This book was so much fun. There’s a soft spot in my heart for anything that plays on the Victorian Gothic, and that is essentially what this book is. There are no innocent fairytales to be seen in this world. The happenings in Witchwood Manor remind me of Grimm’s fairy tales—they are dark, merciless, and none of the characters have a moral high ground. I can’t really explain more without spoiling some of the best parts of the novel, because there are so many fun twists and turns. No one is who they seem to be, including our protagonist, and that made the story all the more enjoyable. The side characters are what made this book. While their tales weren’t the most important thing happening, it made the world feel real. It gave the main characters someone to interact with, while also adding some humor to the otherwise dark story.

You can find my full review at https://rachratesreads.com/2024/01/28/review-the-witchwood-knot-by-olivia-atwater/ or @rachratesreads on IG

 I wasn't entirely sure how I'd feel about this one since I didn't love Half a Soul and had been unsure about continuing with that series. As a side note, while I think you can certainly read this without having read those, I actually regretted not finishing that series first since there are some characters/history in common. Happily, Witchwood Knot was one of those atmospheric fae stories that I knew within the first chapter that I would love.

This is considerably darker than Half a Soul and has very strong Labyrinth vibes and I was really delighted by the darker take on fae and the clear influence of Atwater's deep love of fairy tales. And while I'm not always someone who loves a strong focus on themes, I really appreciated the way that Atwater spoke about the dangerous position that someone of Winnifred's station could be in around men who could easily take advantage. And yet Winnie never felt powerless, she had to navigate a world where she had less overt power and find ways to protect herself and did so admirably. I also really loved the way that the romance was handled and the strong focus on consent and power balances.

As someone who enjoys cozy stories really only when there's an element of danger or threat that might cause others to feel like they're not cozy enough, The Witchwood Knot perfectly struck that balance. If you like T. Kingfisher's blend of dark and cozy, a heavy focus on fae and fairy tales with a bit of a very slow-burn romance, I'd definitely recommend picking this up. I feel certain already that it'll feature in my favorites of the year. 

Atmospheric. I couldn't get into the regency companion books, but I ate this up. Maybe bc the characters are older? The regency "faerie tales" are summarized in connection here, so I was still able to follow along.

Robert's fetch was eerie. Though, I thought the toy soldiers in the maze was silly, despite the wood explanation.

I hope Cook, Sarah Baker, returns.

The switch in the romance with Winnie and Quincy was sudden? But I did like how it developed slowly afterwards. The scene at the pianoforte was intimate yet tame.

Can't wait to watch the fomoraig(?) kick up trouble now that they're being freed.

God, I had such high hopes for this book. One of my only five-star reads last year was Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater. She does such a fantastic job at regency romances, that I thought her Gothic romance series would be just as well done.

I'm going to start with the things I did not like. First off, the male love interest had a rat tail. I'm sorry, but I could not get over that. I also felt like the romance between the main female character and the main male character was extremely rushed. I do see where she was trying to go with it, as a few scenes were trying to set up the tension between the two

But something was missing. I really feel like she did not give them enough time to get over the enemy stage of enemies to lovers. I needed something more. I needed more tension, I needed it to be more drawn out. Extremely disappointed in it.

When you read the summary of the book, it mentions how the main character is trying to get her young master (Robert) back from the fairies because they kidnapped him. Usually, you would expect something like that to happen within the first hundred pages of the book, but not in this one.

It was almost more than halfway through the book before it actually happened. She did a lot of background, and setting up the story, which I enjoyed for the most part, but I really feel like I'm being kidnapped should've happened sooner.

You also might want to make sure you read her books in the Regency series 1st. I don't necessarily think you lose anything with a plot in this book, but many characters and moments are mentioned in conjunction with the main character. It might help you understand her backstory a lot more.

Now I can talk about the things that were done well. Olivia did a fantastic job at setting up a Gothic literature setting. It felt a lot like Jane Eyre, which, if you think about it, there were a few similarities. The setting was fantastically described. I felt like it was very spooky, and it even made it feel like it should've been raining outside when I was reading it.

The plot itself, if it had been dragged out a little bit more, was interesting. I think she also does a fantastic job at describing PTSD women may have from interactions with men. I do you want to mention if that is a topic that you would rather avoid, there are mentions of things happening throughout the book that I would be careful about.

In the end, it was an enjoyable read, but I was expecting a lot more from it. It could have been a lot longer, and I wish that the romance was a lot more drawn out. Hopefully, her next book in the series is a little different and she does better at setting it up. I do think this would be a nice read for someone wanting to read a Gothic romance, but maybe something that's not very convoluted or complicated.

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I am a lover of all things fairytale and this did not disappoint! This was told in third-person single POV, and I was immediately struck by how strong Winnie’s voice was. Her character was layered, and we got a sense for her personality and outlook right away. She also sees some really great development, as she learns value of caring for and loving others, and healing some of her traumatic past. 

The author did a good job of communicating atmosphere; the setting of a dark Victorian mansion only got more eerie as the mystery unraveled, and we learned more about its history. The fairytales woven between chapters actually strengthened the plot, and contributed to the overall tone. 

I would say the romance element is fairly minor, and that this is first and foremost a fantasy-mystery. But the romance was endearing nonetheless! 

I will say, I did not get a chance to read her Regency Fairytales series before this, and while I don’t think you *need* to, I could tell that some references and context would have been more potent if I did! 

Side note:
I want to emphasize to mind the trigger warnings, because those listed (sexual harassment, and SH of a child) and quite prolonged and graphic, rather than a passing mention. However, I do think it was handled well. 

Winnie Hall is hired to be a governess for the dowager’s grandson at Witchwood Manor. The manor has many dangerous secrets, and luckily Winnie has her own set of secrets ready to use at her disposal. However soon young Robert goes missing, and Winnie is forced to partner with Mr. Quincy, the suspicious butler, to find him.

This gothic faerie tale is darker than Olivia Atwater’s previous works, but I enjoyed it all the same. I love her whimsical writing style and how she pulls in the dark realities of the world into her work. Reclaiming freedom and autonomy was a strong theme in this book. I enjoyed the development of mutual trust Winnie built with the various characters. Especially since we learn that she does not give her trust easily.

The Witchwood Knot takes place in the same universe as Half a Soul, but we are now in Victorian England. There are even references to the Regency Faerie Tales series (with a hint of possible reunions later in the series🤞🏾). I am super excited to see where the rest of the series goes!

Thank you to the Netgalley, author Erika Johansen, and, Dutton Books for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own. Available as of November 28, 2023.