Atwater does not miss! Her Regency series was a delight- tho I still have to finish it. The Witchwood Knot is definitely a darker take on fairy tales but her prose and delightful characters make it worth the ride. Highly recommend if you too enjoy traditional fairy tales and some light romance.

Atwater has done it again! Another amazing historical gaslamp faerie fantasy to take your breath away and take your imagination on the ride of a lifetime. This time a more gothic mystery twist, a delightful ride all the way cover to cover.

This was such a gorgeous and gothic read and it was wonderful to be back in the whimsical fairytale worlds that Oliva Atwater crafts so well.
There's romance, Fae, gothic mystery all set in the perfect gothic setting an isolated manor with stained glass and of course a creepy set of gates. I loved the character development and interactions and the romance was slow burn will they wont they and when it happened it was so sweet.
I really enjoyed this book and need more of this series in my life!!!

Began fully expecting another whimsical fairie romance read from author, Olivia Atwater and ended up so surprised and delighted at how deliciously dark and gothic this fairie tale ended up being!

Things I loved:
-romance was not the focal point of the plot, but fell into place so naturally
-plot unfurled as our FMC laid down her cards
-cloak and dagger who is the MMC?? ;)

Things I wish were better:
-the conclusion of the plot came together faster than I would have liked
-hope theirs more in this world because some pretty serious questions need answering...
-more page time from side characters (they were great!)

Pros
-Stunning Gothic setting that absolutely draws a reader in
-Romantic elements
-Suspicious Fae
Cons
-Odd pacing though notably this was not a problem for my enjoyment.
Who I Would recommend this title for
Fans of Fae based stories and of movies such as the Labyrinth will be thrilled when they pick up this gem of a book.

OMGoodness I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. The characters are engaging and the world-building is just stunning. I loved every second of this read.

What can I say about this book that is even somewhat coherent? First, it was SO GOOD. I adored the Regency Faerie Tales by Atwater, and probably the only thing that could have made those better for me was a nice, gothic atmosphere. Well, here it is, I got my wish and it was spectacular!

Read if you enjoy:
. Faerie shenanigans
. Gothic settings
. Magic
. ROMANCE

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Since this book is already out, I wasn't sure how much to review it. I did give it four stars on goodreads. Such a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Olivia Atwater is back at it again with a gothic faerie romance! And I am here for it! It’s got it all.
A creepy and cursed Victorian Manor, a badass governess, a suspicious faerie butler,
and SO MUCH MAGIC!

https://www.catsluvcoffee.com/2024/01/bThe author states that The Witchwood Knot "started as a cross between the movie Labyrinth and the faerie tale known as the Twelve Dancing Princesses". She admits that what she ended up with wasn't exactly what she planned but that doesn't mean it's any less fantastic. Instead, it's difficult to put a distinct name on the end story.

Is it gothic? Yes.
It is a fairytale? Yes.
But is it romantic and whimsical at the same time? Also yes!

The world Atwater created is marvelous. It has everything good gothic fiction should. Isolated countryside mansion resplendent with stained glass windows surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. Pointed gables, white columns like skeletal fingers, screaming faces in the walls. All the finer things really. Like any good worldbuilding, hers has its own rules that one must abide by but I won't give all the secrets away.

The characters are what endeared The Witchwood Knot to me. Winnie is well suited to her position as a governess. She handles her charge quite well and when he is replaced by a fetch, doesn't hesitate to head into the fairy realm after him. Mr. Quincy, butler extraordinaire, and Winnie's interactions are frustrating (for Winnie) and yet endearing. He's very smooth but there are many secrets and he is unwilling to impart his knowledge just quite yet. Her charge is quite surly and you almost immediately dislike him as a spoiled child, but like Mr. Quincy, there is so much more than meets the eye. Oliver, the protector spirit cat that resides in his own skull, was destined to be my favorite as soon as he was introduced.

I was quite surprised by the romance. It didn't seem like the characters had anything in common to even find romance an option. Even once it started developing, it lingered for so long before actually becoming romance, that I had just about given up on it. After it was all said and done, this sweet and thoughtful romance made it seem like all the rest hadn't come before. How confounding and yet, I'm still completely on board despite certain anatomical protrusions. No, not that one.

Read it for yourself and you'll see. ook-review-witchwood-knot-by-olivia.html

As soon as I read the line, “It seems a faerie has just stolen all of my unmentionables,” I knew I was going to love this book.
I adored Regency Faerie Tales and was excited to return to this world and see some familiar faces. Cook perfectly describes Witchwood Manor when she tells Winnie that “this place is unwholesome.” It’s gothic, uncanny, and perfect for fans of the Brontës who want a little more magic and a villainous hero who is so cruel as to be intensely admired by our heroine, composing songs just for her.
I was so intrigued by how Winnie expertly navigated faerie and their rules and I was biting my nails as she decided which promises to keep and who to save.
The conclusion had me cheering while the set up for future books has me anxiously awaiting the next addition to the Victorian Faerie Tales.

This was such a fun read, I love all the books this author puts out. You need to add this to your tbr!!

Olivia Atwater does it again! A historical fae fantasy that I won’t be able to stop thinking about. I look forward to this series continuing. I loved the Half a Soul series and have been hungry for more content from her. This book delivered completely! Everyone I know will be reading this.

A gothic victorian manor historical fantasy with fae. You can count me in! I don't want to give too much away, but I must say, this was a good read. Olivias (the author) way of creating a dark atmosphere whilst keeping a soft romantic flair is just magical. The characters are fun, romance was lovely. Try this book if you like a) victorian era, b) fae and c) romance!

* 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 (𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒚) 𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚, 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. *
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the Author for providing this ARC!

Thank you to the publisher and author for this digital arc. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Witchwood Knot is about a young woman who arrives at Witchwood Manor to become the new governess for Lord Longfell's son, Robert. Our FMC has some secrets as does her new employer and his household staff. She soon meets the mysterious 'butler' Mr Quincy, who is lying about his true identity and things suddenly start to spiral downhill for her. Her charge is abducted and everyone in the town and manor becomes endangered. And only our governess can help stop the curse.

The premise of this book sold me immediately and I was so ecstatic to receive the arc to read and review. This book took me 2 days to read on my Kindle as it was only 330 pages and written fairly easily to understand,. This book was a bit different than I expected, but I mostly enjoyed it. I liked the gothic Victorian vibes and creepy sinister manor as well as the fairytale element. There were ghosts and faeries lurking around every corner and the main character was spunky and fun and not fearful of anything. The writing was decent and fit the era of this novel. Now, what didn't quite work for me...The enemies to lovers trope in my opinion wasn't much of a romance...there was very little in the way of slow burn and no chemistry until suddenly they decided to kiss out of nowhere. There was literally no indication at all the two characters were attracted to each other so I was shocked suddenly there was a page on romance. I felt this book being marketed as a romance was a bit of a stretch. At times, I felt a bit confused with the backstory and some of the characters as there was little explanation as to who they were and their importance within the storyline. I read in another review however that these characters had been introduced in the author's other novels. Had I known this book was not truly a standalone book, I probably would not have requested to read it. I felt knowing more about these side characters and the backstory of the FMC would've helped me going into this book. The title of the novel also was not explained until the end, so the characters tossed around the idea of the 'witchwood knot' as if the reader was supposed to know what it meant and understand what was happening and that was frustrating. At least, give us an idea that it was a curse on the manor. Another issue I faced was the pacing. Not much occurs for the first half and then the last part has one big conflict, however it's rushed through and not explained well in my opinion. In fact, the explanation was told to the reader in one short chapter by the other main character in the form of a fairytale. I would've preferred our FMC to slowly discover this over time as the book unfolded. It was a bit of a let down and felt much less dramatic done this way. Much of the book in fact felt this way...the reader being told something in a matter of fact way rather than the reader gleaming tiny details and putting together facts to unfold the bigger picture. I did appreciate a few scenes that gave me anxiety and felt truly terrifying for the fmc but they were so short lived. 90% of this book was just more of a cozy vibe and not as gothic as I wanted. Overall, I'm rating this book a 2.5 stars as I just could not connect to any of the characters that well and honestly did not care what happened to them. The author did not attempt to build up their backstories enough or make us feel anything for them until the very end. We only received a bit of their past once we were in about 80% so it was much too late to start caring. The plot overall felt boring, slow, and lacking. Not much happened at all and the resolution seemed so obvious and easily rectified. The writing was fine, but not able to salvage this book for me. Sadly, it won't be a fantasy I will recommend.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this e-arc!

Atmospheric and eerie. Beautiful prose, and intriguing characters. This has everything I love: gothic elements, faerie lore, a Victorian setting, and a strange world.

The romance was sweet and not overpowering.

This was my first book by the author, I would like to return to her works and read through her back catalog now.

Governesses. Manors. Faeries. Brooding butlers. Iron & burning candles. A house full of curses, of an otherworldly strangeness.

"People often have a soft spot for pretty things."

Pretty Winifred Hall, Winnie, our MC who knows her way around the cruel world, with a tiny cat skull named Oliver. A task by the Lady Dowager herself - protect Robert, Knave of Hearts, more than teach him.

At the mention of Lord Longfell, Lord Sorcier, I am brought back to the Regency Faerie Tale Series & I miss it all over again.

Winnie brings a unique spin to this world I love so much - by being a black magician; also she is a Knave of a diamonds, a liar and a cheat, and a survivor who just once would like to be a savior to someone besides herself.

Apparitions, ghosts, hauntings in the dead of night. Mysteries run amok in this house of three Knave cards. Whispering, fairy tricks.

A bodyguard disguised as a pretty governess. The Faeries want him for themselves, in a house built from WitchWood oak.

"There are faces in these walls."

Introduced to the story next is the father of spoiled little Robert, Lord Longfellow himself. A gracious, handsome gentlemen, already offering her his support back to the Manor. As hard as she tried to keep injuries to herself, he cannot help but worry and care for her. But all is not as it seems.

Lord Hollowvale. The Hollow Lady. Lady Mourningwood. Noble fairies with nonsensical rules with their games and their tricks. Requiems & funeral marches. The pianoforte. Horrible powerful creatures love such beautiful sounds.

Mr. Quincy. Games of Ecarte. Our main character has turned out to be a surprising bundle of magic- a cartomancer, a diviner, equipped with her knife chatelaine.

This was such an endearing, fast-paced read. I really hope this is not the last book spun up in this darkly strange, magical world. A WitchWood knot labyrinth, full of the mad and the ravenous.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone with a taste of conniving, evil fairy tales. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

This was simply fantastic!
I very rarely give 5 stars, but this was one of the books, I could have started all over again the moment I finished it.

It has a classic gothic setting with a sweet, convincing romance, that doesn't overshadow the main plot. The tradional old english faerie lore and celtic mythology, as well as the victorian setting all seemed well researched and authentic, I loved it.

The only other book I have read by the author so far was Half a Soul, which I already loved a lot, but this one was even better.
It is set in the same world as the other books and the story still has the same whimsical quality to it, but this time with a bit darker, more gothic touch, that I highly enjoyed. The story is connected to her Regency Faerie Tales series (being set around 50 years after Half a Soul) and contains major spoilers to those books, which I unfortunately wasn't aware of, else I would have read them first. It can definitely be read independently from them without missing out on anything, but if you are planning on reading any of the others I would recommend doing so first, before picking this one up. This one also isn't a standalone book as the others are.

Witchwood Knot was very engaging right from the beginning and kept on getting better as the story developed. I enjoyed the mix of beautiful prose and witty writing style, that tied the intriguing setting and complex characters together very well. All the characters had a depth to them and I was especially taken in by the main character, a competent and clever female protagonist with a mysterious past and emotional baggage to enravel.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the Witchwood Knot for reviewing purposes.

This book was, in some ways, delightful. Sure, it has strong gothic vibes, so it sounds a tad strange to say that it is delightful, but still I think that in this case, the term applies.
We have a growing tension, while things start happening but it is never too much, and so I think that you can say that skirts the horror genre but it doesn’t dip into it. And I am pretty happy about it!

And the best part of the book is not the general atmosphere, but the characters and their relationship. I am not talking about romance here, but about the relationships that developed here between the different characters. Winnie and Mr. Quincy are my favorites by far, because they feel real, and they are not only great characters themselves, but they form a reluctant team that is top-notch. And Oliver is the cutest ever! (Also, he is a ghost cat, how cool is that??).
Winnie has two sisters and they sound like amazing characters too, but we don’t see a lot of them. We met briefly Bellamira, and the meeting was too short for my tastes because she sounds like an amazing character, and we know of Clarimonde, we see her through a letter and Winnie’s memories and thoughts, and she sounds great too. So I would have loved to meet them and see them around, but I hope that my wish will be granted in the next books. (Sure, the story could finish here, but since there are things that could be still done, I hope that we’ll get some more books soon!).

All in all it was a delightful read, with an interesting plot and more interesting characters. It was a pleasure to read, and I am really happy with it! It was my first book by this author, but it won’t be the last!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review!

I greatly enjoyed this romantic fairy tale!

My absolute favorite character is the cat skull, Ollie, I love him, and I may tear up if I think about him too long.

I do have to say this, though, the rat tail thing is gross and weird. I'm sorry. It was weird when Cardan in The Cruel Prince had a tail, and it's even weirder now. I tried to ignore it. I also didn't really understand the card games at all but they were a fun addition to the lore and I liked hearing about them, even if it got a little too detailed without explanation at times.

As many other people have said, the blurb does the book a disservice, as the blurb begins halfway through the book, which confusingly sets expectations and sort of spoils things. I would rather just get the premise from a blurb than plot points.

There are some real heart-wrenching moments, namely with the fetch, Winnie's childhood, and the origins of Witchvale Manor, which are so beautifully painful. The book also takes a sudden turn for the romantic about 2/3rds through, which I'm not opposed to, but it is sort of out of nowhere and also there is a rat tail. That being said, I did really enjoy the romance.

I'm really interested in seeing where this all goes! I can't wait for the next installment. Four stars.