TW/CW: sexism, drinking, toxic family relationships, animal death, murder, blood, child abuse, death of parent, gory scenes, violence, baby death

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess—she’ll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate’s dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family—Mr. Pounds can’t keep his eyes off Winifred’s chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband’s wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. French tutoring and needlework are one way to pass the time, as is admiring the ugly portraits in the gallery . . . and creeping across the moonlit lawns. . . .Patience. Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special gifts planned for the dear souls of Ensor House.
Release Date: February 4th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 208
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Cover
2. Writing was so good
3. Gothic atmosphere
4. Gross scenes

What I Didn't Like:
1. All the animal death/torture

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

"Satisfied that there are no monsters but the ones I carry inside me"

Ohhhh sucking on the children's fingers ewww.

Wow that crow scene is not something you want to be eating while reading. Feeding the other children the crow with the maggots was intense and dark.

Omg omg she killed the baby!! And then steals another baby. They aren't a dead fish how can you just replace them? Honestly how can the mother not notice?

The bodies are definitely adding up - she's killing everyone. Miss. Lamb is now dead.

When she let's Mr. Pounds know he is her father he promptly fires her. This whole time you're thinking it's much more between them but really he is (maybe) her father. Guessing from his reaction though it's hard to deny.

That gory crazy ending wow. The poor maid killing herself by going over the banister when being let go of. Perfect ending!

Final Thoughts:
Seriously this is how you do a graphic gothic horror book!

I loved all the gore and craziness. It was such a fun ride.

The writing was so good that I was hooked on every word that was written. I feel the author did such a great job making me feel as though I was in this era. Author also did a great job at making things so atmospheric.

I am so happy they are turning this into a movie from A24 because I could definitely see how it would make an insane movie! Can't wait!

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley, Liveright, and Recorded Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Virginia Feito for granting me the ARC of this book.

Holy unhinged Jane Austen. Fred is an icon in all the worst ways. Starting off the bat with an ominous air, this book keeps you waiting for the right time to strike and when it does, it doesn’t not disappoint. Truly a wonderful social commentary on the wealthy elite not only of Victorian times but how relevant that can be to today’s society as well. I loved how this book would just cruise along as any normal Victorian classic would and then suddenly blindside you with an onslaught of the macabre. This book will surprise and horrify you when you least expect it. Right when you think you’ve gotten comfortable, it hits you.

As an audiobook, I loved the narrator’s lack of depth and emotion. With a very monotone voice, Fred truly felt unhinged and removed from all that was happening; adding more vibrancy to her character. Narrated beautifully with a great production value, this is certainly an audiobook that will do the written word the justice it deserves.

I love this so much. It is so creepy and the narrator was perfect for the role! I loved the little side stories/memories like when she threw a baby into the fireplace. It is said with such a calm and happy tone. Loved it.

This was a grotesque read. From beginning to end, this book was disturbing and vile but undercut by the strange humor of the main character. It’s safe to say I haven’t read another book like this: twisted and dark with a sick sense of humor.

Not really what I was expecting based on the title. Much of the story veers into camp territory punctuated with violence but,nothing too terribly gore-y imo. Everyone’s tolerance is different but,I found it to not be gratuitous. Think this got optioned for a movie??? Recently? It definitely reads like a film in places. Had the audio version gifted from NetGalley so, thanks to them for that. The narrator was wonderful and engaging. Seriously, eternally grateful to have gotten the opportunity to get this title thanks again!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC!

Instant 5 stars for me!

I am absolutely obsessed with all these hungry women books coming out recently m, and this is now one of my favourites.

I love the historical setting and atmosphere of this one in particular, I am always fascinated by books set with the Victorian period.

This book had parts where I giggled and gasped out loud, and I thought the parts where the MC addressed us readers and her witty personality was fantastic, I don’t think I have read many books with that.

I love how fast paced this was and how it got into the nitty gritty quickly and still managed to have an incredible build up to the ending as it was just one thing after another.

I don’t wanna add any spoilers so will keep everything brief but…. It’s nice to read something with a not so happy ending too!

Wow. Just…wow. This book is one hell of a ride, and I loved every minute of it.

6/5 stars!!

Consider me a diehard fan of Virginia Feito.

Say hello to the bloodthirsty belle of the ball: Winifred notty, the witty, mad, and devilishly macabre new governess of ensor house.

This book is bloodthirsty, gothic, beautifully odd, bold, sensual, and darkly humorous.

The main character’s unpredictability, deranged perversions, deadly proclivities, and indulgence of the macabre propel the story forward and keep the reader on their toes and unprepared for whatever may come next.

Winifred, as well as the other characters, are geniously and enjoyably fleshed out while the diction pointedly places you next to Winifred as a witness as she embarks on her murderous plot.

And the ending of this book did not deviate from who Winifred is and the woman we’ve gotten to know. She’s strong and won’t let anyone break her. She basks in her reputation.

Weirdly this book is about female empowerment, and how the perception of women the is one of delicacy and benevolence. But women are capable of much more than what the world gives them credit for. We should be treated as equals and, therefore, feared just as much. Otherwise, those who underestimate us will only realize it once it’s too late.

And the audiobook is simply outstanding. Anna Burnett brings this story to life, and it’s one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. The narrator’s voice and ability to tell this story with all the tone the author no doubt intended lends so much to this audiobook that I did not want it to end.

Victorian Psycho is a diabolical delight. There are shades of American Psycho, but Victorian Psycho is its own uniquely gruesome creature. The main character, Miss Notty, is darkly memorable. She’s completely deranged but somehow funny and likable at the same time. I wasn’t exactly rooting for her to do horrible things, but I did thoroughly enjoy her disturbing creativity. I never knew what she was going to think, say, or do next. I cringed a lot while reading this one, but felt strangely satisfied as well. Victorian Psycho speaks to the darkness within us all. I mean, don’t we all wish we could go a little mad sometimes? Well…maybe not as mad as Miss Notty. At least, I hope not. 😅

“It was grand. It was all grand.”

🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷 /5
Highly Recommend ✔️

If you love satirical horror with unhinged female characters, definitely pick this one up! Both the physical and audio versions are fantastic, so you can’t go wrong!

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.

Anna Burnett does a great job with the narration. Very creepy.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the advanced reader copy.

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

You know what….hell yeah.

The MC is an absolute psychotic, which I found delightfully disturbing. Was I supposed to be charmed by her winks and nods to the reader? Because I was. Was I allowed to chuckle even though I was so unsettled? Because I surely did! This struck exactly the right chord for me with light horror and wicked satire. I’d absolutely love to see it brought to the screen as a dark humored, macabre little indie movie.

Victorian sensibilities, beautiful manors, and promenading on the outside. But if you prep back the corner of the arsenic green wallpaper you will find one of the most unhinged, unrepentant characters I've ever met and I loved Every. Single. Minute.

As soon as we meet Winifred we realise something is... Off, but Winifred knows she's not a typical governess and she's not afraid to lean in to her most horrific tendencies.

As we get closer and closer to Christmas Winifred's thin veil of sanity slips more and more. It's obvious that we are coming head to head with the bloodiest of Christmas'.

The narrator does a fantastic time of not only taking us back in time but also reflecting Winifred's glee in the macabre, with her voice.

One of the best horror novellas I've had the pleasure of listening to! I need more of this please!

5 blood soaked stars!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this AudioArc. All opinions are my own.

This was a really interesting title but sadly it wasn't for me. It was a short little mystery which I usually like but in this instant I felt like it made me not care about the characters. I felt like I never had much time to bond with the characters. Otherwise this book fine. It wasn't amazing and it wasn't awful. Overall this book just felt blah to me

I'm honestly not sure what to write about this book. I mean, the title says it all.

If you enjoy:
* an unreliable narrator
*very dark humor
*random unaliving with
absolutely no bias (all triggers activated)
*a narrator with a mysterious background that contributed to her psychotic nature
*a Victorian setting with ignorant rich people and help that spits in their food
* a Christmas celebration that makes your worst one seem like you're God's and Santa's favorite

This was a quick read/listen. And one that won't be leaving my brain anytime soon. (The audiobook narrator was fantastic, btw.)
3⭐️

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The title explains the story perfectly. Though it was a bit short, every moment was enthralling and kept me wanting to know more. The moments of horror throughout were simple but so creative. The few twists in the story were well thoughtout and had clues leading to them. I would highly recommend this to anyone that is a fan of Sylvia Plath or CJ Leede's Maeve Fly. Thank you for letting me review this!

What a sick and twisted little gem of a read!

There was some horror (mostly horrific descriptions of events), lots of murder, satire, and thrill. This is certainly a disturbing read but if you make it through the prologue (dead babies), you can certainly handle it.

The novel is short - almost too short. I wanted more! Winnie was hilarious and unsettling and there were times I craved more backstory and scene building.

I listened to Victorian Psycho on audio and thought Anna Burnett did a tremendous job. I love her accent and the delivery was perfection.

I'm new to Feito and now curious to pick up Mrs. March. I have no doubt there is more to come from this exciting author and I'll be quick to pick up whatever she puts down!

Humorous, dark, and deeply troubling, I was thoroughly captivated and entertained by Victorian Psycho. Thank you to RBmedia for the copy.

Quick and fun story, goes by pretty past. I enjoyed the narrator as well! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced audiobook!

This was such a fun and disturbing ride. Reading from the point of view of said Victorian Psycho was great. I loved how out of left field some of her comments came and just how unhinged she was. This was very campy and just an entertaining horror overall. I will say some parts moved a bit slow for me but once we get into it we are into it. I also like seeing the Victorian upper class and how they behave through the view point of once again a Victorian psychopath and just her comments on the class structure overall.
I highly recommend if you want an entertaining horror
May also be good for the holiday season.
I also really enjoyed the audiobook narrator, they did a fantastic job sounding as unhinged as the character.

It might sound weird, but this was the most delightfully and darkly humorous horror story I think I've ever read. I loved the tone here. Feito created a main character that will stick with me for the long term because of how gross and weird the horror was. I loved every second. I thought using a governess for the main character was so clever. Winifred was so unapologetically herself, and it made for such creepy moments. I don't know how to say much without spoiling because it is short and gets straight to the point, but if you like horror, give this a shot because it's a wonderful addition to the genre.

This book was a trip in the best way possible. The main character is an unreliable narrator who is suffering from a mental psychosis, though at times it questions whether it is nature or nuture that led the character to be the way she is. As a shorter book, it plunges you quickly into the plot and has you gasping aha! while also questioning just how much darker and twisted it could get. Definitely not for the faint of heart but perfect for those with a cross section of interests in the darker parts of the victorian era and the stability of the mind.

This was a compulsive suspenseful novel full of dark humor and gore that will end abruptly leaving readers wanting more. I took a chance with this book, as it's not typically a book I would read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.