My review will be in Scream Horror Magazine
Absolutely loved this I was laughing all the way through, don't know what that says about me? Haha!

I enjoyed this dark, violent revenge-on-the-rich story. While the twist was a little predictable, this story and prose felt like a journey into traditional Vic Lit and I appreciated the unreliable narrator - her psyche was fascinating!

Victorian Psycho is a darkly unsettling yet weirdly humorous read that kept me on my toes with the disturbing actions of the MC, Ms. Notty. I found myself stopping multiple times—not just to process the sheer absurdity of what I was reading but also to share passages with my non-reader partner (who was equally horrified).

Things I Enjoyed:
✨ Dark Humor

✨ Fast-Paced Story

✨ Unique Story Telling and Narrator

✨ Victorian Setting

I had no idea where this story was headed, and that unpredictability was a big part of why I enjoyed it so much! The short length (under 200 pages) packs a punch, and the writing style is sharp and unforgiving. The fact that the MC opens the story by revealing how the story ends added a layer of suspense and doubt. I couldn’t stop trying to figure out the why behind her actions, secretly hoping it was all in her head or that she was under some kind of supernatural possession.

Despite the MC’s disturbing actions, there was one pivotal scene where I found myself unexpectedly sympathizing with her only to burst out laughing moments later when another character delivers the pettiest insult during the climax. The balance of horror and humor was just so spot on!

By the end, I was left questioning everything—and loving every second of it. If you’re into dark, unsettling reads with a twisted sense of humor, and aren’t overly squeamish, give this one a try, but please read the trigger warnings!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the ARC! 🙏

I honestly have no idea what I just read. It was wild. Winifred Notty arrives as a governess to the Pound children. It’s pretty clear right off, that there is something off about her. She has some pretty dark thoughts and a dark plan for the household. I found the whole story sort of funny in a dark comedy sort of way but there’s a lot of disturbing things going on in the story and her past. Every time she started to plan something weird or even tell people some of the messed up things she was thinking, it was hilarious and crazy! It was an enjoyable read but I’m honestly still processing some of her crazy and her motivations.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review this one.

Thank you NetGalley! I’m still quite confused about what I read. The title drew me in. Boiled down it’s a simple plot but the telling of this story was bizarre, disjointed and vague. Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House to become the governess to the Pounder’s children, Andrew and Drusilla. Looking back at Winifred’s history her true purpose comes to its conclusion. Filled with horror this short book doesn’t come together for me. I’m sure there will be some who would enjoy this but I’m afraid I’m not one of them

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito is a deliciously twisted gothic thriller that drags you into its dark, labyrinthine world and refuses to let go. The book follows a troubled protagonist whose obsession with her own identity and her desire to fit into society’s rigid expectations lead to increasingly unsettling and sinister outcomes. Feito’s writing is sharp and atmospheric, building a suffocating sense of tension with every page.

The plot is a rollercoaster of psychological twists that will keep you guessing, and the slow-burn suspense is nearly unbearable in the best possible way. The only reason I’m not giving it a perfect five stars is that, at times, the pacing feels a bit uneven—some moments linger a little too long in their eerie buildup. But when the payoff comes, it’s worth every second.

If you're into dark, gothic tales with a hefty dose of psychological unraveling, Victorian Psycho is definitely worth a read—but don’t expect a happy ending.

What a wild ride! This was a fever dream on steroids and I enjoyed every moment. It had many WTF moments and I finished it in one go!

This book took the Victorian governess novel and made it as dark as it possibly could!

To me, this book was all about the vibes.

The setting at Ensor house gave me gothic vibes like the classic Victorian ghost stories.

However, our main character, Miss Notty is unlike any character you would find in those similar stories. Instead, you get a character filled with childhood trauma and who handles that trauma in unusual ways. Eventually her motives are revealed.

There are plenty of graphic and gory descriptions throughout the story. There are not too many "likable" characters, but I do believe that is the point of the story.

It's a quick read and should be on any horror aficionado's 2025 TBR list!

This short novel begins as many gothic novels do: with a new governess arriving to a rich family’s manor. But it immediately sets itself apart with its dark POV and frankly gross descriptions. Some threads are not connected and I did not enjoy the reading experience, though I did finish it in one sitting.

Love time era that the book was written in! Spooky, fun and so entertaining! Definitely yes from me! Great short read! Thank you NetGalley for opportunity to read this early!!

Winifred Notty is a hilariously foul main character who, despite her unknown motivations for much of the book, you can’t help but be on her side a little. She terrorises those around her and you can tell the book is ramping up to her finale which is as terrible as she promises it to be. I loved the inclusion of the strange and amusing things she does for seemingly no reason (squatting over the swans..), it gave her character a strange depth. Her running to steal a baby from the local village made me laugh aloud.
She’s completely unhinged and does everything that comes to mind with no remorse or compromise.
Fast paced, hilarious and the characters are all just awful.
Thank you so much for an eARC

"Virginia Feito's Mrs. March was hailed as "a brilliant debut...[by] a writer who keeps pace with the grandees she invokes" (Sarah Ditum, Guardian) - from Daphne Du Maurier and Shirley Jackson to Patricia Highsmith. Now, Feito returns with her "silver-polish sentences and her eerie psychological acumen" (Constance Grady, Vox) to unleash an entirely new antihero on us all.

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. 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. Brimming with sardonic wit and culminating in a shocking conclusion, Victorian Psycho plunges readers into the chilling mind of an iconic new literary psychopath."

Virginia Feito is SO a Buffyverse fan with characters named Winifred, Drusilla, and Andrew!

Dark, disturbing, and unexpectedly funny, this take on a Victorian Gothic is set on bringing up and tearing down as many tropes of the genre as possible. Governess Winifred is the keeper of many dark secrets--not least of which is her thirst for blood, violence, and murder. There are no kindly employers here, no brooding romantic heroes, and no children just in need of a little love. Almost every character is unlikeable, with servants almost invisible, and members of the upper classes completely undeserving of any good fortune that comes their way. I found this short book somehow both grotesque and satisfying, featuring a ruthless protagonist who amplifies the horror of a rigid class system itself built on violence.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I DNF’d Victorian Psycho about 40% of the way through. I’m not sure if it was due to me reading an ARC, but the grammatical errors and formatting made it really hard to get into a rhythm.

I was really excited for this book based on the description and I’m bummed it didn’t work out for me. It could have been a bit of wrong book / wrong time.

Upon arriving at Ensor House, Winifred Notty is determined to be the perfect governess for her two charges- Drusilla and Andrew. Haunted by a troubled past, she is desperate to leave her strange proclivities behind and reinvent herself. However, it’s hard to escape the past and when Winifred succumbs to her violent and deadly tendencies, the estate becomes a dangerous place where no one is truly safe.

This was such a dark, gruesome, and chilling book and I enjoyed it so much! It’s a short book so it can definitely be read in just a few sittings. Winifred is an unreliable and deranged character and experiencing the story through her psychopathic mind was both entertaining and deeply unsettling.

Set in the mid nineteenth century, this book captures the eerie and gothic atmosphere of the Victorian era. It dives into heavy themes such as child and animal abuse and the graphic descriptions, especially at the end, are not for the faint of heart. If you’re squeamish, this might not be the book for you. However, despite the unhinged nature of the story, it’s also laced with so much subtle humor. Winifred’s inner thoughts are witty and often laugh-out-loud funny and even though she’s far from a sympathetic character, I found myself engaged with her story all the way until the end.

If you’re looking for a Victorian era horror story featuring a murderous governess filled with vengeance, dark secrets, bloody descriptions, and twisted humor, consider reading this one. I’ve heard it’s being adapted into a movie, and I’m excited to see it come to life on the screen!

I feel like my favourite genre of book is one where I finish and think to myself, "God forbid women have hobbies!" Virginia Feito certainly delivered with that feeling, and I really loved the unequivocal and unapologetic evilness Winifred Notty had withing her. This will make so many people who are fans of evil women, twisted horror, and of course, gore, happy for sure!

Uh, wow. This was everything the title promised. A violent, tongue in cheek, surprisingly witty glimpse into a wealthy Victorian family’s life and celebration of Christmas.

This was deliciously fun and crude and jarring and so well done. Not for everyone for sure, but if you enjoy satire and a nice gothic atmosphere and aren’t queasy, you’ve found your book, my friend.

Victorian Psycho was the Christmas book I never knew I needed.This book lives up to its moniker. As I finished the last page all I could think was, what have I just read? This book is dark and violent and gruesome, but also funny and witty, I was on an emotional roller coaster ride that I didn’t want to get off.

This is a satirical view of Victorian society views through the skewed and diabolical eye of a psychopath. What happens is violent and disturbingg. It is the antithesis of everything fthe strait laced Victorians abhorred. To say more would deprive the reader of experiencing the shock and awe this little book provides. But be prepared when you pick this one up- to experience great writing, laughter, incredulity, repulsion and a protagonist unlike any other. This book will not be for everyone so check the trigger warnings. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you to @netgalley and @liverightbooks for this arc.

I love reading about unreliable female narrators so this was right up my alley. I liked being in her head. In no moment did I feel like she was insufferable; on the contrary, I wanted to hear more of her thoughts and motivations.

My only qualm is that in the last couple of chapters I wanted more. The violence was on point but I would've liked to hear what was in the mind of the other characters, especially the Pounds'.

Also this makes for a great new addition to your holiday horror lists.

Victorian Psycho tells the story of a deranged governess who has joined a new family.

If you enjoy gothic literature, the Victorian era, and reading books about crazy people this one’s for you.

I would also say that you have to feel comfortable reading from the first person perspective of a dark and disturbed person as they do dark, disturbing and evil things.

We join our governess Miss Notty as she arrives at Ensor house to work for The Pounds Family and we fairly quickly begin to understand that she is different. We get pieces of her troubled past and as the story progresses we slowly see her slip further into instability and violence. I also enjoyed Miss Notty’s bits of sarcasm and satire throughout as well as the little nods and Easter eggs towards Victorian history and Victorian Gothic literature.

I definitely enjoyed this one and would recommend to others with similar taste.