Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this ARC! Unfortunately, Victorian Psycho simply wasn't to my liking. I made it halfway through but couldn't continue. The narrative felt somewhat disjointed and peculiar, failing to capture my attention. However, just because it didn't resonate with me doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it to others; it might just be your cup of tea!

"It is early fall, the cold is beginning to descend, and in three months everyone in this house will be dead."

Winifred Notty has just arrived at Ensor House to serve as the governess for the Pounds' family. She has searched for a long time to find the Pounds family. While passing the days tutoring the Pounds children, Drusilla and Andrew, Winifred tries to keep her violent imagination in check. She finds the children entitled and stupid, but she must continue and have patience. Christmas is coming and she has a very special gift planned for all those at Ensor House.

This book was my ideal horror - I love the gothic, Victorian vibes and the callous and dark humor of the main character. It was a quick read (208 pages) filled with devious humor and gore. The inner dialogue of Winifred is purely psychopathic and shocking but in the best way. If you don't like gore, then this one is not for you. The writing style is a little different but played to the thought process of the main character perfectly. You start to lose what is real or imagination as Winifred holds back her inner desires. This was a fun dark comedy horror following a woman seeking vengeance.

Thank you Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company, Liveright for the ALC for review! I first read the e-book, but then got approved for the audiobook as well and listened to it again! Love it!

If you’re having a bad day with your kids, spouse, employer, relatives, random strangers, or anyone else, the “Victorian Psycho” audiobook will allow you to experience all your bloody revenge fantasies in your head, all narrated by a genteel British voice with perfect diction straight out of 1880’s London. Winifred Notty (delightfully pronounced “naughty” by narrator Anna Burnett) is Virginia Feito’s sarcastic, sociopathic, drippingly evil governess, in charge of Drusilla and Andrew (both with their expected elitist problems). They are the progeny of the brutal Mrs. Pound and lecherous Mr.Pound, and there’s never a doubt in this delicious horror novel that Winifred will be exacting more than a pound of flesh from them. The novel is short (200 pages) and the audiobook goes by quickly (less than 5 hours).

But, be warned, you’ll need to be in a mood for “Victorian Psycho.” It’s already being made into a film for A24, and you’ll see it (deservedly) on lists of the most anticipated books for February 2025. Horror isn’t one of my favored genres, but this one was just gory and short enough for me.

Anna Burnett’s tongue-in-cheek first person POV is pitch perfect. Author Feito’s prose is the correct combination of sneering, derision, and scorn. Her descriptions of the snooty manners and fringe-laden surroundings evoke the stuffy Victorian era we’re glad has been over for 150 years. 4 stars for the story; 5 stars for the narration.

See my review of the Kindle edition for full thoughts on this one. I revisited this story in the form of the audiobook when it became available on NetGalley because I enjoyed it so much (don't judge me). I would have liked a bit more inflection and unhinged vibes from the narrator, but Winifred Notty is meant to be a cold and calculating character, so the flatness of her voice works for the most part. I think I enjoyed this one more as a physical book rather than an audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this ARC,

Victorian Psycho, by Virginia Feito, was on my radar for quite some time now, and even more so when a film adaptation was announced before it was even published.

Winifred Notty, our protagonist is, for lack of better word, a psychopath; the spiritual great grandmother of Patrick Bateman if you will and, pardon my French, but I loved her!

Man, I am really excelling at picking unsettling books for the beginning of the year! This was so well written - the writing really ensorceled me - yet so disturbing. If you are looking for a period horror with lots of gothic vibes, then this one is definitely that. The characters are not super well developed, but I felt like that contributed to the general sense of disorientation and weirdness. The book definitely focuses more on the frightening inner monologue of the titular psycho, so you are getting a lot of stream of consciousness thoughts about her past and the alarming urges she has in the present. Much like the lack of character development, the plot seems to meander aimlessly through her life, but it comes together in the end, and that convoluted nature seems to heighten the unsettling nature of the story. Trigger warning for body horror, gore, and child death.

I really wanted to like this book, it sounded right up my alley, creepy house, young governess….. But there was just too much 21st century personality in the Victorian governess, I can suspend belief for a plot, but not a character so out of place I’m a time and setting

4 Stars

I loved the main character’s sarcastic, dry humor. Winifred has zero empathy, and the book truly earns its title of Victorian Psycho. It’s gory, it’s short, and it’s a fun horror story that won’t leave you scared to turn out the lights—but rather make you realize there are people in the world quite like Winifred. The setting is wonderfully gothic, the writing sharp and darkly funny. Check trigger warnings before diving in!

Thank you, NetGalley and RBMedia, for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @recordedbooks and @netgalley for this advance copy. This is definitely one of those books that will leave you with that “what did I just read” feeling. A grotesque dark comedy / horror novel about a psychotic, yet oddly endearing, governess. The narration was excellent and I binge listened to this short novel in a single day. While the story is full of disturbing content, it has a cheeky, humorous quality that makes it feel less realistic and softens the ick factor somewhat. Recommended for fans of Grady Hendrix.

4.25 stars

**Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.**

<b> Basics </b>

Author: she/her (Spain)
Genre: historical
Setting: Victorian manor
Themes: horror, psychopathy, revenge  
Vibes: savagely observant, dark, unhinged

<b> Characters </b>

😈"Fred" - the new "governess" who has a demon inside of her

<b> Quotes </b>

🩸"when you come across an animal in pain, the kind thing to do is to kill it"

<b> Pros </b>

+ oooooooh Fred is NOT alright
+ this is for all the readers who want an unhinged female MC from the jump
+ Fred's narrative/inner voice is so dry, hilarious, and absolutely f*cking savage in the best way
+ the narrator for the ALC is perfect 👌
+ unsettling non-explicit content (example: the cuckoo is a "brooding parasite" scene 🪺) 😬
+ lots of literary references embedded in ways you wouldn't expect (Shakespeare, "The Yellow Wallpaper," etc.)
+ Fred likes women & men (bisexual or pansexual)
+ super unreliable narrator (psychopathy? ennui? mental breakdown? ghosts?)
+ visceral and gross

<b> Cons </b>
- a tiny bit of saggy slow around 85%
- a bit too many flash forward warnings (ex. I will be hung, but not yet)
- massacre/Days of Christmas are too unrealistic imo

<b> Comp Recs </b>

+ The Butcher's Hook by Janet Ellis
+ My Year of Rest and Relaxation if she was a psychopathic governess
+ (movies) The Pale Blue Eye x Ready or Not

<b> TW </b>

animal death, child endangerment, murder, death, blood, child death, corpses, massacre, rot, maggots, death by hanging

*3.75 stars*

This was gory and disgusting. A delightful Victorian horror comedy. I thought this was atmospheric but definitely more grotesque than scary. I enjoyed the flashbacks into Winifred’s early life and I wish we would have spent more time in her mind as a child. I liked the ending, I wish we got a little more beyond the ending.

The narration was very well done and easy to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

The gory horror moments felt silly. While I think this was somewhat intentional, it didn’t work for me and made me less interested in the story. I also didn’t find Fred’s psychology compelling and don’t feel like we got to know her deeply. For a 200-page book, this was really a slog.

This delivers on exactly what the premise says - think American Psycho but make it Victorian. We follow psychopath Fred who has recently taken on the role of tutor to two wealthy charges.

There is plenty of blood and carnage in this work, but I did not find myself caring much for any of the characters. This led to the gore feeling unattached and at times pointless. I do think this is a relatively short work that delivers on what it promises, however, so readers going in with the goal of reading a psychopath’s revenge story will be satisfied. I was left feeling more ‘meh’ than anything else.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 Stars

Victorian Psycho follows Winifred Notty as she arrives at Ensor House, determined to play the role of the perfect governess to the children of the Pounds family. But as more time drags on, she finds it increasingly difficult to stifle her more violent urges towards those around her.

This book was really unsettling. It was so strange to watch someone completely succumb to every compulsive or intrusive thought. Winifred is a true psychopath, and has absolutely zero impulse control.

It was so surreal to be in Winifred's head - everything felt unreal, like a fever dream. Her lack of emotion and the way she went on as normal in completely abnormal and/or disgusting situations (of her making), was deeply unsettling.

I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into but it exceeded all expectations.
Deliciously dark, comical and had me turning the pages ready to devour more and more of Feito’s writing. I fear I found myself silently rooting for Miss Notty the whole time - one of the most exciting and unique female main characters.

Well deserved 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to experience this early.

3.5 stars!

Imagine if Mary Poppins was possessed by a blood thirsty demon, enter the new governess of Ensor House, Winifred Notty. Winifred is out of her mind, truly. I don’t normally lean towards horror books because I am easily spooked but this one really caught my eye. The title and cover were enough to hook me in and truly, the story was an interesting ride.

It was fast paced and belongs on one of those “Feminine Rage” book tables at Barns and Noble.

Thank you so much Netgalley, W.W. Norton & Company, and RB media for this ARC!

This story was heavy on gore and murder but light on plot and character development. I finished it without caring about the characters or the resolution.

Victorian Psycho: Imagine if Mary Poppins and Elizabeth Báthory were one unhinged young lady.
Winifred Notty is a governess taking care of two children she doesn't like, for employers who lust after (the mister) and despise (the missus) her. The story also gives commentary on how absurd the beliefs of the Victorian times were; the roles of men, women and children and how ill-informed people were.

I can say I genuinely laughed hard enough (at certain macabre scenes) that I had to put my ereader down and compose myself before continuing. I ended up reading the audiobook just so I'd be able to experience it again. So I've read and listened to this book once each, over the last week. Loved it. Fred Notty is such a great character. Can't wait for the film adaptation.

Excellent narrator!

Ok. I read the ARC of Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito recently and rated it 5 stars. Usually I will listen to the audiobook on or after release day. I was excited to listen to an ALC early and was disappointed. I haven’t listened to the narrator before and didn’t like the voice for this specific book. Usually an audiobook enhances the written word and for me, this distracts. ALC was provided by RB media/Recorded Books via NetGalley. I received an advance listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book!

To start - this is probably one of the craziest books I've ever read haha.

This was off the wall bananas, but I ate it up in almost one sitting!
It was very good in the weirdest of ways.

This was my first book from this author, but I'll be sure to go back and read other books now.
Her prose is beautiful, and I greatly enjoyed her writing style. It's weird that she could be writing about the horrifying subject matter in this book and I can still refer to the writing and prose as beautiful, but it really was haha.

This book was off the wall crazy, but it was also funny, and together it was woven into a perfect blend of horror fiction. I loved it. I am excited to see it is already being worked on for a movie, though I'm not entirely sure how given some of this was extremely dark subject matter - but I am excited nonetheless.

This is absolutely worth a read if you like horror, probably extreme horror at that. This really is like a gender bent 1800s 'American Psycho' so watch your triggers cause this one is heavy (but so good!)