Upon arriving at Ensor House, Winifred Notty is determined to be the perfect governess for her two charges- Drusilla and Andrew. Haunted by a troubled past, she is desperate to leave her strange proclivities behind and reinvent herself. However, it’s hard to escape the past and when Winifred succumbs to her violent and deadly tendencies, the estate becomes a dangerous place where no one is truly safe.

This was such a dark, gruesome, and chilling book and I enjoyed it so much! It’s a short book so it can definitely be read in just a few sittings. Winifred is an unreliable and deranged character and experiencing the story through her psychopathic mind was both entertaining and deeply unsettling.

Set in the mid nineteenth century, this book captures the eerie and gothic atmosphere of the Victorian era. It dives into heavy themes such as child and animal abuse and the graphic descriptions, especially at the end, are not for the faint of heart. If you’re squeamish, this might not be the book for you. However, despite the unhinged nature of the story, it’s also laced with so much subtle humor. Winifred’s inner thoughts are witty and often laugh-out-loud funny and even though she’s far from a sympathetic character, I found myself engaged with her story all the way until the end.

If you’re looking for a Victorian era horror story featuring a murderous governess filled with vengeance, dark secrets, bloody descriptions, and twisted humor, consider reading this one. I’ve heard it’s being adapted into a movie, and I’m excited to see it come to life on the screen!

I feel like my favourite genre of book is one where I finish and think to myself, "God forbid women have hobbies!" Virginia Feito certainly delivered with that feeling, and I really loved the unequivocal and unapologetic evilness Winifred Notty had withing her. This will make so many people who are fans of evil women, twisted horror, and of course, gore, happy for sure!

Uh, wow. This was everything the title promised. A violent, tongue in cheek, surprisingly witty glimpse into a wealthy Victorian family’s life and celebration of Christmas.

This was deliciously fun and crude and jarring and so well done. Not for everyone for sure, but if you enjoy satire and a nice gothic atmosphere and aren’t queasy, you’ve found your book, my friend.

Victorian Psycho was the Christmas book I never knew I needed.This book lives up to its moniker. As I finished the last page all I could think was, what have I just read? This book is dark and violent and gruesome, but also funny and witty, I was on an emotional roller coaster ride that I didn’t want to get off.

This is a satirical view of Victorian society views through the skewed and diabolical eye of a psychopath. What happens is violent and disturbingg. It is the antithesis of everything fthe strait laced Victorians abhorred. To say more would deprive the reader of experiencing the shock and awe this little book provides. But be prepared when you pick this one up- to experience great writing, laughter, incredulity, repulsion and a protagonist unlike any other. This book will not be for everyone so check the trigger warnings. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you to @netgalley and @liverightbooks for this arc.

I love reading about unreliable female narrators so this was right up my alley. I liked being in her head. In no moment did I feel like she was insufferable; on the contrary, I wanted to hear more of her thoughts and motivations.

My only qualm is that in the last couple of chapters I wanted more. The violence was on point but I would've liked to hear what was in the mind of the other characters, especially the Pounds'.

Also this makes for a great new addition to your holiday horror lists.

Victorian Psycho tells the story of a deranged governess who has joined a new family.

If you enjoy gothic literature, the Victorian era, and reading books about crazy people this one’s for you.

I would also say that you have to feel comfortable reading from the first person perspective of a dark and disturbed person as they do dark, disturbing and evil things.

We join our governess Miss Notty as she arrives at Ensor house to work for The Pounds Family and we fairly quickly begin to understand that she is different. We get pieces of her troubled past and as the story progresses we slowly see her slip further into instability and violence. I also enjoyed Miss Notty’s bits of sarcasm and satire throughout as well as the little nods and Easter eggs towards Victorian history and Victorian Gothic literature.

I definitely enjoyed this one and would recommend to others with similar taste.

Much thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing me a copy of VICTORIAN PSYCHO. It was a blast to read.

The comparisons to AMERICAN PSYCHO with a Gothic twist are accurate; though I’d argue Winifred Notty is far more enjoyable and funny than Patrick Bateman. The story follows Winifred, as she becomes the governess to the Pounds children. From there, through flashbacks and hilariously bizarre interactions, we get to see Winifred as she truly is. At times, it did feel like the author forced the gothic language, but this seems to taper off as the novel hits the second and third act. I also would have loved more bizarre interactions with the other characters, as this was its strength.

All in all, a very unique, creepy but funny tale for anyone who appreciates Gothic literature.

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
#eighthbookof2025 #arc #victorianpsycho #novella #gothichorror

CW: death, murder, bodily torture, cruelty to animals and children, miscarriage, extreme violence

From NetGalley: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect Victorian governess—she’ll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But the longer Winifred spends within the estate’s dreary confines, and the more she learns of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family, the more trouble she has sticking to her plan. Whether creeping across the moonlit lawns in her undergarments or gently tormenting the house staff, Winifred struggles at every turn to stifle the horrid compulsions of her past. When her chillingly dark imagination breaches the feeble boundary of reality on Christmas morning, Winifred is finally ready to deliver on her generous gifts. Wielding her signature sardonic wit and a penchant for the gorgeously macabre, Virginia Feito returns with a vengeance in Victorian Psycho.

My thoughts: Holy shit. I loved this book so much. It was hilarious and gross and creepy and I wish it were a full length novel. I want more of this. Miss Notty is perhaps insane and doesn’t give a shit. She has a purpose and although you don’t know what it is right away, she is funny and dry and a little delusional, everything I want in a main character. I laughed out loud at her throwaway lines that are pretty incongruous for a novel about a governess during this time frame. I will be seeking out the author’s previous work Mrs. March since I enjoyed this one so much. I can’t wait to see what they do with the upcoming adaptation.

Thank you to @liverightbooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Pub date is 2/4/25)

It’s so interesting, because I found this to be a really fun book, if not ultimately satisfying. It held my interest and I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next. It’s kind of a bummer that the book almost feels like it rushes to and through its climax and doesn’t allow the reader to really wallow in the carnage. I truly appreciate the prose of this book; we’re reading through something akin to Jane Austin, but the story being told is a grisly fantasy. To read such gory ideas in this high class English prose made me smile so hard it hurt. I loved the imagery that Feito was creating; every sarcastic line uttered by our featured governess felt as if it was said with a sneer that leapt off the page. I feel like this book could definitely have afforded to be a little longer, giving more room for the closing acts of violence to breathe (or more room to really describe the gore and terrible happenings that caused them). A fun book that I certainly would recommend, but just wish I would have felt as joyful about the ending as I did reading to see what would happen next.

Oh what an insane ride this one was! From the first chapter I was hooked, pleasantly surprised by the authors sarcasm while maintaining the lingo of the time period, I actually giggled on many occasions, it never felt forced or out of place. Winifred Notty was a terrible pleasure to travel alongside, with her charges to boot. Her voice had me rooting for her despite her… tendencies, to say the least and it felt like I was reading a character acting on all the intrusive thoughts I’m sure I’m not alone in; like ‘what if I gave that a bite?’. It was dark and eerie and gross and it had me feverishly turning through the pages, consumed by my own mania. The author’s descriptions were so perfect and original, I still think of “swinging gently in the crystal fist”, what an image was the entire chapters that unfolded in the ended, but beware this is not for the weak stomached. I can’t wait to see this adapted to screen in 2026 and loved visualizing exactly how it would all go. I thoroughly enjoyed and did not predict any of the plot twists. If you are looking for a quick horrific read that transports you back in time, keeping you entertained with wit and clever writing, you’ll love Victorian Psycho (an accurate title, on conclusion). I will be picking up the authors debut, Mrs. March next! 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Patrick Bateman meet Fred Notty. Gothic tale of a sociopathic narcissist nanny which, right there you know will not end well for those in her care. Crazy, crazy story that made me laugh guiltly as she worked through the situations as they occurred. So much to unpack but don’t know even where to start or end.

"It is early fall, the cold is beginning to descend, and in three months everyone in this house will be dead."

Winifred Notty is the new governess at Ensor House. The advertisement of her services stated that she knows French and has a great deal of experience. However something isn't right with Fred. She was raised by her mother and pastor step-father as she never knew her real father. But since birth, something has been off. Or has it? Her mother tried to kill her repeatedly because she could sense the evil in her. But is she really evil? Or is it everyone around her?

There is something about the Victorians that seems so romantic, isn't there? The beautiful ornate homes, furniture, and clothing. Things seemed wonderful if you were rich. And male. Winfred is such an interesting character, but it's hard to get a read on her. On the surface prime and proper, then she observes things like "Leaves are strewn across the ground in hues of bile and blood." Or she: "It fascinates me, the fact that humans have the capacity to mortally wound one another at will, but for the most part, choose not to." What is going on with this woman?! We get glimpses into her childhood, and none of it is good. At times it is so outlandish, I had to wonder if this was an unreliable narrator story - could this woman possibly be this awful?! Turns out yes, yes she is.

A short read, I felt like I needed more. The entire book felt like a fever dream.

Victorian Psycho
Virginia Feito

I said a little prayer and danced a little jig in the midst of reading this book. It went a little like this...

"God help the kids for they know not what they do and Devil spare the adults for they know precisely."

As I bobbed up and down.

It was fun, wish you were there.

If this book made a sound it would say "KERSPLAT". If it we're a painting it would look much the way it sounds.

I greatly appreciated the contrast between our main character being in victorian times and her behavior and the things that would come to her mind and come out of her mouth. That contrast was excellent. It's like showing up at the ball buttoned up from head to toe, and everyone can see everything underneath the sheer fabric.

And as always, what's underneath is far more interesting and no one is admiring the buttons. The lie on your tongue is far less interesting than the truth of what you're not saying.

I would say easily that if you liked LAPVONA by Ottessa Moshfegh you'll love the parts of the writing that dare to be a little weirder than it should. Entirely way too short. I am yearning for more.

Thanks to Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company | Liveright for the advanced copy!

VICTORIAN PSYCHO...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. This book left me speechless. After reading the last line I sat for several minutes thinking about the narrator and how the story all fit together.

Winifred was a child born out of wedlock, with a tortured mother, a heinous upbringing, and darkness buried within her, seemingly innate. She dreams of tasting blood, stringing instruments with the guts of her charges, and murdering any and all who dare to cross her- even by accident.

Many times in the novella you must determine if the images she sees are imagined or real, and you shift between shock, horror, and surprise as you’re being transported through the spaces of a psychopath’s mind.

I kept coming back to the spaces where Winifred spoke to the reader, and at the end when all was said and done I wondered if she was speaking from her grave, ringing the bell, haunting the reader as she promised she would.

Beautifully written, indescribably intense, and horrific.

File under: I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs!
An Absolute, blood soaked gothic gore fest! No one is safe! Victorian Psycho is nothing short of an unhinged Mary Poppins, slasher-esque fever dream. Its haunting revenge fantasy theme and dark humor lands, providing the tongue in cheek tone to this hilarious and visceral novel. Horror fans, add to your TBR you’re in for a real treat!

Thank you so much to Liverlight for my gifted copy!

I feel bad for giggling.

This book is exactly how it sounds. A Victorian era psycho. And Winifred Notty truly is a psycho. You’re going to hear a lot about how unhinged she is. But “unhinged” doesn’t seem to do her psychopathy justice. She is a Victorian Patrick Bateman. Gleeful and fearless in her demonic behavior. She is diabolical. Gruesome. Deranged.

This book was a gas. It was funny, it was disgusting, it was quaint. It’s literature I can get behind, in all its horror.

And still, somehow, Winifred still wasn’t the worst of the cast of characters. Victorian people were … cruel and disgusting. I never forgot this fact: that the British ate most of the mummies. And, lo and behold, mummies make an appearance in this book. Gleefully unbound by the rich for their Christmas celebrations. Truly evil.

Victorian Psycho is a bingeable short horror story, but I don’t recommend eating while reading it lol.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a pre-pub copy in exchange for an honest review. Look, I love books that feature Victorian history, womens' history, social mores, murder, mystery, psychosis, etc. So I hate to admit that I really couldn't get into this one, basically for the same reasons that I dislike American Psycho. (I assume the title - at the very least - is a reference to that book.) However, I know everyone is going to disagree with me and this will likely be made into a movie.

This is an odd story. It is good but very odd. If you are looking for a read that will just confuse yet delight this the story for you. Winifred is a unique character whose disposition just grows throughout the tale. While there is a lot of foreshadowing this book still surprises. I will say I did find it odd to include two pieces of art at unique spots in the book. I would have either liked more art or no art at all.
Thank you so much to W.W. Norton & Company and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

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I wish I liked this more, but I have to admit that I was bored. This is a short one but it was too far on the absurd side for me to be fully invested. It's a shocking tale in description and I love an unhinged FMC, but it fell short for me overall. The ending is good and probably the most exciting part of the book. I didn't like the diary-esque writing, and I mostly wanted to read American Psycho instead. Hopefully the screen adaptation brings it to life in a different and more engaging way!

Thank you to @netgalley and WW Norton & Co. for the arc! Victorian Psycho comes out on Feb. 4th. 🌻

I thoroughly enjoyed this Victorian satire. The writing is compelling and I couldn’t tear myself away from this cheeky and gorey little book.