This captivating story intricately weaves history, love, and magical realism. I'm drawn to narratives where women embrace their authentic selves, unapologetically refusing to diminish their brilliance while tending to others. The women in this book epitomize strength as they acknowledge their innate gifts and recognize their true value. I loved this beautiful story.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Historial Fiction • Magical Realism • Dual Timeline
Pub Date • 8 October 2024

Thank you to @atriabooks and @primerosuenopress Sueno Press for the free finished copy!

It is officially the season of the witch. Great timing for the release of The Witches of El Paso, a story about a coven of witches of Spanish and Indigenous descent living in what is now Texas, then Spanish-Mexico.

“𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴— 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”

Marta is a lawyer, deputy director to a legal-aid nonprofit in the middle of a messy sexual harassment case. In another life she could have been a judge, but now she needs this win in order to keep the nonprofit afloat.

Her marriage, once passionate, has dulled. On top of all of it, she’s caring for her elderly great-aunt Nena, who the neighbors call a loca bruja [crazy witch]. But is having La Vista [the view/sight] a blessing or a curse and can Marta harness it to fight dirty...

I loved this setting! It’s close proximity to where I live, El Paso being 4 hours drive south to the border. I could see the luminarias, hear the mariachi at La Sirena, smell the scents of the kitchen, and imagine myself there and then.

If you’re a Spanish speaker, you’ll pick up even more references. I really enjoyed how the author uses dual timelines to expose us to the late 1700s juxtaposed with near-present day.

The pacing was slower to start and then moved quickly past the halfway point. Don’t think too hard about the time loops, just let it flow. I wanted more when it came to the ending where some threads are left unresolved.

If you like magical realism with a historical setting steeped in culture, give this one a try.

This was different from anything I’ve ever read and I really enjoyed it. In some ways it felt weirdly nostalgic? Although I can’t really explain that feeling. It reminded me of my grandmother. One of my favorite people in the world ❤️ this book can be compared to “Mexican Gothic”. It has so much soul and is very creative. The romance picked up about a third of the way into the book. I love that parts of the book was written in Spanglish, but still easy to follow. I definitely recommend it! A great book for anytime, but fun to read during spooky season!

This moves between 1792, 1943, and the present to tell the story of Nena, a woman who sees things. Jaramillo smoothly incorporates the paranormal- making it integral to the story and yet not overwhelming. Nena's grand niece Marta, in the present, is unhappy at work and concerned about Nena, now in her 90s so she agrees to look for the child Nena left in the past. This is fine historical fiction in which the city of El Paso is one of the characters. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Engaging, entertaining, and intriguing.

The biggest reasons this didn't work for me were a matter of personal taste and timing - I don't usually enjoy time travel stories and I'm currently a little burnt out on witches - so it's hard for me to evaluate the other elements objectively. But for me, the stories were a bit scattered. I love a family saga, but there was just something missing from this story that kept me from being full invested.

Loved this time-jumping, magic realism story of the power of history and our choices. Set in El Paso in the 1700s, 1940s and modern day we see the interconnectedness of history, of family legacies, and of choice. I especially loved how major or power became present in one character in her 40s - a time when women are so often overlooked.

Set in the heart of West Texas, we meet the enigmatic, elderly Nena, and Marta, her great- niece and caregiver. As a lawyer, Marta is devoted to justice, so when Nena asks for help in finding her daughter, Marta embarks on a journey that ignites the magic within her too.
Through alternating timelines, we come to discover how and why Nena lost her daughter. In this discovery Marta will come to find the power within herself to strengthen her career, and the bonds within her family.
This book was an absolute dream! I loved reading through Nena's perspective, specifically the longing to escape reality that was so relatable. As children, we often dream of being whisked away from our circumstances, and this fed the whimsy in my soul. However, Jaramillo did a great job of juxtaposing this with the danger of magic, and just how uncontrollable it can be if we are not careful, especially in the heartbreaking reality that Nena was grounded in, while stuck in the past.
Overall, this book had strong commentary on womanhood, perceptions of reality, and living your truth.
I would rate it 4.5 ⭐s!
A perfect read for Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month.

Set your calendars for October 8th!

Thank you Netgalley, Primer Sueño Press, and Luis Jaramillo for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

In 1943 El Paso, Texas, Nena cares for her sisters' children while wishing for a life of freedom and adventure. The premonitions and fainting spells grow worse, and when Nena prays for help, Sister Benedicta arrives. Nena travels through time and space, learning that magic always comes with a price. In the present day, Nena’s grandniece Marta cares for her while working and caring for her own children. At 93, Nena wants Marta to help search for a daughter Nena left in the past. Marta’s own powers emerge, threatening the life she has constructed.

Nena was tired of taking care of her sister's children, and the visions she always had grew more intense. She wound up in the past, living in a convent with other women who shared that gift and called it La Vista. While this sight gave them power, it was something they couldn't control and seemed to do what it wanted. Marta works as a lawyer, is married to a doctor campaigning for funds for the hospital, and hears the humming that is meant to be the songs of La Vista. She feels as powerful as the nuns once did, and thinks she can turn the tide of the case she's working on. Nothing turns out the way she planned, from the case to her husband's fundraising to Nena looking for her daughter.

In this novel, time blurs. We have three different eras and the thread of magic connecting them. It doesn't seem to have a purpose, but Marta and Nena bond over the stories of the past, the family’s dynamics, and the drive to be more than what society wants to see them as. The push for adventure and making a name for herself is there for both women, and they both come to realize that it's not fame they want, but family. The bonds they have are important, and love will carry them through the next generation. It's an interesting way to tell the family story.

Luis Jaraimillo is a new author for me. I selected this book because it is about witches, and I do love reading about them - in all their various forms.

Description:
If you call to the witches, they will come.

1943, El Paso, teenager Nena spends her days caring for the small children of her older sisters, while longing for a life of freedom and adventure. The premonitions and fainting spells she has endured since childhood are getting worse, and Nena worries she’ll end up like the scary old curandera down the street. Nena prays for help, and when the mysterious Sister Benedicta arrives late one night, Nena follows her across the borders of space and time. In colonial Mexico, Nena grows into her power, finding love and learning that magic always comes with a price.

In the present day, Nena’s grandniece, Marta, balances a struggling legal aid practice with motherhood and the care of the now ninety-three-year-old Nena. When Marta agrees to help search for a daughter Nena left in the past, the two forge a fierce connection. Marta’s own supernatural powers emerge, awakening her to new possibilities that threaten the life she has constructed.

My Thoughts:
The story is told in two timelines. What happened to Nena in 1943, the timeline in the past is intertwined with present day and what is happening to Maria now. The "gift" the witches have in this story is like none I have read about previously, so this was definitely different. These witches weren't in control, and that's pretty scary stuff I think. I found the story interesting and unique, and it has multicultural interest. Not my favorite, but not bad. I think anyone who likes the supernatural would enjoy this.

Thanks to Atria Books - Atria/Primero Sueno Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Witches of El Paso is an engaging read. I found the characters to be well fleshed out and likable. The scenes were written beautifully.
The chapters bounce back and forth from past to present and it can be a bit confusing. I found the story from the past much more enjoyable.
This story would be perfect for anyone who likes witchy historical reads. Perfect for spooky season!

This was a good book overall. The story took a hit for me to get into it, but once it did— the writing just flowed like I was watching it instead of reading it.

This is a mystical story centered around Marta, a woman balancing life as a wife, mother, and lawyer at a struggling legal aid practice, while caring for her eccentric elderly great-aunt, Nena. The narrative develops slowly, alternating between alluring glimpses into Nena’s past and Marta’s present, blending magic, time travel, and the supernatural in a unique way. It managed to pique my interest, but it didn’t quite deliver. Some of its most intriguing plot threads were ultimately neglected or simply abandoned, and a lot of the action was confusing and unexplained. Reading it was like looking at abstract art – I could tell it’s beautiful, but not sure what it’s supposed to be.

The Witches of El Paso is a tale of joy, grief, reconnection, and self-discovery that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book follows Nena, a 90-something guía who has a storied past and is the great-aunt of our other main character, Marta. Marta works for a struggling non-profit that assists people with legal cases. With Marta being Nena’s last remaining family member, the duty of her care falls to her. When Nena begins to discuss her daughter who was lost to time with Marta, Marta is skeptical but entertains Nena anyway, leading them both on a journey to find the missing girl.

This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions and while frustrating at times, the back and forth between Nena and Marta’s stories kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I also enjoyed the magic system and the lessons entwined in it. If you’re looking for a fitting fall read that will make you laugh and potentially cry, this is a wonderful book that succeeds in both while also telling a beautiful story.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A generational story of women in one family who use their magical powers to travel through time trying to find where they belong and to find a missing child left centuries before. Imaginative and descriptive.

Thank you, Atria and NetGalley, for my free book for review.

Luis Jaramillo's "The Witches of El Paso" weaves a spellbinding tale of time travel and witchcraft that captivates from the first page. Set against the backdrop of 1943 El Paso, the novel vividly paints a picture of poverty and struggle, immersing readers in the world of our protagonist, Nena.

Jaramillo's approach to time travel is refreshingly unique, infusing the narrative with an eerie, foreboding atmosphere as Nena traverses to a different era. The author masterfully juxtaposes witchcraft and religion, centering much of the action around a convent that doubles as a coven. This setting becomes a crucible for exploring themes of power, greed, and the blurred lines between faith and magic.

The story is also one of first love and disappointment. Nena's encounter with a man she believes loves her, only to be let down, adds a poignant layer of realism to this fantastical tale.

In the present day, we meet Martha, Nena's great-niece, whose monotonous life is upended when she takes in her elderly aunt. As Martha aids Nena in the unconventional search for her aunt’s long-lost daughter, she finds herself reluctantly drawn into a world of magic she never knew existed. The author skillfully portrays Martha's journey from skepticism to belief, mirroring the reader's own suspension of disbelief.

Jaramillo's handling of the time continuum is mind-bending yet coherent, leading to a surprising revelation about Nena and her daughter that will leave readers gasping. The novel concludes on a note of hope, with both Nena and Martha finding new purpose and anticipation for the future, despite not achieving their original goal.

"The Witches of El Paso" is a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and magical realism that explores the power of family bonds across time and space. Jaramillo's prose casts a spell of its own, inviting readers to believe in the impossible and find magic in the everyday.

The audiobook version, narrated by Raquel Beattie, brings both Nena and Martha to life, enhancing the reading experience.

Unfortunately I was underwhelmed by this one. I was really interested while reading although it did have a slow start. Then it hit about the 70% mark and felt so rushed to get to the end. I feel like I’m not even really sure what happened. I could be the only one who feels this way, but it was just an ok read for me. I enjoyed hearing about the history and beliefs of the Mexican population living in El Paso and felt that was the highlight of this book. Pacing was way off for me though.

Hispanic magical realism about coming of age with supernatural powers. Lots of Spanish mixed in which was fun and immersive. The writing feels straightforward and accessible— good for YA readers this spooky season.

The Witches of El Paso is by far one of my favorite books that I have read this year.

A story of a Great Aunt and her Niece, coming into their own powers and the struggle of you can't always control something that is all around you.
I have chills thinking back to the well described scenes of magic and the picturesque landscape. I would love to erase my brain so that I can read this again for the first time.

Thank you to Luis Jaramillo, the publisher, and Net Galley for letting me read this.

This synopsis sounded intriguing. Unfortunately I dnfed this at 15%. The writing wasn't to my liking and I feel like I read the same sentence multiple times with the wording switched around.

Plenty of witchy reads for you this October that’s for sure and I liked this one! It chronicles two generations of women from one family that spans hundreds of years. The female lineage hides a secret link to the magical world. Magical realism at it’s core with the added bonus of Mexican culture, female friendship. I can see a lot of people getting into this one.