This one really lived up to the hype. It’s funny and witty and gory and just fun.

It’s the story of Winnifred who is a governess but also maybe the devil. And also she may be dreaming, or already dead. And before she’s done, a lot more people will be dead too.

I got this on audiobook from @netgalley, so thank you to RBMedia and @anna__burnett. The chapter titles are so hilarious. If you like horror that’s quirky, you will eat this up.

Oof this had some seriously deranged intrusive thoughts. 😅 As I was reading I kept changing my mind about whether I liked this book or not. There would be really long stretches where I was super into it, but then something would happen and I wouldn’t like it. But then I’d be right back in it again. For the most part, I enjoyed the eerie creepiness and dark humor throughout.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

A lot of gore so be warned. She was an excellent narrator telling the story.
She kept my attention willing to hear the rest of the book.
A young girl in servitude Looking after 2 belligerent children.
Flashbacks on occasion helps you with the storyline and the ending is well written. A must read.

A couple of years ago, I read Feito’s debut novel, Mrs. March , and absolutely loved it, so I was eagerly anticipating Victorian Psycho .

Just like with Mrs. March , I devoured Victorian Psycho in one sitting. Feito has truly mastered the art of crafting delightfully wicked characters, and Notty is no exception. The novel kicks off by painting a grim picture of the Victorian landscape—where Notty sees nothing but “death, death, and death everywhere” around her. From the outset, as Notty arrives at Ensor House, we’re told that "in three months, everyone in the house will be dead." Okay, so we’ve been warned!

All the classic tropes are present: the new governess being escorted by a servant with a blank stare, a housekeeper who speaks in a low, monotone mumble, and the mysterious Mr. and Mrs. Pounds, the owners of Ensor House. Ensor House itself is drenched in deep baroque colors, reminiscent of Caravaggio’s Vanitas —it’s like being enveloped in artwork that reflects despair.

Notty hails from Hope Vernon, a village infamous for its baby murders: five tiny bodies found in unmarked graves and one... well, let’s just say it had a rather rude ending being disposed of “in the privy.” But the Pounds don’t hold her past against her; in fact, Mr. Pounds is oddly fascinated by Notty’s skull size, as he’s recently developed an obsession with phrenology—until some odd occurrences prompt Notty to be given notice.

As Notty spins her tale, she keeps throwing in cheeky asides that add to the mischief and mayhem we can expect. For instance, she humorously reveals that she wipes herself in the privy with obituary pages—yes, a nod to a certain Mr. Waller. And on her first morning in the kitchen, instead of a simple “good morning,” she greets the cook after kissing the head of a scruffy calf, “I’m sorry, are we not allowed to eat the children?” Feito dishes out macabre humour galore!

There’s plenty to enjoy, gasp at, and guffaw over in Victorian Psycho . Feito’s Notty is such an irreverent character, making her a refreshing delight to read!

Anna Burnett is a talented narrator, perfectly pitched as the voice of Winifred Notty, our Victorian Psycho. Her delivery as well as the production values of this audiobook are superb!

Thanks to RBmedia, Recorded Books and Netgalley for the advance listeners copy.

#pudseyrecommends

3.5 stars.

It was so absurd it was funny. Certain times i wasn't sure if I was in the past or present. You find yourself rooting for our heroine even when you shouldn't. This is attributed to great writing. While the story itself is a little far fetched and out there, the writer is brilliant.

odd. thats the best way i can describe this book. not bad. not good. just odd lol. i had no idea what was going on most of the time. the writing style was great though. I will read more by this author.

A blood-hungry governess begins a new post at Ensor House, a stuffy estate home to the precocious Pounds children, their pitiable yet despotic mother, and the perverted Mr. Pounds…

This was INCREDIBLE on audio—I think it’s important to lead with that, since the book largely exists within the twisted yet clinically sterile mind of the protagonist, Winifred Notty. The narrator was perfect; really encapsulated that distinctly English remove which made passable many of her otherwise sickening inner thoughts and motives. Since we read and understand this book through her eyes, hearing the way the narrator parses her ideas is so helpful in capturing the dry, satirical tone that Winifred often possesses.

I think this would be awesome for people that were intrigued by A Certain Hunger, by Chelsea Summers, or Tampa, by Alyssa Nutting. Be prepared for some grotesque “food” descriptions!

My only note is that towards the end (around the chapter 27 mark), as our protagonist spirals into delusion, it’s at times difficult to distinguish what has happened, and what is imagined through the audiobook format. But maybe that’s the point??

This had me laughing out loud at the absurdity. Anyone who would take this seriously and not find it amusing needs to lighten up. Some things don’t need to be overanalyzed. I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator delightful to listen to. Her voice made me like the book even more. Depraved, twisted, and darkly funny.
Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for letting me listen!

Fan-fucking-tastic!
Legitimately a toe-curling, jaw-dropping, gruesome experience. A Victorian-era ‘Sound of Music’ crossed with Delilah Dawson’s ‘Guillotine’ braided with American Psycho. This was an absolute blast.

Thank you RBmedia for this Advance Reader Copy Audiobook 🥰🏴‍☠️

Victorian Psycho is the tale of Winifred Notty who takes on a governess position at a lavish estate in 1800's England, putting on the facade of a sweet and innocent caretaker for the family children. All the while, the reader is aware of her disturbing, yet off-the-wall intrusive thoughts and hints at her prior wickedness. I received an early copy of this as an audiobook. I’m not sure if this would have been different for me in book form but I just don’t really know what I listened to….I might be in the minority but there was so much going on and I wasn’t sure what was happening in the present and what was in the past. I thought it was kind of funny and somewhat entertaining so I gave it 3 ⭐️. Thank you NetGalley and RB media for an advanced audiobook of the book for an honest review.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
This one was not for me. I could not get into the story. I was bored with it and not interested in finding out what happens.

A sick but poetic type prose with a feel of actually being in the head of a "Victorian Psycho"

I personally did the audiobook and the narration added to the experience, I personally loved this oddity of a book and I'm looking forward to other books from this author!

Thank you Netgalley for a Audio-ARC

Wow! After devouring Mrs. March, which was an absolutely stunning novel, I couldn’t wait to dive into Victorian Psycho, and it did not disappoint! I finished it in a single day, and I can confidently say that Fieto has earned a permanent spot on my auto-buy list. This book has it all! The captivating, psychotic female protagonist is equal parts charming and sadistic, and I found myself utterly fascinated by her.

The narrator, Anna Burnett, was perfect and her performance added to the creepiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A special thank you goes out to Netgalley for the audio book. This is an interesting story about a nanny who watches two children but she has some secrets of her own.

Gory, gristly, odd, and unhinged. What did I just read?

Okay, let’s just start with this line:

"It is early fall, the cold is beginning to descend, and in three months everyone in this house will be dead."

With that, I knew I was in for something twisted but I didn’t expect anything like this. I’m still trying to figure out how I felt about it. I think this review is where I’ll untangle my feelings, but one thing is certain: this book was a lot.

Mrs. March Losing Her Mind—Winifred Lost All Restraint

I loved Virginia Feito Mrs. March. It was all about paranoia, repression, and a woman unraveling under the weight of her own insecurities.

But in Victorian Psycho, Feito has forgotten slow-burn psychological horror and hurled us headfirst into pure, grotesque excess.

Winifred and Mrs. March couldn’t be more different. Where Mrs. March is anxious, fragile, and suffocated by societal expectations, Winifred is bold, wickedly sharp, and utterly untethered. This isn’t the fun, messy kind of unhinged. Winifred is cruel, broken by the world, and rather than crumbling, she’s decided to set it all on fire.

Monster or Feminist Force

Winifred isn’t your typical governess–meek and at the mercy of her employers. She’s rebellious, sharp, and maybe even a feminist force forging her own twisted cruel path. Her perception is grotesque as if she chooses to filter the world through the lens of brutality. But why? Is she evil? The product trauma? A woman reclaiming power in the only way she knows

And yet… her razor-edged humor is entertaining. Her snide remarks and biting observations were darkly entertaining.

Gory, Grisly, and Completely Unhinged

There are unhinged characters, and then there are unhinged plots—and this one takes the cake. At first, the horror creeps with little crumbs of gore, unsettling enough to make me pause, tilt my head, and wonder, Did that really just happen? And then thrown headfirst into unrelenting, gore that my mind started filtering out.

Reading or Listening?

Honestly, I think you need to do both. I had both an eGalley and audiobook—and I had to constantly switch between them just to give myself a moment to breathe. I enjoyed the narrator and listening to but it did require me to stay focused and I times I was not sure I wanted to.

This isn’t quiet horror. This isn’t a slow unraveling. This is full-throttle chaos

I wasn't sure where this story was going, so when it was revealed, it made it that much more awesome. "Grim Wolds, England: 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." We see throughout the novel a picture of who Ms. Notty really is. As more and more are revealed, you almost feel sorry for her because she had a horrific upbringing. This story was interlaced with gruesome images, and gory descriptions. Ms, Notty grows from an odd character into a truly jaw dropping individual. I loved this book more as it progressed and by the ending, I loved the horrific tale.

Great writing and equally stellar narration! A fun addition to Christmas time horror. Straight forward "from the mind of a killer" stories are hit and miss for me but I thought this was a fun one. I appreciated that no one was really safe and the kills went there! Winifred is darkly humorous and absolutely unhinged, which made her very entertaining to read from. Also, the victorian setting suited the story and vibe perfectly! Overall it was a quick and entertaining read that I think many horror fans will enjoy. If you are into slashers and enjoy stories told from the perspective of the killer, and like a historical moment, this is definitely worth picking up.

Thanks to Netgalley, Recorded Books, and Liveright for the advance reading copies!

This completely blew me away, especially listening to it as an audiobook. Anna Burnett’s narration is phenomenal—she nails Winifred’s voice, making her feel real and terrifyingly human. You can hear the bitterness dripping off her words one moment and catch the dark humor in the next. It’s unsettling but weirdly captivating. The story itself feels like a slow burn at first. Winifred arrives at Ensor House ready to play the perfect governess, but the Pounds family makes that impossible. They’re awful in every way—Mr. Pounds is sleazy, Mrs. Pounds is cruel, and their kids are spoiled brats who treat her like dirt. Watching Winifred’s frustration build felt so relatable, even though you know she’s headed down a dangerous path. But then, near the end, there’s this twist—a discovery about Winifred that changes everything. Suddenly, all her actions make sense in a whole new light, and it’s not just shocking; it’s heartbreaking. I didn’t expect to feel sympathy for someone so unhinged, but Feito writes her in a way that makes you understand her pain, even as you’re horrified by what she does. Burnett’s pacing keeps you hooked, especially as things spiral out of control toward the end. The mix of gothic atmosphere, biting humor, and raw emotion makes this one of those stories that sticks with you long after it’s over. Honestly, 5 stars doesn’t feel like enough—it’s that good.

This novel is an anachronistic imagining of a woman with a penchant for excess: rich meaty delicacies, licking and tasting human flesh, and transforming the living into the dead.

It’s glib and over the top. While historically inaccurate and sensationalized, it does capture the essences of Victorian absurdity well. The language is flowery, and visceral, and overflowing with metaphor. Mirroring the main character’s personality, the prose is unrestrained.

What really lowered this book from three stars to two is the wildly unrealistic ending. The MC’s unchecked murderous frenzy is unfeasible and devoid of meaning. I was expecting a calculating villain who plans her exploits with wit and intention, but that’s not the case here. Instead, the MC follows her delusions and fury to a macabre end.

Tbh idk what I just read, but I loved it? I'm going to have to read it again, for sure. Which feels like something Winnifred would appreciate, to submerge myself again into the gore.