A review by onthesamepage
The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater

dark emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Why do I always have such a hard time reviewing Olivia Atwater's books, when her books are so easy for me to read?

Maybe it's because I can't specifically put into words why her stories work so well for me. I read Half a Soul last year and never wrote a review for it for the same reason. It's like I consume the books in a happy daze, and come out at the other end satisfied without knowing why. I'll give it a try, though.

One thing important to note is that this book does have ties to Half a Soul. You'll have more fun unravelling the mystery if you read that first, as it does have a bunch of easter eggs.

It was somewhat flattering, Winnie realised, to be considered as a worthy opponent, instead of as a woman.

The first thing that hit me about this book was the atmosphere. Sometimes books are marketed as "gothic", and I think about it for a while and decide I have no clue what they're talking about. But there was no doubt in my mind about what I was reading here. From the description of the house, to the woods, to the mysteries and secrets surrounding Witchwood Manor, the vibes were absolutely incredible. The other thing I really enjoy about Atwater's books is her version of the fae. I'm not a fan of the romanticized version that's very popular these days. I like it when they're cruel and clever, and the author really delivers on that front.

“I am still not afraid of you—I am not even afraid of being desired. I am simply afraid of what desire becomes whenever I dare to decline it.”

The story is compelling in and of itself, but the characters and the relationships really bring it to life. The romance was the kind that creeps up on you slowly, until you suddenly blink and realize these characters have wormed their way into your heart as well as each other's. So many books get marketed as enemies to lovers these days, and I tend to find most of them not to my personal preference, but Witchwood Knot understands what that looks like. Mr. Quincy and Winnie are on opposite sides, and no pretty face or lust is going to change that.

I really appreciated the exploration of Winnie's past trauma, and how that played into her relationship with Mr. Quincy. I think that because they start off as enemies, mutual respect ends up being the basis for their entire dynamic, and it worked so well for me. There was so much good quality longing, too—I was absolutely living for it.

The ending makes me really interested in the subsequent books. I have no idea if those will continue with the same characters, although I hope they do, because I'm kind of attached to them now.

Ending this with one of my favourite (somewhat spoilery) quotes:
“I would have you play my songs until your fingers bled,” he confessed hoarsely. “I would compose new music, just to hear you play it with such passion. I cannot bear it, governess— how dare you love my music more than I do?”

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