Virginia Feito’s Victorian Psycho is a darkly delightful dive into the mind of a woman untethered from morality, drenched in the oppressive atmosphere of Victorian England. Written in an authentic Victorian style, complete with woodcut illustrations, this novel immerses readers in the era while unraveling the chilling story of Winifred, a governess whose psychopathy knows no bounds.

The Story

Winifred Notty is hired to care for two children at Ensor House, a sprawling estate brimming with secrets. On the surface, she seems like an unassuming caretaker, but as the story progresses, the depths of her disturbing nature become impossible to ignore. Winifred’s intrusive thoughts escalate to horrifying acts that send shockwaves through the household, culminating in a Christmas Day bloodbath no one could have predicted.

What makes Winifred so compelling—and chilling—is the slow unraveling of her past. Through carefully placed flashbacks, we learn about her troubled childhood, marked by rejection and a sinister darkness that set her apart from others. Her memories reveal an unnerving pattern of deviant behavior, like the time she poisoned her classmates with bits of a decomposing crow, leaving you both horrified and grimly amused. There’s a quiet determination behind her every action, an unsettling sense that her time at Ensor House is part of a larger plan.

Atmosphere and Themes

Feito masterfully evokes the Victorian era, offering readers a visceral glimpse into the customs and hierarchies of the time. The masters overindulging at a Christmas party while the servants gather around the hearth to tell ghost stories in the next room underscores the rigid class divides that defined the period. This contrast not only adds depth to the narrative but also sets the stage for the story’s exploration of oppression and power dynamics.

But Victorian Psycho isn’t just a story of oppression. It’s also a twisted revenge tale, one where trauma, familial neglect, and societal expectations combine to create a truly unhinged protagonist. Winifred’s actions—while appalling—are rooted in a need for validation and control in a world that has denied her both.

Feito’s writing is razor-sharp, capturing the chilling atmosphere of Ensor House with a precision that pulls you deeper into Winifred’s unraveling psyche. The Victorian authenticity isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a tool that amplifies the tension and immerses you fully in the story’s dark, twisted world.

The Experience

Let me warn you now: this book is dark. Seriously, check those trigger warnings because Feito does not pull punches. What makes it work, though, is the humor. It’s dark, it’s sharp, and somehow it keeps you hooked even when the violence makes you want to look away. From the eerie, almost supernatural way Winifred sneaks around the house to the chilling humor of a doll box hiding a terrible secret, this book knows exactly how to toe the line between horrifying and absurd.

I started reading this intending to check out a chapter or two, and before I knew it, I’d finished the whole thing in one sitting. It’s compelling, unnerving, and impossible to put down.

Conclusion

For fans of gothic horror and those who enjoy exploring the darker recesses of the human psyche, Victorian Psycho is a must-read. It’s a hauntingly sharp critique of societal structures, wrapped in an engrossing tale of madness and mayhem. I was horrified, delighted, and completely hooked from the first page to the last.

Victorian Psycho is set for release February 4, 2025, and an be preordered at the link above