*Victorian Psycho* by Virginia Feito is a deliciously dark, twisted, and thrilling ride that will leave readers both horrified and captivated. Following the success of *Mrs. March*, Feito returns with a chilling tale that plunges deep into the psyche of Winifred Notty, a governess with a disturbing penchant for the macabre. Set in the gloomy, isolated Ensor House, this novel lures readers into the eerie world of a woman whose capacity for darkness and violence is only rivaled by her biting wit and unsettling charm.

Winifred is hired to care for the children, Drusilla and Andrew, in what seems to be a picture-perfect Victorian setting. She is poised to play the role of the ideal governess—stern, proper, and with just the right amount of humor, including light-hearted, but slightly sinister, jokes about eating children. But the longer she spends in the hauntingly dreary estate, the more the tension mounts. The house, the eccentric and perverse Pounds family, and the atmosphere of impending doom gradually chip away at Winifred’s carefully constructed facade. Her once-controlled urges start to slip through, and it becomes apparent that her dark imagination and sinister compulsions threaten to take over her reality.

Feito’s writing is both wickedly entertaining and deliciously grotesque, capturing the grotesque humor of Winifred's sardonic observations, as well as the deeply disturbing impulses lurking beneath her calm exterior. The author expertly weaves a story that is as psychologically thrilling as it is gruesome, creating a suffocating atmosphere where Winifred's every move seems to dance on the edge of insanity. Whether she’s sneaking around the estate in the dead of night or subtly tormenting the house staff, Winifred is a character as fascinating as she is terrifying.

The narrative builds to an explosive climax on Christmas morning, where the blurred lines between Winifred’s fantasies and her reality come to a horrific head. Feito pulls no punches in her portrayal of Winifred’s descent into madness, and the result is both enthralling and horrifying. The suspense, combined with the biting humor, creates a perfectly macabre experience that leaves readers on the edge of their seats, both repelled and drawn in by Winifred’s twisted journey.

*Victorian Psycho* is an intoxicating blend of dark humor, psychological horror, and gothic intrigue. Feito delivers a compelling exploration of a woman unraveling under the weight of her own depravity, and it’s a book that will stick with you long after the final page. For fans of gothic thrillers and twisted psychological narratives, this novel is a must-read. Feito has truly delivered a gruesome and gleeful tale that will haunt you with its dark brilliance.

Victoria Psycho by Virginia Feito
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I'm gonna be a hater here...
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This was less of a story and more of just a list of intrusive thoughts and gruesome things this Victorian Governess got away with. No twists and turns or even much discernable effort from the author to cobble together an actual narrative - rather, it marches forward towards an inevitable conclusion that is cartoonishly gruesome (one can imagine the scene playing out highly stylized in the movie retelling that I believe is already optioned and quite possibly in production for release in 2026).
The narrative voice is strong - the dialogue is meant to be shocking and darkly funny, even if it mostly doesn't land - but narrative voice alone is not enough to carry a tale, especially a horror story.
If the protagonist always does the most shocking thing (i.e. bites into a calf head, bashes in the skull of a deer - regardless of who may witness and there is no reaction, why would we expect a reaction when her behaviour escalates?) If everything is sick and twisted, then nothing actually is.
It was bad enough that I sat for a moment when I was done to think to myself: "Was this satire? A commentary on the genre?" No, just a poorly executed attempt at a Victorian retelling of American Psycho, Americanisms and all.
It's a quick read 🤷🏼‍♀️

This book was fine.. Just not what I was looking for, and I feel like the plot was a bit convoluted. I kinda actually really hated this book the more I think about it, cause like I get that the narrator was supposed to be a psychopath, but like she was just so messed up. I rated this 3 stars initially, but i feel like I should have rated it 2 stars if not lower

Winifred arrives at Ensor House and she's ready to be the perfect governess to the two Pounds children. But given the title of this novel, you might be able to guess that she has other, darker plans. Before the preface even begins there's a sketch of Ensor House with the caption: "In three months, everyone in this house will be dead." Although she tries to keep her darkness in check by filling her time with French lessons and mundane activities, it's no use. Winifred is counting the days until Christmas and a psycho's gotta eat.

Virginia Feito’s sharp writing deftly balances the psychological horror with surprising humor. Readers, this book's got it all: dismemberment, corpse-mailing (yup!) and, of course, blood-soaked holiday festivities that unfold with deadpan wit.. All of this culminates in what is easily one of the wildest, bloodiest, most satisfying endings I've read in horror in a long while. For those looking for trigger warnings, you may want to skip this one. Nothing and no one is safe around Winifred.

Devastatingly violent, Victorian Psycho takes gothic horror to an entirely new and absurd level.

Fred is hired as a governess to two wealthy children, but there is something clearly very wrong with Fred. As the reader follows along from Fred's point of view, we are witness to a creeping dread and off the wall violent imagery that wavers between what is taking place within Fred's imagination and what is occurring in reality.

Feito's writing is hauntingly beautiful and the violence is doled out in such a nonchalant manner that she not only keeps the reader on their toes, but one is simply unable to look away as the horrors unfold and persist within Ensor House. Virginia Feito is a chef and each bloody chapter is a dish served murderously cold.

Unlike books such as Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian which is violent simply for violent's sake, Victorian Psycho truly delves into the mind of someone who is truly psychopathic - and questions whether it is nature or nurture that is the cause. The combination of body and psychological horror should appeal to any fan of the genre. Highly recommended to fans of Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, and movies such as Crimson Peak.

I cannot wait to see what Feito writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Liveright, and Virginia Feito for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Victorian Psycho is a razor-sharp satire of Victorian society, told through the chillingly detached perspective of a governess-turned-monster. From the novel’s opening, Winifred Notty—a woman of unsettling composure—arrives at Ensor House and informs the reader that within three months, every resident will be dead. What follows is a narrative of carefully controlled chaos, as Miss Notty orchestrates the household’s descent into gruesome oblivion.

Virginia Feito crafts a novella that is both savagely funny and deeply disturbing. Miss Notty is a singular creation—arch, witty, and entirely remorseless. The novel plays with familiar gothic tropes but imbues them with a modern sense of irony, making it as much a psychological study as a work of horror. While it does not veer into gratuitous brutality, the novel does not shy away from the grotesque. Innocent and guilty alike meet their demise in scenes that are as shocking as they are darkly comedic.

Feito’s prose is controlled and immersive, drawing the reader into Notty’s unrelenting logic. The effect is both hypnotic and deeply unsettling. Victorian Psycho confirms Feito as a writer of considerable talent, and readers of her debut Mrs. March will find even sharper edges here. A viciously compelling novella, it lingers long after its final, macabre act.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

this book was absolutely unhinged in the best way. it felt very brontë sisters meets american psycho. i loved the atmosphere of the book, however, the descriptions were graphic and sometimes disturbing. i had to put the book aside at some points just from feeling utterly nauseous. overall this was a super quick read and i really enjoyed it.

What in the world did Ii just read?! That was truly a wild, grisly ride from start to finish. Dark, gross, deeply funny. I recommend this for all horror loving adults.

It’s rare to find a book that is executed seamlessly, that strikes a perfect balance between sly humor and extreme horror, and that is impeccably written, with all of these components working in harmony to create a flawless reading experience. It won’t be for everyone, but for me, Victorian Psycho was that book.

In this compulsively readable Victorian gothic novella, we meet Winifred “Fred” Notty, who has recently been hired as the governess of Ensor House. Fred is responsible for the education of the Pound children, and she tries to be patient, kind, and nurturing as befitting her role. She really, really tries. But she can’t resist her violent tendencies for long, succumbing to her bloodlust and unleashing a wave of horrors on Ensor House.

Victorian Psycho is an over-the-top, macabre portrait of one woman’s not-so-slow descent into madness, and as strange as it may be to describe it this way, it’s kind of…delicious? I had so much fun being in Fred’s head, getting firsthand insight into all of her intrusive thoughts, and then observing wide-eyed the unhinged ways she acts on those thoughts. Virginia Feito completely embraces the type of book she’s written, not holding anything back, delighting in the gore and bathing in the bloodbath. I mean, Fred’s last name is Notty; Feito is totally playing with her readers, and I’m here for it. This isn’t a book for sensitive readers; every vulnerable population you can think of is a victim of Fred’s depravity here, so know that going in.

The book also feels completely Victorian in its execution, with stilted prose you’d find in a book from that time period – but which Feito cleverly laces with an undercurrent of humor – and chapter titles that give a wink and a nudge to popular Victorian works. There are even a few small drawings throughout the text, incredibly detailed and captioned in the Victorian tradition. This really is one of those books where all the components work together perfectly, a dark indulgence that is thoroughly enjoyable even as the content is meant to shock and disgust. It’s just brilliantly done – 10/10, no notes. Thank you to Liveright for the complimentary reading opportunity.

Horror lovers ~ another book for you! Victorian Psycho is a historical horror story about Winnifred, a young woman who is hired as a governess for a rich family headed by two horrible, idiotic, useless parents. Unfortunately for the family, Winnifred has a penchant for murder & there a number of gruesome deaths carried out matter-of-factly. Victorian Psycho is like John Wick but if John was a young Victorian woman. I heard this book is being made into a film & I can't wait!

Thank you to NetGalley and Liveright for the arc:

I love a book about an evil woman. One that is completely irredeemable and genuinely sick. Winifred was exactly that and more. She's totally unreliable and you wonder if anything she says she is doing is remotely true.

This book was weird and it was so funny I found myself laughing out loud at times (which I almost never do with books). I cannot wait to see the movie that is planned for this because I think Margaret Qualley is weird enough in her own way to do her justice.

I will definitely be checking out this authors other work as I her writing ensnared me with its uniqueness.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. It was just a bit too much. Indeed had many horrific elements and the gothic setting was done well- however I just couldn’t suspend belief enough to vibe with it. I felt like it was just all shock value for no reason. That is not the type of horror I’m into,
Thankfully it was a very quick read.

Thank you for the gifted ebook copy I exchange for an honest review.

This was fun! I don't know what it is, but it felt like it dragged a little bit in the second half, which is weird considering how short of a book it is. I'm also just not a fan of child murder, so I have to knock down my rating a bit. I'm a big horror fan, but that's just a personal taste thing. It's still overall very fun and I would definitely recommend it. I would definitely say it's closer to a 3.5 star rating. Definitely 4 if the child murder didn't bother me. I'm definitely looking forward to the movie. Thanks for the ARC!

I have no idea why I picked this up but I’m glad I did. Gory, creepy, and funnier than you’d expect.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was something alright! It definitely pays homage to "American Psycho" in its disjointed stream of consciousness style writing. It was gory and bleak and gothic and all around delightfully dark.

This book was like if Jane Eyre was possessed by the spirit of Patrick Bateman. Seeing as American Psycho and Jane Eyre are my two favorite books of all time, it's like Virginia Feito wrote this specifically for me.

It was literal perfection. No notes other than Virginia, if you're reading this: thank you. Also, call me? (Is that creepy?)

Mrs. March walked so Winifred Notty could run.

5 enthusiastic stars. More, even. I'm in love.

Super quick, super psycho. Loved this book! Will definitely be looking to read Virginia Feito's other novel as well.

Victorian horror at its best - this is a short book where you spend every minute wondering both what are you reading and why can't you put it down! The main character is a governess to a family and you learn quickly that she doesn't like kids and doesn't plan to be there for long. A great read!

Victorian Psycho is completely unhinged in an absolutely wonderful way! I loved the set up of the book like an old-fashioned Victorian penny dreadful. The chapter titles add a perfect amount of wit and make me wonder why most novels have given them up! This book will have you gasping at Miss Notty's exploits and laughing at her turns of phrase. There is some gory violence that I found appropriate for the overall tone and feel of the book but that might be a little over the top for some readers. Overall this is one of the best modern Gothics I've read in ages and any fans of the genre should pick this one up!

Victorian Psycho is definitely one for the weird girls. Is that a compliment? Not necessarily. In the vastly oversaturated current market of "weird girl lit", I do not think that this book adds anything new or revolutionary to the mix. Coming in at only around 200 pages. this is an all gore, minimal story, type of read. I'm not a fan of gratuitous violence in books, especially if the story is lacking, but this was quite literally the definition of violence for violence sake. I personally was not a fan.