Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Luis Jaramillo’s The Witches of El Paso is a spellbinding tale that seamlessly weaves together elements of magic, family legacy, and the search for identity. Set against the vibrant backdrop of El Paso, this novel is a captivating exploration of the supernatural and the bonds that tie us to our past.

The story follows Marisol, a lawyer who returns to El Paso to care for her elderly great-aunt, Tía Lola. Marisol soon discovers that her family has a long history of witchcraft, a legacy that Tía Lola has kept hidden. When a local child goes missing, Marisol and Tía Lola must use their supernatural abilities to uncover the truth and bring the child home. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they confront dark forces and long-buried secrets that challenge their understanding of family and power.

Jaramillo’s characters are richly drawn and deeply engaging. Marisol is a strong, determined protagonist whose journey of self-discovery is both compelling and relatable. Tía Lola, with her wisdom and mystical knowledge, provides a fascinating counterpoint to Marisol’s modern skepticism. The supporting cast, including the tight-knit community of El Paso, adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making the world of the novel feel vividly real.

Jaramillo’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the essence of El Paso with its rich cultural tapestry and vibrant landscapes. The narrative flows seamlessly, balancing moments of intense action with quieter, introspective scenes. Jaramillo’s ability to blend the magical with the mundane creates a unique and immersive reading experience.

The Witches of El Paso explores themes of heritage, identity, and the power of community. The novel delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the ways in which our past shapes our present. Jaramillo also examines the intersection of magic and reality, challenging readers to consider the unseen forces that influence our lives.

The Witches of El Paso is a beautifully crafted novel that combines a gripping plot with richly developed characters and a vividly imagined setting. Luis Jaramillo has created a story that is both enchanting and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for fans of magical realism and family sagas. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a blend of mystery, magic, and heartfelt storytelling.

Real Rating: 4.5* of five

So satisfying. Slow and intricate, deep and wise. I'm sure some will find the woven timelines...no definitive breaks or obtrusive tricks mark the shifts in the timeline...to be deal-breakingly imprecise, but to me that made this like an oral performace of a mythic tale. I will say that, as this is also a review of the book meant to instruct others in its merits, I've nicked a half-star off because this pigeonholes the Perfect Reader a bit overly finely.

I don't always love it when men take it upon themselves to write about motherhood. Author Jaramillo manages to do this feat without making the commonest mistakes men fall into: flattening the narrative scope into a litany of caretaking chores or glossing over these same chores. The effect is the same either end of the spectrum. It makes the work of motherhood into insignificant triviality. I hasten to add that many women writers have done the same, <i>Gone Girl</i> being a notable example. In this book, caretaking, mothering, is literally everywhere and yet this didn't obtrude into my consciousness until I was reviewing my notes before writing this review.

That's well-done prosody...I'm in the sounds of the story not in the structure of it. As these are the sounds of la frontera, where I grew up, I fell right in and did not notice it. Very well done indeed, Author Jaramillo.

I don't think any one thing worked more in favor of the book than Nena's manner of explaining the past to her modern, harried granddaughter, not as a place of beautiful memories but of deeds undine and consequences unmet. Business to be finished dominates every life, none moreso than that of the oldest among us. I resonated like a struck bell to this thread of the tapestry woven for me.

As a way to add some occult flavor and Hispanic culture to your #Deathtober reading, this works very well. As a lovely story of the intense bonds of a loving family woman, forced by bitter circumstance to choose actions permanent and irremediable, making amends as best she can, it's gloriously satisfying.

Read soonest.

I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the grandmother paradox that this book’s whole plot is based on. 😅

I am very lukewarm on this book. On one end this has a lot of tropes I enjoyed, and interesting concepts of characters, but they just failed to actually hit, feel real or compelling. Marta’s story points seem inconsequential in the bigger picture of the book, and Nena’s the part I was most interested in, just failed to capture the emotions and feelings it should have evoked. However, I enjoyed a lot of this book, I loved the ideas, and progression of the story, as well as the writing

This was a really fun read for me and a great Spooky Season selection.

Luis Jaramillo blends supernatural intrigue with the gritty charm of a border city, weaving a compelling tale of power and family. Set against the backdrop of El Paso, Texas, this novel is a captivating exploration of how the mystical can exist in tandem with the everyday. Jaramillo blends magical realism with authentic cultural elements, creating a world where ancient traditions and modern struggles collide.

The dualities of the city—the tension between old and new, tradition and change, magic and reality—gave me a sense of a place where the supernatural feels entirely plausible. The pacing is well-measured, gradually revealing the complex relationships among the witches while building an undercurrent of suspense that keeps you turning the pages.

One of the highlights for me is the exploration of heritage and power. Jaramillo ties witchcraft to the history of marginalized groups, particularly Mexican and Indigenous communities, highlighting the cultural and spiritual richness of these traditions. The story is as much about reclaiming power—personal, familial, and magical—as it is about facing the dangers that come with it. The magic feels rooted in something real, a reflection of the everyday struggles and triumphs of the characters. The Witches of El Paso offers a thoughtful and immersive take on witchcraft, culture, and the ties that bind us to our past. Fans of magical realism and urban fantasy will find this an enjoyable read.

With that said, the ending did leave something to be desired. I was heavily invested in Nena's story and honestly, Marta's part of the story felt a bit fluffed to me.

Time traveling brujas?! Yes please.

I loved the magical realism. Dual pov/timeline way of telling this story worked so well.

1943 El Paso- Nena has been hearing weird humming and has had overwhelming premonitions for years. She tries ti use her premonitions to help her family be able yo pay their bills when things go awry. She prays for help and an old timey nun walks her back to the church and back in time to the late 1700s.

In present day Nena is helping her niece channel her power to get back to the past and the people she left there.

This was lovely. I really enjoyed the writing and characters. I could have listened to more but it was a complete story-just a good time.

Thanks to netgalley and atria books for an eARC

Dual timelines of Nena, lost in a past she doesn’t know, & Marta trying to help her great aunt reconnect with a lost daughter, work together to tell a story of resilience & magic through generations.

I liked a lot of this! The scene setting was gorgeous, especially in the past, the magic was entrancing, and the relationship between Nena & Marta was so sweet.

But this feels unfinished. The ending for Nena happened very quickly, and there was no resolution for any parts of Marta’s story, from her family to the lawsuit case. And all of the other characters feel flat. And my kindle copy had two Chapter 20s and no chapter 21.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc.

What a fun read! Well written and engaging. If you're looking for something new and exciting, I highly recommend this book.

I’m really disappointed because this was one of my most anticipated reads of fall.

I really could not get settled into this one. Usually by chapter three I have an idea of what the pace is going to be and have a good understanding of where the author is going.

Chapter 1 left us off in a good spot following Marta at work, but then all of a sudden we’re in 1943 following Marta’s great aunt that we haven’t even got the chance to meet yet. Then there’s a very abrupt time jump within the chapter that made zero sense. I reread it four times and I still did not get it.

We aren’t formally introduced to Nena until chapter 3, but I think even if chapters 2 and 3 were switched, it wouldn’t be good either.

There needed to be better character introduction and building before abrupt time jumps.

The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo was an emotional historical fiction and magical read that explores the power of family.
A captivating and well written story that hooked me immediately and held me captive.
The magical realism was very intriguing.
The characters are well developed.
And Luis Jaramillo’s writing was so good.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

1.92 ★ — netgalley desperately needs a sample option because a blurb being interesting doesn't mean the writing will be. the prose in this was not compatible with me at all. i don't know how else to phrase it. there was literal buzzing in my ears whenever i picked this up. i wasn't able to connect with the story or the characters, and while i didn't care enough to hate anyone, i definitely wasn't feeling any love either. also, i feel like this is the third time i've read this plot? it has a motherhood × family history × time travel thing going on, similar to the unmaking of june farrow and the fallen fruit. similar plots don't really bother me, considering i mostly read ya, but this seems like a very niche concept? and comparing it to the other two made me realize how underwhelming this is. the prose and the voice in twoep were very different from the other two and were far less compelling for me.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

DNF at 14%

The description of this book sounded like just what I was looking for and the cover was beautiful but I just could not get into the storyline. I typically don't mind alternating timelines but it felt difficult to follow here and I just didn't have enough information about any of the characters to be drawn to any of them.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Luis Jaramillo for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just not for me.

I don’t know if it was the witchy story I didn’t like or just this specific writing and story.

I wish there was POV and time called out in each chapter.

The modern day chapters felt very disjointed and the different timelines didn’t seem to flow together too well.

The past timeline at least seemed to reach a breaking point but the present timeline just felt like it was along for the ride.

I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review

This is the perfect Latine Heritage read! Theres magic, friendship, love, lots and lots of culture, but especially the journey of finding one’s own power.
This jumps between timelines, mostly from Nena’s POV, who appears across the timelines, and then there’s Marta. Two pasts and the present represented. The plot was intriguing and kept me engaged but I did find it a little confusing to keep track of what timeframe we were in as there’s no chapter title to help the transitions. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this!

2.5⭐️ I love a magical, witchy read and the synopsis for this sounded so promising, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

I think the pacing of the story was the biggest issue for me. The plot progression was super slow in both timelines, and it also felt like there wasn’t a ton going on. What was happening didn’t grab my attention like I thought it would, and I honestly felt like things only started to pick up at the 85% point, which in my opinion is way too far along. I overall just didn’t feel that invested in the characters or story.

All that said, I do think the idea behind the book was interesting. I liked the multi-generational aspect to the story, and the little bit of magical realism involved there. The women in this family were the main focus here, and how that all tied together at the end was a nice touch.

i refuse to believe this is the debut novel of this author. i was absolutely hooked within 5 pages, this is one of the best witch esque books i've read all year. you can get your copy now!

Y’all, I loved this book with all of my damn heart!!!✨

Happy Pub Day to @lrjaramillo and The Witches of El Paso 10/10 recommend this book for the current season(Latinx Heritage Month and Fall/Spooky Szn) and every season in between!!! This story had so much heart and love and adventure between the pages💙

5⭐️

Thank you partner(s) @atriabooks / @primerosuenopress for the review ARC and the gifted final copy of this book #AtriaPartner

Thank you Atria Books for my #gifted copy and thank you Simon Audio for my #gifted listening copy of The Witches of El Paso! #AtriaPartner #atriabooks #simonaudio #simonandschusteraudio #TheWitchesofElPaso #LuisJaramillo

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐨
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐚𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

The Withes of El Paso was a great blend of historical fiction and magical realism. I love generational stories and this one was done so well. This was my first book by Luis Jaramillo, but it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the characters in this book, and felt like the character development was spot on! There were definitely witchy vibes, and this book is perfect for this time of year. At just shy of 300 pages, this is a quick read, and perfect for a fall night!

🎧I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Raquel Beattie. I thought Beattie was so talented and perfect for this audiobook. I really connected with the narrator and highly recommend this one on audio!

Posted on Goodreads on October 8, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around October 9, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on October 8, 2024
**-will post on designated date

Very interesting book about the Spanish people in El paso texas. There's different stories to this book. It starts out in 1942 and goes back to 1798.. It's also in the present time as well. NE NA. Was a young girl in 1942. And she goes back in time to Seventeen eighty two. She ends up in a C o n v e n t. This is really interesting because Magic starts to take place in this and hear about different things.What went on. And then it moves to the present time when she was an older woman. She was an older woman in the present time.She tries to help for Grand niece. Called M a r t e n. We're talking about the family's history and how things do not go very well. For this family. I had this thing in the book called LA vista. This was a sound when things were about to change.. It was a very interesting book. I learned a lot about native Americans and how things were.. There's a lot of different endings and surprises in this book.

I love a fall, witchy read!! A story of dual timelines, and powerful women harnessing their magic for the good of their family and themselves that cannot be missed!

In 1943, El Paso teenage Nena cares for the children of her sisters dreaming of a different life, but stuck because of debilitating premonitions and fainting spells. Fed up with this life she prays in desperation for a cure! Mysterious Sister Benedicta arrives, and helps Nena grow into her power. Meanwhile, present day Marta (grand-niece of Nena, balances a very busy job in legal aid, caring for a 93 year old Nena and motherhood. Marta offers to help Nena come to terms with her past, awakening abilities in herself she didn't know she had, and connecting the two in ways they never dreamed.

This story is a beautiful compilation of magical realism and celebrating Mexican culture. Women are centre in this story, and their power bursts from the pages! While I love a fall, witchy read, this one is a little bit more contemporary with some important themes and fantastic prose. There are moments that are a bit unclear due to the jumpy timeline, but with a little bit of focus, it all comes together!

An absolute must read! Happy pub-day to this one!