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.

The Witches of El Paso, Mexican heritage and the story of generational women in El Paso.

We follow Marta, a lawyer fighting for social justice and Nena (great aunt) in both present time and 1943. This story is largely character based and about relationships. We see the strong female MC’s captured in this story live out the tribulations of this life.

I loved the Mexican culture in this book, generational story, and the relationships in this story. I loved the atmospheric read this book offered (I literally was pulled into the story).

I loved how I wasn’t fully aware of each chapter where we were in the story (narrator and timeline). Came together and I was captured with where the story was going.

Thank you to Negalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press for this digital copy.

This was a beautiful story about the connection between a woman and her great-niece. It was rich with culture and immersive environmental descriptions. The plot jumps from three separate timelines which makes things happen quickly, but the story does blend well.

Thanks to Atria/Primero Sueno Press for the copy of this book!

I think the advertising of in the vein of "The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina" was accurate - I really enjoyed that book and felt similar vibes in EL PASO. I adore a generational story and time travel,and these honestly made this a really great witchy story. Sometimes I'm a little hesitant knowing it's a man writing a romance element in a story because I don't connect as well but Luis really just did such a fantastic job writing the romance and this entire story!

The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo is a magical realism fantasy book centered on Nena in 1943 as she time slips to 1792. She ends up in a convent and things take a drastic turn for the magical and weird. The story alternates with present day Nena and her grand niece, Marta. Both experience La Vista, or a type of vision or precognition. Nena needs Marta’s help to find her daughter left behind in the past.

I would recommend this book for fantasy and multicultural readers. The elements of magic are strange and interesting, this book would be best for readers who are not new to fantasy. The family elements explored in the alternating timelines are a strong part of the story, you will find yourself engaged until the end.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up!

Quick Look:⁣
-dual timeline, dual POV⁣
-intergenerational story⁣
-Brujeria story⁣
-steeped in cultural references⁣
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Thoughts⁣
I wasn't sure what to expect from this story, to be honest. I have read several other Latine witchy books with mixed results, so I went into this book with tempered expectations. And while it started off a little on the slow side, The Witches of El Paso delivered. There's witchcraft (spellwork, conjuring, etc), time travel, and lots of family drama, which I love. The two main characters are well-developed and fiercely female for a male author. You can tell that Jaramillo pulled from his personal experience with the women in his life to form his female leads. The historical timeline is heartbreaking at times, reflective of the racism and sexism women, especially Latina women, faced at the time. The juxtaposition of the modern and historic timelines adds real depth to the book, highlighting ways in which female empowerment has changed women's lives everywhere while simultaneously showcasing how the narrative remains unchanged. There were moments when the story got a little convoluted, but the author always seemed to right the ship and weave the tale back together in a way that made sense. The way he illustrated the temptation of power really is fascinating and warrants reflection and discussion, so my DMs are open if you want to discuss. Overall this was very enjoyable and a great addition to any Fall TBR!

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. When I saw the title for this book I was immediately intrigued. I love reading witchy books in the fall and I haven’t read many books set in El Paso.

Fun fact about me, I lived in El Paso during my college years and graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso. During my time there I fell in love with the city, made some of my best friends and met my husband. El Paso holds many fond memories for me and will always have a piece of my heart.

That being said, I was so happy to be transported back there through this book. I loved the mention of all the different places within and around the city present and past. This book spans between colonial El Paso Del Norte, 1940s El Paso and current day El Paso.

Maria is a lawyer in present day El Paso and is also a caregiver for her greataunt Nena. Nena is a witch and some of her witchyness has been passed down to Maria. Maria is now learning the full extent of the power her family holds and has agreed to help Nena with a special challenge.

While I loved the atmosphere of this book, the plot fell a little flat for me and the pacing felt off, especially in the middle. The magic in this book was interesting with its time travel and animal elements, and I would have liked even more magic written throughout.

This book releases on October 8th, so if you want a trip to past and present El Paso add it to your TBR list

In 1943, teenager Nena knows she is different. She hears humming. She has fainting spells. She is not beautiful or smart like her older sisters. When the eldest sister marries, Nena often babysits the children and watches over the home. In her frustration she calls for help and one night she is visited by a mysterious woman, Sister Benedicta, who opens a time portal and takes her to a convent in colonial Mexico. Nena develops her supernatural gifts, and learns more about the spirit that comes to her. But all gifts have a price, and Nina experiences a huge loss and is sent back to the future where her older sisters institutionalize her thinking she has lost her mind.
Fast forward to the present day, where Nena's great niece, Marta, is a married attorney with two small boys, and a struggling legal practice. When Marta starts to have symptoms similar to the ones Nena had, Nena decides to confide in her, and try and find someone that she lost in the past. The author writes and you can almost smell the magical stews and horrible smells that come with the curses. If you enjoy a western setting, family drama and dynamics, magic, and secrets, this book is for you.

Jaramillo’s The Witches of El Paso chronicles two generations of women from one family that spans hundreds of years. The female lineage hides a secret link to the magical world. Martha, a lawyer, must limit her belief to fulfill her focus on a case. Nena takes the reader on a crazy ride through generations to explain witchcraft, the role of women, and the meaning of love. This ARC was missing a chapter, so it is difficult to piece together the store around what was missing. Not only was there Mexican culture, you also get a little bit of history and the treatment of women who work with nuns and the growth of family.

A wonderful, shimmering, joy of a novel. I can't wait until this book is published so I can connect with other readers about the story that had me so engrossed I stayed up late and woke early and snuck every reading break I could get until I reached the last page. The women of The Witches of El Paso and the lush and stunning depictions of the cities in the novel remain with me and I suspect they will for some time.

Another great witchy book read. This one was different than the others I’ve read recently whereas this is less of a horror book, and more magical realism and family. Set in my hometown of El Paso, I knew I had to give this a read, and I am so glad I did.

Told in three different timeframes, this book about a witch who travels back to old time El Paso, was unique and very entertaining. The author captures El Paso so wonderfully, reading about my old stomping grounds made for an enjoyable read. The characters are well fleshed out and realistic, despite being witches, and the storyline is unique and intriguing.

If you’re looking for a different type of witch book, one that is highly entertaining and unusual, this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Latine Heritage Month

I have not been this engrossed in a story in quite some time. I binged half of this at a hair appointment and eagerly sat down the next day to finish the rest.

Brujas are a mythos you encounter frequently when you read Mexican and Mexican diaspora fiction. While the witches not called as such here, witches they are, and they are very powerful.

What I find beautiful in Mexican culture is the importance of women, and the power they hold. A story told in two parts, we begin the story with Marta, a lawyer fighting for social justice. Her great aunt Nena (Elena) turns up in both timelines, and her story is engrossing in each.

While magical realism is difficult for some to grasp, I loved each and every bit of this story. There is love. There is friendship. There is magic. There is power. There is betrayal. There is comeuppance. I wanted more, while realizing that this was just enough.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press

With every review, I try to connect myself to the words on the page. This time, I did that, but it's a bit different from my other reviews.

My maternal grandfather grew up in New Mexico. He spoke Spanish, he had an eighth-grade education, and like most of his generation, he worked his ass off.

He worked for Union Pacific for years when my mother was young and took trips with him to San Francisco for railroad things. His family, growing up, was very poor. I'm relaying this from what I know. His last name was Jaramillo. I knew him as a man who worked and cared for his family.

When I started this book, I related to the author's last name. I know it's a common name. I thought of my grandfather and the environment he grew up in. I knew it was similar to the one that Nena had.

There were so many instances while reading when I thought of my grandfather. I had to put that aside a few times to focus on what I was reading.

The elements of witches within the book and the environment around the life in the book are essential.

Marta is like many women trying to make a life for their family. She wants to live her life, but her grandmother lives with her, and there's something about her aunt that she can't understand.

As we dive deeper into the story, we understand the connections as we shift from Nena's story, where she travels back in time, to Marta's. The connections between the two are done very well.

Marta is trying to save lives in the present day, and Nena is attempting to save lives as she existed in the past.

I enjoyed this book. Marta is such a wonderful character. Nena reminds me of my grandmother, who was married to my grandfather. She wasn't a witch, but she knew many things that could be construed as such. I enjoyed how everything came together in the end.

I would like to know what happened to the lawsuit in the book. I was a bit invested in it and hoped it would be told.

I think my grandfather would have enjoyed this story.

I enjoyed the magical elements of this novel. While reading, I found myself enjoying the chapters about Nena's perspective more and skimming the other chapters. Her story and perspective just seemed much more interesting, especially at the beginning.

This is the first novel I've read by the author and I look forward to reading Jaramillo's other works.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria and Luis Jaramillo for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Witches of El Paso.
This is a well written, witchy tale about a group of complicated women from multiple timelines who use their powers to guide their survival. I enjoyed their supernatural abilities and how the world vowed them. There were a lot of characters moving back and forth in time which to me became hard to follow. The story moved too quickly from place to place and I often needed to reread sections to put the plot in order so it made sense. More character development might have guided me in this process. There were many parts that intrigued me but it was not easy to transition from place to place with multiple ime periods.

I love a magical time travel novel. The Witches of El Paso was an intimate look at the younger years of Nena, and the current day trials of Marta, her niece. Nena is a practitioner of La Vista, an interesting magical system that's part inherited, part taught, and needs to learn to be controlled. This book definitely got me interested in the Mexican equivalent of voodoo - I loved the incorporation of natural elements in the spells, and their outputs.

One of my favorite aspects was the setting of a convent within a convent - Nena is spirited away to an OLD El Paso, and is taken in by a group of nuns that are not all they seem. The two main sisters were formidable and CREEPY. This is a good read for spooky season that has some depth to it as well.

I purchased this book but thank you for the online access. I have already read it. It was wonderful and I look forward to more Atria books!!

At first, Marta has no idea that her family has a secret magical history. She always knew that her great-aunt, Nena, was a little strange. Nena would tell fortunes and work a little magic for her clients, to the chagrin of the rest of the family. But when Marta starts to see things that no one else—other than Nena can see—she struggles with the idea that she isn’t as normal as she thought. The Witches of El Paso, by Luis Jaramillo, is a wild ride into strange powers and the consequences of relying too much on magic to get one’s way.

We meet Marta when she’s in the middle of a stressful case she’s litigating on behalf of a group of women claiming that their boss has sexually harassed them, her husband’s career is reaching new heights, and her great-aunt Nena has just caused a kitchen fire. Marta has always been the person in her family to take care of things so, naturally, she attempts to take on all of this while also caring for her two boys. It’s a lot. Small wonder that Marta’s temper is fraying and her ability to handle anything and everything is crumbling. This is no time for Nena to start pestering her about La Vista, a powerful but capricious form of magic that Marta has inherited.

The Witches of El Paso, set in both the Texas city and the Mexican city of Juárez, is not just Marta’s tale. Chapters from a much younger Nena’s perspective show us how she became entangled with La Vista. Like Marta, Nena was the person everyone in her family relied on: to take care of nieces and nephews, to run errands, to work for extra money to make rent. In a moment of desperation and exhaustion, Nena called out for something to rescue her and was whisked away by an eighteenth-century witch (who also happens to be a nun, which is fun) to learn how to harness La Vista.

While Marta and Nena wrestle with their newly discovered ability to use La Vista and their many responsibilities, an interesting theme emerges. Where in many fantasies magic offers solutions to apparently unsolvable problems, La Vista has a mind of its own. Its tendency to make things worse makes this magic seem a lot more sentient than I’m used to. It takes Nena and Marta some time to figure this out. When they are drunk with power, it’s far too easy to use La Vista to make problems go away by manipulating and coercing people. La Vista, unfortunately for everyone, has a punishing way of manifesting its users’ wishes.

I admired the unique magic Jaramillo created for his story but I was also puzzled by the romance shoehorned into Nena’s story. The man she falls in love with is an unrepentant rich asshole far too used to getting his own way. I was really surprised by how quickly Nena was able to overlook his faults after he begins to behave a little better. I understand that some kind of romance was necessary for the plot but every time Nena ran into his arms, I couldn’t help but think, “Really? Him?” I’m not sure I can resolve my mixed feelings about this book to recommend it.

This was an absolutely fascinating book about a family in one of my favorite cities, El Paso. The main character was Nena, who was in her nineties when we first met her. Through her, we experienced not only present day El Paso, but also the city in the 1940s and El Paso del Norte of the 1790s. Seeing life through Nena’s eyes was both mysterious and magical.

This was an extremely well written story with characters I felt I knew almost immediately and definitely wanted to spend more time around. I especially enjoyed the multiple timelines and how the author seamlessly almost melted from one time into another. Although, I did find the present to be the least interesting of the timelines.

I found myself very invested in Nena’s story in the two early timelines. The present timeline seemed to be a bit more scattered with the addition of Marta’s story. Her story, while interesting, lacked the depth of Nena’s. I wanted to know more about her, her marriage and the case she was working on. The rather abrupt ending was a bit jarring.

"A lawyer and her elderly great-aunt use their supernatural gifts to find a lost child in this richly imagined and empowering story of motherhood, magic, and legacy in the vein of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina and La Hacienda.

If you call to the witches, they will come.

1943, El Paso, Texas: 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."

THE book I've been hearing everyone talk about this fall. I know you want into that bookish conversation...