Victorian era romance meets haunted house meets light fantasy! Olivia Atwater has a super engaging writing style that I absolutely love. It is so descriptive and I very much enjoy how she uses it to develop her world building. As usual in her books, there’s a light and airy magic system and characters with tons of personality, but this one touched on some more serious topics that I really enjoyed. I wasn’t 100% sold on the romance and it felt a bit rushed, especially in the last quarter of the novel, but overall it was cute and I did enjoy the connection between Winnie and Quincy.

A spooky, cozy fantasy. It gave me feelings of Bly Manor mixed with Emily Wilde, with a dash of A Study in Drowning.

The main characters were intriguing and their magic unique. The villain was unconventional for fantasy but all too conventional in real life.

There is very little romance which was a bummer for me, I was left hoping for a bit more tension throughout

The witchwood knot is the perfect Gothic fairrystory. Set in a eldritch manor magical manor with a gateway to the Fae surrounded by foreboding woods. Our protagonist Winnie Hall finds herself employed as governess and charged with the protection of the young master against Fae who are out for vengeance but Winnie has some tricks of her own up her sleeve.
I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait to read the authors other offerings

I really love Olivia Atwater's voice and style of writing. Her books are so fun and enjoyable and the exact kind of book I'd want to just grab and cozy up with. I previously really enjoyed Half a Soul by her. I really enjoyed this as well, but it had a bit of a darker vibe. Excited to read more of the victorian faerie tales!

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater was a gothic faerie tale in a Victorian setting. It tells a story about Winifred who came to the Witchwood Manor to be a governess to the manor’s young Lord. Winifred knows that her charge was abducted by the fairy folks of the manor and since the lord of Witchwood Manor does not believe in the existence of the fairies, Winnie will be rescuing the young lord all on her own while protecting the everyone else in the manor.

I must admit that as beautiful of a gothic romance this book is, fantasy is not my genre. I have a love-hate relationship with this style that I am having a hard time connecting. I love Winifred’s character and the story is very interesting. There were a whole lot of characters to explore too but with the flow of the story that was a little slow for me, they just fall right off to the background. This is my first Olivia Atwater book and even though The Witchwood Knot is not for me, I am not giving up on this author that easy. I can explore her other work for sure!
Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange of my honest review.

3.5 Solid Stars!

A successful first read with Atwater, and I'm definitely intrigued!

I will say the blurb doesn’t tell you everything about what’s going on, and I’m reluctant to reveal more. Just know that Winnie isn’t all that she seems to be, and though she’s hired to be a governess, past sentiment compels her to promise more than she expected to, and she soon finds herself caught in the middle of a curse plaguing Witchwood Manor.

This was densely eerie and atmospheric, steeped in all sorts of faerie lore, filled to the brim with unsaid truths, dark subterfuge, and dangerous bargaining. As Winnie races against time to rescue her charge, she plays a perilous back and forth with the enigmatic butler Mr Quincy. However she is honor bound and stubbornly ventures into the fray despite the mortal risks.

This for sure capitalized on its Victorian setting with lots of prim and proper rules and societal class division, all intertwined with various faerie tales and complicated protocol. If you are well versed in such, then you know the fae are very tricksy, always after their own interests and advantages and ready to bind one into an unbreakable promise.

Overall, I liked Winnie. She’s a strong heroine contrasting smartly with the alluringly mysterious Mr. Quincy who in turn, makes an interesting tortured tragic hero. I enjoyed seeing their antagonism turn to grudging respect, to more, but beware a bratty child and a very chaste, but layered, romance (which I quite enjoyed). Admittedly, I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to the fae because while a fascinating folk, they come with a bazillion rules of engagement, their cunning and cruelty knowing no bounds. Atwater’s rendition is no different and again, I was intrigued nevertheless.

This neatly concludes the first act of this story arc but leaves the reader wanting more as the challenges ahead have only just begun for Quincy, Winnie, and their allies. Luckily for me the next installment comes out later this year, and I look forward to what's in store for these characters! If you want a historic, gothic faerie infused tale, then this should deliver on all points!

Thank you to the author and Starwatch Press via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review posted on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6346613243?book_show_action=false

Thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect fall vibe or if you're in the spooky mood in general. I had some strange dreams while reading this book but I'm not mad about it! This one is for all gothic lovers.

This is fae fantasy plot with a very slight romance subplot (two kisses only) set in Victorian England. It follows Winifred who is brought to the Witchwood Manor under the guise of being a governess for Robert, the Lady's grandson. In reality Winnie is has been called in as the Manor is haunted by faeries trapped in the Manor and they require her expertise.

The MMC is Mr Quincy, a fae-like male with a rat's tail and red eyes (this did take me a minute to get past) but I assure you he is actually pretty sweet.

My fave character would have to be Ollie - Winne's dead cat who comes to life in the knot, hates men and ferociously protects women. I also really liked Winnie. She's a badass, independent woman and spinster in her twenties. She doesn't look for male attention, knows how to play her cards right and isn't afraid to use the knife she carries to protect herself.

Slight trigger warning for sexual harassment. I really enjoyed how the book covered these themes particularly in the time period this book is set in.

The first 25% was a little slow for me to get through as expected with a new fantasy and third person perspective but I'm glad I stayed with it as the magic system is very interesting. It has a potential to be a series with the way it ended. This is my first Olivia Atwater book, I'm keen to read she comes out with next!

The Witchwood Knot is a gothic fantasy and I swear I could feel the atmosphere of it. I dived so deep into it, and it’s a story with such amazing characters. It was a delight to read this book.

Winnie is a superb character, intelligent, manipulative and I really liked her. This has horror and romance with a few cruel and conniving Faeries and a haunted house that’s the cherry on top of it. The romance in this book is not the center of it, however, the bits we got were slow burning moments and heart-wrenching ones.

Overall, this was a great cozy Victorian fantasy with amazing and well-developed characters in a creepy setting. This felt like a promising start to a new series, and I look forward to reading the next book.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

This was such a good read! It was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this one.

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, Olivia Atwater, and Starwatch Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review. I am so incredibly grateful. That being said, I assure everyone that I will be sharing my honest thoughts about The Witchwood Knot below (also available on Storygraph & Goodreads).

To put it simply, I absolutely adored this book and will definitely be purchasing a physical copy as soon as possible. The Witchwood Knot was atmospheric and beautifully ominous in a way that immediately drew me into the story. Atwater’s writing is lyrical and on multiple occasions I found myself pausing to process how vivid her sentences were. While her descriptive writing was amazing, what truly made me invested in this book were the characters (mainly the fmc, Winnie Hall). Winnie was an absolute delight to read about and it was refreshing to see someone be curious without it becoming tiring, be stubborn but also calculated, etc. As her past gets revealed throughout the novel, she also becomes very easy to emphasize and connect with. As for the male main character, Mr. Quincy, I also found him very likable as the book progressed. At the start of the book, his main trait is being a bit off-putting and mysterious but if you keep reading he has moments where his personality really shines through (mainly when he interacts with Winnie). If the characters, ambience, and superb writing aren’t enough to convince you to give this book a try, I’d like to add that there is also a very well executed romance within a Witchwood Knot. The romance is definitely more of a subplot but regardless it had me kicking my feet and twirling my hair. I eagerly devoured all of the romantic moments and honestly even hours after finishing the book, I keep thinking back to them. There was just the right amount of tension & banter. There are no explicit/spicy scenes and honestly I don’t think they would have been needed. Truthfully, I wouldn’t change much about A Witchwood Knot.

The only minor aspect of the A Witchwood Knot that I wasn’t the biggest fan of was oddly the blurb on the back of the book. I read the description before I jumped into starting the novel and part of me wishes I opted to go into the book “blindly.” This is because the blurb reveals a plot point that doesn’t occur until midway through the novel (Robert being changed/replaced). I think I would have been more impacted, shocked and invested if I wasn’t already anticipating it. However, that is pretty much the only criticism I have regarding this book.

I will definitely be encouraging people to give A Witchwood Knot a try. I think it’s great for readers who are intrigued by a gothic Victorian setting, eerie magic, strong characters and a splash of romance. However, I do want to warn potential readers that the topic of predatory men is addressed a few times within the book. If occasionally reading about these predatory figures will be triggering then please prioritize your mental health and consider picking up an alternative book. I will say that I think Olivia Atwater handled the topic very masterfully and I walked away from the book feeling seen, validated and emotionally impacted by Winnie’s dialogue: “…I am not even afraid of being desired. I am simply afraid of what desire becomes whenever I dare to decline it (Atwater 183).”

The Witchwood Knot is Olivia Atwater’s newest book set in the same world as her Regency Faeries books, and it starts her new Victorian Faeries series. I would recommend reading the Regency Faeries books before this book that way you can get the most out of the world and world building, as Atwater has done a lot of the heavy lifting in her previous novels, but I believe this book can be enjoyed without having read the Regency Faeries book.

Winnie has been hired to play the role of governess by an old friend and benefactor from her days as an orphan. In truth she’s investigating the mansion, The Witchwood Knot, and doing her best to protect her young charge from nefarious faeries who are out to harm him. She also has several run ins with Mr. Quincey the “other” Witchwood Knots’ butter.

I’ve previously really enjoyed the Regency Faeries books and this was also and enjoyable ride for me, I will say that I found the romance was missing something but other than that I had a good time and look forward to reading more of this series.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was a quick entertaining read. While I enjoyed Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales series more, I still found myself wrapped up in the story and once I hit half way, I couldn't put it down. The spooky and sinister vibes were great and I appreciated the darker themes.

This was a delightful read through and through. Once I'd started it, I didn't want to put it down - I absolutely love the way Olivia Atwater writes faeries, and found myself completely enchanted by all of the characters, especially Winnie, whose relationship with faerie is something I very much hope is explored further in subsequent books. The spooky atmosphere was captured perfectly and I feel like I can see Witchwood Manor in my mind's eye still after having finished reading.

I think reading Atwater's previous faerie books can help a little with the context of some of the faerie lore - I have only read Half a Soul myself but a lot of the backstory there came across as faintly familiar. However, it's definitely not necessary so anyone who may be looking to dive in here should absolutely do so - this is a fantastic book that everyone should read.

A sweet, Gothic story centering around a woman who stands on her business, The Witchwood Knot was an enjoyable read for a cozy evening in. I loved Winnie as a main character, she was strong, clever, and also generally pretty rational, which is sometimes a rare trait. The house itself was an interesting limited setting with the divide between the mortal side and fae side. I think I would've liked to read more about the other rooms in the house on the fae side, but the story was mainly focused in the conservatory where all the action was taking place. I hope her sisters get to be featured as main characters or play a more prominent role in future stories as they seem pretty interesting. Overall, this was an interesting story and I would love to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an early copy of this book!

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is an eerie, Gothic tale surrounding the mysterious goings-on at Witchwood Manor. Set in the world of Atwater's previous Regency Faerie Tales series, The Witchwood Knot follows Winnie: a cunning and devilishly intelligent young woman who arrives at the manor at the behest of the dying dowager living there. From the moment that Winnie walks across the threshold she is embroiled in a faerie curse that entangles all those that live in the manor. Servants refuse to stay the night, residents can’t sleep, and everybody sees the haunted faces screaming through the walls.

Winnie’s childhood has prepared her for the hoops, hurdles, and faerie tricks that she must face to untangle the curse before it can claim any more lives, but when the wild cards reveal themselves, doubt begins to creep into her resolve.

The characters in this novel play the roles you would expect to find in faerie story, but their personalities come with a twist. This story plays on the well-known rules that all faerie stories abide by but contorts them into something a little different, a little darker, and whole lot creepier. The faeries in this book evade the popular court dynamics that you might read in other recent releases, leaning harder into a food chain dynamic instead. Those who rule are the ones powerful enough to bully, murder, and trick their way into the top. They are the ones that gather indentured cronies to their side and lure unwary folk into their traps. There is no limit to how many can rise to power and there are no courts to be claimed, only territories to be carved. This aspect of Olivia Atwater’s worldbuilding is what adds an element of malice to this story and makes you think twice about the words you speak aloud.

Winnie is the steadfast, no-nonsense hero in this faerie story that turns the tricks on their heads and springs a few traps of her own. When presented with an unruly child to protect and a lecherous employer to evade, Winnie stands her ground and uses every trick up her sleeve to fix problems, dodge obstacles, and do what she was hired to do. She has her flaws and makes mistakes, but she makes the choices any sensible person would and refuses to be cowed by the ever-present threat of Witchwood Manor.

This is a sinister tale of nasty faeries, predatory humans, and the rules that bind anyone that stumbles into their path, but there are also lighter elements as well: the loyal, and fiercely protective ghost cat familiar, the brave servants who hold the fort, and the shared creative passion between the two romantic interests. This book has a lot of heart and doesn’t always do what you expect it to.

The Witchwood Knot is perfect for fans of Wuthering Heights who like a splash of fantasy in their stories, and for anyone who craves tales of traditional wicked faeries. If you want a short, punchy novel that swoops you into a Gothic mystery with a touch of romance, this is the book for you.

Victorian faerie tale plus gothic romance? Sign me up! I wanted a break from all things book series to read a stand-alone (though I did find out this is technically an interconnected series but can be read as a stand-alone), and this was my default comfort read genre.

The Witchwood Knot was an easy, quick read with an interesting world build set in Victorian England. I absolutely caught the Labyrinth-inspired elements woven throughout the first half of the story which I loved. And of course, I loved little Oliver the kitty familiar who plucked all of my heart strings.

I was hoping that the romance interest part of the book was fleshed out more (particularly the male character), but it also left me wondering if I should have read the Half a Soul books prior to reading. There were some references that felt too glossed over, so my experience may have been lacking because of this.

The writing style is great though, and the characters were well-presented. This one definitely makes me want to read more of Olivia Atwater’s stories.

// Thank you so much to Starwatch Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! //

A truly remarkable magical read. This book was highly enjoyable and I would thoroughly recommend. I loved the story and the characters were rich and well developed.

The Witchwood Knot was a quick and unique fantasy story with a historical setting. Although I found it slow at times, it was a quick and enjoyable read.

Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is fantasy. Our female main character comes to this house to be a Governess boy the house is supposedly cursed - it can't keep staff and the child she's supposed to be a Governess for, is quickly stolen away by the fae.

Can she get the joy back and can she break the curse when her only ally is the member of the fae who is responsible for maintaining the curse.

This was good, it's kind of historical fantasy, Victorian-esque era, and it's set in the same world as Half a Soul (also by this author). You don't need to have read that to enjoy this, but it does give some nice little easter eggs.

Our main character is confident and capable but has trauma in her background which makes the romance element in this a bit different.

4 stars and I really need to go back and read the other books that followed Half a Soul!