I was underwhelmed by Mexican Gothic so I wasn't quite sure what to expect with The Betwitching - it just sounded like something I'd enjoy!

One of the risks in having multiple POVs is that often I find one more interesting than the others, and I'm annoyed when that chapter ends and I have to read a less interesting/engaging POV. However, although at the end of each chapter I was sad to leave Minerva, Alba, or Beatrice to go follow a different storyline, I then immediately loved the next chapter.

I didn't care that the villains in each storyline were obvious, I just enjoyed the ride and watching the protagonists figure it out. I loved the atmospheres of each time period and the witchiness throughout. Frankly, I enjoyed this the way that everyone else enjoyed Mexican Gothic. It was such a good read and I was sad to finish it!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s "The Bewitching" offers a thrilling blend of horror, mystery, and suspense that grips readers from the first page. The story centers on Minerva Contreras, a 24-year-old graduate student at Stoneridge University, who is struggling with the typical toils of adulthood while pursuing a degree in English literature. Her passion for her favorite author, Beatrice Tremblay, leads her to uncover a chilling mystery hidden in one of Tremblay’s centuries-old works. This discovery sets Minerva on a dangerous quest to unravel secrets from the past, which will place her life in imminent peril. What follows is an enigmatic story with a seamless narrative that alternates between past and present, intensifying the mystery with every twist.

One of the most striking elements of "The Bewitching" is its dynamic characters. Minerva is especially relatable — her struggles to figure out her life and balance academic pressure resonate deeply. Her emotional journey as she navigates the challenges of adulthood and uncovers dark secrets is both compelling and authentic, making her a character readers can truly empathize with. The emotional depth adds a layer of tension, amplifying the stakes of her investigation.

The unpredictability of the plot is another highlight of the novel. I was consistently surprised by the twists and turns, and its climax was mind-blowing. The story never became predictable, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see where the mystery would lead next. Silvia Moreno-Garcia skillfully blends the supernatural and the unknown, crafting a narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Equally impressive is the meticulous editing of the book, which enhances the flow and pacing of the plot. The transitions between the historical and modern timelines are smooth, and the steady build-up of tension ensures that readers remain on edge throughout. The well-constructed narrative and careful attention to detail allow the story to unfold naturally, keeping the reader fully immersed.

At its heart, "The Bewitching" is a tale of betrayal, determination, and uncovering hidden truths. It is a journey that not only explores the supernatural but also delves into the complexities of family, identity, and the human spirit. I would rate this book a solid 5 out of 5 for its gripping plot, relatable characters, and masterful storytelling.

I highly recommend "The Bewitching" to young adult readers who enjoy a rich mix of horror, mystery, and supernatural elements.

A slow burn mystery with 3 different story lines. The book held me from start to finish. I love a good "witchy" book and this one delivered for me.

Somewhat predictable at times but overall enjoyable! Witchy horror told over the course of three generations of women in Mexico and Massachusetts. I'll definitely recommend this one once it's out!

On a personal note, I'm often drawn to witchy New England tales but also quite skeptical of them after growing up there and living in Salem for a decade. In this, the witchy side was well done! But I found the 90s New England setting inauthentic, and the dialogue was more British than Boston.

The book started strong with an intriguing premise, but lost some momentum halfway through. Still, there were standout scenes that made it worthwhile.

“Back then, when I was a young woman there were still witches”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story follows three events that happened over a century—each one entangled with witchcraft and danger.
We meet Alba, who lives with her family and is trying to save their farm while grieving the devastating loss of her brother. Then there's Beatrice, an aspiring writer who pens The Vanishing, based on the mysterious disappearance of Virginia Somerset. Finally, we follow Minerva, Alba’s great-granddaughter, in 1998. As Minerva works on her thesis, she uncovers secrets buried in the past. But the deeper she digs, the more danger she faces—eerie happenings, unsettling truths, and the feeling that someone is watching her.
Will she be able to uncover the truth and survive the darkness that surrounds it?

My Review:
Wow! This one is a masterpiece! This was a refreshing read for me—my first horror book and my first read from Silvia.
This isn’t your typical witchy story filled with herbs and potions. It’s a chilling tale rooted in Mexican folklore, filled with power struggles and dark secrets. The writing is superb. The atmosphere is so vivid and eerie—it’ll definitely make you want to keep the lights on!
It’s a brilliant blend of historical fiction, dark academia, fantasy horror, and witchcraft. What more could you ask for?
The first half of the book felt a bit slow to me, and the multiple timelines were a little confusing at first. But once I got into it, the pace picked up—and I couldn’t put it down. Total page-turner!
Some scenes were uncomfortable, but I think that’s part of the story’s essence—it’s meant to unsettle you.
I especially liked Alba’s timeline—how determined she was to prove her family was bewitched! And I was really rooting for Minerva—such a clever and strong character.
And the twist? Wow. So good!
I totally and highly recommend this book.
Out on July 15!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books!

4.25 Stars

So much atmosphere!!

This book is a slow burn, the first half dripping in history, setting up three distinct time periods, exploring both class disparities and women's roles in each era. And then the story really ramps up in the second half, expertly bringing the three stories together with plenty of creepy moments along the way.

I loved Minerva and the representation of a female protagonist who is utterly un-charming, yet still likeable. She's socially awkward, brusque, and a bit of a loner. Yet she's respected for her intelligence and work ethic, and has friends all the same. It's refreshing and real.

The three storyline format works wonderfully as well, with each woman an interesting character to follow. Personally, I did struggle with Alba's part in the first half, and would have liked more depth in Beatrice's arc, but overall I enjoyed jumping between them as bits of the narrative are unraveled.

The mystery aspect is perhaps the weakest element, but it doesn't detract from the overall story. As for the witchcraft, I found the unique take grounded and effectively scary.

The Bewitching is a great, eerie, read that is a mix of dark academia, dark fantasy, and crime mystery.

I’m not usually one to read horror/suspense books and took a chance on reading The Bewitching. It was an amazing read from start to finish. Three different time lines and 3 different mysteries, and yet somehow they all connected perfectly. I would be reading one timeline and didn’t want it to end. Same for the other timelines. I did see one of the mysteries coming and found it obvious that was who did it. But for one timeline it could’ve been anyone and I was baffled when the author revealed who it was. The beginning of the stories did start off slow because they have to build into the world but about 20% in I couldn’t put my book down and was on the edge of my seat.

This book was stunning.

I am in awe of this beautifully eerie tale. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing sets a gorgeous atmospheric environment for the three interwoven narratives, and I cannot get enough of it.

Moreno-Garcia set up Minerva, Alba, and Ginny's stories with such care and attention to detail. I say this because she led us (or at least me) to every tragic event in a way where I could see what was coming—but I was so satisfied by the execution, and I was bawling my eyes out. That's how good the storytelling was. This will be one of those books where I wish I could reread the whole thing as if it were the first time.

Alba's magic and Ginny's magic manifests so differently. They are shaped by different cultures, time periods, and lore; despite that, they still follow similar rules. This is why Minerva's magic is so interesting and why hers is the most powerful in my point of view. (I'm not attributing her power to *redacted due to spoilers* because I genuinely believe Alba's was stronger.)

Speaking of the characters—phenomenal—all of them, I genuinely have no notes. They were amazing. The side characters were given just as much personality as the main characters, even when they were in it for a sentence or two! And! It didn't matter if they were Heroes or Villains. Everyone was fleshed out, and I loved all of them. Yes, even the ones I hated, and boy howdy did I hate you *redacted due to spoilers*!

I do want to mention that there are some very dark elements and sensitive content in this book. I also want to note that I thought it was handled with the respect it deserved. Nothing felt superfluous or that it was meant to shock the reader. Every gruesome, sinister, or truly heartbreaking moment left me both sad but so hopeful.

I don't know if this will be a series, but Silvia? If you want to make the research files of Minerva Contreras into an episodic journey that's 60 volumes long? I would not be opposed. (Please, I will read all of them, especially with that rad as hell epilogue.)

Thank you NetGalley, Del Rey, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 Stars.

Incredible Nosferatu-esque bruja lore that is intensified three times over in three parallel narratives. I didn’t think this one could top Mexican Gothic for its perfectly suited premise for me, but this one honestly knocked it out of the park.

many thanks to random house — del rey and netgalley for this advanced reader copy..

This might be my favorite book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia yet. I haven't been this creeped out by a book in a very long time. The book had the slow-burn, creeping sense of dread that I prefer in horror. Moreno-Garcia's prose is excellent as always and the three timelines felt distinct in voice and writing style. I really enjoyed the callbacks to horror classics like Shirley Jackson and HP Lovecraft. Overall, this was an excellent read and has gotten me back into the mood for horror.

Silvia Moreno Garcia has me wrapped around her thumb! Her horror and thriller novels are absolutely amazing, and keep me on the edge of my seat!! This book follows three different women living in 1908 Mexico, 1934, and 1998 in New England. I loved that both New England and Mexican Witch lore were woven throughout this book and how each main characters POV built on one another to make a rich multigenerational story. If you liked Cetain Dark Things and Mexican Gothic, you'll love her latest novel!!!

Pick up a copy on July 15th💕 and big thanks to Netgalley for sending me this ARC by one of my favorite all-time authors 🫶🏽

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno- Garcia is such a good book! I couldn't stop reading this book for a second and even my family got confused because I carried this book with me EVERYWHERE!

I loved this dark, witchy new creation from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I love almost everything she does anyway, but this one really drew me in with the way she overlapped past and present and had characters interwoven across time. There were a few lulls for me personally, but I kept going and am so glad I did! Highly recommend The Bewitching.

I really love Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s way of telling stories, and so I was unbelievably excited when I heard that she was releasing a multiple POV story about witchcraft! The different timelines are woven together in a way that keeps the plot moving and provides more context to the things that are first mysterious. The characters we follow are hard not to love as they’re relatable and make decisions I probably would as well, making some of the horrors more possible and therefore truly terrifying. I haven’t read a book about witchcraft quite like this, but I loved it and would definitely recommend.

A bit upset at myself for how long it took me to read this book because once the jetlag cleared and I started reading it- I couldn't put it down.

I've always loved how Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books are never the same and formulaic. My gothic-horror loving self did have a special spot for this one though.

I enjoyed the mesh of two witchy-worlds with Salem and Mexican brujeria. It was somewhat predictable but that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. There was even a trigger of mine in the book (spoiler- so not listing it) yet it was written in well enough that it didn't detract from my reading experience.

This was an easy and great read. Definitely worth checking out when it's out on July 15.

This book was sooo good! I could not put it down. And the cover is gorgeous! Thank you netgalley for the chance to read the advanced copy!

The Bewitching is a good concept by a great writer but I feel that Silvia Moreno-Garcia could have made it so much more vivid and lively but overall I feel that this story is good and a great story of women and the ways that they are affected mixed with fantastical story elements.

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a captivating and atmospheric tale that blends magic, mystery, and historical fiction. Set in a world where the supernatural and reality intertwine, the story follows a protagonist navigating love, power, and danger in a world filled with hidden secrets. Moreno-Garcia’s writing is immersive and rich in detail, creating a compelling narrative that draws readers into its magical, suspenseful atmosphere. Fans of dark fantasy and historical mysteries will enjoy this haunting and spellbinding read.

Love Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing. She just knows how to give such vibrance and mystery to every story she writes. I really enjoyed the three timelines, all of them keep you needing more. The beginning was a little slow burn for me personally. About halfway through, the pace picked up and I just couldn’t put it down. Thank you Silvia Moreno-Garcia, NetGalley and Del Rey for this digital arc.