Reviews with content warning for Pedophilia - The Witchwood Knot

I was a little leery during the first 30%, because I really wasn’t sure where the story was going or what the exact premise was, but once the story began to unfold, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the eerie, dark magic of the characters and the manor, and all the spooky scary things that go bump in the night. It felt like a funhouse at a circus but you die in it if you make one wrong move. It was everything a gothic Victorian novel should deliver, and I LOVED Winnie’s cat!! Also Mr. Quincy and Winnie’s dynamic.. was chefs kiss. The piano scene toward the end had me giggling and kicking my feet. Everything tied together by the end, it does sort of end on a cliffhanger, so I really can’t wait to read the next installment when it releases!

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kethzaly's review

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Olivia Atwater's writing has to be one of my favorites to read. I I've read two oh her books so far, Half a Soul and this one. I have no doubt I'll pick up her other books as well.

It is a dark regency tale, one part Jane Eyre, one part studio Ghibli.

It is charming, good world building, witty. I loved every minute of it. My only want with her books so far is that I wish it were more diverse.

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blueberryelle's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious

5.0

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saltycoffee's review

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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deanlockiradall's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating 3.5-4.0 stars.

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is a Gothic faerie tale set in a fantasy Victorian England. Winifred, or Winnie, an orphan pulled from a traumatic workhouse by a noble benefactor, is called away from London to Witchwood Manor as a favor to the dowager Lady Longfell, ostensibly to be a governess to the lady's grandson, Robert. In truth, Winnie is a black magician specializing in cartomancy, and her true task is to protect Robert from the faerie curse placed on the manor, which is tied to the mysterious Witchwood Knot. Armed with her wits, her magic, and her loyal ghostly feline familiar, Winnie's mission is complicated by the contrarian young Robert, his truly creepy father, and the mysterious butler-who-is-and-is-not a butler, Mr. Quincy.

This novel, the first in a series, draws on several mythologies for its inspiration--mostly from Celtic mythology (more on that here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6002533507), and a dash of Beauty and the Beast. Atwater's book is chock-full of detail; given the historical background she provides for her books, as well as her own personal interest in history, this was one of my favorite parts in the book. This is also a book suited for fans of historical fantasy with a romantic subplot, or fans of romantasy with a subdued romance. Atwater does include a content warning at the beginning of the book, so wary readers are advised to glance at it before proceeding. I personally enjoyed this book for its dark faerie tale elements and sardonic, witty heroine, but suspect I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read Atwater's previous series (Regency Faerie Tales) first for added context.

Fans of Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, Sarah J. Maas, and The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert would likely enjoy this book. I look forward to the sequel, as well as the Regency Faerie Tales!

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briely's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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ceruleanshelves's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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

gothic fantasy romance fairy tale? say less.

atwater never fails to write engaging and driving stories with its victorian charm and aesthetic - and this one has the addition of an eery, spooky vibe. i loved winnifred as a scheming, clever magician who's quickly learned how to carefully manipulate her way around faeries - and the real world.

there are mentions of and connections to characters from the regency faerie tales, so while i rec reading them it's not necessary.

“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.”

i can't wait for the next book. if you want a summerween or spooky season read, add this to your list!

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ceebee86's review

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

A really solid book.
I found that I did not give it a perfect 5 because some parts in the first half felt like such a slog.
But this thing is really Victorian gothic to the core.

I really do appreciate the theme of SA survival. I could feel the familiar nausea in Winnie as she was experiencing it herself in the story.

Winnie as a whole was pleasant to read actually. Her cleverness and humanity shine through. Not all authors can write a clever character.

I also really liked the “telling a fairy tale” format that was used for expositional moments. It made it feel like the vibe wasn't abruptly halted to explain something.

What brought this rating way up was the love interest. The development he went through and the way his character evolves as he comes to love Winnie was absolutely perfect to my tastes.

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