I don't read too many Gothic Horrors but this book seemed interesting. It felt very atmospheric and the writing was witty. I probably wouldn't recommend this book to everybody but it was a good time.

It is a very smooth and fast read - I read this in 1 day! The writing style is uncomplicated, and the author does not waver with lofty setting details or believe in hand-holding the reader to unravel the story. The subject matter is dark but done humorously, which is not easy.

I really enjoyed this one. A fun, wild romp that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s wacky and unhinged, and while I was worried it would feel forced or too winky wink, but Virginia Feito nailed the tone.

I'm giving this an average 3, it caught my attention from the description and I was hopeful but the formatting for both of my kindles was so bad I literally could not read it. I'm sure its a technical issue so I will not be leaving feedback on other platforms. I do look forward to picking this up when it is released to give it another go.

3.5 stars.

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

I am normally not a fan of books with Victorian age governesses but Victorian Psycho was a good exception for me! The fourth wall breaking and the eerie vibes throughout the book made me wanna read it all in one sitting.

It was a good book, but it was unreadable in pdf format. I had to read it on my phone which was a pain.. It was also a tad bit confusing at times with some time jumps.

Sharp, dark, and funny; Victorian Psycho was everything I hoped it to be. I’ve been seeing a lot of early buzz for this one and when I saw it got a movie deal, immediately requested it. Winifred Notty is a worthy addition to the roster of unhinged females in the horror genre. This one isn’t for the weak though, incredibly macabre and at times, pretty disgusting.

Overall, recommend to horror fans with a tough stomach and a love for the movie Pearl, Maeve Fly by CJ Leede, and the classic, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.

You can never be too careful about who you let watch your kids. Winifred appears to be the perfect governess when she arrives at Ensor House to care for the Pounds family’s children, but she has secrets…dark ones. And this Victorian estate is about to turn into a bloodbath. Putting a spin on the gothic genre, this story features a governess as the villain…or at least, as one of them.

This macabre dark comedy was deliciously fun to read. Winifred isn’t a particularly likeable main character but it was a hell of a lot of fun being inside her head. The story is tightly paced with an excellent ending. I wouldn’t recommend this one if you’re squeamish or sensitive to violence. Otherwise, you should definitely read this book!

This is a book that I had high hopes for, the summary sounds so intriguing but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. The formatting of the kindle book was weird so that made it had to get into the story, and I just really didn’t like the writing style.

Wow, this story is a wild, intense, and crazy ride. There are many gory, shocking, and disturbing moments in this book, so you might want to check the trigger and content warnings before starting this one. I couldn’t believe some of the things I was reading. 😳

Winifred is such an interesting main character. She is demented, unhinged, and vengeful. I loved her character! Does that make me demented? 😂

There were many shocking moments in this book, including the brutal and gory ending. That’s an ending I will never forget!

I loved the author’s writing and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

I definitely recommend this book to horror lovers!

A solid and fun horror read. 3.5/5 rounded up.

I had a little trouble getting into the writing style of this book, but overall enjoyed the story. It's dark and twisty, sometimes gross, and often quite funny. I requested this one because it's already set for a movie adaption starring Margaret Qualley and I think it could be a lot of fun as a movie.

Our main character Winifred Notty is a governess to a troublesome little boy and teenage girl. We get peeks into her dark thoughts and glimpses of her past (and future?) as she tries to keep up her charm even though she detests everyone around her.

It's a quick read full of creepiness and some twists.

Dash my wig! A perfect blend of Victorian period piece with a woman spiraling into a mad bloodthirsty state with surprising humor and absurd violence, I loved every second of it. There is a lot in here that is not for the faint of heart so check content warnings. Highly recommended for fans of: Lapvona, Poor Things, Saltburn, Crimson Peak. I will certainly be buying a copy of this when it releases, along with a copy of Mrs. March and I cannot wait to see the screen adaptation with Margaret Qualley.
Thank you to Netgalley and W.W. Norton/Liveright for the e-ARC!

Keeping in tradition of Mrs. March and the what-the-fuck-did-I-just-read tradition, Fieto delivers with Victorian Psycho. This book is messy -- in a good way.

We follow our main character, Winifred Notty, as she takes on her new job of caring for the Pound children as their governess. The writing draws you in to the era, with descriptions of baroque paintings, architecture, and generational wealth. Ms Notty has an incredibly clever and grotesque internal dialogue -- I found myself laughing out loud at a few parts. As we learn more about the perversions of the family, the plot descends into a disturbing tale of gore and violence and revenge.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Please check trigger warnings prior to reading, as this contains disturbing content.

OMG I loved this so much.

Last year I read (and loved) Maeve Fly by CJ Leede, and this is very much a comp. We have a deeply twisted main character, Winifred Notty , who doesn't have the ability to feel fear or pain. Like the title implies, she's likely clinically psychotic.

I love the choice that Virginia Feito made by starting the story in the middle. We are following Winifred as she is hired as a governess at a manor. Winifred keeps thinking back to previous postings as reminding herself that this time it will be different. These little references, bread crumb for the reader that our main character is hiding a much darker past that we've been given access too. The true depth of her depravity is slowly unveiled as the story unfolds.

Every once in a while Winifred speaks to the reader directly, which I love. Like she's so removed from reality, she is imagining us as part of her delusion.

This book is so compelling, I found it hard to put down. The writing is past-paced, the main character is constantly revealing more to us through her unhinged actions, and the overall plot is perfection!

Five stars. No notes.

Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton for the advanced reader copy.

This book is best read in the attic, surrounded by bodies of those who mildly inconvenienced you.

If you want a book with a title that tells you everything you need to know, this is it. Victorian Psycho is about a quirky governess named Winifred Notty whose quirk just happens to be she’s a psychopath. If you don’t like horror books or vivid descriptions of children being murdered this book probably isn't for you! But if you do have the stomach for that kind of gore, this is a very enjoyable, propulsive read that pokes fun at class structure and doesn’t coddle its readers by trying to make the protagonist overly sympathetic or likeable (she is amusing at times though). There is even a pretty good twist in the plot (yes there’s a plot, not just endless murder). Horror fans who like a little wit mixed in with their blood and guts will love this one.

I would recommend this book to any historical fiction lover who also has a desire for humor and a little more “twisted” type of tale. This story had me captivated from the beginning and laughing along the way. Winifred Notty has the inner monologue I strive for. She is sassy, strange, mad, and over it… just like most of us! I want to read soooo much more by Virginia Feito and I’m so grateful I got the chance to read this one!

I really enjoyed this book! A hauntingly wild and twisted ride—this book lives up to its name in every way. The author masterfully brings Winifred to life as a believable psychopath, and the author's choice to experience the story from her perspective was well executed. The pacing is fast, the plot is gripping, and everything feels tightly woven together. Winifred is not just a product of her troubled past—she’s unpredictable, calculating, and unhinged. You’ll constantly be questioning whether her actions are part of some sinister plan or just impulsive madness. This lends to the narrative very well. Highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the advanced copy!

The ultimate fever dream read. Do not go into this one expecting everything to make sense and everything to be realistic. Wild and intense. Intense and insane. Wild, did I say it was wild?

Good grief Virginia, what a story! I was horrified yet could not look away. I laughed, I gasped, I yelled at my friends. This novella is dark and is unapologetic in making anyone uncomfortable. The writing is strong, and our narrator has layers of unreliability, which only add to the whole "what in the blue blazes is going on?" vibe. I loved it! Thank you Liverlight & NetGalley for the ARC. Give this a read when it publishes February 04, 2025!

I’m sorry but for a book around 200 pages you would think it would have been a quick read.

I DNF’d this multiple times before pushing through to the end. The writing get wasn’t working for me - choppy and disjointed.

Due to that reason, I had very little enjoyment reading and struggled to piece together the actual plot.

Of course this is just my opinion. If the book seems up your alley, I do still recommend you give it a try.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company, Liveright Publishing, NetGalley, and Virginia Feito for this ARC. Publication Date: February 4, 2025.

Wow—what a ride! Imagine American Psycho transported to the rigid, stifling world of the late 1800s, with Patrick Bateman reimagined as a Victorian governess, and you’ll begin to grasp the dark brilliance of Victorian Psycho. This is a story drenched in blood and tension, balancing unsettling violence with razor-sharp character exploration.

The novel follows Winifred Notty, who arrives at the dreary Ensor House to take up the role of governess for Drusilla and Andrew, two children as enigmatic as the family itself. Beneath Winifred’s composed exterior lies something far more sinister. As she becomes ensnared in the Pounds family’s twisted world—dominated by their obsessions, secrets, and oppressive decadence—Winifred’s carefully controlled facade begins to fracture. Her dark imagination takes over, pulling her further into a spiral of chilling violence that culminates in an unforgettable Christmas morning.

Winifred is a protagonist like no other—detached, cunning, and disturbingly self-assured. She navigates her grim world with an unsettling calm, recounting her actions with biting wit and an unnerving lack of remorse. Her unraveling is slow and deliberate, making her a character as fascinating as she is terrifying.

I approached this book expecting a conventional gothic Victorian thriller but was utterly blindsided by its depth and audacity. Victorian Psycho is more than a gothic tale; it’s a chilling study of madness, repression, and the cracks that form in a twisted mind. Feito’s writing is atmospheric and precise, drawing readers into a world where darkness seeps through every interaction and every setting.

If you’re drawn to stories with morally ambiguous characters, gothic settings, and a narrative that doesn’t flinch from the macabre, Victorian Psycho is a must-read. This is historical horror at its finest—intelligent, provocative, and utterly captivating.