details. It's the fantasy novel that's a pleasure to read under an umbrella (or on the couch under a blanket while it's raining outside, given the setting).

I agree with those who said that the protagonist is the most useless magician in all of fantasy literature (she apparently has only one power, which she barely uses throughout the story, finding herself having to face events only with her wit and a few magical aids that she didn't create herself). Still, all in all, it didn't seem like a big issue for the narrative. Apparently, someone made the mistake of hiring the wrong magician for a job that, I think, other colleagues would have completed much more easily.

There are so many things I loved about this book that I don't even know where to begin.
A gothic fantasy romance set in the Victorian era? Say no more - I was immediately hooked. It's been a while since a book grabbed me so intensely within the first 50 pages.

I loved the world-building and the elegantly constructed magic system.
The characters in this story are a true highlight. While I adored all of them, a certain feline companion stole the show, and I'm eager to see more of this charming character in the sequel.

While I haven't previously read her Regency Faerie Tales trilogy, this book has convinced me to explore her other books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When I saw that a new book by Olivia Atwater is available on Netgalley, I've requested it without a second thought. I've gotten an e-arc and that's gonna be on my list of the best things that could have happened to me this fall. I'm gonna very aggressively recommend The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater to everyone. 😅 Get ready!

First of all, I've read only Small Miracles and Half a soul by this author. And I feel like this book would be even more fun if I had read the full Regency Faerie Tales trilogy prior to picking up The Witchwood Knot, but I've really enjoyed it nevertheless and I'm already excited by the prospect of rereading it after completing the first trilogy.

In this book, we follow Winnie, who goes to a manor and tries to uncover secrets hidden there. It's set in the Victorian era and it's incredibly atmospheric. I've been intrigued the whole time. It's just perfect for autumn and if you're looking for a cozy, spooky, emotional read, that's it! It is creepy both in the setting and in the emotions that some people evoke in others. There is also a theme of trying to recover from trauma which adds another layer that I deeply appreciate in books. And I wouldn't be myself if I didn't mention a fantastic familiar that has one good eye, just like my Luna.

“I have been trying to be strong and sensible. But I am not strong—I am surviving. It is the simplest, most difficult thing in the world, because I have no choice.”

This book made me enjoy my time with it, as well as feel understood. It was a warm hug I've needed and something I honestly can't find any fault with.

It was an easy 5✨read and something that will stay in my heart for a long long time.

In The Witchwood Knot we follow Winifred Hall as she takes on the position of governess at Witchwood Manor. The job description did not mention the tortured faces in the walls or the danger that lurks in the woods but Winnie has her own secrets and plans and she’s not going to let dark magic or mysterious butlers get in her way.

I loved the gothic manor dark magic vibes of this book. I also love faerie stories when there is a bit of danger and darkness to the lore and the fae are more on the eerie menacing and wickedly clever side. There is also a delightfully cozy side to the story with protective ghost cats and freshly baked scones.

This story, while it does stand on its own is definitely adjacent to another story within the same world. For me, it still felt like it worked as its own story but also felt at times like knowing the other books would have added to the reading experience. However, I really enjoyed this and now I have more books to look forward to, so I’m not mad about it.

I think people who like Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies and An Enchantment of Ravens would really enjoy this. A really great autumn read for someone looking for gothic manor vibes.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was my first Olivia Atwater book, and after finishing The Witchwood Knot I can't wait to read The Regency Faerie Tales! For those like me who hadn't previously been exposed to Atwater's work, you can definitely begin with The Witchwood Knot without any loss of understanding/subject matter. I would also recommend Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett for those looking for something else in the vein of Atwater's series.

The description of the novel barely does justice to the story - Winifred Hall arrives at Witchwood Manor in the pouring rain in the first page, and the story takes on a moody, gloomy, gothic, romantic cast perfectly tempered by Winifred's wit and faerie knowledge against the secrets and cleverness of Mr. Quincy, the wayward butler. The vibes and tone are reminiscent of the Bronte sisters and their gothic romance tales, and Atwater does an excellent job building external plot tension and internal character tension.

Winifred is not a governess, but a black magician, and she is working on behalf of her young charge's grandmother to protect him from the evil inside the walls of Witchwood Manor. Winifred bravely pursues both the cause of the haunting and the disappearance of her charge while dealing with danger from the faeries in her sleep at night and with the master of the house, Lord Longfell, in the day. Atwater is able to portray the duality of all the characters - how both the fae and humans can have goodness and darkness inside of them, and how the choices we make can make a world of difference.

I greatly appreciated Atwater's afterword to the story - how she did not anticipate the story being as dark as it is and how she wanted characters to have the ability to reclaim those parts of themselves oppressed by others. I do recommend reading that brief paragraph after finishing the book, because Atwater's motivations lend more to the nuance of how she crafted the story.

It's hard to write much more without giving away parts of the story, but this is a great read!

Olivia Atwater has such a way of making you fall in love with her characters and the worlds she builds and this story was no different. The Witchwood Knot reads like a fairy tale from the very start while the Gothic elements interweaved make the story fresh and captivating. The story pulled me in from the first page and didn't let me go until the last word.

That being said, the story did start out a bit slow and it took a while to get to the meat of the plot. I also wish there was a bit more exploration of the Witchwood Knot and some of the world-building because at times I felt like it got lost. I also would have enjoyed seeing more relationship development between Winifred and the other characters throughout the story. Overall, I still really enjoyed this story, and the ending more than made up for the slow start. I definitely would recommend it to those looking for a relatively easy Gothic read or who enjoy reading fairy tales of all kinds.

~ARC Review~

Olivia Atwater's The Witchwood Knot is an enchanting dark Victorian adventure. As we are swept into fae-Victorian England, we meet governess Winnie, who has landed herself in a precarious house.
Witchwood manor is full of surprises and unwanted guests. When her charge, the young master Robert, is stolen away into faerie, Winnie has to face the worst and make some unlikely allies.
Thank you Olivia for this ARC! I can't wait for more people to read this it was so fun and spooky! I absolutely love your prose and your unique world building. The bit of romance was also a plus ! Overall, it was such an enjoyable read, especially for fall.
4.5 /5

Wow! The story ended with a bang and I can’t wait to see where Olivia Atwater takes her series next. A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy and it also had an unforgettable ending.

This was a fantastic return to the world of the Half a Soul series, which I loved for its charm, witty characters, and fantastic world building. Atwater handles fairies and their lore very well, integrating them into her setting so fantastically and making them so much more than just pretty faces with a cruel streak. This book is set in the same world, but features new characters, though there are connections to the past cast. Winnie, a magician gifted at cartomancy, is hired as a governess for the Lady Longfell's grandson Robert. Her real job, however, is to protect him, as there is a curse placed on the house and Robert is likely to be the next victim. The plot revolves around discovering the nature of the cursed on the manor, and also reveals some big, overarching plot changes that show that from the end of the first trilogy, something major has occurred. There's a new Lord Sorcier and most of the fairies have disappeared from London, leaving all paths to Fairie locked. Winnie hopes to find answers to why this all happened by solving the issue of the manor. I love Winnie as a main character, she was fun and strong willed. Mr. Quincey was a fascinating character, one I had a hard time getting a read on, but ended up liking a lot. There's the suggestion of a bigger plot to be revealed in the future, so i'm interested to see where the next book leads.

A lovely gothic horror faerie-tale with a touch of unsuspecting romance. Mr. Quincey had me interested from the first moment he and Winnie met. Their brutal honesty with each other and the shedding of barriers between them felt like peeling onion layers. Every time they interacted walls seemed to crumble for their romance bringing them closer together, very slow burn with lots of plot. Winnie's undead cat had me smiling every time he showed up, the perfect protective familiar. This was a beautifully dark world to fall into. Thank you to Netgalley and Olivia Atwater for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Witchwood Knot takes place in an intriguing gothic manor that feels spooky but not scary, making it a perfect autumn read for those that that love spooky season but don’t enjoy horror. The characters really made this book for me. Winnie is very likeable and intelligent, her relaxed attitude while facing the dangers of the house kept the book feeling lighthearted through the darker events. Winnie’s adorable ghostly familiar was a brilliant addition and one of my favourite things about the book. Mr Quincy’s appearance is definitely one of the boldest choices for a love interest that I’ve ever read but somehow I still found him endearing and ended up loving their sweet romance.

While I really enjoyed the plot itself, the abduction described in the blurb doesn’t happen until half way through. I felt like I spent the first half waiting for this to happen rather than just enjoying the progression of the story, so I would have preferred not to know about this in advance. I also felt as though I was not fully appreciating some of the details of the story having only read the first of the three Regency Faerie Tales. There were a lot of mentions of characters and events from the previous series that I didn’t fully understand. I assume that Winnie’s backstory is covered in a previous book as I never felt that I fully grasped her relationship with the dowager or her motivations to stay and deal with the horrors of the house. Although I wish I’d competed the Regency Faerie Tales first, I still really enjoyed my time reading this and look forward to continuing the series.

This is definitely in my top reads for this year. My first Atwater book and it absolutely blew me away. The gothic vibes and overall atmosphere were magical.

I loved the romance so much, Winnie and Mr Quincy were developed well as individual characters before falling for each other, which is my favourite in a slow burn romance.

The character development in a gothic romance such as this is my favourite in stories like these. It allows the characters to move through the plot and enjoy the atmosphere. I enjoyed the faeries lore and the curse of Witchwood Manor.

Atwater managed to create such an excellent gothic atmosphere with magic and faeries that I was so entranced the whole time. I can't wait for the next installment after that ending and to reread this again. It was wonderful. 4.5 ⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book should definitely be clear that it's related to other books in a series. Even if it's a new story in the same world, it's important for new readers to understand that they are entering a previously defined world. I wasn't interested in diving into a new series now. It also makes new readers feel left out from any of the little winks and nods that are supposed to make you excited.

For the most part, I really, really enjoyed this. It's definitely a more gothic, dark tone as compared to the whimsy of the Regency Fairie Tales trilogy and I really enjoyed that. There were a few things, though, that I wish were a little different. First, I wish that the romance was a bit more expanded in the story. I do think that Mr. Quincy and Winnie have a compelling relationship, but I felt like it would've been better if there'd been a few more scenes with the two of them together. Second, I think that Winnie's magic could've been utilized a bit more. Other than that, though I like what this book in particular has established about the world and I'm interested in seeing how it'll be resolved in upcoming books.

I will say that this book is not entirely a new series. It's an off-shoot of Olivia Atwater's previous trilogy--set in the same world with mentions of familiar characters. While I think Olivia Atwater did a pretty decent job clarifying certain plot points of the previous trilogy, it'd be more helpful for the reader to go into the book having read the other books.