A Captivating Nesting Doll of Spooky Intrigue!

I LOVE books that have stories within stories. In The Bewitching, there are THREE stories that take place in different timespans, but all tie together in a perfect, unified cord at the finale.

The two main protagonists were sympathetic and easy to root for. The antagonists, suitably creepy, though that made figuring out their identities as the bad guys fairly easy, which didn't inhibit my enjoyment.

My only quibble was the inclusion of a side character who ended up having nothing to do with the story. Maybe he was meant to be a red herring, but he felt more like a subplot that was cut, but traces of it were accidentally left in.

The ending delivered a couple extra thrills too. All in all, I recommend this book! It's an excellent new/old take on witches.

Thanks to NetGalley, Del Ray, and author Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno- Garcia does it again! If you are curious about witchcraft and edge of your seat danger, The Bewitching is for you!
RECOMMEND 4 STARS!

This book has 3 timelines that it follows, all having to do with witchcraft. One follows a college aged woman, working on her thesis at a New England College. Another follows a young girl and her family back in the early 1900s and the other follows the journal of a woman seeking answers for a vanishing that happened while she was at college.

Some parts were a little predictable, while some still surprised me. I did enjoy the end, as it left room for a little suspense and interpretation.

This would be a great book to read during October to get into the mood for spooky season. It has just the right amount of eerieness, without being scary. If you enjoy stories of witchcraft, you'd enjoy this book.

The Bewitching was another excellent work by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The story was gripping from start to finish across all the different time periods and arcs, and the book overall was atmospheric. The pacing of the tale worked really well, always keeping me turning the pages, and the characters were all well-crafted and memorable. The final twist did catch me partially by surprise, which was gratifying and added to the suspense. If you are already a fan of Moreno-Garcia's works, you will definitely enjoy this new offering, and it's also not a bad choice as a first foray if you have not read any of her books before. If you are easily frightened, though, perhaps don't read it late at night. I am giving it 4.5 stars.

It’s safe to say that I was betwitched reading this one!
Halfway through I wasn’t sure how it would end but was so so so happily surprised when it did.

So much of this book was fun. It is a spooky tale, one that is so perfect for fall reads, but anything that combines folklore with modern day and a whodunit is an automatic yes in my book!

My favorite storyline was Minervas, and I so so so hope there’s a sequel starring Noah….

Really good writing. Interesting storyline. Three people each telling a story revolving around witches.
Was thrown off a bit and was not a huge fan of the family affairs in the oldest story. That being said, the writer made a bold effort to produce something of very high quality.

The Bewitching follows three women from 1908, 1934, and 1998 respectively as they battle against supernatural forces and disappearances of people close to them. From my own reading I was reminded of Carmilla, Vampires of El Norte, and The Bullet Swallower.

With her debut Mexican Gothic, Moreno-Garcia proved herself with unique and surprising twists as well as creating a real feeling of dread and atmosphere. She does the same in this novel and by the last half I was non-stop turning pages, feeling fully rooted in the setting and surprised by what was being revealed.

Where she missed the mark for me (at this moment anyway) was satisfyingly tying all three narratives together. (Spoiler incoming) Why is our genetically witchy 1998 heroine happening upon witches in a different part of the world and seemingly disconnected from her own family? Are witches drawn to one another or, as I originally suspected (and is MAYBE hinted at in the epilogue), is there a more nefarious reason?! This seems like a knot Moreno-Garcia would want to tie up but she doesn’t and it’s disappointing. I also did not find this book to be technically dark academia and I kept getting caught up in the details/plot holes of Minerva’s thesis that didn’t make sense- she was an English major, where’s the textual analysis? How does chasing down a missing person’s case give her so much to write about?

Mexican Gothic haunted my thoughts for a long time, so this rating too may well change. But for now, I liked The Bewitching but it was not a 5-star read. Thank you so much to Del Rey & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was incredibly disappointing.
After seeing who this book was by I had high expectations that were quickly dashed away.
The weird relationship niece/uncle relationship was really off putting.
The witchcraft elements of this were really lacklustre and it reads like there so much unnecessary information in here to bulk out the story but just ended up making this a tediously slow read.

This book could be considered a work of art.
Brilliant writing, the way it’s paced and reflects on different generations and storyline’s is incredible.
The perfect balance of supernatural, horror, history and fiction.
I loved this book and will definitely be recommending it to others.

Trois femmes, trois époques, trois histoires effrayantes.
Minerva, étudiante en histoire littéraire, se passionne pour Béatrice Tremblay, une autrice de contes macabres oubliée. Sa thèse devient une obsession lorsqu'elle découvre que le roman phare de Tremblay, « La Disparition », s'inspire d'une histoire vraie terrifiante.
En s'enfonçant dans ses recherches, Minerva sent une présence maléfique roder autour d'elle, celle-là même qui a hanté Tremblay et, plus tôt encore, son arrière-grand-mère, Nana Alba, témoin d'une rencontre surnaturelle avec une sorcière.
Minerva parviendra-t-elle à briser le cycle de cette malédiction ancestrale ?

Tout d'abord, j'ai été très surprise de constater que ce roman était écrit en anglais et non en français, j'ai eu peur  que mon niveau d'anglais ne me permette pas de l'apprécier pleinement, mais finalement je ne m'en suis pas trop mal sortie. J'ai été totalement captivée par cette histoire de sorcellerie qui se déroule à travers différentes époques. L'intrigue est envoûtante, les personnages sont attachants et le suspense est maintenu jusqu'à la dernière page. Une très bonne découverte !

✨ARC Review✨
✅Split-time narrative
✅Witchcraft
✅Unsolved disappearance
✅Superstitions
✅Ghosts

If there’s one word to describe The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, it’s spellbinding. I’ve been reviewing a lot of romantasy lately, so this book provided a great change for me. It’s captivating and I finished the book in two days.

World building: I love how Moreno-Garcia described everything. She weaved an intricate world, and I felt that I was in the story with the characters. Everything was well described and made the story spookier.

Characters: Minerva, Alba, Betty, Ginny, Carolyn, Arturo, and even the minor characters - they were all complex yet relatable. They all went through challenges and trauma that even the villains made me relate to their plight a little. I loved Alba the most. To suffer all that loss but still come out stronger than before is admirable.

Some notes:
- I wish we learned more about Conrad. Is he just a creepy student? Is there more to him that the author just forgot to flesh out?
- Is Noah like his grandmother? The epilogue teased something, but I guess it will just be up to the reader to think of.

Overall, I love this book. It has the right combination of mystery, suspense, horror, and some romance. I have not read a book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia before, but she is now on my list of authors to read and recommend.

Yet another spellbinding, atmospheric novel by Silvia Morena-Garcia. It’s very difficult to weave a coherent story when you have different time settings and povs, but the author does it wonderfully, keeping the reader gripped no matter whose pov we’re reading. The pacing was a little slow for me, especially in the beginning but the characters, story and prose largely make up for it! A must read for 2025.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia once again draws me into her spell with every page in The Bewitching. I cannot stress enough how much I love this one. We follow Minerva and the stories of her great grandmother, Alba, and that of an underrated horror author, Betty, while she navigates the pressures of academia, balancing a social life and being hunted by something that she only heard about in stories growing up.

Pacing was great and by the end I couldn't put it down. I love so so many of her previous works but this one had such beautiful prose, a unique perspective on witches and folklore, and completely skin crawling moments that I haven't felt in ages.

So honored to have been given an ARC, this one is gonna blow up I'm making sure

One of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it is just as fascinating, engrossing, and suspenseful as I had hoped! If not more!! Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing absolutely shined in this. It’s the kind of prose that makes it feel like you’re experiencing everything the characters are going through, and the kind that makes you want to pay attention to every small detail. It feels expertly crafted and woven together, and I loved seeing all of the timelines intertwine and overlap with one another. Each woman had a distinct voice, a distinct story that I was equally attached to, and I was fascinated in seeing how their stories echoed one another. I also love that Moreno-Garcia’s stories have this incredible build up - they simmer and build into this incredible drawn out conclusion that always takes me by surprise. And the dark academia aspect makes for a truly spellbinding and lush read. Overall, this is another hit for me. I am very much looking forward to reading this once again come Fall!

Publishes July 15th and follows 3 women in 3 different eras experiencing a missing person and witchcraft.

Throughout this story we follow a young woman named Minerva in the 1990s as she researches an author connected to her great grandmother that leads her down a path of uncovering a multigenerational connection of witchcraft.

3 POVs, 3 timelines, 3 interconnected stories. This story slightly reminded me of The Haunting of Alejandra by V Castro which I really liked.

I found this story quite compelling, I thought the structure of the story flipping between storylines kept me engaged and the consistency of one character in all the timelines kept the story cohesive.

The spooky vibes were weaved seamlessly into a well thought out and brilliantly told story of multigenerational occult dangers. With the vibe of this book, filled with witch stories and the an academic setting, I think this book would hit best in autumn.

This was a slower paced story and well worth the read. 4.25 stars

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an eerie and atmospheric horror novel that intertwines the stories of three women across different eras, each facing the dangers of witchcraft in their own way. In the 1990s, graduate student Minerva uncovers unsettling connections between a long-lost manuscript and the mysterious disappearances that plagued the lives of her great-grandmother and an obscure author, Beatrice Tremblay.

What I loved about this book was Moreno-Garcia’s mastery of writing a triple POV story, with each character's voice distinct, authentic, and perfectly fitting their time period. The suspense builds effortlessly as the story weaves between the eras, and the connection between the women and their encounters with malevolent forces is both chilling and mesmerizing. The author’s depiction of the evil forces lurking in the narrative is hauntingly vivid, making it a must-read for fans of the occult and witchcraft. As an avid reader of witchy books, The Bewitching will undoubtedly make it into my top 5 witchy reads. I couldn’t put it down, no matter how spooked I was. The Bewitching is a perfect, atmospheric read for the fall or spooky season, but can be enjoyed year-round.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a spellbinding tale that beautifully combines historical fiction with witchcraft, suspense, and family secrets. If you're in the mood for a read that mixes the eerie with the emotional, then this book will cast its own magical charm on you! 🧙‍♀️✨ Set across three intertwining timelines—1990s Massachusetts, 1930s New England, and early 1900s Mexico—this novel takes you on a mysterious journey where family history and the supernatural collide in haunting ways. Here’s a closer look at why I’m giving it 4 stars! 🌙🔮

✨ A Rich and Mysterious World
First, let’s talk about the world-building, which is absolutely captivating. Each timeline is meticulously crafted, immersing you in different historical settings, all while maintaining a strong sense of atmosphere. The story in New England in the 1930s is steeped in mystery and dark magic, while the timeline set in Mexico adds a rich layer of folklore and cultural traditions. 🌍🌿 The author does an incredible job blending these distinct settings, tying them together with witchcraft that feels rooted in both history and the supernatural. It’s not just about magic for the sake of magic—there’s an authenticity to the witchcraft in this story that feels grounded in real-world traditions and beliefs. The 1990s timeline in Massachusetts brings the modern perspective, with Minerva, our protagonist, digging into her family’s tangled past. The way these timelines are interwoven is clever and intriguing, making the plot feel like a puzzle that slowly clicks into place with each page you turn. 🧩🔍

💫 Strong, Complex Characters
At the heart of The Bewitching are its characters. Minerva, the main character, is driven, intelligent, and deeply curious about her family’s secrets. 👩‍💼📚 Her journey is both external and internal—she’s trying to uncover the truth, but also grappling with her own emotions and family dynamics. I found her to be such a relatable and layered character, and I loved seeing her navigate her personal and academic challenges.

But it’s her relationship with her great-grandmother, Alba, that really steals the show. The bond between these two women is complex, and their generational connection is central to the story. 👵💫 The way their lives intersect across time adds a deeply emotional element to the plot. Alba’s story, particularly in the 1930s timeline, is rich with untold history, and watching Minerva uncover those layers is both thrilling and poignant. The theme of legacy and family history is explored beautifully here, as Minerva learns not only about the past but also about herself and her own place within this intricate web of witchcraft, power, and love. 🧡

🔮 Slow-Burn Suspense with a Touch of Supernatural
Now, let’s talk about the witchcraft and supernatural elements. Moreno-Garcia does a fantastic job of slowly building suspense throughout the novel. It’s not a fast-paced thriller, but instead, a slow-burn mystery that pulls you in deeper and deeper as the secrets of the past unfold. 🖤🌑 The magical elements are subtle at first, adding just the right amount of unease and wonder to the story. The witches, their powers, and their history feel mysterious, almost like a legend being told, adding an aura of danger and fascination to the narrative. ⚡

I especially loved how the magic wasn’t in-your-face; instead, it lurked in the background, present in the details, like whispers in the night. As the novel progresses, the stakes get higher, and the tension intensifies. The supernatural elements, while not overtly scary, have a way of keeping you on edge. There were moments where I felt genuinely creeped out—like the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. That’s the beauty of this novel: the atmosphere is what really gets under your skin. 👀

📚 The One Small Drawback
Now, while The Bewitching is a strong 4-star read, there is one small issue that prevented me from giving it a full 5 stars. The resolution of the 1930s timeline left me a little wanting. I was hoping for more closure or perhaps a deeper exploration of the events and characters from that period. 🧐 While the connections between the different timelines were fascinating and the secrets revealed were satisfying, I couldn’t help but feel that the 1930s storyline didn’t fully reach its potential. It felt a bit rushed compared to the other timelines, and I wanted to know more about the people and events that shaped that part of the story.

🌟 Final Thoughts
Overall, The Bewitching is an incredibly rich and atmospheric novel that blends supernatural elements with historical fiction in a way that’s both mesmerizing and haunting. ✨ The world-building is immersive, the characters are multi-dimensional, and the themes of legacy, family, and witchcraft are explored with depth and nuance. The slow-burning suspense, combined with the eerie atmosphere, makes this book perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery with a dash of the supernatural. 🔮

While the 1930s timeline could have been given a little more closure, it doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. I definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a story that mixes witchcraft, history, and a touch of magic. 🖤📚 Just be prepared for a lingering sense of mystery that might leave you questioning the unseen forces around you. 🌒✨

#TheBewitching #SilviaMorenoGarcia #SupernaturalThriller #Witchcraft #FamilySecrets #MagicalMystery

Oh boy, this book was delightful! If it weren't for a clingy toddler monkeying around me, I could have finished it in one sitting. Nevertheless, I managed to read it in two sittings in less than a day, which, from the perspective of a mom with a toddler, feels like quite an achievement.

Let me throw some random topics covered in the story at you to entice you into reading it: witches, spells, curses, 1900s Mexico, ghosts in dorms, a college campus setting during summer break, a factory in ruins, missing people, and a story within a story format. All these elements come together to create an eerie and magical experience. In one word, I’d call it brilliant!

Rating: 4.75/5 🌟 (I reduced it by 0.25 because I couldn't fully understand what was happening with Conrad).

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: July 15th, 2025.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc and thank you to the author for writing this book. I loved her book Mexican Gothic. Minerva remembers her nana always telling her stories and those stories have stayed with Minerva all her life. Now grown Minerva is a graduate student and focusing on the history of horror literature. She is now researching the life of Beatrice Tremblay, an author of macabre tales. Minerva is putting her paper together and she uncovers info that the authors most famous novel was inspired by a true story. Minerva is also a student at the same college the author attended decades earlier. Here Minerva obsesses over the life of Beatrice and finding all the truths about this author and her life and her novel.

I wanted to love and inhale this book, and it just was not keeping my interest. I think I need the physical book for this one, as a lot of books on my ereader do not have the same experience. That being said, Silvia Moreno-Garcia fans will be very happy with this one. It’s wonderful, I just know my brain isn’t able to eread this one digitally.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide honest feedback voluntarily. I received a free eARC of this book.