I love stories featuring unhinged women, and I love the Victorian era—a match made in heaven?

We are following Winnifred Notty, the new governess for the Pounds family. She gets involved in the family's affairs, and chaos ensues.

This book has some great moments, and some really excellent lines that I highlighted in my book, but overall, it was missing something. It moves very quickly, and the pacing works very well. I loved the character of Winnifred; she's wholly unpredictable, and there are some WTF scenes. A few made me laugh out loud, despite the horror of what is actually happening.

It was gross and not for sensitive readers, but I had a good time! The real rating is 3.75 stars.

Darkly funny, I thought this was very original. I am a fan of the author, and was not disappointed. A bit gruesome, though

Winifred Notty might be my favorite character ever. She has the outward appearance of a dutiful, Victorian governess. On the inside, she is something much darker.

This story is quick and nasty. The dark humor had me laughing as I followed Winifred through her days. There is a surprising amount of backstory and twists packed in 208 pages. Feito drew me in with her beautiful prose and then horrified me over and over.

Greatly enjoyed/highly recommend!


A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

Brimming with darkly delectable humor and seemingly unprecedented nonchalant violence, Virginia Feito’s Victorian Psycho is setting the standard for remarkable horror this year. Winifred Notty is not a typical Victorian governess; no, she is a peculiar woman with some rather unusual habits, remarks, and, as we learn, motivations. The beginning of her work for the Pounds family, looking after their two children Drusilla and Andrew, seems innocuous enough until the pieces begin to fall into place. Miss Notty is a character that gives Patrick Bateman a run for his money as reflected by the “gifts” she bestows upon the Pounds family on Christmas morning, confirming Victorian Psycho as one of the most remarkable, astounding, and bloody reads of this year.

Virginia Feito crafts this deranged fall into madness with such assured ease and confidence that feels so notable, especially in her characterization of Miss Notty. Perhaps it is the distinct nonchalance in which we come to realize the wretched predilections this character possesses or maybe it is the downward spiral in which the inevitable is no longer avoidable, the benefit of the doubt erased. In either case, Feito’s writing is exquisite as it possesses that “blink and you’ll miss it” quality of detail. Victorian Psycho absolutely demands all of your attention as startling revelations and darkly comedic lines are dropped with the turn of a phrase. In some ways, it has never felt so perfectly right to giggle at sentences depicting some of the most depraved, bleak senses of humor. This forms one of the most memorable reading experiences as truly anything is possible within the next few lines.

Of course, there is plenty for fans of body horror and psychopathy to love here. While it becomes clear that Miss Notty operates from an unusual mental state, there is much to be uncovered about the Pounds family. Feito creates remarkable drama and exquisite suspense through the things not said, the revelations to be discovered, outside of the titular character. Victorian Psycho feels wholly unique while still drawing upon tropes and themes we have come to know and love from a range of genres, from domestic thrillers to blood-soaked psychotic horrors.

While short in page count, nothing about Victorian Psycho can be classified as lacking. From remarkable character work to unhinged spirals of the most vile behavior, Virginia Feito delivers on every front. A wild romp of violent, blood-soaked actions, this is a memorable story, one that garners conversation and buzz on every front as it is entertaining, captivating, and unforgettable. With such an assured voice in Miss Notty, Virginia Feito secures her spot as a must-read author of bleak fiction with Victorian Psycho.

This was quite a doozy of a read and one I can’t recommend enough to those who love dark comedy and don’t mind the grotesque. Because this one does not hold back as it examines Winifred Notty, a governess to children who certainly shouldn’t be anywhere near children, and her psychopathic tendencies that devolve throughout this rather short book.

Winifred is one of those characters that despite how mad she may be, you can’t help but laugh at some of her antics. Before the violence really takes off, she just seems like an odd duck that can’t fit into normal society. But as the novel progresses, you really begin to question yourself as you see the extreme nature of her personality and where things are heading. This was one of the best written antiheroines that I have read in some time (and I feel like I have read a lot in the past year). As we get glimpses into Winifred’s past, we see that this is a psycho that was born out of terrible circumstances that led her on a dark path.

The gothic tones of this one were also spot-on with the descriptions of the Ensor House adding to the dread of the story as you await the climax and aren’t quite sure what is going to happen. There are some really interesting twists throughout that make this a very unique and imaginative tale of historical gothic horror. The writing style is definitely chaotic at times and may be jarring for some readers, but I think it really added to the uneasy nature of the story for me.

If you are in the market for gothic vibes, great dialogue, unabashed Victorianism, sarcasm galore, and lots of blood, this book will be the perfect addition to your 2025 TBR!

A grotesque, darkly funny, fever-dream of a book. The tropes of the Victorian gothic are twisted into a slasher novel where you know what's coming the entire time - but that never blunts the gory effect of the inevitable. I hated being in the main character's head, which is to say that I loved it. I devoured this book and will definitely be anticipating more of this author's work.

Thank you to NetGalley and to W. W. Norton for the advance review copy.

If you can suspend your disbelief, this is such a fun ride. You have to be down for more vibes than plot, but let me tell you the vibes are immaculate. I felt we got just enough of a story and background for things to make sense, but so much was left open that you got to let your imagine take you away. I loved the perfectly timed breaks of the 4th wall and the witty quips from our protagonist. If you like body horror and dark humor this is a must read. Be prepared to step into a strange, violent, gruesome story that will transport you to another time and keep you wanting to flip the page.

Special thank you to #NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company via Liveright for this eARC.

Incredible. Wild. One of those wake-you-up, WTF am I reading onslaughts. Victorian Psycho is an angry, terrifying book that will stick with you for days. Virginia Feito is officially on the list of authors you clear your schedule for as this small book is a tour de force of unfathomable anger. A couple of chapters into Winifred’s head and, jeezus, wow. Just wow.

A governess is hired by the Pounds family. The more you read from Winifred’s Notty’s POV, the worse off you suspect the Pounds’ fate will be…

Singlehandedly, this is early 2025, and we have one of the most talked about horror books of the year right here. I’ve resisted the urge to use sardonic to describe Virginia’s writing, but it’s there. The writing is sardonic, condescending and terrifying. And just when you think you might have a grip on the dread and incalculable outcomes, Winifred reminds you who’s telling the story. Arresting and completely scary, Victorian Psycho will grab you from the opening line to the gobsmacking final paragraph.

This is my first book by Virginia Feito and she delivered. This book is dark and twisted and all sorts of fun. Winifred is a governess who couldn't care less about children, or frankly most anyone else. She is charged with raising Andrew and Drusilla, neither of whom are good, easy children. During her time with the family, she fights the Darkness within her, recounting her past 'incidents' and reacting to current impulses. The main characters, Winifred and the Pounds family, are well developed in such a short time. The story goes exactly how you expect it to go (I wouldn't say there's a twist), but it's not predictable. Selfishly, I wish there was more, but I also think the story did what it set out to do and didn't need anything more.
Feito's writing style is engaging, add that to the short length of the book and you'll find yourself finishing it in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading more by this author! (4 stars only because the second sentence about her breasts jiggling really made me do a double take).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was dark, disturbing, and rather graphic. And in more ways than just bloody. I saw somewhere that this was described as “Sweeney Todd meets American Psycho,” and while I have seen neither, it feels like an accurate description based on what I’ve heard.

This is not my type of book at all, but if it’s your type of book then you’ll enjoy it very much. It’s captivating and well written. It’s also a very quick read.

I did enjoy Drusilla’s fate, without giving anything away.

I am torn rating this between the fact that I didn’t enjoy it for personal reasons, but it was also, objectively, a good book. 4 stars, I suppose.

Thank you to Netgalley and LiveRight Publishing company for allowing me to read an arc of Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito. This is my first book by this author, the cover and title intrigued me and I wanted to read it. This book was recommended on a list of the top books to come out in 2025. I was happy to read the arc and believe that if you like dark books you will like it. This book deserves a trigger warning if you like books that pertain to blood, murder, and horror then put this book on your list.

A gleefully twisted romp through the tropes and conventions of the Victorian Novel (or modern period piece). Winifred Notty has been hired to be the new governess for Ensor House's Pounds family, arriving at some point in the autumn. Victorian Psycho is narrated by Notty as she adjusted to the schedule and whims of the family and structured life of the household. She also reveals her disguised troubled life and her attempts to reign in her inner darkness.

Notty, and yes it all seems the family is smirking with hidden thoughts about her name, is meant to make the stupid and arrogant young Andrew fit for boarding school and ignored-until-needed Drusilla fit for a domestic life. Mr Pounds is comfortable in his privileged positions and follows his desires wherever, frequently in hostile disagreement with his wife who eeks out what power she may.

As is slowly revealed, Notty's life is not so clean and respectable as it first appears. Especially as the novel opens with the chilling image caption "In three months everyone in this house will be dead." Her cutting thoughts are not always restrained, leading to some awkward moments or quick rephrasing to something similar, but less wounding. Notty can't always restrain her impulsive actions causing for rapid action or quick rearrangement of the scene. That is until Christmas arrives.

A welcome counter to the traditional Victorian book of manners (or perhaps manors).

Recommended for readers of horror, the macabre or those wishing those smug Downton Abbey types finally receive what they've truly earned.

I loved this. It’s completely unhinged and I was here for every macabre second of it.

Winny our governess is possessed by some kind of dark force but the Pounds, the family she works for are so irritating that you almost sympathize with her. There is a lot of dark humor mixed in with the gory and often graphic scenes it’s an odd mix but it totally works.

My only gripe was I wanted more!

I read this one through my netgalley app and really loved it! The cover hooked me and the story kept me flipping the pages of the ebook. If you love creepy Gothic thrillers this one needs to be on your 2025 reading list!

This book is gross (positive)! So if that suits your taste, you'll enjoy. WInifred Notty is our "heroine", but is the villain of this story. We as readers are front and center to her intrusive and violent thoughts, and things do NOT get better. It's clear how the story will end from the start, and this is more of a wild ride with a straight path than one where there are major twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for this ARC!

I absolutely loved this novel and I can’t wait to read Mrs March by Virginia. Victorian Psycho was wickedly fun and downright hilarious at times. I couldn’t help but love our deranged main character Winifred! This book is so well written and Feito brings you directly into the Ensor House, holding your attention until the very end. At several points my jaw was on the FLOOR and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud in disbelief.

If you love dark historical fiction with plenty of horror, check out Victorian Psycho!

Sometimes people will talk about a book being completely bonkers and bat-sh*t insane, and then I pick it up and am completely disappointed by how tame it is. Victorian Psycho is NOT one of those books. Winifred Notty is exactly what the title of this book describes her as- a Victorian Psycho. This book is weirdly wonderful, and it will leave you asking yourself "am I a psycho for having so much fun while reading that?".

Let's get into it:

Characters- Is it too early in the year to give Winifred my "Weird Girl Of The Year" award? You know what, I don't care. Winifred is a FREAK, and I love her for it. The author does a phenomenal job setting up our main character as the unsettling, unstable, somehow not unlikable character that she is. The entire book relies on this one character being effective, and I'm glad to say that it delivers. She is sneaking around sniffing people's hair, swapping people's babies, biting raw meat, and just generally behaving the way a Victorian Psycho ought to. All of the other characters were well written, don't get me wrong, but Winifred is the star of the show here and I'm so into it. My only miniscule nitpick in the character department is that I would have loved to see more of Drusilla, especially at the end when everything goes unhinged, but otherwise this is a perfect category for me. 5/5!

Plot- There isn't anything revolutionary about the concept of this story necessarily; a woman is hired on as a governess at a big creepy house and is tasked with teaching the children, and she ends up immersed in the drama of the family. This is more or less the plot of a dozen other gothics that I've read (and loved). Except in this book, the main character is unabashedly crazy and has no intent or desire to be a good governess. Unlike the classic gothic story, the evil is not coming from inside the house and being unraveled by our main character, no sir, here our main character is evil, and she is descending upon the members of this house to cause chaos and bloodshed. I think that this is a brilliant take on the genre! I'm giving the plot a 4/5

Horror- Walking away from this story is very confusing, because I'm not sure if it's inappropriate to describe this story as "funny" or not, but honestly, I did think it was just as hilarious as it was upsetting, and I applaud that. I think that satire and horror make a fantastic combo when done right, and Virginia Feito has hit a sweet spot here. There are some truly horrific elements at play here, some of which are going to be triggering to certain audiences (yeah, I'm talking about the baby killing/kidnapping), so I feel like enjoying this story as much as I did might be a bit taboo, but I don't care. I'm a lover of weird horror and this story is a specific breed of weird horror that I didn't know I needed until now. The horror in this book definitely leans more into "disturbing" than "scary". Very well done IMO. 4/5

Pacing- This book could easily be read in one sitting. In fact, I think that it would be best enjoyed that way. This book is so fast that sometimes it felt like you were sprinting towards the end, and that really added towards the feeling of utter madness that this book exudes. 5/5 in pacing.

Writing- this story has such a unique voice, I mean truly, I can't compare it to anything else.
Feito might be a genius, or she might be a psycho herself. I don't know, but I need more of her writing in my life. 4.5

Final Thoughts- Who do I need to talk to in order to get this book adapted into a movie? Seriously, I think that this story could work so well as an artsy, satirical horror story. I'm seeing some real potential here. Someone call Yorgos Lanthimos and tell him to channel all of that weird energy he put into "Poor Things"; this is going to be a hit! Okay, but seriously, this book is going places (most likely to an asylum of some sort). The weirdo-horror enjoyers are EATING in 2025, and Victorian Psycho is the main course!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publishers of this book for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My review will be in Scream Horror Magazine
Absolutely loved this I was laughing all the way through, don't know what that says about me? Haha!

I enjoyed this dark, violent revenge-on-the-rich story. While the twist was a little predictable, this story and prose felt like a journey into traditional Vic Lit and I appreciated the unreliable narrator - her psyche was fascinating!

Victorian Psycho is a darkly unsettling yet weirdly humorous read that kept me on my toes with the disturbing actions of the MC, Ms. Notty. I found myself stopping multiple times—not just to process the sheer absurdity of what I was reading but also to share passages with my non-reader partner (who was equally horrified).

Things I Enjoyed:
✨ Dark Humor

✨ Fast-Paced Story

✨ Unique Story Telling and Narrator

✨ Victorian Setting

I had no idea where this story was headed, and that unpredictability was a big part of why I enjoyed it so much! The short length (under 200 pages) packs a punch, and the writing style is sharp and unforgiving. The fact that the MC opens the story by revealing how the story ends added a layer of suspense and doubt. I couldn’t stop trying to figure out the why behind her actions, secretly hoping it was all in her head or that she was under some kind of supernatural possession.

Despite the MC’s disturbing actions, there was one pivotal scene where I found myself unexpectedly sympathizing with her only to burst out laughing moments later when another character delivers the pettiest insult during the climax. The balance of horror and humor was just so spot on!

By the end, I was left questioning everything—and loving every second of it. If you’re into dark, unsettling reads with a twisted sense of humor, and aren’t overly squeamish, give this one a try, but please read the trigger warnings!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the ARC! 🙏