A new twist on a classic fae tale. Winifred Hall is hired to be a governess at a remote and distinctly odd manor by the grandmother of a rather naughty boy who needs protection for the fae folk. The fact that Wini admittedly hates children makes this a little amusing and a little ironic. It also makes her a little difficult to like at first, I mean, I’ve never gotten along with people who hate kids and animals. Luckily Wini is quite charming and has a number of tricks up of her sleeve like her ghost cat who is a rather unpleasant surprise to the fae butler. Despite her precautions though Robert, her charge, is abducted and replaced, and his rather nasty nonbeliever father is the opposite of helpful. Wini must use all her clever tricks and wit to save the boy, whom she can’t stand, herself, because she has given her word and also her family greatly needs her to maintain her job. This all rounds out in a delightful dark tale of child snatching fairy mischief with more than a few harrowing moments and much excitement. Excellent, witty and sort of like a dark Harry Potter in its lyrical prose.

I loved this. I devoured this in two days, and my only complaint is that I’m desperate for more of the series. My favorite aspects were the two main characters, and the ‘faerie tale’ chapters.

Set in the Victorian era, at Witchwood Hall, a young governess, Winnie, arrives to rid the Hall of the faerie nuisance that has kept the humans away and has frightened the house matriarch into never leaving her room. Arriving at Witchwood Hall, she first meets Mr. Quincy, the faerie butler of the manor. Winnie's charge, the future lord Witchwood Hall, has been taken by the Fae Folk, known for their mischievous ways, and Winnie does not like children. She must also contend with the current lord of Witchwood Manor and the boy's father, who does not believe in faeries. As Winnie embarks on a rescue mission, she has to team up with Mr. Quincy. Despite her hesitancy, Winnie teams up with him, knowing she needs his help navigating the faerie realm. She relies on her wit to decide who to trust in a world of deceptions.

Winnie is a strong female character with tenacity and all the audacity. I enjoyed her strength, fearless spirit, and bravery when faced with challenges. I learned so much about fae lore. I enjoyed the interplay between the human world and the fae world. The supernatural elements are nicely woven into the story, creating a cohesive atmosphere. The romance was a slow burn and did not overpower the storyline. It is a slower pace book than I prefer. Overall, it is a fun read.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Starwatch Press.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC,

This was a great pallet cleanser if you are into gothic romantic subplot darkish fairytales. I was able to pick up pieces from classes fairytales such as Pinocchio. I typically do not enjoy novels where the romance is a subplot, but the mystery aspect of the Witchwood Knot allowed me to continue reading through this short novel.

3 ★
An interesting read with dark fairytale-ish vibes, but it didn't captivate me.

I honestly don't have much to say about this read. It's nice but nothing more.
There was clearly an atmosphere that could appeal, and which I usually enjoy, but this time I just wasn't into it at all. I couldn't really get into the vibe, the plot or even the characters...
I'm not really a fan of the protagonist. What's more, I didn't really see any chemistry between her and Mr. Quincy...
Oh, and I also found the author's writing style a little too simple? Here again I didn't get hooked, even though it's a quick read.
It's not a bad book, far from it. I just didn't find it very memorable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3,5 stars

"You may be fond of all those things if you would like. I do not mind, as long as it is you."

This was a fun read! I loved the strong FMC Winnie and her adorable cat Oliver. I also liked the Victorian setting and the spooky vibes.
I was a little bit underwhelmed by the story, tough I can not put my finger on it. Maybe I longed for a bit more magic or romance? Still I very much enjoyed the story. So if you are looking for a magical Victorian gothic story, this might be the book for you!

I also want to thank NetGalley for this ARC!

- Haunted manor
- Magic
- Romance subplot
- Mystery
- Fae
- Black magicians
- Historical
- Victorian gothic fantasy
- Strong FMC

4.25 stars
Winnie, who is our main character, sets out to solve a mystery in this gothic tale.
5 stars for the mood
4.5 stars for the characterisation
3.5 stars for the plot
Mr Quincy and Oliver - heart heart
I was pleased that the romance element was not overdone.

The Witchwood Knot was an excellent gothic fantasy. Winnie was a fantastic FMC filled to the brim with confidence and cleverness. Not only was she charged with all the typical governess responsibilities, she set out to defeat a powerful being to save someone she barely knew. It really showed her character- how much she cared for others and how solid she was in her beliefs of what was right and wrong.

Atwater did a great job showcasing the not-so-overt threats women face with men as well as the completely overt. I enjoyed seeing Winnie reclaim her power over those who wished her harm in several different ways.

Quincy offers such a great balance to Winnie- never stealing the spotlight but almost illuminating her instead. He’s her counterbalance and it was fun and swoony to see their characters feed off of one another and grow.

My only critique is that I didn’t quite understand how Winnie’s magic worked- if it was like the magicians of today’s world or like the witches of fantasy books. It seemed to be a bit of both, but I was never quite sure.

Overall, a great story. I highly recommend it if you like slower building plots and romances (which I typically do) and wonderful gothic vibes. Atwood’s writing fit perfectly with the setting and I can’t wait to read more of her work!

Thank you to Olivia Atwood, Netgalley, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Olivia Atwater's book Half a Soul so I was excited to get an arc for The Witchwood Knot, I didn't like it quite as much but I think that's just because I loved Dora and Elias sooo much! I loved the little nods in this book to her other books but it can definitely stand on it's own as well, you just miss out on some of the background details. Winnie is a great heroine though, she's strong and so smart, her tragic past literally made me cry and thank god for Lady Hollowvale! Mr. Quincy was mysterious and intriguing and theirs was a slow romance but they both complimented each other so well, they are both damaged and brutally honest. I really enjoyed watching it build and the manor's otherworld was very exciting to explore. I also really loved how Winnie and Oliver's relationship grew, he was the child in her charge and while he was kinda bratty she came to really care for him!

If you're looking for a gothic, creepy, romance-infused read, this should absolutely be the next book on your TBR pile!

The main characters, Winnie and Mr. Quincy are so well written - flawed and with their own sets of fears and struggles, which makes them so much more likable.

I wasn't aware of the fact that the book was a spin-off of the author’s Regency Fairytales, but in all honestly, I don’t think reading the series before The Witchwood Knot is necessary (though I can't imagine I’d hurt to know more).

The dark, moody atmosphere would make this book a perfect Halloween read, so if you're looking for something, that will keep you on your toes without being scary to the point where you won't be able to sleep, I cannot recommend this book enough. I know it most definitely won't be the last Altwater’s book I’ll read.

After reading Small Miracles by Atwater, I was so excited to check out another story from her. The Witchwood Knot is slightly darker than Small Miracles, but includes some humor and wit that kept the story feeling light as well.

Our main character, Winifred , is intelligent and clever. I loved the way Atwater explained so much Fae magic and tricks through Winifred's clever avoidance of them or her frustration with herself If they were successful in fooling her. Throughout the book we discover she has cause to mistrust both humans and faeries, but she has strong character arc that shows us her growth and courage to overcome those past events.

My issues with this book came with the plot and world building. I do think both were a bit weak in this story. I wanted more details about how the magic worked throughout the story to better understand the implication at the end of the book. I think this also could've helped the plot a bit at the beginning as the first half of the book felt a bit slow.

The highlight of the book for me was the romance and how the characters really started out as enemies. They worked for their romance and had to do a lot of learning and growing to start their romance. I enjoyed this slow burn part of the book very much.

I'm still interested in continuing the series and I'll be checking out other books by Atwater in the future.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

good start to the new series and it was lovely to see some familiar faces from the previous series. really enjoyed winnie as a character however the romance was a bit slow and the ending felt rushed

I went into this expecting something similar to Olivia Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales series, but this is much darker than that, so I would advise you not to go into it expecting something light and cozy. This has much more of a gothic, haunted house setting, and the book's tone does reflect that.

I really enjoyed Winnie as a main character, she was a really strong heroine, and I always have fun with FMCs who are a little prickly and harder to love. However, most of the other characters fell a little bit flat for me, and I couldn't really get invested. Despite this, I did generally enjoy the romantic subplot, but please be aware that it is really not the focus of the story.

Overall, I really enjoy Olivia Atwater's writing, and although I was surprised by how different this was from the other books I've read from her, I'm still looking forward to reading more in this series.

Delightfully atmospheric and fantastically dark! This is much more gothic leaning than you would expect from Olivia Atwater, but I mean that in the best way.

I loved the fairytales woven throughout and felt these stories helped create such depth to the characters in a really natural way. The author tackled some of the heavier topics so well and with such genuine care with warnings included at the beginning of the book.

I adored the characters in this! Winnie is incredibly relatable and watching how she was able to navigate the conflicts in this story was amazing. Would highly recommend.

I need more gothic faerie tales from Olivia Atwater now!

📚The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Tropes✨
🪵Gothic setting
🪵Evil faeries
🪵Haunted house
🪵Twists and turns

✨Summary✨
Miss Winifred Hall has arrived at Witchwood Manor at the behest of an old acquaintance, the dowager Lady Longfell. She was summoned by the elderly lady to take on the semi-false position of governess for the dowager’s grandson. In truth, the current Lord Longfell, the dowager’s son, is most likely the only man in England who does not believe in faeries. Unfortunately for him, they are very real and are somehow trapped inside his wooden manor. This leaves Winnie with the monumental task of trying to educate the young and stubborn future Lord Longfell, master Robert, while also trying to solve the mysteries of the manor. Not to mention the equally mysterious, and presumably dangerous butler, Mr. Quincy, with whom Winnie must also contend.
Will Winnifred solve all of the manor’s mysteries in time, or will all of the inhabitants be doomed within, including Winnie?

✨Critiques✨
The story does drag a bit in the middle, but there are enough twists and turns that make up for this.

✨Elements I Loved✨
The immediate gothic feel. The author’s unique writing style. The FMC, Winnifred - she’s a strong protagonist with a Victorian stiff upper lip, but is still complex.

🪄Standout magic features🪄
It’s interesting to read a story where faeries truly are evil or at least not good. Some have small standards such as not hurting children, but that’s it. The fae are not good in this world, which provides an interesting and different perspective from other faerie or fae stories/novels.

👩🏻My Recommendation👩🏻
This is a fantastic story to read if you’re craving a gothic story full of evil, dangerous faeries, a haunted, semi-sentient house, with unforeseen twists, turns, and dangers, and a plot driven story rather than a fluffy romance novel. The writing style is enjoyable and consistently fits in the Victorian style. It’s an all around wonderful book for the fall or even people who enjoy a well written gothic style novel at anytime of the year.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC.

This book was so good that I ran off to buy the other series this author wrote, the Regency Faerie Tales, before I was even halfway done with this book. I had heard a lot about Olivia Atwater and Half a Soul, but I hadn't gotten to reading her stories yet before I got this ARC from Netgalley. I had no clue what I was missing out on it seems.

The Witchwood Knot ticked all the boxes for me:
- A strong, magical, smart, yet flawed main character who works through her personal history and the hardships she has faced during the book
- A mysterious setting in an old manor close to some magical woods
- Faerie trickery and mischief
- A dash of romance and self-sacrifice

I had difficulty putting this book down once I finally had a few hours to read in peace. Some scenes actually made my skin crawl reading them (I am looking at you, Lord Longfell), while others brought a smile to my face.

I will do my utmost best to wait patiently for the next book in this series, but will most undoubtedly devour the other series this author has written in the meantime.

I really enjoyed this book I didn’t know what to expect with it but I really ended up enjoying it, Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

3.75 stars. Read Olivia's Regency Faerie Tales and thoroughly enjoyed those books!
Like the earlier series, The Witchwood Knot is a whimsical and easy read. The story takes on a much more gothic and slightly darker storyline, but continues to be charming. Slow burn romance is an absolute favorite of mine and the story includes a great one!

I wish that we had delved further into character backgrounds. Winnie's abilities were an interesting aspect that I would have liked to learn more about. Overall, I had a good time with the book. I love Olivia's writing style so I had high hopes. Half a Soul remains my favorite of hers, however, I was surprised by how much I liked this story's more haunting atmosphere.

Thanks to NetGalley, Starwatch Press publishers and Olivia Atwater for providing me with an e-arc!
(Posted review to Goodreads 6/9 with 4 stars rounded up)

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Water is a unique gothic fairy tale set in Victorian England that follows Winnie, a black magician tasked with caring for Mr. Robert Murray, the young heir to the Witchwood Manor. Along the way, we meet many interesting characters, including Mr. Quincy (who has a rat tail! I'm sold). I was pleasantly surprised by The Witchwood Knot, especially by their character's flaws and fears, the descriptions of Witchwood Manor, and the beautiful prose.

The Witchwood Knot includes a brief romance that is healing and unique. There are no cliche tropes, I breezed through the novel while loving every second. It itched a scratch I wasn't even aware I had for a dark fairy tale and characters who are unique and lovable. I loved Winnie and Mr. Quincy in particular—Winnie for her shield of coldness and calculation, Mr. Quincy for his rat tail, red eyes, and respect and care for other beings hidden behind a biting mask.

Some of my favorite quotes include:

"Innocence is so offensive, isn't it?" he asked her finally. "It is never content in its existence. It must force itself upon the rest of the world, insisting that true horror is a fiction.


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


Based on the ending, I assume that there will be a second novel. I'm excited to pick up the next book and will be sure to read Atwater's other series in the meantime. Thank you, Olivia Atwater, Starwatch Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars and added to my favorites of 2024 shelf!

I had such a good time here!! The Witchwood Knot has a perfect mixture of intrigue, character and fantasy elements. Despite the Victorian sensibilities it never once felt stuffy and the romance felt deep and sweet without having to resort to tropes too often.

I liked Olivia’s regency books but something hit here that I just didn’t get before. I think she gets fairies right better than anyone else really, and I liked that Minnie was tricky and started off self-serving. Some of the fairy names were hard to keep straight but it is what it is. Also what a cliffhanger!! I’m so excited to see what comes next