4.25 ⭐️ ??

Victorian PSYCHO is right!! I feel conflicted by this book. I enjoyed it, but I didn't want to enjoy it. LOL. It was SOOO weird and revolting. I am not sure if it is a book closer to a 5 star, or if I need a mental health check. Haha.

Winifred Notty is hired on by the wealthy Pounds family as the new governess for the children of the house, Drusilla and Andrew. From the beginning, Ms. Notty is strange (I was saying, "WTF" many times while reading). The staff of the manor do not like her and make that clear. Mrs. Pounds tolerates her (until she absolutely despises her) at first. The children don't favor her and are quite rude to her. Mr. Pounds is the most pleasant and takes an interest in her, which irritates his wife further. Ms. Notty begins to wreak havoc subtly and she thoroughly enjoys it. Then all the shit hits the fan at the end. All the shit.

Ms. Notty is batcrap crazy, that is all I have to say. She is extremely unstable and unpredictable. She snaps almost instantly (0-100 violence in a mere second). She lacks any concern for animals, children, or basically any damn thing but herself. She endured a very cold, violent, and sad childhood (it did bother me) which has resulted in her lack of empathy or understanding of emotions or love. She is a true psychopath and has to remind herself to keep even her facial expressions appropriate.

This book is dark. But it had a strange humor to it. Ms. Notty was funny at times. This book is a handful of insanity. That ending was UNHINGED. The word "anus" was used way too many times though. LOL.

Not a book for someone who will be bothered by child abuse, child murder, animal abuse, and descriptive child and animal death.

This is my first book by the author and I will be reading her other books!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for access to the ARC of this book! I truly appreciate the opportunity!

I enjoyed this book despite of the over-sexualization of the children. I think some of that content could have been left out. Winifred herself sometimes comes off as a bit of a perv. The book tells the story of Winifred Notty, who becomes the Governess at Ensor House. She is to teach and train Mr. and Mrs. Pounds kids, Drusilla and Andrew. Winifred swears she will be the perfect Victorian Governess, but the longer she is in the house and exposed to the many people who live and visit the house, her emotions and rage become uncontrollable.

The sexual tension between Winifred and her father is quite disturbing. That is, if you are to believe Winifred to be a reliable narrator. The scene with her arguing with an infant, I had to question whether the infant is talking or is it all in Winifred's mind. Winifred is definitely disturbed and perhaps a psychopath. I also couldn't believe that a mother, one of the characters, would not recognize her baby. Well at least she keeps a baby, because the truth would be too much to bear. I totally didn't see that one coming; it came out of left field.

I found this to be an interesting read that kept my interest. I did find some of the characters rather drab, but the main characters: Mr. and Mrs. Pounds, Drusilla, Andrew and Winifred held my interest. The story didn't feel exactly like the Victorian era, because many of the characters dialogue and behavior, especially Winifred seemed more contemporary. That being said I did enjoy this read and it held my interest. I wanted to see the outcome, and What an Outcome!

I didn't expect what happened to happen in that manor, but I was there for it. The Drusilla twist took me by surprise although there were hints given earlier on. There are so many scenes here that I could highlight or talk about, because many are vivid in my mind. I felt shocked, at times disturbed, and found humor in many things. I found myself laughing at many scenes while reading this book. I loved the way she referred to the first baby as original baby, it made me chuckle. I think the ending was good. For me, if the ending is not right it can definitely tank a book, but the ending was the right one. I love that there were images in the book, especially the ending one. If one likes horror with a bit of satire, they will definitely gravitate towards this one.

This book is so much fun. Bloody, wacky and dark. We need more blood soaked gothic stories. I will read anything by this author.

Pointless...

I feel like the author thought this was going to be some deep commentary that would just blow his readers minds. Instead, it's 180 pages of poorly written Creepypasta. Ever notice how "satire" is the new way of saying "It's not stupid you're just too ignorant and unrefined to understand it. Peasant."

The FMC, Winnefred, is boring and was a misfire of a personality. The synopsis suggests she's going to try and restrain her urge to kill. Thats not true. When the book opens it's clear she's just on the next step of her plan. We never come to understand that plan
We just get lots of violence, that I think was supposed to shock the reader, hallucinations and boredom. This book did not have a discernable purpose and neither did the MC.

The characters were about as interesting as blank paper. I didn't like any of them... Well, except for the butler. That one scene where Winnefred is telling them a ghost story and he says "We don't care for you very much." Hands down the best part of the book.

The violence was either gross or stupid, usually both. In one scene she kills a baby because she hallucinated it was talking to her. Within two paragraphs she's stolen another baby and replaced it. And no one notices? Like you scrape a mole off a baby and the bleeding doesn't raise an eyebrow? The replacement baby is younger, and malnourished, but no one notices? There's blood stains on the babies clothes but they'll be mistaken for feeding stains??? Just stupid. All the violence was dumb. It wasn't even scary.

The sexual stuff... why?
From the beginning there were references to sex, though not very graphic. I don't believe the author indicated any childhood sexual abuse, just that Wennefred had urges and used sex as a tool. Okay, so when her employer shows her the pornagraphic books and she decides to participate in those acts with him... explain to me how that helped her control him, or what her "plan" was. At that point in the book, I'd already figured out he was her biological father. For some reason, she wanted to be recognized by him... how does engaging in incestuous activity with him do that? A few chapters later, she reveals who she is and, without explanation, he rejects her... why? I get she wasn't legitimate, but who cares?Plenty of people had illegitimate children without begging their mothers to murder thier offspring. What prompted that, why did her mother believe her infant was evil? Nothing makes sense, just a thrown together story.

Druscilla... just goes nuts, helps Wennefred slaughter everyone, plays with the bodies for almost two weeks, and then blames it all on Wennefred..... really? This this has to be some sort of commentary. I just don't care what it's about. I deeply regret wasting several hours on this travesty. I recieved a free ARC and I can honestly say it still cost me too much.

Dear Author,

What did I just read?! Was I supposed to laugh, as much as I did? I think so. Such horror, such wit. This book is one of my favorite horror stories I've read this year. I couldn't stop reading and it was a bloody read.

Sincerely Yours,

J. D. McCoughtry

Thank you, NetGalley and W. W. Norton and Company/Liveright, for allowing me to read this e-arc.

I was SO thrilled to be approved for an ARC of Victorian Psycho last night, and it was everything I had hoped for and more. I ended up reading the entire thing in less than 24 hours. I havent had a book that made me want to stay up reading until my eyes could barely open in a long time, but this did.
Fantastical, surreal, and dark, this is weird girl horror at it’s best. Feito’s writing is fantastic, and the prose is perfectly crafted to confuse and give pause at just the right times. I cant wait to buy a copy when it releases in February.
I was surprised to see that casting for a film adaptation has already been announced, but thrilled to see that they’ve chosen Margret Qualley, who I think is the perfect person to bring Winifred Notty to life.

I can’t even tell you have many times this book made me laugh due to *insanity*. This book was absolutely insane. But in the best way. It was dark yet cheerful, which was the *perfect* juxtaposition. I absolutely loved the main character. She was so delightfully unhinged. There were so many things that happened that I truly did not see coming. At times I was a little confused, questioning if what was happening was reality or a delusion - but all in all, I enjoyed this book!

Victorian Psycho
Virginia Feito 

4.25 / 5

There are grotesqueries galore in this gloriously wicked, gothic chiller that's equally horrifying and hilarious ... If you like your comedies dark black, with no sweetener whatsoever, give Victorian Psycho a read.

I will warn you, this novel is not for readers with sensitivities. 

(I saw another review mention this book as well ... it's a good comparison) If you're someone who struggled through the novel 'The Laws of the Skies', I'd skip this one. If you're super sensitive to animal deaths, this probably won't be for you either. 
Check your triggers on this one. 

The novel was another really pleasant surprise! 
I was excited by the premise, so I went in with pretty high expectations ... And, for the most part, it didn't disappoint me. 

Were there things I would have changed ...? Were there detours I didn't care to take ...? Well, yes! 

But isn't that almost every book? Oh, no?? Ok, maybe it's just the overly critical writer within me.

Regardless, the book really shook me ... both with its terrifyingly shocking content ... and with several belly laughs.  

Bottom line - this book is killer. 
4.25 / 5
Take a stab at it ... IF you think you can stomach it.

In Victorian Psycho Virginia Feito delivers a deliciously dark macabre tale that delves deep into the psyche of a Victorian murderess named Winifred who has many dark thoughts and impulses that she suppresses.

This is a tale not for the faint of heart or those who get a bit grossed out easily by body horror. Much of this is gruesome and very visceral. The scariness lies in the unpredictability of Winifred. As a character she is quite frankly a female psychopath and a very disturbed human.

What makes this story even more interesting is the fact that dark humour is laced throughout the chilling events that take place. The witty tone of the book made it feel even creepier.

If you enjoy historical horror, dark humour and gothic literature that is more macabre in nature then you’ll likely enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher LiveRight for my eARC.

Fine for what it is: something like American Psycho, but with a female main character and set in Victorian England. It's been more than 30 years since I read Brett Easton Ellis' book, so I'm not sure how similar they are. But that's the gist.

Miss Notty has been hired as a governess for two wealthy children in a country house. We learn early on that she is not your run of the mill governess. She's constantly imagining horrible things she will do or reminiscing about things she's already done. As the book goes on, we learn the particulars of her transgressions. None of this makes her likeable, but she's not there to be liked by us.

The family is detached from one another and dysfunction runs rampant. It just wouldn't be a book about a psycho if there wasn't a whole lot of murder before the whole thing is done. All of this wrapped up in the style and language reminiscent of a Victorian novel.

I was a little disappointed in the abruptness of the last quarter of the book. After humming along at a leisurely pace (with some fits and starts) for the first 150 pages or so (it's just over 200 pages long), there's a feeling that the author had to wrap it up quickly and just kind of threw everything at the reader.

I'm giving this book 3 stars, but it is full of squelching ickiness; so, if you like that, pick up this book!

My thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Victorian Psycho is the horror comedy that I did not know I needed. Virginia Feito has delivered a unique book that had me creeped out in spots and laughing in others. The main character, Winifred Notty, is an unforgettable character. Being inside her mind and seeing the Ensor House and all of its weirdness through her eyes was quite an adventure.

I was a big fan of this book and will recommend it to others.

I love when authors can take a genre like horror and make it into something new and fresh that will hopefully attract new readers to one of my favorite genres.

HOLY &*$% - this is the Ottessa Moshfegh/Downton Abbey/Mary Poppins/American Psycho mashup that I didn't know I had been waiting for all my life.

Winnifred Notty is the recently appointed Governess of the Pounds estate, tutoring Andrew and Drusilla. It rapidly becomes apparent that the household is bleak, but it is far from a match for Fred (the name her demons prefer.)

This brilliantly written, unhinged MFC does not hold back any punches. The lyrical Victorian/gothic prose juxtaposed with graphic violence and gross behavior was nothing short of delightful.

The book even has chapter header line illustrations to set the appropriate theme and tone.

I loved this so much! I can't wait to own a physical copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Liveright for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was quite the ride! The imagery in this book is like no other. From the start, the narrator tells you that everyone will be dead in the house in 3 months. I was immediately hooked. This was a super quick read and I loved it. I plan on reading more from this author since this was the first book I have read.

Incredibly dark and challenging read, but I enjoyed it a lot nonetheless! Not for the faint of heart, but if this kinda thing is for you, I would highly recommend!

This is a short book that I devoured in about two hours. I really enjoyed all the themes here - gothic manor, questionable governess, violent ghosts (?), etc. It was a fun spin on a classic horror trope and a dark comedy that was successful for me. It certainly won't be for everyone, but if you love sardonic women who are just a little too weird (i.e. gross, murderous) for the people around them, then you'll enjoy this one very much.

Thanks to NetGalley and Liveright for providing the arc for me to review.

Oh how I loved this dark and demented book. I don't even know where to begin.

As the blurb explains, this book is set in Victorian times and Winifred Notty arrives at the Ensor House to care for their two young children, Andrew and Drusilla. The problem is that Winifred is not your average nanny. She doesn't have feelings such as fear or regret and she has a very hard time not acting on her dark impulses to harm everyone around her.

This book is very dark and not for the faint of heart. There are many deaths, including babies and small children, and everything that Winifred does is absolutely offensive but somehow, I could not STOP LAUGHING. Much of this book is a satire about the elite class. Everything that they said and did was absolutely ridiculous. We learn that cousin Margaret is not invited to family functions because the shape of her head is unsatisfactory. At one point we learn that a visiting couple has left a young chimney sweep stuck in their chimney and that they would deal with it when they get home (days later). The young woman of the house (Drusilla) wasn't allowed to get an advanced education like her brother because it was believed it would mess up her fertility. Everything is done in excess - scenes of eating are especially disgusting - and eventually there comes a point where you don't blame Winifred for her murderous thoughts.

If I had one small critique, it would be that the grand ending that everything was leading up to felt a bit rushed. But I can forgive that one small issue because everything else was top notch.

The whole hilarity of this book, while at the same time gross and inappropriate, had the feel of an A24 movie or maybe if Emma Stone's character in Poor Things had become a nanny. Very Maeve Fly with less sex and more murdering. There are quotable lines throughout the book. I couldn't stop writing them down and laughing aloud and reading them all to my husband while he rolled his eyes. I would not recommend this book to my mom - she would have heart palpitations - I would, however, recommend it to all of my friends. Absolutely fantastic.

Just finished this gem up in two days after receiving an ARC from the publisher!
I really, really enjoyed this one! Chapters are short but poignant. They have some wit and edge that keeps you invested in the MC despite knowing that she's crazy. I loved the ambiance that this gives. I did it as a Halloween read, but it does take place during Christmas time, so it could be read during that time as well!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: February 04, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

The way I loved this book was wild. This book was super gothic eerie feeling and dark. I loved every single page of this! The way I gasped in a lot of places in this book…the bedtime stories this main character tells—that’s things nightmares are made of haha. Our MC isn’t really who she says she is and we find out little details and tidbits along the way in the story and once you reach the end you will have to pick your jaw straight off the floor. This book will live inside your mind for a long time after it’s over. This is by far one of the most unique creepy eerie reads I have read in a long time and it was just in time for spooky season weekly read. I want to read this again and relive it honestly. Pay mind to triggers and make sure you are ready for some darkness before reading on. Definitely will recommend to my bookish friends who enjoy such dark gothic reads such as this. BRAVO! I’m off to find out what else our incredible author has written so that I can read all of them!!

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as W.W. Norton & Company, Liveright

I really enjoyed the subversive nature of this book and felt like it was almost executed extremely well, but there were a few times that I thought the plot was lacking or could have used a bit of tightening up, particularly near the end. also sometimes it felt like the blurred lines between reality and imagination in the story (on behalf of the MC) made it at times confusing to know what had happened. That's the point, but at times it felt unintentionally muddy. but I loved the concept and the dark humor!!!

This was so much fun! I’ve rarely read books this funny, and I laughed out loud plenty of times while reading it. It makes me want to read everything Feito writes. Great imagery, arresting diction, hilarious characters. I just felt like the ending was too rushed, mainly because I could have kept reading it!