I have been a fan of Olivia Atwater’s fascinating books ever since I devoured “Half a Soul” last year. And was thus delighted to get an ARC of “The Witchwood Knot,” which does indeed feel like a Brontë novel if a gothic horror romance included faeries and dark magic. I loved Winnifred (although that name makes me giggle to say out loud) and her character arc of embracing sacrifice and finding softness; Quincy was witty and tormented–as a gothic hero should be!–and I loved him too. I look forward to their further adventures!

If you liked Atwater’s other series- you’ll like this as well. If you haven’t read it- be warned you may not catch on, even if this is technically the first in this series.

Fun story, cute romance, not high stakes but still a fantasy- I’m intrigued for the rest, but I do feel I need to finish the other trilogy to be fully “aware”?

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my review!

3.5 rounded up

This was perfectly thematic for October and absolutely as enjoyable as the rest of Atwater’s books.

The end fell flat for me - it came to a sudden rushing end and I was left hoping maybe pages of my ARC were missing but alas. The build up was so well done all for it to end a bit … un-finished , but in a very dissatisfying way.

I am vaguely concerned about the idea that you can read these without reading her others - you could, but you’d be missing even more context which would truly then make the story almost impossible to follow.

Overall I enjoyed but I’m hoping the next one delves a bit deeper and takes more time to tell the story.

This is the first book I’ve read of Olivia Atwaters. The writing is whimsical. The imagery is beautiful. The world built in this book makes me want to read more.

Delightfully moody with fun characters. I wanted slightly more from it, but I think that might have required a longer book. this truly lived up to the description of a gothic and all of the plot points that genre usually works with. I often find contemporary stories fail to truly live up to the genre or don't give those more traumatic elements their full weight. I thought Atwater overall did an incredible job and I'm excited to see where the series heads!

This book was seductively dark. I thoroughly enjoyed the depth of character and their trauma portrayal. The twists, the nuance, it was delightful. The style of telling isn't what I'm used to and it was so refreshing.
Absolutely going to recommend this book when it hits my shelves. I'm so excited to tell people about it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. "The Witchwood Knot" is a great ready for this spooky time of year. From the opening chapter, it is obvious that we are in a place with dark magic and danger. When Winnie is called upon to be a governess at Witchwood Manor, she is aware that something is happening below the surface and that it has something to do with the faery realm, but how much she will come to learn and what that informs her about her own past is far from what she anticipates. Her initial meeting with the butler, Mr. Quincy, is something of mutual disgust, but that will change for her also.

When it comes to strength, Winnie has had to learn the hard way. But in many ways, her youth was the fire in which her iron will was forged. She doesn't shy away from things that others might run screaming from. Her daring nature is part of what makes this such a fun read. Who knows what she'll do next or what we'll learn about her next. The other thing I really enjoyed was the descriptions of both the manor and the knot. I could see them vividly which just added to the atmosphere in this darkly magical story.

As this is the first in a trilogy, some of the other characters have been introduced in such interesting ways that I look forward to getting to know their stories in the next books.

What I really liked about this book was the setting. In the “afterword” the author said that she really wanted to write a gothic book, probably fascinated by the vibe that Wuthering Weights gave her. I think she did an incredible job! Throughout the whole reading I felt I was in a dark and gloomy forest, sometimes I even got chills by the descriptions.
The main character was the strong-minded and independent woman that I needed to read about during this time of the year. Whenever you feel like you’re not capable of doing anything, you read about Winnie’s effort in saving the small little boy that she despised. About that, I really liked the relationship’s dynamics about these two characters, the softeness some of their conversations is a glimmer that made the surrounding setting less scary.
The mos important thing that I noticed was how much the author was subtle with a really such a delicate matter as raping and child abusing.

The only thing that I didn’t really appreciate was the romantic part. I found that a bit too unnatural. The whole thing happened too quickly, I felt that in a moment everything changed, but there wasn’t a specific event that made everything turn, it was just like the author decided that from that moment on, there would be more romance. I’m really sorry about that because this was a great book, but maybe it’s also because I’m not a huge romance reader and maybe I don’t really understand the trope that is happening in the story.

If you loved Olivia Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales series then this is the book for you. It's a bit of a continuation of the series but in a more gothic, darker setting. 

Winnie Hall has been hired on to be the governess for the young man of Witchwood Manor, a house full of secrets and even otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy. Winnie hopes to make her way to the center of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness and save the inhabitants of Witchwood Manor. With so many secrets around, who can she trust and what choices will Winnie have to make to succeed?  

The book involves a guard cat, morally grey mmc, clever magic, a haunted house, and a gloomy Victorian setting.

I love Olivia Atwater's writing and this was such a good read. Can't wait to see how she continues the story from here. Go preorder this now!

The Witchwood Knot
By Olivia Atwater

Oh
My
Goodness

I was immediately pulled right into this story and didn’t want to put it down.

Our protagonist is capable, confident, and maybe little out of her depth. We delve into what the word “monster” really means. And it’s all tied up in a spooky, gothic setting.

I was impressed with the nuance of Winnie’s character. How confident she is when interacting with the Fae and how terrifying humans can be. Her navigation of interacting with a kid and how she stumbles and learns and grows. She’s intelligent and sometimes over confident. Her character growth I felt was very believable.

I’m the first to admit I’m not crazy into romance and especially not enemies to lovers. But this just really worked. Maybe it’s because they weren’t so much at odds with each other as having opposing goals. So there wasn’t necessarily hatred involved.

I believe this book is set in the same world as Half a Soul, etc. but I haven’t read those and enjoyed this book just fine. So even if you haven’t read the others, don’t let that stop you!

This ARC was provided by @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Olivia Atwater's writing after reading Half a Soul, and since then, have been consistently obsessed with her writing. The Witchwood Knot is everything I hoped it would be and more- this book was exactly what I needed to get out of a slump. It's comforting, it's whimsical, it's cozy, it's creepy- it's everything I love. There's magic! There's one-eyed ghost cats! There's yearning! There's a mmc with a tail that I was willing to overlook! (Cardan girlies I respect you, but I just.. yeah). I am consistently delighted with the way that Olivia's writing makes me FEEL, and the gothic atmosphere of this book was so incredibly wonderful to slip into. Reading this was a visual experience, if that makes any sense.

I will warn that there are some instances of mild, non-graphic sexual harassment. There is one chapter that includes a flashback of this happening towards a child, and is otherwise mentioned towards the FMC in adulthood. There is a content warning at the beginning of this book, but I feel it's important to put that in my review as well. Be aware of your TW/CW's in that regard before reading!

All that being said- I truly loved The Witchwood Knot, and I am so looking forward to this being in hardcover and paperback this November. Thank you so much for the chance to read this as an ARC- I am really excited about this one.

Olivia Atwater writes the BEST faerie books and always captures historical vibes perfectly.

The way the fae are portrayed are spot on, a sense of unease and eeriness you feel in their presence; powerful, deep and dark. Conniving and clever. And the romance elements are always worth the wait. You never think fairies can love that deep but then they always surprise you! You think them superficial and selfish and although Mr Quincy may seem menacing, perhaps there is a deeper layer to his menace..

Getting to know Winifred was great, and the dark suspense of feeling something awakening was foreboding and brilliant. Witchwood Manor was super creepy and it set the scene perfectly. Faces hidden in walls, mysterious noises and sleepless nights filled with nightmares… oooo I was all for it. I also so admired Winnie’s metal when she was faced with all sorts of terrifying things and she never backed down. Also Oliver the Cat kinda had a peace of my heart too!

I found this book immensely easy to read and incredibly easy to want to return back to. It has a way of enfolding you in the mystery and it was an entertaining joy to finish. I’m starting to always look forward to what this author will produce and I’m excited for more! (Also, the cover is stunning!)

What an absolutely DELIGHTFUL little bit of fae literature. This is truly a story that your grandmother would tell you in front of a roaring fire with a cup of tea. I am enamoured by Miss Winifred Hall and the representation of faerie and the fae folk is the perfect amount of hard to get a handle on. It twists and slips between your fingers while you try to understand. I’m thrilled to realize this is not a stand alone because I cannot wait to read the next book. This is dark and lush and gothic in a way that makes me want to wander a stone hallway with a candelabra. Chefs kiss

THE WITCHWOOD KNOT could serve as a great introduction to the cozy and fun works of Olivia Atwater, which are beloved by so many. It is fantastically gothic, and has a good amount of faerie lore. While it didn’t work for me on several counts, it was still a fun whimsical historical fantasy I enjoyed as a bedtime read.

Full review to come.

A wonderfully dark and mysterious Victorian fantasy that delivers magic, fae and pockets full of scones (something I’m sure we all wish we had!). This story keeps you on your toes throughout, with dark and dangerous things lurking around the corners and going bump in the dead of the night. Winnie is not your average governess and arrives at Witchwood Manor with a few tricks up her sleeve which she has to rely upon when facing the faeries and attempting to rescue her charge. Winnie has to unravel the mystery of Witchwood Manor whilst protecting those who live within - as well as herself. There’s a monster in the woods and faces in the walls but the practical and knowing Winnie throws herself into her task, finding herself in danger that she doesn’t blink an eye at. She’s an intriguing narrator and the setting was so well constructed in this book that it’s easy to imagine the Manor and the Witchwood Knot through Winnie’s descriptions. The cherry on top of an already fascinating story was the drop of romance that unfolds in an unlikely place.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Fabulous gothic romance with if I’m honest a romance I truly hadn’t expected . I loved the heroine as she’s not one to back down and the hero ( or is that anti hero ?) kind of grew on me as he too underwent a journey . The ending was clearly well thought out and definitely leaves me wanting to read more by this new to me author . Final thoughts are this went in directions I hadn’t expected and was very satisfying and perfect for the spooky season .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from NetGalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

With The Witchwood Knot, Atwater slips back into her faerie tale world and I'm thrilled to join her. However, this new installment didn't live up to the expectations the previous series set.

The draw for me to Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales series was largely the romances. It looks like this new Victorian era series will be the same. Aside from what I thought was a sudden start, the relationship ended being the highlight of the book. I enjoyed how emotionally honest the pair was without being overly saccharine.

My biggest issues with the book are the pacing and the setting. The synopsis explains that the heir of the manor goes missing, but that major plot point doesn't happen until halfway through the book. While I wouldn't say this is a boring book, not a lot happens until the final chapters. Even then I found the climax to be underwhelming. It ties up enough loose ends, but leaves plenty of questions. While I'm sure the next book will follow a different set of characters, I would not consider this a standalone if you want the full story.

Having the heir kidnapped so late in the story also stopped Winnie from exploring the Knot more. The mystery of the curse, the manor, and the faeries are the most interesting aspects of the plot. I wish the author had delved more deeply into them. There are also several world-building details--like the concept of black magicians--that I wish were explained more. It would helped orient this new time period and show how the setting has changed.

Another world-building issue I had was with Winnie's magic. I routinely forgot she even had magical abilities. I didn't understand what her power was anyway. She can read cards? Was this her only magical gift?

Additionally, this book was more connected to the Regency series than I expected. New readers will be able to read this, but will certainly have questions about mentioned characters.

I didn't love this new start as much as hoped, but I am excited to read more from this new era. If you loved Atwater's other works, this is worth a try.

Having read Half a Soul, I was prepared for a fluffy concoction of a book with faeries. More the fool was I. This is gothic and dark and full of sinister characters, both mortal and other. I was immediately drawn in thought to the house, the mystery, and the characters. Winnie is unbelievably mentally strong and clever. Mr Quincy is so darkly mysterious and fascinating; is he evil, can he be trusted, whose side is he on? And who is the real monster of Witchwood?
There are some tough topics covered here, including childhood abuse and employer sexual harassment. But the topics are handled with care, and the most beautiful part of the book is when Winnie can reclaim herself and chooses to give affection instead of having it taken from her.
This is dark and gothic and a bit bloody, but overall I really really enjoyed it. There’s definitely an open ending for future books, which I will absolutely read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early look at the book for review. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5

The Witchwood Knot is the perfect gothic read for the spooky season! It was cozy, eerie, and thrilling. A great book to read by the fireplace with a warm, fall drink.

Winnie was a great protagonist to follow, and the fact that she has Oliver, an undead cat, as a familiar made me love her even more. Although she shows up at the Witchwood manor with an ulterior motive to unravel where all the faeries have disappeared to, she ends up tied to a young lord and an ancient fae. The slowburn between Winnie and Mr Quincy was written beautifully, especially after Winnie's greatest fear revealed. Although it took a little bit to get the ball rolling and to truly understand why Winnie signed herself up for an arguably REALLY bad job, it was an enjoyable book to read. I wish it went a little bit more into detail on the relationships between characters, as some of Winnie's decisions during the book didn't make a whole lot of sense, especially given that it seemed that she had just met those at the manor.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Witchwood Knot is not my first Olivia Atwater book, and certainly not the last. I did not expect to squeeze it into my schedule so soon, but the cover reveal excitement got the better of me, so I had to rearrange things a bit. I have no regrets, though.

The Witchwood Knot is set in the same world as Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales series, there are even references to the characters in Half a Soul (if you know, you know). There are no spoilers though, so even if you haven’t read those books, you will be able to fully enjoy them at a later time. If you already read Half a Soul, however, then you’ll be happy to find some additional bits that will enhance your reading experience.

Our heroine this time is Winnie, who just arrived at Witchwood Manor to be the governess of a young boy, the grandson of Lady Longfellow, who is aware of Winnie’s abilities. That’s why she asks her not to tutor Robert, but to protect him while he is staying. But of course, Winnie has her own reasons for taking the offer – she is looking for answers as to what happened to faeries, and specifically to the Hollow Lady. And she doesn’t arrive without weapons, so to speak. She has a bottle of magical perfume, a silver knife she got from the Hollow Lady, and of course Ollie, the undead cat (you are going to love him). She also has knowledge about the faeries which definitely comes in handy, when dealing with the Witchwood Knot. But what the hell is the Witchwood Knot, you might ask. The question is excellent, but I’m afraid you’ll have to find the answer for yourself. Let’s just say it’s the stuff of nightmares – quite literally. I enjoyed exploring it, but I also wanted more of it.

This book has a fairly small cast of characters, and because it’s also a short book, there isn’t much time to get to really know them. I think that was my biggest issue with The Witchwood Knot – I wasn’t able to build an emotional connection with the characters, especially Winnie. It’s not to say I didn’t like her, or Mr Quincy for that matter. And that’s a bit frustrating, because we got to know Winnie the most, including childhood traumas that still haunt her. Atwater handles the topic of child abuse and trauma with deft hands. We get as much information as we need to ensure we can understand what Winnie is going through, and why she makes the choices and has the personality she has. And this aspect of the book works really well. Atwater builds up her character beautifully, and in a way, many people will be able to identify with her. And yet… for me, there was something missing, but I couldn’t tell you what, exactly. Maybe it’s her hard facade, the way she keeps her distance from everyone. At the same time, it was interesting to follow her coming out of her shell a bit and letting herself open up.

I don’t often say this, but I think The Witchwood Knot could have done with some more pages, to fatten it up a bit. I loved the included fairy tales, maybe there could have been more. But I also wanted to understand more about The Witchwood Manor’s past and its connection with Faries, or maybe to get to know a bit more about the characters like Cook, or Lord Longfellow who ended up being a bit one-dimensional. A monster, for sure (one that totally creeped me out, so he certainly fulfilled his purpose), but still one-dimensional, or even Robert and his past and present experiences to give us a glimpse into the changes he is going through (because he does), or Winnie’s sisters and how the Lord Sorcier’s new laws affected their lives in general. And probably a bit more suspense, too would have done it good. Also a second POV character. I just can’t help thinking that while I enjoyed my time with this book (which reads super fast), there could have been so much more to it.

While there is some romance, I wouldn’t say it’s the main focus of the plot. But it’s definitely an integral part of it. It plays into both parties’ character arcs. It’s a slow build one, and it takes a good portion of the book to get going. It’s written very well too, so even if you are not a fan of romance in your fiction, you should still be able to enjoy this one.

The Witchwood Knot is a delightfully dark and gothic faerie tale about trauma, love, revenge, and greed. A visceral and atmospheric read that’s best enjoyed curled up with a cup of tea on chilly autumn days. A definite must read for fans of Olivia Atwater. And if you dare to fall asleep, you might hear Mr Quincy’s haunting music. But beware, danger is always just a step away, and you definitely don’t want to step on Lady Mourningwood’s toes…