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l1brarygirl's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
This was different than Atwater's other Regency novels, which I loved. This one had less romance and upped the Gothic faerie vibes. It didn't have the cozy vibes I loved but I still really liked this one. It does deal with some heavier topics (see TW)
Of particular note: This book takes place in the early 1850s, which places it as much as 30-40 years after Half a Soul and 25-30 years after Longshadow
Of particular note: This book takes place in the early 1850s, which places it as much as 30-40 years after Half a Soul and 25-30 years after Longshadow
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Abandonment, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, and Confinement
Minor: Animal cruelty, Grief, Drug use, and Vomit
katyakat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Olivia Atwater weaves a spellbinding tale with "The Witchwood Knot," drawing readers into a dark and enchanting faerie realm that mirrors Victorian England with stunning accuracy. But also introduces us to Winifred Hall, a formidable and unapologetic woman whose strength permeates every page. Winnie is a beacon of determination and grit, tackling tasks that many would shy away from—not without fear, but despite it. She navigates an unjust world with a keen sense of justice and a refusal to be cowed by her circumstances.
From the moment Victorian governess Winifred Hall sets foot in Witchwood Manor, readers are transported into a world where nothing is as it seems. With a sharp wit and keen eye, Winifred navigates the intricate web of faerie mischief, determined to rescue her abducted charge. But as she delves deeper into the shadows of the manor, she discovers that even the most innocent-looking corners hold sinister secrets.
The atmosphere of "The Witchwood Knot" is palpable, with every page steeped in a sense of foreboding and mystery. Atwater expertly crafts morally ambiguous characters and cunning plot twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. The fae and otherworldly creatures are portrayed with a refreshing complexity, reminding readers that not everything is as black and white as it seems.
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its portrayal of vulnerability and resilience. Winifred's journey is fraught with danger and uncertainty, yet she never wavers in her determination to uncover the truth. Her character development is nuanced and compelling, adding depth to an already richly layered narrative.
As the story unfolds, Atwater seamlessly incorporates snippets of fairytales and folklore, enriching the world-building and adding an extra layer of intrigue. Each revelation brings new depth to the story, inviting readers to unravel the mysteries of Witchwood Manor alongside Winifred.
In "The Witchwood Knot," Olivia Atwater delivers a mesmerizing blend of gothic romance and dark faerie tale, captivating readers with its whimsical charm and spellbinding narrative. A must-read for fans of atmospheric fantasy and intricate storytelling.
#TheWitchwoodKnot #OliviaAtwater #GothicRomance #DarkFantasy #VictorianEngland #BookReview #MustRead
From the moment Victorian governess Winifred Hall sets foot in Witchwood Manor, readers are transported into a world where nothing is as it seems. With a sharp wit and keen eye, Winifred navigates the intricate web of faerie mischief, determined to rescue her abducted charge. But as she delves deeper into the shadows of the manor, she discovers that even the most innocent-looking corners hold sinister secrets.
The atmosphere of "The Witchwood Knot" is palpable, with every page steeped in a sense of foreboding and mystery. Atwater expertly crafts morally ambiguous characters and cunning plot twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. The fae and otherworldly creatures are portrayed with a refreshing complexity, reminding readers that not everything is as black and white as it seems.
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its portrayal of vulnerability and resilience. Winifred's journey is fraught with danger and uncertainty, yet she never wavers in her determination to uncover the truth. Her character development is nuanced and compelling, adding depth to an already richly layered narrative.
As the story unfolds, Atwater seamlessly incorporates snippets of fairytales and folklore, enriching the world-building and adding an extra layer of intrigue. Each revelation brings new depth to the story, inviting readers to unravel the mysteries of Witchwood Manor alongside Winifred.
In "The Witchwood Knot," Olivia Atwater delivers a mesmerizing blend of gothic romance and dark faerie tale, captivating readers with its whimsical charm and spellbinding narrative. A must-read for fans of atmospheric fantasy and intricate storytelling.
#TheWitchwoodKnot #OliviaAtwater #GothicRomance #DarkFantasy #VictorianEngland #BookReview #MustRead
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexism, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
florecita_lectora's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Grief, Death, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment
evarinya's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Blood
Moderate: Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Chronic illness
Minor: Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
luckylulureads's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Witchwood Knot is everything I’ve come to expect from Olivia Atwater’s writing. It’s at once heartfelt, cunning, and cozy in all the best ways. While this is the beginning of a new Faerie Tale era, it builds off of the world and characters we’ve come to know in the Regency series. I lobe interconnected universes like this. However, with that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. I think to fully grasp the scoop of this world, you’ve got to read the first trilogy. That way you know the history and the landscape of the world. Each story is technically a standalone about a different couple, but they’re all building toward larger stories, it seems.
Of Atwater’s Faerie Tale world, Winifred my be one of my favorite heroines yet, next to Dora. She’s clever, cunning, and willing to do what she needs to do in order to survive a world of faeries and monsters. She has a traumatic past, but seeing her reclaim her own desire was amazing.
This is a delightfully gothic tale, with all the classic trappings of the genre. The mysterious, dilapidated manor, the gothic father/monster duology, and an atmospheric sense of isolation. Atwater combines this flawlessly with her existing world. It’s creepy, it’s heartfelt, and it’s a great time. While I occasionally found myself a bit confused, I felt that by the end I had all the answers I needed. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Of Atwater’s Faerie Tale world, Winifred my be one of my favorite heroines yet, next to Dora. She’s clever, cunning, and willing to do what she needs to do in order to survive a world of faeries and monsters. She has a traumatic past, but seeing her reclaim her own desire was amazing.
This is a delightfully gothic tale, with all the classic trappings of the genre. The mysterious, dilapidated manor, the gothic father/monster duology, and an atmospheric sense of isolation. Atwater combines this flawlessly with her existing world. It’s creepy, it’s heartfelt, and it’s a great time. While I occasionally found myself a bit confused, I felt that by the end I had all the answers I needed. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Self harm, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Child abuse
thisdiwata_reads's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
vanidorr's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Witchwood Knot is a beautiful and dark gothic fantasy with delightfully rich world-building. Set in Victorian England where faeries are feared for their cruelty, Winnifred Hall sets out on a journey to an eerie potentially haunted manor in the middle of an ancient mystical forest. Winnie is a determined and resourceful young magician summoned to Witchwood Manor by an old acquaintance with the goal of protecting her grandson from the nefarious faeries who mean him harm. Upon her arrival at the ominous-looking manor, she meets the butler, Mr Quincy, a curious fellow who appears and disappears in a most suspicious fashion just in time to cause mischief. Winnie’s work is made all the more challenging in that her charge, the Honourable Robert Murray the Third, is hell-bent on disobeying her at every turn and putting himself in further danger, not to mention his father, the lord of the manor, has taken a very overbearing and unwelcome interest in her.
Throughout his tutoring, Winnie tells Robert faerie stories, which are a delightfully clever way to give the reader more insight into the world, Winnie’s history, and the current problems plaguing her world. As Winnie begins to unravel the mysteries at the heart of Witchwood Manor, she begins to wonder which monsters she should be more worried about.
There are plenty of references to Atwater’s Regency series that I have possibly missed, this being my first book by her, but the story is set within the same magical England, sometime after the events of Half a Soul. We get mentions of Lord Sorcier Elias Wilder, Magician to the Crown of England, as well as some of his friends, who appear to be background players in the overall plot of this story.
I appreciate that Atwater has included a content warning, showing a dedication and duty of care to her readers' mental health. Most scenes including Lord Longfell thoroughly made my skin crawl. He was written in such a way as to have absolutely no redeemable qualities and I believe Atwater captured the intense uneasiness many women face at least once in their life under the male gaze, without ever reducing Winnie’s character. Despite her experiences, Winnies retains her autonomy and fights back.
Atwater’s newest novel is a dark and ethereal gothic fantasy with a hint of romance, a strong female lead and a richly crafted world that you will not want to pull yourself away from. You will be eagerly awaiting the next installment with bated breath!
Thank you to Netgalley and Starwatch Press for providing this ARC. I am now fully invested in Atwater's work and she has now become an auto-buy author for me!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
katefrost's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I’d give this book six stars if I could. Although this book could absolutely be read as a standalone, it follows in the same world and some of the same characters as Atwater’s Regency Fairytale series Whereas those books could definitely be called cozy fantasy, this dealt with darker themes, and could be more accurately called a gothic fantasy. However, despite that being a throughline, because of the commonality of the world, it still read somewhat cozily to me.
Our heroine is a magician who comes to a cursed manor to help an old benefactress protect her grandson from the nefarious presence in her estate. Although the other servants in the house can’t seem to tell her what’s happening, it’s clear that malevolent faeries are involved.
The story is masterfully woven, with charming characters and themes that encourage the reader to confront what constitutes a monster and how people regain their agency after violation.
Even when constructing a darker story, there is something so inviting about Atwater’s prose. It’s such a delight to read. I’m genuinely thrilled that she’s continuing to write in this world and hope we won’t have to wait too long for the next installment. Many thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful story.
Our heroine is a magician who comes to a cursed manor to help an old benefactress protect her grandson from the nefarious presence in her estate. Although the other servants in the house can’t seem to tell her what’s happening, it’s clear that malevolent faeries are involved.
The story is masterfully woven, with charming characters and themes that encourage the reader to confront what constitutes a monster and how people regain their agency after violation.
Even when constructing a darker story, there is something so inviting about Atwater’s prose. It’s such a delight to read. I’m genuinely thrilled that she’s continuing to write in this world and hope we won’t have to wait too long for the next installment. Many thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking and Kidnapping
Minor: Body horror and Sexual violence
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