This book is about a Victorian (psychopathic) governess wrecking havoc and reflecting on her life. There’s really not much more to it.

It’s funny, has fantastically descriptive writing, and is unexpected (both in phrases used and plot lines). The narrative voice makes you question reality in a really fun way.

Listening to this as an audiobook made it that little bit better, the narrative voice suits Miss Knotty so well. Wouldn’t recommend listening to this while eating.

The overarching plot isn’t super gripping, you have to read it for the shock factor/ Miss Knotty’s narrative voice. (But I do think this genre of horror is often like this).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audiobook!

If you are ready for a Victorian slasher this is for you! I was sucked in from the opening. This isn't a genre I typically read, but it is done sooooo well. If date day it is literary horror, is that a genre? Read it and see.

If I were to describe this book in 2 words it would be: comedically grotesque.

In this Victorian (eh get it) era set horror novel, we follow Winifred Notty as she is hired to be the newest governess at Ensor House. Winifred is a truly unhinged, unwell, and psychotic character to read from as she is hired to watch over the 2 children at Ensor House, Drusilla and Andrew. As the story moves along, we learned that Winifred is at Ensor House for other reasons besides just wanting to be hired as the newest governess and we learn more about her as a character through flashbacks to her childhood. Much like the synopsis for the book says, we follow Winifred up to the absolutely BONKERS and shocking conclusion that had me eyes bulging out of my head from shock. This is very much a HORROR novel that is pretty graphic and descriptive and I although I have never read or seen American Psycho, I can clearly see the similarities here! This book was also very darkly comedic and Winifred makes numerous comments to the reader about the ridiculousness of what is happening in the story, the upper class, and herself as well.

I really really wanted to love this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. I always love an unhinged female rage storyline, and I think what threw me off was that we didn’t find the reason behind her rage until the end. So it did just seem a bit unhinged for no reason for the majority of the book. The audiobook was very well done though and I would definitely check out more from this author down the road.

Let's just say my mouth dropped open many times throughout this book. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the character Winifred Notty to life. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I enjoyed every moment of this unhinged tale! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers.

Victorian Psycho follows Winifred Notty, the new governess for the Pounds children. As the title implies, she is quite lacking in the empathy department, and it shows. She teaches the children about history and French and murdering young ones (only joking, of course). We alternate between Winifred's time as the governess and when she was a child, giving us insight to her violent (and entertaining) past.

Feito tells this story with deadpan humor and wonderfully detailed gore. While I enjoyed it, I would definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings prior to taking on this particular tale.

Like a 3.75 rounded up? This was pretty good, but also nothing remarkable. The story is not especially twisty or anything, not that I was expecting that kind of thriller. There are hints of violence throughout that then escalate quite a lot at the end.

What makes this one stand out some for me is the writing and the voice of Winifred. I don’t know if Feito was really going for trying to write a psychopath, and I don’t know how accurate this representation is if so, but her POV is very detached and analytical. It makes for some very dark humor at times. She doesn’t always emote “correctly” or know what’s appropriate to say. She doesn’t feel remorse for her actions. She seeks out novelty.

Of course, while she is the titular “psycho” (I assume, but it could apply to others), and the people she serves are supposedly normal… they are awful, rich, entitled people.

Nothing super nuanced here, but it was entertaining!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

They say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but this is not what I was expecting.

As always, thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to review this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Victorian Psycho follows Miss Winifred (Fred) Notty who has recently accepted a position as governess of Mr. & Mrs Pounds' children, Drusilla and Andrew. For all intents and purposes, the audiobook narrator hit the mark for the voice I heard in my head (the one that undoubtedly made me feel as if I was the sociopath in the room) Having a semi constant stream of thoughts from Winifred in my AirPods really put me in a different place.

Mr. Pounds has a total obsession with skulls. I mean, I'm just wondering if he didn't have any extra curricular activities of the unaliving variety, himself. After all, Druscilla and Andrew aren't the most sane in house, and neither is their mother. *I'm looking at you, dog kennel* Oftentimes throughout this book, I thought to myself, can I blame Miss Notty? These children are dreadful and so is this Misses.

Gore? Check. Revenge Plot? Check. Sociopathic Ramblings? Double Check. And you'll like her. In some twisted way, Virginia Feito managed to make her not only emotionless but undeniably funny. Yes, I somehow managed to squeeze a few laughs out of this horror novel. She has a quirky personality that will have you rooting for her (from the back of the Lynch mob).

I mean, is no one going to talk about 'other baby' pls...

In any case, a five star horror read for having a solid story and conclusion.

Victorian Psycho is a horror story that gleefully takes everything that a lady in Victorian society was supposed to be and smashes it into a bloody pulp. It is the kind of book that grabs you from the first few pages and violently propels you through the adventures of Winifred Notty and her experiences as a governess: a position that is wholly unsuitable for the kind of “fun” that Notty likes to have. At around 200 pages, it is a book that can be easily fit into the busiest of days, especially if you need a story that has a lot of humor with a hefty dose of gore.

The audiobook adds that extra visceral response because the narrator enthusiastically emphasize some of the more violent bits that adds a level of eeriness that you may not experience by just reading the words. I really enjoy that part of the audio experience.

I usually only write small ironic reviews, but since I got this audiobook from netgalley, I'm going to write the longwinded thoughts I had that no one cares about I guess.

First of all, this book is very well written and well paced. It's been a while since I read a book that depicted the span of a few months and the pacing didn't seem completely weird.

The first thing that annoyed me about this book though and it ended up the thing that annoyed me The Most was the chapter titles. I guess if I was reading the book I could just skip the titles and it'd make my reading more enjoyable, but having to listen to them advance what was going to happen in the chapter while trying to be funny and quirky was tiring.

In regards to the book, I get what Virginia Feito was trying to do, I haven't read her debut so I don't know if that's her style, but the female rage trope is all the rage (wink) on TikTok, but I haven't gotten into it, this is the first one I read, and it seemed like it was trying too hard I don't know, maybe I'm just not smart enough to Get It, but the extreme violence became so ridiculous and so normalized throughout the book that by the Final Big Scene it didn't shock anymore and it just felt hollow. And the fact that it's a historical story makes it even less shocking because of course women would be crazy in a time that they were treated even worse than now and that was even more naturalized than now.

The daddy issues were also something that seemed so patriarchal for me, why should the main character care about it at all? I guess as someone whose dad wasn't in the picture that whole narrative was just fucking boring as hell, when the main character seemed interesting (view spoiler).

Anyway it definitely isn't a Bad book, though I guess I might have not picked it up if I knew the plot beforehand, but it sure didn't feel fresh to me in 2025.

Full disclosure... this MIGHT be a five, but I need to just sit on it. This was a WILD ride. I listened to the whole thing in one day on audio, and it was a can’t put it down book. It is just a quick forray into female rage and madness. I’ve heard that this is supposed to be like “American Psycho” but female and in the Victorian Era... if that’s the case, oh yes. My favorite thing was all the fourth wall breaking and hints about the chaos to come... I eat that stuff up. This was dark and laugh out loud funny... I think I’m talking myself into that five... Another reason I lean towards a five is that there were just some fantastic cut to the bone lines on social commentary... Ya know what, I’m changing my stars. It’s a five. IT’S A FIVEEEEEEE.

Some “If you liked” style comparisons: American Psycho for sure

Warning: DEFINITELY DO CONTENT WARNINGS if you are someone that needs those. There are some vicious, violent things that I think will upset a lot of people.

Thank you to NetGalley and Liveright for this ARC.

This was a great audiobook overall. The narrator's tone and cadence aligned well with the writing and subject matter of the story and they did an excellent job in breathing life into it.

The story itself, however, left a lot to be desired. This book lacked a strong plot, revolving mostly around a protagonist who is an absolute terror with only a vague revenge arc to structure the story. While there are flickers of humor and moments of sharp historical social commentary, they weren’t enough to sustain my interest. The narrative felt aimless, with casual violence and empty provocation rather than real substance. I wanted to be drawn in, but instead, I found myself disengaged, waiting for something more compelling to take shape. Ultimately, I enjoyed the anticipation of this book far more than the experience of reading it.

This audiobook was so interesting. It was very atmospheric and there was so much emotion as well as mystery that it’s really hard to lock in a genre. I enjoyed the character building as well as the commentary on vengeance. I’ve never read any book this interesting before. I liked a lot about it and I especially liked the narration!

I must admit the cover is what first grabbed my attention. Oh and the title. Kudos to the cover designer because you nailed it. I love a story about a psychopath and also enjoy dabbling in horror so this was a must try for me.

I think this book works well with its length. It was easily consumed in one day. The story is not complex and I'm not sure it needs to be. At its core its a revenge story. It's odd, grotesque and pretty darn entertaining.

I was pleasantly surprised by a few good twists and found it a very worthwhile listen.

This book was completely unhinged in the best way possible. Ms. Notty is a literal psychopath and hearing her thought process was at times disturbing and other times darkly humourous. The book itself packed so much into such a short book. It was gothic, grotesque and entertaining. The author was able to conjure such vivid images in a few short words.

The audiobook I think added to the atmosphere of this book. The narrator had such a soft, lovely, calm voice saying the most disturbing things. I would definitely recommend this book for any horror lovers.

I *devoured* *Victorian Psycho*—it’s dark, twisted, and utterly hypnotic. Virginia Feito masterfully blends psychological horror with gothic atmosphere, pulling you deep into the unraveling mind of its protagonist. Think *American Psycho* meets *Rebecca*, but with a sharper wit and a heroine spiraling into madness in the most deliciously unsettling way.
The writing is razor-sharp and the Victorian setting is suffocating in the best way, trapping you inside a mind teetering on the edge of reality.
The audiobook narrator is excellent. Not only does she capture the character’s growing instability perfectly, but her comic timing is impeccable, landing the dry wit and dark humor in a way that makes the experience even more immersive. If you love psychological horror with a feminist bite and an exquisitely unhinged protagonist, *Victorian Psycho* is a must-read (or must-listen!).

Completely unhinged and I loved every second of it! The prose was stunning and the imagery perfectly morbid. This is the unhinged woman/weird fiction book of 2025.

Victorian Psycho follows Winifred Notty, a young governess, who arrives at Ensor House ready to be the perfect governess for her employers. However, Winifred is hiding a dark past and even darker compulsions. As the days at Ensor House drag on, she must be patient. Christmas is coming and she has a very special gift planned for the residents of Ensor House.

Omg!!! I loved this one!! This is definitely a "wtf did I just read?" book, but in a good way. Winifred is truly a Victorian Psycho, but also hilarious. Her inner thoughts are so unhinged and relatable at the same time. "Chapter 2: In which I meet my employers and am not terribly impressed." Same, Winifred, same.

I love her deadpan and sardonic sense of humor, especially when talking to the children she's in charge of: "Why are you so fat?" "Because I eat fat children." 💀.

Anna Burnett did a great narrating!

Definitely check the content warnings for this one, but horror 2025 is starting off a great note for me!

I loved this audiobook! I urge readers to listen to the audiobook, the narrator is brilliant and really brought this story to life! Gruesome, gory, but so unique and exciting! Loved this! Four gothic, bloody ⭐️!!

I read both the digital and audiobook version of this book, and I think I enjoyed the digital version slightly more. This book was gorgeously creepy and unapologetically macabre, and at no point in the book did I have any idea what was going to happen. Very spooky and vibey, really enjoyed it!