Really loved the creepy witchy vibes, and the three different but parallel stories. Fun read. I definitely want to read more of this author.

This may be one of my favorite Moreno-Garcia novels yet. I love the theme woven throughout that witchcraft (and folklore) transcends cultures and generations, and that those connections are what guides our heroines. We are introduced to four different women from three different time periods, Alba (1908) who lives in rural Mexico, Beatrice and Ginny ( 1934), and Minerva (1998) who is Alba's great-granddaughter and attends the same New England college as Beatrice and Ginny decades apart. Of all the women, Alba was the most captivating and had the most tense plotline, and I found myself drawn to her chapters the most. The resolution to her story is ultimately what drives Minerva's story (and by extension, Ginny's).

I felt that the book had a bit of a slow start, but once the eerie storyline kicks in and we get a feel for what's going on, it became one of those books that was hard to put down (I may or may not have finished this at nearly 1am because I had to know how things were resolved). It is a story about witches, but it's also a ghost story, which lends itself to a few heart racing moments, especially toward the last 1/3rd of the novel. If you're a fan of Moreno-Garcia's signature haunting and atmospheric style, you'll definitely want to check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

Another fabulous book from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Spanning a century, this story unfolds as three women in three timelines, discover their power and their connection to each other and their heritage.

Lush, vivid and evocative, this one is highly recommended.

If you liked Mexican Gothic or Weyward, this book is a MUST READ!! This story is next-level clever and creepy. It gave me chills and had me keeping an eye out from behind the living room curtains.

Witches. Darkness. Love. Betrayal. Jealousy. Power. Death. Fear.
and everything else you’d expect to find in a story about witches. But this is absolutely not your typical witches story. There are no cauldrons or pointed hats here. No broomsticks or dancing around toadstools.

We are told 3 distinct, yet interconnected stories through Alba, Beatrice and Minerva as Silvia takes us on a journey from 1908 Mexico to 1934 and then 1998 Massachusetts. We learn about Mexican folklore, betwitchment, women coming of age, education and fighting against unseen horrors.

There are so many stories within this book and all of them are told perfectly through different voices, notes, books and discoveries. The pacing is spot on - starting off slower and gaining traction in the second-half as the pieces start coming together. The language is wonderful - Silvia has the most incredible way with words (and I even had to look a few of them up!!).

Honestly, I am OBSESSED with this book and haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read the final page.

I feel completely privileged to have been offered this book as an ARC from Netgalley, and will be purchasing a copy of it once it’s released.

4.5/5 stars

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of those authors whose books I will always read; though there have been a few that weren't for me, The Bewitching was absolutely up my alley and I really enjoyed reading it. It's a fascinating tale of three different interwoven accounts with a blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror. As always with Moreno-Garcia's books, the inclusion of Mexican folklore and witchcraft is yet another reason why I keep coming back to this author.

This book is spooky without being too spooky, making it a good read for someone like me, who's a self-proclaimed coward. This is one of those books that'll make a great read for October, since it checks all of the boxes of an autumnal, witchy horror novel (with an academic setting as a bonus). I enjoyed the overall path of the narrative and the twist at the end wasn't quite what I expected, in a good way.

I will say, I wish that there had been a connection between Betty and Alba -- I thought the three stories would intertwine into a triangle, but it was more like ^ (with Minerva being the top in that shape). Though this didn't ultimately affect my enjoyment of the novel, I did spend a bit of time looking for connections that weren't there.

Besides a few small points, I really enjoyed tihs novel and I highly recommend it!

I'm a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia so I was beyond excited to read the Net Galley ARC! This was a multi-generational story of witches, secrets, and family. I will say the plot moved a little slower than I would have liked, but the ending was phenomenal and very satisfying. I liked the way the three main plots looped together to paint a complete story. Moreno-Garcia has a beautiful talent for writing stories that captivate readers. This is no different.

In 1908 great grandma Alba lived through witches. In 1934 Beatrice tried to unravel the disappearance of her friend Virginia who became obsessed with witchcraft and in 1998 Minerva picks up the story and puts it all together as her college thesis on Beatrice now a deceased obscure author who attended Minerva’s college where Virginia disappeared. Three generations, three stories that tie together into another SMG hit. Five glorious witching stars.

This is a haunting, multigenerational story full of Mexican folklore. It’s peak gothic horror and a brings a new twist to witchy books.
The only thing that held it back is the slow pacing but the build up created a sinister, eery atmosphere.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for eARC.

Actual rating: 4.75 stars

I’ve had Silvia Moreno-Garcia on my radar for a long time, especially as one of my book besties loves everything she writes, but for whatever reason I struggled to actually read her books. When I read the synopsis for The Bewitching, though, I knew it would be my jam and that I needed to get my hands on it. I love multi-timeline stories and multigenerational stories, plus the supernatural elements of this story just drew me in. I’m so glad I was able to read an early copy, because I adored this book. I do feel like I figured out some of the mystery elements relatively early on, but the actual culmination and reveal was done so well. I loved the tension development, as well as the weaving of the three different story lines. I loved this, and look forward to diving more thoroughly into Moreno-Garcia’s backlist.

As soon as I read the quote on ’The Bewitching’s blurb concerning witches I knew that I had to check it out. A witch based tale featuring a strange disappearance and an author of macabre stories by the author of the beguiling ’Mexican Gothic’; how could I ever hope to resist? Admittedly this wasn’t quite as strong a hit as the former was for me but it’s still a highly compelling read that is sure to leave readers glued to its page. If you’re looking for a refreshing new approach to witches then ’The Bewitching’ is undeniably the book for you.

One thing that really stood out to me within this novel is the authors fascinating portrayal of witches, delving into inspiration from the tales her own great-grandmother used to tell her about the witches she heard of whilst growing up in the Mexican countryside. Any folklore, myths and legends from various cultures tends to fascinate me so reading a witch story based on these roots was a chilling delight. These probably aren’t the witches that you’re used to but they were disturbingly riveting to learn about and I’d happily devour any other similar tales that the author decides to pen.

‘The Bewitching’ is divided into three perspectives, each of which was mesmerising to uncover. Firstly there’s Minerva in 1998 delving into the works of Beatrice Tremblay and the mysterious disappearance of her friend Virginia that inspired one of them. Then there’s the story of her great-grandmother’s chilling encounter with a witch back in 1908. Thirdly there’s a manuscript belonging to Tremblay, detailing the strange disappearance of Virginia back in 1934. All three of these narratives are woven around each other and picking a favourite is impossible in truth. The narrative style of the manuscript really called to me and yet the historical setting and superstitious residences of Alba’s tale truly got beneath my skin. Needless to say all three perspectives were enticing, creating an atmospheric novel that’s impossible to pull your eyes from.

The characters within each timeline are well fleshed out and there are some expertly crafted, and uncomfortable, bonds between a couple of individuals too. Admittedly I was hoping for a few more of Nana Alba’s tales scattered throughout the book but the one that’s shared is sure to get its claws under your skin.

One thing to be aware of before picking up this book is that it does contain some uncomfortable scenes of animal violence. They’re placed with a purpose – they’re signs of a witch’s presence and feature in some of the rituals to protect against them, presumably from the original tales that the author was told – rather than simply to shock the reader. Yet I know many readers, myself included, appreciate a heads up about these kinds of scenes.

Mesmerising as it was something about ‘The Bewitching’ didn’t quite give me the same five star vibes that ‘Mexican Gothic’ left me with and I can’t fully put my finger on why. I managed to figure out who the witch was within each storyline earlier than I’d have expected however so I believe this was perhaps the culprit. It was still a compelling series of connected stories to follow in and I was always engaged but I never quite got that ‘oh my gosh’ moment of surprise.

Regardless of that last aspect I still highly recommend checking ‘The Bewitching’ out. It may not have ended up being my favourite of the author’s titles that I’ve tried but it was still a wonderfully compelling, and chilling, witch based tale that managed to feel fresh and intriguing. It contains three storylines that all managed to get their claws beneath my skin and was written in a beautifully compelling, atmospheric manner. Personally I can’t wait to see what the author pens next – and look forward to catching up on more of her backlist of titles.

Oh heck yeah. If she writes it I’m going to read it. And this one was a home run for me. Every book she writes gets better and better somehow.

“The Bewitching” is another masterclass from Silvia Moreno-Garcia! This book was near perfection from beginning to end. Three mysteries, three different women, three different eras all connected by an atavistic darkness. Minerva, whose grandma would tell her about a time when there were witches, is a college student writing her thesis on an obscure horror author whose friend mysteriously vanished in 1934. What she slowly unravels is something darker than she imagined. We get Minerva in 1998, Betty in 1934, and Alba in 1908. And each story and mystery unravels beautifully. Moreno-Garcia is a master at building tension. She understands its slow creep, building and building to the release. She gets your heart racing and has you checking the locks. She also has a way of making characters and scenes come to life without overwriting. So often when others do different time periods and character points of view it can all feel the same but each period is so fully developed and realized you can practically smell the era you’re in. And I love that this is a book that makes witches scary again!! One of my favorite books of 2025!

I’m a huge fan of witchy horror stories, so I went into this one with high expectations. There was a lot I really liked — the multigenerational storyline, the gothic atmosphere, and the beautiful writing style. But I found myself a little let down. The pacing was painfully slow at times and I wasn’t a big fan of how it all wrapped up. I think if the book had been a bit shorter and more dynamic, it would have pulled me in more. As it was, it just didn’t really click for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

As indicated in the book summary, The Bewitching is about three different women, in three separate timelines, as they experience mysterious disappearances and potential witchcraft and supernatural interference. Minerva is a graduate student, at loose ends on her thesis during the summer break at her school in a small town outside of Boston MA, in the late 1990s. Beatrice Tremblay is a young woman, trying to understand where her roommate and best friend Ginny disappeared to after a cold day in December, at the same school Minerva is studying at, in the mid 1930s. Alba is Minerva's great grandmother, living in Mexico after her father's death and her younger brother's abrupt disappearance, trying to piece together who has cursed her family and how to fix it. The events in each timeline echo in each womans life, and Minerva begins to piece together the similarities and begins to understand what supernatural forces may be at play that caused Ginny's disappearance and are now impacting her life at the school as well.
As with other books by Moreno-Garcia, the prose is lovely and easily readable, and each character has their own unique and easily distinguished voice. The development of the supernatural witchcraft at play was well thought out, and although I did find the identification of the person behind the disappearance and witchcraft to be easily identified in both Alba and Beatrice's timelines, I still enjoyed the lead up to the big reveal and how both Minerva and Alba were able to save themselves and their friends and families. Lovers of gothic novels, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia's previous works will likely enjoy this book as well.
Thank you to Random House, Del Ray, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Officially tied with Mexican Gothic as my favorite Silvia Moreno Garcia book—shoutout to The Bewitching!

The horror is more cunning and discreet than any of Silvia’s previous horror books, and I really loved that. It was a slow build to the end, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, a couple scenes had me hollering for characters to RUN. It had both an academic and then a rural setting too, so I totally understand the nerves one can get walking alone at night on campus or even out in a field. Having family in Kansas definitely allowed me to connect to this story more.

The three POVs are masterfully woven into each other. Minerva is the POV that bridges the gap between the other two due to her researching the author of her favorite horror book for her thesis (Beatrice) and then the relationship to her great grandmother (Alma), who loved her and used to talk about the witches of her youth.

Minerva writing her thesis on a lesser known horror author was truly a fascinating plot because I really enjoyed her research scenes, particularly because I majored in English.

Beatrice was actually told through a narrative format because she wrote her experience and theories about her friend’s disappearance before her death, which Minerva finds. It added another interesting layer in between the POVs of the other two characters.

Alma, imo, definitely had the most horrifying POV of the three, and I just wanted to hug her constantly.

In many ways, this book is about protecting/nurturing familial connections and history—like passing down folklore/experiences—as well as keeping an eye on mental health. The isolation, anxiety, and fear become a very real reality for many of the characters. It was interesting to see that the early 1900s wasn’t different from the 1930s or even the 1990s in terms of mental health help from loved ones.

The witch descriptions and culture of this book were SO detailed. You can tell Silvia really dug into her own childhood stories told to her as well as research. I don’t know that many modern stories showing the terrifying power of witches (which this one only does because the witch is greedy/ evil but other witches like in Alma’s POV are shown not like that). It was a refreshing take on them and was could turn someone to the dark side—aka greed.

Overall, The Bewitching is a PERFECT fall read. I’m a lil’ sad I read it in April because it would’ve hit even better during October. It’s a love letter to New England as well as multigenerational/multicultural saga. I will say trigger warnings are a must because inc3st, murder, gun violence, etc. take place.

Thank you Del Rey for the review copy!

I’ve read six novels written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and have enjoyed them all. They are all well written with vibrant imagery and characters, and no two books are the same. She weaves within her plots social, historical, and psychological issues that our heroines find themselves embroiled with. A common theme is the Jungian concept of the collective unconscious (which lends itself well to horror plots). That is why I jumped on the chance to read her latest, The Bewitching, where three women from three different time periods experience the effects (dangerous and sexy) of a witch’s special attention. Sounds like a very exciting Gothic plot. However, I was disappointed; let down by florid prose, drawn out story lines, and no sense of dread; there was nothing to intrigue me.

Alma (1908), Ginny (1934), and Minerva (1998)--are the prototypical Gothic, female protagonist: a victim and a heroine; entrapped and isolated (as a domestic, being a female, societal expectations, men); and different (studious, ambitious, susceptible to the paranormal). Unknown to them--and for various, nefarious reasons--they have been bewitched by someone close to them. Someone who wants their beauty, their being, their blood.

This book is okay, but not up to my expectations. It is still enjoyable and worth checking out of the library.

I would like to thank Del Rey Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I always think I am going to like her books more than I actually do. She is a great writer, I just think this is not my genre.

Thank you very much to the publishers, NetGalley and the author for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

Actual rating : 4,2

The Bewitching follows three interconnected timelines where our main characters are thrust into a world of dark magic. I especially enjoyed the eerie atmosphere and Moreno-Garcias’s sharp prose. The horror academia aspect was so well woven into the story and added a quiet hunger for discovery.

Full of unexpected plot twists, a haunting, utterly immersive book I highly recommend you read!

I will definitely be picking up more of their books.

This is one of Moreno-García's works that most read like a movie or miniseries to me, and I duuuug it. It once again feels really lived in settings-wise (and the author's acknowledgments flick at how much, given her own college history, so similar to character Minerva, and that of her greatgrandmother in Hidalgo).
I've actually read through "The Bewitching" thrice, because it feels so rich in subtext through the shared timelines in the vein of Moreno-García's works, with undertones about treatment of immigrants, scholarship students or who is considered by some to be "disposable".

I loved that the timelines are introduced sort of in phases, in a way that sets the stage for the disappearances in each time period to really be felt, and not just get the ball rolling. I also found it smart how all the clues are sprinkled in about who is trying to bewitch the others so that the mood, tension and the somberness isn't so much about who's responsible but about how it hits the people in 1908, in 1934, in 1998 and far beyond.

The specificity that Moreno García imbues into this novel —like is her wont— is as usual fantastic, with which bands the characters listen to on CD or with mentioning real Mexican publishers.
Also in the sense of the names that pop up: historical ones worthy of adding to the TBR (like Amparo Dávila), and with certain characters in-world to honor her fellow real life writers like Paul Tremblay and Stephen Graham Jones.
A highly recommended read! 4.25/5

The Bewitching is a dark, multi-generational tale weaving witchcraft, family secrets, and eerie academia. Spanning from 1908 Mexico to 1998 Massachusetts, it follows three women bound by a mysterious force. Atmospheric and chilling, Silvia Moreno-Garcia delivers another haunting story about the power of the past.