I fell in love with this book piece by piece. The setting of Witchwood Manor and the Witchwood Knot was dark, magical, haunting, and beautiful all at once.

Winnie Hall is a force to be reckoned with as our knowledgeable “governess” who comes to Witchwood Manor under false pretenses. She knows all about the faerie world and its magic. Winnie is just the first in a cast of characters who grow to be incredibly likeable, or despised, take your pick depending on the scale of good vs evil with some morally grey undertones. Oliver the cat being one of my favorites. Winnie finds friendship and assistance in the most unlikely places as she seeks to find a way to break the Witchwood Knot.

This gothic tale is full of ghostly horrors (although not too scary) leading up to a rather satisfying conclusion albeit setting the stage for next books. I’m definitely looking forward to the next one!!

This was the first time I read a book like this. A Victorian era fantasy novel was not something I had on my book bingo card, but I’m so glad that I read it. The gothic, dark elements of this book were thoroughly enjoyable. The magic system was compelling and one that I found to be unique. If you want to be immersed into a gothic fantasy with a sinister house and a strong FMC, this is the story for you. With this being said, if you go into to this book hoping for a hard hitting romance, I find that it falls a little short. There was a lot of tension and potential for the two characters, but their romance was rushed and limited. I also found that some of the plot points during the climax and resolution of this story were a bit muddy. Taking into account the numerous other books I have read throughout the years, the FMC, Winnie was one of my favorite characters. Her desires, needs, and morals were so thoughtfully conveyed that she easily became my most routed for character. I would say this book is worth the read just for her character exploration alone. :)

Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.

This is the second book by Olivia Atwater I have read, and it’s very clear to see how much she has grown from that novel to this one.

The Witchwood Knot is a gothic regency faerie tale complete with a haunted house, a mysterious butler, and an ailing Lady of the house.

I loved every second of this book. I was ensnared from the first sentence and the story continued to keep me in its grasp. This is a delightfully spooky and atmospheric fairytale.

It’s amazing how well fleshed out the setting and characters are. Winnie is such a fresh and cunning fmc. She’s witty, cynical, and more than willing to do what’s necessary.

“”Am I weeping, Your Lordship?” she asked him. Suddenly, her voice was calm and sensible again.
Lord Longfell frowned. “You are not, of course,” he said slowly.
“Then I cannot be in too much distress, now can I?” Winnie asked him””

4.75/5 stars

This book releases Nov 28th 2023

Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! This was my first Olivia Atwater but it will not be the last. This gothic faerie novel had a dark setting and amazing characters. The main character, Winnie, is a strong and clever character. While there were a few parts of the story where I wish there was a bit more detail, I still really enjoyed my time with this one. Oh, right, I particularly loved Oliver because who doesn't love a ghostly cat familiar??

This was a perfect story to snuggle up with on a cold day and sink into. Though I suspect the previous works probably give more depth to the world and its magic, The Witchwood Knot does well on its own as a gothic faerie tale that left me wanting more but not feeling lost or lacking in anything. The description does make this seem like it’ll be far more of a romance than it is, a fact that I actually really appreciated. I also liked Winnie a lot. She was smart, clever, and capable - a perfect match for the Fair Folk and their tricky ways.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

This! Was! So! Good! This was my first Olivia Atwater but now it definitely won’t be the last. This had everything I could want from a gothic faerie novel- the setting was dark and atmospheric, it was the perfect magical fall read. I also enjoyed reading all the characters, Winnie in particularly was done very well and her character could have easily gone annoying or treacly. While there were a few wonky pacing moments towards the end, I still really enjoyed my time with this one. My main criticism is that I wanted more!

ARC provided by NetGalley

Very much enjoyed reading this one.

Having never read Atwaters previous work, I enjoyed the writing and the style however would recommend others to pick up her other series first as I realised it is set in the same world. Although I believe you don't need to have read her previous work, some of the worldbuilding and characters aren't fully explained in this book and I assume people would get a better idea from the other stories.

I enjoyed the dark gothic feel of this book and particularly loved Oliver because who doesn't love a ghostly cat familiar.

The book is labeled as fantasy romance, although I wouldn't say that there is a lot of romance in the story and I almost wish there had been a bit more of a build up and more romantic moments.

I do believe this is the first book in the series and will be continuing, and I will be picking up the second one to continue the story.

3.5

What a delightful read! I loved Atwater's Regency Fairy Tales so was delighted to discover she'd written a Victorian one! It's clearly the setup for a longer series, but the gothic atmosphere and sensitive reflection on sexual assault was wonderful. I also loved all the tie-ins with the previous series. I can't wait for whichever one comes next!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Starwatch press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yes! To Olivia Atwater finally going gothic!

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is a fantasy novel that follows a governess in search of her charge. The faeries of Witchwood Manor have stolen its young lord. His governess intends to steal him back. Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself. Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of 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, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness… but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?

I hate to say it, but Mr. Quincy kept giving me Silas from Sorcery of Thorns vibes, and I was all there for it. I loved this book because I was wanting something dark and twisted from Atwater, since reading her debut of Half a Soul, and I'm glad to finally have it. Though I had some qualms about the overall plot and the pacing, I found myself quite enjoying this book.

It's the first book I've read by Olivia Atwater and I really don't think it will be the last!

The Witchwood Knot was an enjoyable read that combines elements of gothic, magic and faerie in a novel that can be read in one sitting!

The story is full of events, adventures and especially from the second half onwards really engaging!
The romance part is also very nice, which although not necessary was a nice addition!

I would have preferred the gothic atmosphere to be more present, but instead you can hardly perceive it, too bad!

3.5 ⭐, thanks to Netgalley and the publishing house for the e-ARC!

I quite enjoyed this book. Great twists and turns, clever fae and intriguing characters. I could see this series having several branch offs.

Olivia Atwater is a brilliant author who excels at writing simply and engagingly. I'll write a longer review but for now, I just want to say it's a great, breezy read. Highly recommended.

(4.5 stars rounded up)

This book was such a pleasure to read in the autumn season! Moody and eerie, we follow Winnie, a competent "governess" who has been hired to protect her charge from the fae-cursed house. Winnie herself was a wonderful main character - she has her faults! But I never found them annoying or tiresome. But what struck me the most about her character was her fears.

"I am not even afraid of being desired. I am simply afraid of what desire becomes whenever I dare to decline it."

This character detail had me shaking my kindle because yes!!!!! exactly that's it! I've never been the type of gal thats been scared of things like the dark or heights. But THIS fear? This is something different, and it was such a wonderful read to have Winnie face it and talk about it.

I docked the book half a star for a collection of little complaints. Mostly because I felt that there was not enough time to let the characters breathe and grow together. The romance was nice! But I would have loved to get to know Mr. Quincy just a little bit more. Just a little bit more bonding moments between Robert and Winnie would have been wonderful as well. It felt just a little threadbare to me.

Another half a star had been docked for My Quincy's tail. Fortunately half a star had been added for the presence of Oliver. Love Oliver <3

I adored Winnie, she is cunning and independent, and you understand exactly why once her backstory is revealed. I think consent of someone who experienced molestation as a child was incredibly well done (and dare I say, hot.) I almost put the book down several times as we experience her disembodied assault during her dreams (again, another great representation / metaphor of dissociation during abuse.) It made me so uncomfortable, which was its aim as a gothic romance, and I do not fault it for that.

This does not stand alone. Now, I've read the other three books in Atwater's regency trilogy but I do not recall details of the stories. As such, I felt very lost. I could tell I was supposed to recognize names, characters, and stories but I was so lost and it became very frustrating. You can tell that you are missing half of story, which led to an empty experience. Like...what the Lord Sorcier is within this world is not explained, nor is the system or world of magic and faerie. I felt like I was reading mist, I couldn't pin down any of the story concretely or understand what was going on as the worldbuilding and historical context was not defined or explained. I muddled through but I can see this being a very frustrating read for new readers who do not know they should start with Half a Soul.

Goodness, I love Olivia Atwater's brain.

The Witchwood Knot takes everything I loved about the Regency Faerie Tales series and makes it just a tad darker. We still get the wonderfully mischievous faeries and their cunning antics, but this book injects a wonderful gothic atmosphere into a world I was already in love with, and I had such a good time with the outcome. While this is technically the beginning of a new series, I strongly recommend reading Half a Soul and its sequels first, as there are quite a few references and spoilers mentioned in this one.

The Witchwood Knot follows Winifred Hall, a woman posing as a governess in Victorian England in order to investigate the mysterious Witchwood Manor. The master of the house insists nothing is amiss, but the local villagers and the servants of the house are well aware of Witchwood Manor's dark origins. Winnie must protect her charge, deal with the dangerous faeries that haunt the house at night, and try to unravel the Knot without dooming the whole town.

Atwater always does such a wonderful job of weaving in heavy themes with her whimsical tales. The characters of The Witchwood Knot are all dealing with their own demons, but to see them shed their fears and reclaim a part of themselves hit me so hard. Atwater explores sexual harassment, grooming, and abuse with a delicate hand, and while the mystery of the Witchwood Knot was the driving force of the novel, the journeys our characters go through leave a very strong impact.

I loved Winifred as a heroine. She wasn't exactly morally grey, but she often describes herself as a knave and a liar and I found I quite enjoyed those characteristics as she confronted the faeries in this story. She's been through a lot in life, and she knows how to navigate a dangerous situation. Her cartomancy was also fun and unique, and I loved how her background intersects with some of our beloved characters from Half a Soul.

Mr Quincy reminds be a bit of Cardan from The Cruel Prince (he even has a tail!), so I think readers will probably either love him or hate him. I, myself, really enjoyed his character. He often walks the line of terrible and thoughtful, which you often see in faerie stories, and I honestly just eat that up. It's just such a fun thing to witness, and I thought he and Winifred had a fabulous dynamic.

I absolutely adored this book and I can't wait for the next one!


Thank you to Olivia Atwater and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really love OIivia Atwood's clever gothic romances and The Witchwood Knot, a new series set in the same world as her Half a Soul trilogy, didn't disappoint. Danger and darkness lurked on every page, tempered with humour and a beautifully subtle romance.

Winnie has been summoned by an old friend to be a governess. Children are not Winnie's area of expertise but magic and dealing with faeries is and as soon as she sets foot in Witchwood Manor she knows something is terribly wrong. Its not just that every part of the manor is made from wood, or the strangeness of the butler who greeted her, or the obvious fact that all the staff are under a compulsion, but the very real sense of evil. An evil that comes alive when she sleeps. But it's not just the supernatural world where monsters lurk and Winnie is more aware than most how appearances that humans can be the most dangerous of all.

A really enjoyable start to the new trilogy. Recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

3.75 stars. Kind of slow in the beginning but it picked up in the second half. The romance was a slooow burn but I liked the cast of characters. Curious to see where the next one will go.

⚠️Content warning: includes mild sexual harassment of a woman and child

Set in the same world as Half A Soul, this story follows Winnie who is employed as a governess at the mysterious Witchwood Manor to protect, not teach, the grandson of Lady Longfellow.

This is a dark, gothic faerie tale about trauma, love, and greed. With perfect haunted house vibes and beautiful world-building. I found the FMC hilarious due to how straightforward and matter-of-fact she is. The MMC is mysterious and fascinating with Heathcliff vibes. The romance in this is such a slow burn that I didn’t see it coming.

I was entertained from page one and it was a very easy read coming up to just over 200 pages. It is a fun, atmospheric, and cozy read perfect for chilly autumn or winter nights. There are no spoilers for Half A Soul however there are references to some characters. I look forward to seeing where the story goes and can’t wait for the next installment in the series.

Though the book was a bit slow in the beginning, I loved the gothic faerie tale this story led me through. The character development was interesting in that the more you read, the more you’d slowly piece together who Winnie and Mr. Quincy were with their own tales of their past, the teachings Winnie gave Robert, and the dangerous path Winnie and Mr. Quincy would go down together. Half the time I thought I understand the characters only to be given another piece that changed my outlook on them again. Highly recommend to anybody wanting a darker faerie book.

I really enjoyed this! The Witchwood Knot may technically be a different series than Half a Soul, but it is, at a minimum, the gothic cousin. I don’t think it’s necessary to read Half a Soul or the other two books in that triology to understand what’s going on but it would certainly help.

The Witchwood Knot follows a magician turned temporary governess, summoned to a gothic manor to try to deal with the magic cursing it. She quickly discovers that things are more complicated—and more dangerous—than she bargained for. The protagonist of the story is deeply likable; she’s clever, loyal, and kind, and it’s hard not to root for her success. I will be excited to read the next book in this series. hope we learn more about her sisters next!