Olivia Atwater continued her captivating tales of magic and fae with The Witchwood Knot, set some years after the conclusion of Longshadow. Each of the volumes of the Regency Fairy Tales involved a heroine solving a mystery, righting an old wrong, and finding love. Even though it would be accurate to say that the plot follows the same lines in this novel, such a barebones summary doesn’t really capture how original and immersive these stories are—nor does it indicate just how amazing Atwater’s characterization is. Every one of Atwater’s books has charmed me and I’m delighted to see new books in the world she created.
Winifred Hall arrives at Witchwood Hall with ulterior motives. The Hall’s master believes that Winifred has come to serve as governess to his heir. In truth, Winifred is there at the behest of the heir’s grandmother, an old friend who knows that Winifred is more than she seems. Winifred has been summoned to keep the boy safe from something supernatural. The Hall has a bad reputation. Winifred’s ride to the Hall drops her off at the gate and refuses to take a step closer. Later, Winifred learns that most of the few servants refuse to sleep there at all, for fear of the terrifying things they see and hear at night. The first person Winifred meets at the Hall, Mr. Quincey, doesn’t do much to raise Winifred’s assessment of the Hall’s hospitality.
The brusque and mercurial Mr. Quincey, however, turns out to be Winifred’s ally as she works her way through the magical bonds that are holding the fae of the Witchwood hostage as well as slowly killing Winifred’s friend. When her charge goes missing (replaced with a mournful fetch), Winifred decides to take the bull by the horns and fight her way through the magical curse, using every trick and hex she’s learned.
I fell headfirst into The Witchwood Knot, just like I have with all of Atwater’s other historical fantasies. Her complicated protagonists and the rich worldbuilding—a blend of British history and folklore—always delight me. Above all, I love the originality of each novel. Each one can stand alone, as any good fairy tale will, but reading them together creates an amazing interlocking story about the evils of unchecked power, the tricksomeness of the fae, and the strength of love and loyalty. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.