Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito is a gloriously unsettling tale of repression, chaos, and razor-sharp social satire set against the bleak opulence of a Victorian estate. Feito’s knack for blending the grotesque with the hilarious is on full display here, making this a dark, devious page-turner for fans of both gothic horror and wickedly unreliable narrators. Winifred Notty is not the governess you’d expect—she’s a walking disaster wrapped in starched skirts, dripping sarcasm, and barely-contained madness.

From the moment Winifred arrives at Ensor House, it’s clear that this won’t be a typical "stern but kind" governess story. The Pounds family is a buffet of Victorian dysfunction: morally bankrupt, apathetic, and drenched in self-importance. Feito delights in skewering these archetypes, imbuing each interaction with cutting wit and a mounting sense of dread. The children, Drusilla and Andrew, are particularly odd—whether they’re victims of their own privileged ennui or something more sinister is a mystery that adds another layer of suspense.

But it’s Winifred herself who steals the show. She’s hilariously unfit for the role she’s assumed, oscillating between performative propriety and outright menace. Feito crafts her inner monologue with biting humor and chilling candor, making her both captivating and horrifying. Whether she’s sabotaging the staff for sport or indulging her darker impulses under cover of night, Winifred feels like an antihero born from equal parts Victorian ghost story and modern psychological thriller. The comparisons to Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) are apt—Winifred’s moral unraveling is both disturbing and fascinating, but her venom is aimed less at consumerism and more at Victorian social mores and the absurdity of gendered expectations.

The gothic elements are masterfully done. Ensor House is described in lush, sinister detail: moonlit corridors, suffocating drapes, and the ever-present sense of decay and isolation. Feito imbues the setting with a creeping sentience, as though the house itself is complicit in Winifred’s descent. The Christmas scenes, in particular, are deliciously eerie—what should be a time of joy is steeped in claustrophobic dread and a sense that something awful is about to burst forth.

The novel’s exploration of repression is as pointed as it is unsettling. Winifred’s attempts to stifle her "horrid compulsions" speak to the ways women in Victorian society were often forced to contort themselves into impossible shapes for the sake of appearance. Yet, Feito takes this trope to its most extreme and absurd end—Winifred’s unraveling isn’t just a symptom of repression; it’s her form of rebellion, albeit in the most macabre way possible.

If there’s a critique, it’s that the pacing can feel uneven. The middle section occasionally meanders as Winifred becomes embroiled in the banalities of estate life. But just when things seem to slow, Feito hits you with a moment of pure, jaw-dropping insanity that yanks you back into the story.

At 4 stars, Victorian Psycho is a deliciously dark and twisted tale that blends gothic horror, satire, and psychological suspense with impeccable style. Virginia Feito’s writing is as sharp as a dagger in the night, her humor as cold as the winter air. Winifred Notty is a protagonist you’ll love to loathe—and perhaps secretly root for in spite of yourself. Fans of Shirley Jackson, Rebecca, and subversive thrillers will find themselves utterly bewitched by this macabre masterpiece. Just be prepared for a Christmas morning you won’t soon forget.

This is delectable! Fast paced, but full of (sometimes numerous) gore in such a small book. I really enjoyed getting to read something that genuinely seems of the Victorian era— but with such darkness. I will not be forgetting this one! Thank you for the opportunity to read it early!

"Victorian Psycho" by Virginia Feito is seriously messed up in the best way possible! This book is a wild ride. It's like a gothic thriller on steroids, set in this super creepy and suffocating Victorian London. You've got Eliza, this young woman trying to survive in this insane social scene, and things quickly go off the rails. Feito's writing is incredible. It's dark and atmospheric, and she really nails that Victorian vibe. The characters are all twisted and fascinating, and you're never quite sure who to trust. This book will seriously creep you out and stay with you long after you finish it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller or just wants to escape into a deliciously dark and twisted world. 5 out of 5 stars!

A deliciously deviant horror story where the main character, a perfect psycho villain, GOES THERE!
Finally... a 'psycho' story starring a female, unlike American Psycho or Hitchcock's Psycho, women have many more reasons for absolutely losing it. There's only so much we can take.
In this vividly picturesque tale, a governess wrecks havoc on a household. And for what reason? A barely justified reason once all in considered... but still, a reason. As the story unfolds and sanity is hanging on by a mere thread, you the reader will begin to wonder if perhaps you also have gone insane.

For fans of American Psycho and Maeve Fly, Victorian Psycho is hilarious absurd, in the best possible way. Both nonsensical and poignant at the same time, somehow, this was just plain fun to read.

Holy crap, this book was good! Its gothic themes are present throughout the story, wrapping us in a blanket of constant "omg, what's gonna happen next" vibes. I sat in rapt attention the entire time. The descriptions can be a bit gory, so be aware of that. What an incredible story.

Living up to its name, Victorian Psycho drops the reader inside the mind of a murderous governess with plenty of secrets. At times strange, sardonic, and shocking in equal measure, Winifred is a menacing main character who flits from estate to estate with a trail of destruction in her wake. Though the chapters were short and the book more a novella, I found the humor and smart, incisive commentary (“I fail to understand why men think violence will intimidate women. Women, who bleed all over themselves every month…who burst open in childbirth, vagina splitting and anus sagging, tiny hardening fingernails clawing inside of them.”) wasn’t enough to propel me through the whisper of a plot and the casual violence. In such a short book, there wasn’t time to develop much of the MC backstory beyond “the Darkness” and her pure bloodthirst, but for anyone who prefers a dark comedic read: this one is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito. Thanks to @w.w.norton for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Winifred plans to be the perfect Victorian nanny at her new job, but the longer she stays there the more her compulsions of the past come back.

An odd but entertaining story, if you’re not bothered by gore and don’t have triggers, this would be a good one to read. I loved how it takes on old fashioned style writing to fit with the times. With the insanity of the main character, it just works well.

“Preposterous, of course, dear reader, I fear I am succumbing to elaborate flights of fancy. I must not let that happen. This shan’t be like the other times.”

Victorian Psycho comes out 2/4.

"It fascinates me, the fact that humans have the capacity to mortally wound one another at will but for the most part choose not to."

"I wonder if this blackness isn't in fact the real world and the true blindfold is that other world of color we are accustomed to."


Do you love the Victorian era? Did you adore Maeve Fly like I did? Well, what if you could have both? Trust me when I say, that’s exactly what you get with Victorian Psycho!

I’m talking about a main character who is completely unhinged, and I couldn’t get enough of her. Everyone else in the story was insufferable, which only made Winnifred stand out to me even more. I loved her in all her true, twisted glory. 

The book weaves between the present and the past, and as it unfolds, you get a peek into the chaos that runs wild in Winnifred’s mind. She’s completely detached from normal human emotions (no fear, no pain) just a cold, calculating mind, ready to explode. Christmas Day at Elsnor House is her grand finale, and trust me, it’s a doozy.

The writing in this book is phenomenal. Feito makes you feel like you’re right there in the heart of the Victorian darkness. I loved how atmospheric it was. I also really loved the randomness of the main character acknowledging us, the readers, as if we were right there with her. Such a clever touch!

This book is a must read if you love Gothic horror, unhinged characters, and stories that aren’t afraid to dive deep into the dark side of the mind. Just know this one is violent and twisted, but if that’s your jam, you won’t want to miss it.

I'm going to need a physical copy of this for my shelves. 🖤

I just heard that A24 picked up the movie rights, and I am beyond excited for this! I can’t wait to see how they bring this story to life. I am SO here for it!


✨Thank you to Liveright and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.

✨Pub Date: February 4, 2025 ✨

Meh. I thought Mrs March was excellent, so I was excited to read another book by the same author, but this one wasn't for me. Whereas Mrs. March slowly ratchets up the psychological tension and the disturbed mind of its protagonist, Victorian Psycho starts with the unhingedness already turned up to 11, and where is there to go from there really? Felt like it was just gory and unpleasant for the sake of being gory and unpleasant, and I didn't enjoy it.

Victorian Psycho is a disturbing and unsettling tale that probes the murky depths of a governess’s psyche, blending psychological horror with the dark, gothic atmosphere of Victorian England. Feito's writing is undeniably evocative, with vivid descriptions of both the oppressive physical setting and the even more oppressive mental landscape of her protagonist.

Overall, Victorian Psycho is a chilling, well-crafted narrative that offers a uniquely disturbing glimpse into the mind of its protagonist. Feito’s sharp wit and eye for macabre detail make for an absorbing read, but the lack of depth in some of the character development and the pacing issues prevent it from achieving its full potential. I would rate this novel 3 stars out of 5—a creepy and enjoyable read for those who enjoy gothic horror, but one that could have benefited from more nuanced character exploration.

It’s definitely worth reading if you’re looking for a gothic horror story that doesn’t shy away from the grotesque.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, what a delightfully dark novella that doesn't hold back.

"It fascinates me, the fact that humans have the capacity to mortally wound one another at will, but, for the most part, choose not to."

The writing is the star in this tale of a young woman posing as a governess to care for two children for a family that fully encompasses the feeling of Victorian high society. If the family had bothered to check any references, perhaps they could have been spared. Fear not. This is not a spoiler as it is clearly stated at the start of the story that the family will be dead within three months time. Virginia Fieto excels at prose that give the reader a visceral reaction, and refuses to pull any punches.

“I fail to understand why men think violence will intimidate women. Women, who bleed all over themselves every month […] Women who burst open in childbirth, vagina splitting and anus sagging, tiny, hardening fingernails clawing inside them, placentas like thick filet mignon.”

This novella will certainly not be for everyone, as no one in the story is safe from our completely unhinged and detached main character. The wit, satire and feminist remarks were most enjoyable, and the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was because I felt the plot was a bit lacking. 5 stars for the writing alone.

Not a genre I gravitate to but one I am very happy I read (amazing early reviews influenced me) What a story - dark, absurdly funny. The character of The unraveling of Winifred Notty is expected from the beginning, but I loved the journey Feito takes the reader on to get there. Christmas at Ensor House is chaotic, tragic and let's just say not very festive! Highly recommend this dark gothic novel. Sensitive readers will likely want to pass.

This was wild! Simple Victorian plot circa 1800s, months leading to the Christmas season.
Winifred Notty (Ms. Notty) has been employed as the household governess to the Ponds family.
She is to care and educate the 2 children, Drusilla and Andrew. She is not the average Governess! From creepy gross tales to dark humor sprinkled throughout the plot. A fantastic mix of Gothic and psychological horror. We follow Winifred as she recalls her day to day at the Ponds household with very strange and gruesome actions. Cheeky; Winnifred has moments of thought she directs towards the readers! I found myself chuckle throughout this book. I kept questioning if she was psychotic and gone unhinged or if she was just imagining everything. The slight twist was great, although not a huge Surprise in the plot it does change the whole pace and gave it the finale well deserved! Love it and highly recommend anyone who enjoys a good horror to pick this up. I will definitely re-read this.


Thank you, Netgalley, for my advanced copy in return for my honest review.

God I loved this so much. Disgusting, raw, medieval. Reminded me of Lapvona in a way!! The writing was suffocating and I love that it took it there up until the very end. Loved!

I loved it! Victorian Psycho is the story of well... a Victorian psycho governess. For me personally it was the perfect balance of funny, shocking, and violent. The setting was done very well and created an eerie, unsettling but intriguing vibe. It was also the perfect length to capture the plot, develop the main character, and keep you hooked from start to finish. I will definitely be recommending to my fellow horror lovers!

Victorian psycho is a look into the mind of a governess who does not feel fear. She is so matter of fact on her views that it’s darkly funny, and things play out in a disturbing way. This do a good job of conveying the time period and showing the sensibilities against Winifred’s own views. The end felt a bit rushed but this did deliver exactly what you’d expect from the title and description and was a fun, fast read.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What did I just read! I don’t know!
When I opened this book, I didn’t know if I was going to finish it, let alone like it. The prose and the writing is VERY Victorian, and I just didn’t really expect that.

Thankfully, it wasn’t hard to read. This was a very fast paced book, and I did enjoy reading it. I felt like the ending fell flat, even though we were told the ending throughout multiple points in the story.
Victorian Psycho is very much if Patrick Bateman was a governess in the victorian era, which I gathered from the title of the book, but it is SO much like American Psycho. I don’t mean that in a bad way, reimaginings are always fun!

Winifred was a deeply disturbing yet humorously dark character! And her employers were just terrible, none of them likable.

Thank you to Netgalley and W.W Norton & Company/Liverwright for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton for this copy of "Victorian Psycho."

Fiendishly delightful!

Winifred Notty has been hired as the governess at Ensor House. She tell us in the beginning that within three months, everyone will be dead. So of course we want to know why and how?

"Fred" knows that she's unusual because she doesn't feel fear. And she's aware of the "Darkness" inside her and senses it in others. So does she let it out? Or does she do her best to contain it?

And as we learn how atrocious the Pounds family is, we wonder what "Fred" has planned for them.

Virginia Feito's "Victorian Psycho" tells the story of Winifred "Fred" Notty, a young governess who has been hired by the Pounds family to instruct their son and daughter. Ms. Notty, however, is not your typical governess. She's not even your typical Victorian woman. She comes from the town where all the babies end up dead. She likes to sink her teeth into raw meat. We see the household through her eyes, and flash back to her own childhood. This book was more "extreme horror" than I was anticipating, reminding me of CJ Leede's "Maeve Fly" at times. For those who like their horror books in a more atmospheric Gothic no-blood-just-vibes, kindly look elsewhere. "Victorian Psycho" is not for the faint of heart, though those who dare to pick it up are sure to be shockingly entertained. In the same vein as horror staples such as "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Exorcist", "Victorian Psycho"- which already has a film deal- is destined to be a freaky little classic.