Bloody, brutal and glorious. This story is the combination of Jane Eyre meeting American psycho. Winifred is all sorts of unhinged and I couldn't look away. There's so much blood and gore, and our governess revels in it all. As more of her past is revealed, we get more of a glimpse into her psyche. I couldn't wait for the last nail in the coffin that made her let loose and go there.

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC!

4.5 stars

The nitty-gritty: A grim, bloody delight with pitch perfect black humor, Victorian Psycho will make you gasp and laugh in the same breath.

Virginia Feito has just rocketed to the top of my “must read” author list, mostly because I have never read a book quite like Victorian Psycho. This is the story of a female serial killer who is out for revenge, and it’s shocking, funny and emotional, sometimes all three of those in the same paragraph. The main character is a frumpy woman named Winifred Notty (and don’t think for a second that the author chose her last name by accident!) who tells her story in a no nonsense voice and has perfectly good reasons for every heinous thing she does. I imagine this would also be excellent in audio format, since Winifred’s a larger-than-life character with a commanding voice. I was both horrified and awed by her and couldn’t believe what was coming out of her mouth. Because of that, I’ll be highlighting more quotes than usual in the this review, I just couldn’t resist!

Winifred Notty has been hired by Mr. and Mrs. Pounds as a governess for their two children, Andrew and Drusilla. Ensor House is a cold, bleak mansion in the town of Grim Wolds, and once she arrives, she’s tasked with the care of the children, who seem to dislike her immediately. But Winifred is made of stern stuff, as the reader learns very quickly, and she isn’t afraid of two little children.

As Christmas approaches and the Pounds welcome their guests to the house for the holidays, Winifred sets her grim plan in motion. No one in Ensor House is safe...

Winifred is one of the most deranged characters I’ve ever met, and yet throughout the story we get glimpses of her terrible childhood, which made her feel more human and, dare I say, evoked a feeling of sympathy. She doesn’t seem to have a filter at all, an odd way for a woman to act in Victorian society, and she says whatever is on her mind, shocking not only the family members but all the other servants as well. Her descriptive observations of everything around her are full of menace:

“Leaves are strewn across the grounds in hues of bile and blood.”

Or:

“The guests take to their dancing while I serve myself some wassail from a large silver bowl on a corner table, disturbing the bronzed apples and lemon slices that bob like drowned corpses on the surface.”

Or:

“‘I am Andrew Pounds,’ announces the little master. Rusted freckles sprinkle his strikingly long forehead like the indiscriminate spray of blood from a slit throat.”

The reader understands that Winifred has indeed seen the spray of blood from a slit throat herself, otherwise how would she know? Feito’s writing is full of examples like this, perfect similes that unsettle the reader again and again, yet how can you not applaud such gleefully horrifying writing?

The story has a wonderfully immersive Victorian feel to it as well, almost as if it were written during the time of Dickens or the Bronte sisters. Feito hasn’t just written a story that takes place in Victorian London, she’s magically transported herself and her readers into Winifred’s grim, bloody life. The sights and smells are so vividly described, along with lush descriptions of food, and later, blood.

My favorite thing about the story, though, is its perfectly done black humor. Winifred, who is a true sociopath, makes calm observations about the people around her as she’s slaughtering them. There’s one memorable scene involving a baby that I had to read twice, I couldn’t believe the author went there. But she did, and that scene was funny, believe it or not. 

I wasn’t sure if Feito would be able to pull off a believable ending, but she managed to surprise me yet again with a perfectly horrifying finale. Not surprisingly, Victorian Psycho is being made into a movie (in preproduction right now), so I recommend getting your hands on a copy of the book first. 

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. Quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof and may differ in the final version of the book.

I enjoyed this book despite the over-sexualization of the children. I think some of that content could have been left out. Winifred herself sometimes comes off as a bit of a perv. The book tells the story of Winifred Notty, who becomes the Governess at Ensor House. She is to teach and train Mr. and Mrs. Pounds kids, Drusilla and Andrew. Winifred swears she will be the perfect Victorian Governess, but the longer she is in the house and exposed to the many people who live and visit the house, her emotions and rage become uncontrollable.

The sexual tension between Winifred and her father is quite disturbing. That is, if you are to believe Winifred to be a reliable narrator. The scene with her arguing with an infant, I had to question whether the infant is talking or is it all in Winifred's mind. Winifred is definitely disturbed and perhaps a psychopath. I also couldn't believe that a mother of one of the characters, would not recognize her baby. Well at least she keeps a baby, because the truth would be too much to bear. I totally didn't see that one coming; it came out of left field.

I found this to be an interesting read that kept my interest. I did find some of the characters rather drab, but the main characters: Mr. and Mrs. Pounds, Drusilla, Andrew and Winifred held my interest. The story didn't feel exactly like the Victorian era, because many of the characters dialogue and behavior, especially Winifred seemed more contemporary. That being said I did enjoy this read and it held my interest. I wanted to see the outcome, and What an Outcome!

I didn't expect what happened to happen in that manor, but I was there for it. The Drusilla twist took me by surprise although there were hints given earlier on. There are so many scenes here that I could highlight or talk about, because many are vivid in my mind. I felt shocked, at times disturbed, and found humor in many things. I found myself laughing at many scenes while reading this book. I loved the way she referred to the first baby as original baby, it made me chuckle. I think the ending was good. For me, if the ending is not right it can definitely tank a book, but the ending was the right one. I love that there were images in the book, especially the ending one. If one likes horror with a bit of satire, they will definitely gravitate towards this one.

This was only a 3-star for me. I really thought I would enjoy it, but something about it just never clicked for me. I don't think that it is badly written or that there's anything in particular wrong with it, it just wasn't the book for me. I loved the descriptions and I can totally see someone falling in love with it. I loved the mention of the Victorian mummy unwrapping parties, they are such a strange and morbid piece of history.

Absolutely bonkers and so in brand for this author! I loved it so much. Cant wait to read more from her.

TW/CW: sexism, drinking, toxic family relationships, animal death, murder, blood, child abuse, death of parent, gory scenes, violence, baby death

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
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.
Release Date: February 4th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 208
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Cover
2. Writing was so good
3. Gothic atmosphere
4. Gross scenes

What I Didn't Like:
1. All the animal death/torture

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

"Satisfied that there are no monsters but the ones I carry inside me"

Ohhhh sucking on the children's fingers ewww.

Wow that crow scene is not something you want to be eating while reading. Feeding the other children the crow with the maggots was intense and dark.

Omg omg she killed the baby!! And then steals another baby. They aren't a dead fish how can you just replace them? Honestly how can the mother not notice?

The bodies are definitely adding up - she's killing everyone. Miss. Lamb is now dead.

When she let's Mr. Pounds know he is her father he promptly fires her. This whole time you're thinking it's much more between them but really he is (maybe) her father. Guessing from his reaction though it's hard to deny.

That gory crazy ending wow. The poor maid killing herself by going over the banister when being let go of. Perfect ending!

Final Thoughts:
Seriously this is how you do a graphic gothic horror book!

I loved all the gore and craziness. It was such a fun ride.

The writing was so good that I was hooked on every word that was written. I feel the author did such a great job making me feel as though I was in this era. Author also did a great job at making things so atmospheric.

I am so happy they are turning this into a movie from A24 because I could definitely see how it would make an insane movie! Can't wait!

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley, Liveright, and Recorded Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Virginia Feito for granting me the ARC of this book.

Holy unhinged Jane Austen. Fred is an icon in all the worst ways. Starting off the bat with an ominous air, this book keeps you waiting for the right time to strike and when it does, it doesn’t not disappoint. Truly a wonderful social commentary on the wealthy elite not only of Victorian times but how relevant that can be to today’s society as well. I loved how this book would just cruise along as any normal Victorian classic would and then suddenly blindside you with an onslaught of the macabre. This book will surprise and horrify you when you least expect it. Right when you think you’ve gotten comfortable, it hits you.

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito was all the right things. This gothic tale embodies the Victorian-era so beautifully, while also semi-breaking the societal norms of the mid-1800’s. Follow Notty as she governs two small children, heirs of the Ensor house, while also trying to fight her dark nature. She leads you down a winding road of machination, ill nature, and contempt.

This book pulled me in from the beginning. Notty is a very entrancing character and the way the author brings the readers into the story is something you don’t see often. I enjoyed the imagery that Feito is able to accomplish and felt like I was in the gothic manor watching everything unfold.

This book is a 4.5 for me, as I think it was executed favorably.

This book was so much fun! The story begins with a governess arriving at her new job. "It is early fall, the cold is beginning to descend, and in three months everyone in this house will be dead". That is all you really need to know before starting Victorian Psycho. This book is atmospheric, Gothic, very dark and yet there were multiple times I laughed out loud. I am still feeling out horror as a genre and it was too gross for me in certain parts, but the excellent writing kept me reading. She describes sleet as "tiny hands holding tiny knives that slice at one's fingers and cheekbones" and freckles "like the indiscriminate spray of blood from a slit throat". I am excited to explore her backlist as this is my first novel by Virginia Feito. I was initially drawn to Victorian Psycho by the incredible cover and hearing that it has been optioned for film. I highly recommend this to anyone who is not too squeamish, appreciates an original voice and a historical Gothic theme, and incredible writing with dark humor. 4.25 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for an advanced e copy.

This was unhinged and I loved it. What a truly psychotic character. This was so compelling to me--such an interesting concept, such a wild ride. This was funny in my favorite kind of way. I just, I think that this will really appeal to a lot of people because it's just such a novel take on a story. I loved this!

I started this on a whim and read through the entire book in one sitting. What a wild ride with a truly psychotic character. I found this to be unhinged, funny, feminist, and an epic final massacre.

More comedic than I expected -I should’ve guessed given the inference of the title… a dark gothic fairytale for adults, in a way. Gripping and gory and consistently entertaining.

This one just never hooked me! I was excited about the premise but the inner voice somehow not felt insane or evil enough. Even as a slow burn there just wasn’t a lot here for me. Excited to see the movie adaptation one day though!

What if Jane Eyre and Turn of the Screw had a sociopath baby? That's Victorian Psycho for you.
It's a real slasher flick of a book, moving quick and off-kilter until the bloody end. The prose is engaging and intentionally anachronistic at times, which works well in the humorous moments but can take the reader out of the action in some of the more action-centric scenes. The gore is written well and the suspense and pacing work. Unfortunately, I think I had the wrong expectations going into this book; while the setting is Victorian, there's none of the depth that makes me love that era of literature. This book is an homage to modern horror more than a nod to classic lit, and the few times it started to reach for something meaningful behind the violence, it didn't grab hold. I'll still recommend and sell Victorian Psycho, but to a different audience than I originally thought.

Thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Norton and Company as well as the author for this ARC.
#NetGalley #W.W.NortonandCompany #VirginiaFeito #VictorianPsycho #Horror #BookReview #Books #Fiction #Gothic

Title: Victorian Psycho
Author: Virginia Feito
Format: eBook
Publisher: W.W. Norton and Company
Publication Date: February 4, 2025
Themes: Humans as monsters, sexism, family, cannibalism, gothic
Trigger Warnings: Violence against children, child/baby death, animal death, toxic familial relationships, gore, cannibalism, death of parents, violence

Oh, this was fun! I really, really wish the animal death wasn’t in here, but still fun. There are deliciously disgusting twists and turns throughout with an unexpected ending. Winnifred Notty is the new governess to the Pounds’ family’s two children, Drusilla and Andrew. She’s the perfect companion, telling the kids their twisted bedtime stories and seducing the family patriarch. She tries to stifle her less desirable tendencies, but Christmas is coming and Wnnifred is truly a giver….

Evil governess in a gothic mansion? American Psycho meets the Turn of the Screw? Yes please. I enjoyed this whole heartedly. The bitingly sarcastic writing adds a touch of tongue in cheek humor that weaves itself in and out of the narrative. The setting is reminiscent of Henry James’ Bly Manor. Now introduced a gender flipped Patrick Bateman and you have this twisted little story. The real question is does the danger come from within Winnifred or the house? The book twists around this concept, surprising occasionally, inciting laughter that the reader sometimes feels guilty about, and adding shocking violence. Winnifred Notty is a dangerous and severely damaged woman.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It bears repeating that this is a violent and gory story that features multiple dead babies. I could have done without that and the animal deaths. However, I enjoyed it enough that I could skim past those parts and keep going until the sick and shocking conclusion.

All in all, a delicious read that is a treat for fans of American Psycho, The Turn of the Screw, and Hannibal. I highly recommend but maintain that it should be read with caution.

You’ll rarely encounter a book more aptly titled than Virginia Feito’s Victorian Psycho. If you ever wondered what it would be like if a female version of Patrick Bateman existed in Austenian England you are in for a treat as Feito pulls no punches, focusing on an antihero whose savage commentary is rivaled only by her violent tendencies. Already being turned into a movie by A24, this is a new satirical horror classic.

After opening with an illustration of a stately country manor captioned, “In three months everyone in this house will be dead,” we are introduced to Winifred Notty, who has just been hired on as the new Governess of Mr. and Mrs. Pounds’ two children, bratty golden child Andrew and neglected Drusilla. She has a general disdain towards her fellow humans, but especially towards the British upper class and their offspring, which would make her seem a poor candidate for the position, but she manages to convince her employers otherwise.

As Winifred’s past is revealed in drips and drabs, we quickly begin to suspect that she is more dangerous than she wants to let on and that her arrival at Ensor House is no coincidence, though she mostly manages to maintain her composure as the Christmas holiday approaches. The Pounds are hosting a sizable group of their upper crust friends and their families this year and want everything to be perfect, but Winifred may have other plans in mind.

Told from Winifred’s perspective we are privy to her thoughts as she experiences life with her new employers and they are hilariously scathing, doubly so when she inadvertently lets one escape from her lips. When describing Mrs. Pounds she notes, “The lines on her sallow forehead seem to be mating to beget more lines.” Over dinner, when asked about children she lets slip, “Can we honestly proclaim that they’re any better than their insufferable adult counterparts?”

Even when the horror truly kicks in towards the novel’s end it still carries a sardonic wit. At least as Winifred has described them, one would be hard pressed to think of a group that, if not necessarily deserving of their fates, aren’t exactly deserving of better either. Laced through with unsubtle rage at society’s disdainful treatment of women and members of the so-called lower class, both then and now, there’s some meat to the madness. Wickedly subversive, hilariously vicious, and highly entertaining this will likely go down as one of the year’s best books.

I enjoyed this! The atmosphere throughout this is very eerie and there are several disturbing moments throughout which I loved. This is a well-written, unique horror story that I would recommend! Special Thank You to Virginia Feito, W.W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you have a tolerance for Victorian prose and a penchant for funny, violent murderesses, you might enjoy this as much as I did.

In this short little tale leading up to a gloriously bloody Christmas, we see Winifred devolve into madness while trying to hide her inner urges from her awful employers.

I'll reiterate that this gets gruesome (truly, no one is safe). My jaw dropped a couple times–it was super messed up. But it's also oddly hilarious. Winifred's commentary pokes fun at the conventions and morals of the time period in a very witty way. Her appalling actions are handled so comically that you just have to laugh at the absurdity.

This was just a good time, right till the bloody end. Recommend for my fellow horror lovers!

Read if you like:
🏚 The Victorian era
💀 Unhinged narrators
🕯Dark humour/satire
⚡️ A shock factor
🔪 Short horror (with some gore)

This book is so unhinged, in the best way possible. It's an atmospheric story that transports readers to a different time period, featuring a main character who is absolutely (for lack of a better word) psycho. From the outset, as the governess for two young children, Winnifried Notty appears to be putting on a show, presenting a facade that hides their true nature. Behind closed doors, however, they unravel, revealing a more sinister and erratic persona. I mean her actions are just so unpredictable and absurd that just thinking about it right now makes we want to laugh. It's a short book and a really really fun read.

WINIFRED NOTTY YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS!! This is one of those books that feels like it was written just for me (a little freak.) It's like Jane Eyre meets Halloween. I loved it! Feito does a sensational job of immediately absorbing you into the words on the page and world that they've built. Though the language isn't always entirely accurate (our modern vernacular is inescapable no matter how hard one tries) it was wholly entertaining. A new auto-read for me because Feito feels like an author who will always bring their true story to live and that is always a story I want to read.