I enjoyed this one! I read Half a Soul earlier this year and really liked it so I wanted to check this one out when I heard about it. I wasn’t expecting there to be any tie in to the other series but was pleasantly surprised that there was some crossover! I liked the plot overall and the characters as well, however I almost think the book should have been longer. I think there should have been a bit more depth in background given to both the FMC and MMC, and the romance aspect could have been fleshed out a little more as well, I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

I don’t know what was holding me back from reading this book sooner.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed The Witchwood Knot more than Half a Soul.I love Winnie; she would do anything to survive, and it’s fascinating to read. And the banter with Mr.Quincy built up well. One interesting part for me was when they tried to know what the truth was about each other by playing cards! How the world collides between the real world and the fairy world keeps me awake to read it more.

Note that this book has a trigger warning for sexual assault, so this book isn’t as cozy as Half a Soul. There’s a Half a Soul character that the book mentioned, so I think the new readers would be clueless if they hadn't read Half a Soul before reading this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and i adore Ollie!
Thank you, Netgalley and Starwatch Press.

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the witchwood knot by Olivia Atwater

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5

Despite not having read the regency faire tales i had no issues devouring and loving The Witchwood Knot, which is placed 30-40 years after Half A Soul (the first book of the regency series).

The main protagonist, Winnie, gets placed at Witchwood Manor as a governess to assure the son of the building does not stay more than necessary. What starts with a simple task ends with a plot filled with faeries, screaming faces contained within the walls, and a monster hiding in the forest.

Along with Winnie, her familiar Ollie follows her to secure her safety during the task, but despite this, she is constantly reminded that there is no happy ending.

This book is everything I hoped it would be, if not more. I am obsessed with Atwater’s writing along with the gothic faerie tale. I implore you to read this without knowing too much about the book, as its surprises made me devour it in a span of two days.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this for an honest review in return. You can get your hands on The Witchwood Knot in selected bookstores and on Kindle today!! ⋆˙⟡
#NetGalley #TheWitchwoodKnot
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"The Witchwood Knot" by Olivia Atwater is an enchanting Victorian faerie tale, masterfully set in a magically altered England. The story unfolds around Winifred Hall, a governess, who embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her young charge from the clutches of faeries. Although my usual genre preferences lie elsewhere, I always find myself engrossed in Atwater's novels.

Mr. Quincy, the faerie butler, is an intriguing character, albeit one that I struggled to fully embrace largely because he is described as having a rat's tail which to my mind is just about the worst thing possible - seriously barf inducing and I'm hoping that it is some kind of temporary curse. It sounds shallow but I found it so utterly repellent that I struggled to engage much with his character which is a shame as he is quite interesting.

Our heroine, Winifred Hall is a beacon of strength and relatability in the novel. Her plucky spirit, intelligence, and resilience paint her as a deeply compelling protagonist. Her journey, fraught with the dangers and mysteries of Witchwood Manor, is a testament to Atwater's skill in crafting strong, dynamic heroines. Hall's character development, her responses to the challenges she faces, and her evolution throughout the story are particularly engaging aspects of Atwater's writing.

Atwater's world-building in "The Witchwood Knot" is rich and immersive. The backdrop of a Victorian England interwoven with faerie lore provides a unique setting that is both familiar and fantastical. The vivid descriptions of the landscapes, the atmospheric detailing of Witchwood Manor, and the seamless integration of magical elements into the Victorian setting create a tapestry that is as visually arresting as it is narratively compelling.

The plot of the novel expertly intertwines elements of gothic romance with fantasy, creating a reading experience that is both unique and intriguing. The story's pacing is well-managed, with a mix of suspenseful and reflective moments that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Atwater's writing style is both elegant and accessible, making the book suitable for a wide range of readers.

The supporting cast of characters adds depth to the narrative. Each character, from the residents of Witchwood Manor to the denizens of the faerie realm, is well-drawn and contributes to the richness of the story. The interactions between these characters and Winnie provide insight into their personalities and motivations, adding layers to the overall narrative.

I'm looking forward to the next installment where Mr Quincy very hopefully loses his tail!

Overall Score: 4/5
Character Development: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Ease of Reading: 4/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5

I have found MY genre, the place I belong. Gothic fantasy with traditional fairy tale elements? Check. Creepy Gothic manor? Check. Tension filled romance? CHECK.
The Witchwood Knot was absolutely stunning and I let this one sit in my NetGalley account for way too long! I wish I had gotten to this last year, but since I didn't read it until it came out I was able to listen to it on audio when I was in the car and at work and the audiobook narrator was fantastic! This book had an incredible magic system with witches, ghosts, and all sorts of faeries. I adored our FMC Winnie- she sort of reminded me of an upgraded and darker Mary Poppins, with her sarcastic remarks and all-knowing ways, and the secondary characters were just as endearing. This story was steeped in folklore and had a unique premise that kept me hooked from the start. I am so excited to read the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! All opinions and commentary are my own.

Thank you to Olivia Atwater and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

This book is in the same vein as Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. A gothic Victorian Bröntesque fairytale describing a young governess who is called to a cursed house to take care of the dowagers young grandson. I enjoyed this book but I found the pacing to be a bit off-putting. I was under the impression that this was going to have more romance elements but the romance is more of a micro-plot line between two characters that seems like it might develop in the next installment to Atwater’s Victorian Faerie Tales!

I was honestly a little surprised at how much I ended up liking this book. It had a bit of a slow start for me, at least in terms of becoming invested in the story, and I’m not usually one for gothic fairytales. But this was clever and twisty and well written. I will say a little more development of the romance storyline of this gothic romance wouldn’t hurt, but still I really did enjoy it. Can’t wait to read more of Olivia Atwater’s books!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of The Witchwood Knot in exchange for an honest review.

An undead cat familiar, wicked faeries, an interesting magic system, and a badass heroine...

I truly enjoyed this book. The story kept me engaged from the second I picked it up.

I have loved every Olivia Atwater book that I've read so far, and can't wait to see what comes next!

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 :
📖 As someone with no background in fae stories, and an ill disguised dislike for certain forms of contemporary romance, this book was quite easy for me to enjoy. I understood the technical nuances (I was stumped at times, but that's on me) and the romance is adequately sweet and full of the exact tension I like. (akin to the famous Enemies to Lovers trope)
📖 The character development is well portrayed. It is unhurried and focuses on the little steps the characters take in circumstances mired by danger and threat : Winnie finds comfort in her sexuality, and Quincy finds courage for his autonomy. They're both released from their internal prisons by the end of the story.
📖 The prospect of integrating Victorian Gothic elements with the Fae verse is a daunting one, but the author executed it perfectly well, with simple language and easy vocabulary that allows the reader to focus on the thrill of the plot and the characters. I particularly liked the portrayal of the funeral customs, it shows good research and proper technicality.
📖 I adored how deliciously horrifying it was. The villainous characters did not have any proper redemption, or repentance even, and it makes their villainy all the more charming for me.
On the same note, it is imperative to admire Winnie and Quincy as characters. There's a strong sense of justice that stays rooted in them throughout the plot, and it is comforting to watch them victorious.
📖 Overall, the book ends on a note that promises further revelations in the second installment, and I cannot wait for it!

You say "here is a gothic romance" and I say, I'M HERE FOR IT. and this book was no different I love the way that Olivia brings a bit on whimsy even to a gothic take like The Witchwood Knot. This book gave me Labyrinth vibes and since that is one of my favorite movies ever, I ate it up. The magical world that Oliva paints for us is a place that while can be utterly terrifying, but also I wish to be there. This book was just what I was looking.

Even though I haven't read any of Attwater's other works, The Witchwood Knot was one of my most anticipated publications for the start of 2024. The blurb drew me in, and I immediately placed a request for the book after seeing all the hype online.
The story starts off intriguing and attempts to pull you in, but I didn't think the plot really took off until around halfway through. Winnie used her cunning with the faeries to get through the entire novel, but I was still curious about her past and her magic.

The world didn't seem to be sufficiently developed in my opinion either. I desired more folklore, elucidating the faeries' origins and lives, as well as the reasons behind their escape from England. The setting itself felt very atmospheric, fitting the book's portrayal of Victorian Gothic fiction.

The object of desire and objectification was one area in which the book excelled. Attwater did a great job presenting this.

This was a fun read, and I'm curious to see where the series goes from here.

Thank you to the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this a lot! It's a fair bit darker than the author's other books, with a gothic atmosphere that I enjoyed immensely.

I loved Winnie's character: she's a liar, and a manipulator, and a survivor, but that doesn't make her a bad person, or cold and closed-off. She's always doing her best to help the people around her, sometimes even at great cost to herself. I loved the little glimpses we got of her found family, and I really hope that gets explored more.

4 stars

Would recommend

I’ll be upfront. I am very bad at history. Telling me something is in the Victorian era brings nothing to mind. I could not tell you a single thing, including which years the era contains. Having loved Atwater’s Regency fairy tales, I knew that would not matter. If there’s historical inaccuracies here, I am the last person to ask.

What is here, though, is a darker fairy tale than I expected. The romance burned low and slow in all the ways I adore, the characters manipulated and lied and were heartfelt all the same, the plot was a nice solid little knot. I loved every second of this book. It made me grin wildly nearly as much as it made my heart ache. It was a little more connected to the Regency Fairytales than I expected, but in the best way. I literally cannot wait for the next installment in this world.

I’d advise to check the trigger warnings and make sure that it’s the kind of book that you’d like before just diving in, but to me it was perfect.

Thanks to Victory Editing and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this one was a DNF for me but I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys Faerie stories and undead cats. My issue with it is purely the 'feel' of it. It was advertised as a Victorian Gothic novel but it didn't feel that Gothic to me though it did have elements of Gothic tradition. It also didn't feel very Victorian. I actually completely forgot that it was supposed to be Victorian until I reread the synopsis! I liked the characters well enough but I honestly found myself a bit bored and although the story had some dark undertones, I didn't really feel like there were any stakes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this twist on the Fae human romance plot line. "The Witchwood Knot" has a believable Victorian historical setting (perfect for Bridgerton fans!) combined with the gradual addition of magic. It reminds me of "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" and "Throne of the Fallen." Olivia Atwater continues to dominate the Victorian faerie subgenre with this read, which I actually found easier to get into compared to her "Half a Soul" books. Her faerie world is more in the style of Holly Black and Margaret Rogerson's creations as opposed to Sarah J. Maas' high stakes adventure world. Winnie is a colorful, clever protagonist who made me feel like I was by her side during the book. Plus, I love the twist of her having to save the lord's son versus it being the other way around. And the suspicious butler trope was highly enjoyable and funny!

CW: child sexual abuse and grooming, attempted SA while drugged

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love regency era books. I love fantasy books. What could possibly go wrong wrong here? A lot. A lot went wrong.

Rounding up from 2.5 for this one. A big part of that rating is the characters. I didn’t like any of them. Not a one. They’re so unlikeable that I found myself not caring how things turned out for any of them. Maybe rat tails don’t do it for me either? People kept being introduced but without introduction. We were just supposed to know who they were and comprehend their backstory.

I’m not sure how anything got resolved. Just that it did? I think? There were many parts of this book where I had to reread pages to gain clarity but was still left on the dark. It was just really confusing how things were happening, I couldn’t picture any of it.

My biggest issue with this book was that there weren’t any content warnings. I was taken completely off guard by the child abuse and grooming that happened and was shared kind of in an off hand/side note kind of way? And then what was happening when Winnie was forced drugs and couldn’t defend herself…I was not ok.

I don’t plan on recommending this book but I’m not opposed to trying this genre again in another form? This was just a flop for me.

I liked Atwater's previous books so much more than this one. I think it's just wasn't the right switch for me. I felt like the romance aspect of the book was skipped over for the sake of the fantasy to try to appeal to the "romantasy"

This was an interesting faerie tale. Mr Quincy isn’t all that he appears but neither is the governess. I enjoyed the storyline and the twists very much. There was lovable characters and characters to be hated and they played their roles beautifully. The ending was unexpected and magical. It really was a beautiful gothic faerie tale. Something I don’t normally gravitate to and read but I would definitely read book two. It was a good palate cleanser read for me.

I never realized this book took place in the same world as Half A Soul, so I feel like I could have benefited from finishing that series first, but having read the first I feel like it was enough to appreciate this book.

A dark faerie story in which a woman skilled in cartomancy enters a house that seems to be affected by faerie magic, in order to help save the family from the house.

This was a little big creepy, a little bit magical, a little bit romantic. Not a usual combination, but Atwater made it work in this story. I devoured the story and it had a satisfying ending, though I wonder how she'll make this into a series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I absolutely loved this book!

Perfect creepy gothic fantasy to keep you guessing around every turn.

Winnie isn’t just a governess she has magic and knows about the faerie realm. When the child she’s caring for gets kidnapped into that realm it’s up to her to find him and bring him back. Even when no one believes her.

4/5 stars would definitely recommend.