DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

The Return of the Sorceress by Silvia Moreno-Garcia reads like a classic epic fantasy. It’s written with Garcia’s beautifully dark and atmospheric descriptions and is full of tension, a longing for power, and eventual redemption. This book drops readers right into the middle of the story, after Yalxi, our morally gray protagonist and the former Supreme Mistress of the Guild of Sorcerers, has been betrayed and usurped by her lover and is now searching for a safe place to recover and plan her revenge. As the story unfolds, readers learn of Yalxi’s own power-hungry past that led her to betraying those closest to her. Overall, Garcia packs a fantastic world of magic and politics into a hundred pages that left me absolutely desperate for more stories set in this world!

I really liked this novella. It is completely different from Mexican Gothic. I like her writing style and would love to read more of Silvia's books.

Yalxi, the deposed Supreme Mistress of the Guild of Sorcerers, is on a desperate mission. Her lover and confidant seized her throne and stole the precious diamond heart, the jewel that is the engine of her power. Yalxi sets out to regain her magic and find a weapon capable of destroying the usurper. But this will mean turning to unlikely allies and opening herself up to unpleasant memories that have been suppressed for many years. For Yalxi is no great hero, but a cunning sorceress who once forged her path in blood – and must reckon with the consequences.- Goodreads

This is probably my favorite story yet. For a novella, it packed a lot of punch. It gave me everything my reader heart desires in regards to character development and backstory, setting, creativity and history. I loved the fact the story starts immediately. You are right in the thick of things.

There is complete understanding of what is going on from beginning to end. Yalxi is an older women, which I loved. She's been through things, she knows her way around and knows what she wants. At first, I was prepared not to like her but as I was reading, I said nevermind.

The pace of the novel was great. I loved the imagery; I was able to see everything clearly.

Overall, really enjoyed this one.

2.75/5 stars
One word for this, unnecessary. It was 100 pages of a woman planning on fighting the guy who toppled her from power, but nothing else. There was no world building, or character development, or anything. Maybe this is something she's planning on putting in a longer novel, but overall boring and unnecessary.

The Return of the Sorceress is a quick read, being a novella at just about 100 pages, but it is action packed and full of interesting characters. This is a complete story that does not leave you hanging but does leave you wanting to know what is next for the sorceress Yalxi and her companion, the nahual. I really wanted to know more of the back story and I hope Silvia Moren-Garcia returns to this world someday.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is popping out books this year like it's popcorn and The Return of the Sorceress is one of them. Whether you are ravenous for more of her stories like me, or don't even know what you're in for, I don't think you'll be disappointed. This book sits around 100 pages but at times it felt like I was reading a full length novel, epic fantasy proportion. I had to reel myself back in at times and untrick my brain to realize "oh it's a shorty. My time is limited." It's a sad remembrance because I didn't want to leave.

One of its biggest pros is that the story follows an older woman. You RARELY see this in fantasy and it was so refreshing. You're following a sorceress who once ruled over a guild and had a great power because of a precious magical stone. Now time has passed and she is on the quest to get this stone back as well as stop her power hungry ex.

This is for sure a revenge story at its heart shrouded in a dark atmosphere but added bonus of humor as our main character has a magical companion and they are for each other so much. This was an inventive timeless fantasy and I only wish it was longer.

I may be just a bit of a Silvia Moreno-Garcia fan girl at this point. I love how every book she writes is different and she always does it so well.

The Return of the Sorceress is no different. This novella is quite short, but the author doesn’t compromise her beautiful writing style. The story opens with Yalxi freshly ousted as the Master Sorceress of the Guild. We join her as she plots her takedown of Xellah, the new Master and her former friend/lover. Though the novella is only 100ish pages the author manages to create a fully fleshed out world and characters without it becoming too clunky.

I loved the the nahuales in this story! They are very interesting “familiar”esque characters that can shapeshift into a variety of different animals. That and the magic system (blood magic, runes, gem magic) were all very interesting and unique as well.

My only complaint is the pacing at times, but that’s what is tricky with short stories and novellas. It took me a moment to get my head around the beginning, but then it seemed like the second half flew by. I guess I just wish this was longer. Hopefully Silvia Moreno-Garcia will revisit this world and these characters in the future.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again with The Return of the Sorceress. She builds such beautiful and amazing worlds, fills them with flawed characters you can’t help but enjoy, and weaves in magic that is both mesmerizing and terrifying.

This novella doesn’t waste anytime introducing you to the world of Yalxi, the ousted Mistress of the Guild of Sorcerers. Reader, be ready to be swept along for the ride in this story as you are simply dropped in Yalxi’s world. The story begins with an injured Yalxi, who is seeking refuge from those who hunt her. As she slowly heals and her magic returns (slowly), she plans her revenge on her usurper lover. However, her path for revenge isn’t straightforward and Yalxi must resurface old memories she had buried deep within herself. She is forced to revisit old acquaintances, including her nahual, and remember parts of her life better left unvisited. Though this novella is short, Moreno-Garcia paints a complex and flawed main character. Yalxi’s journey, her motivations, and her desires are so tangible, so real, even though her world is wrapped up in magic, that I loved how flawed and real she is.

This story examines what is within a person’s heart, what drives them, and what they’ll do to obtain power. Within this world there are consequences to using magic, not just exhaustion, but a physical aging. I love how Moreno-Garcia is changing the realm of fantasy and horror literature by using Mexican, Aztec, and Mayan inspiration—she’s imbuing these genres with her own set of magic and it is incredible! Fans of Moreno-Garcia’s lyrical writing, fantastic dialogue, and complex characters will not be disappointed with The Return of the Sorceress. We only wish for more!

Possible triggers in this book are blood magic, including self-inflicted blood magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for providing me with an ARC!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a hit or miss author for me. All of her books are very different from one another, which means I may really like one of her works but not care for another. I read Signal to Noise back in 2015 of 2016 and didn't enjoy it, but then read Mexican Gothic in 2020 and LOVED IT.

Unsurprisingly, The Return of the Sorceress is a completely different vibe than Mexican Gothic. The author has been very vocal about this, so readers should be aware of this before going into this novella! The Return of the Sorceress reads more like a fable or myth.

Although this is a short novella, at just over 100 pages, there is quite a bit of worldbuilding, without being "info dumpy". I could really picture this land of sorcerers, guilds, and townspeople (there are thieves, merchants, sorcerers, innkeepers, rat catchers, and more). The three main characters, Yalxi, Xellah, and Teotah are relatively well fleshed out for such a short story.

My FAVORITE aspect of this story is the nahual, which is based on Mesoamerican folklore. The nahual in this story does not have a name, but ends up being the main character's friend. Sometimes it is a dog, othertimes it's a bird or a butterfly. But it's always the voice of reason.

Things to know before reading/TWs:
There is a lot of blood magic and body horror/wounds, necromancy, allusions to killing of animals (not on the page), murder of mentor, death/murder of a friend/colleague, betrayal, and revenge.

Overall, this was a very solid 3 stars and I do recommend it. The physical copy of this novella will only be a limited release, so I recommend you preorder it if you're interested! This is a quick read and can be devoured in one sitting. I especially recommend if you're in a bit of a reading slump and trying to get back into fantasy worlds (like me!).

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this because I loved Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic and while Gods of Jade and Shadow wasn't my favorite, it was still highly readable and fun.

The Return of the Sorceress is a 100 page short story, and can be read in about an hour and a half. It features Yalxi, a sorceress who was betrayed and almost killed by her ex-lover, and her quest for revenge and to take back what was lost.

Sometimes I struggle with short stories because for me it's really hard to have the same emotional connection to the characters and the story without a more lengthy build up. If you're thrown into a story and it's resolved within an hour or two it's just a bit more difficult to care. I wasn't super emotionally invested in it, however this was fast-paced, inventive, and featured some themes that I'm particularly drawn to.

There were fun elements to the story, I'm always a sucker for a gnarly blood magic system and I loved the idea of magical "familiars." Also I'm always into morally corrupt characters and this book explores the potentially corrupting influence of power.

Overall, this was a fun short story, especially if you're into magical shenanigans and themes involving power and corruption.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc! The writing and the storytelling were lovely. The author drops you into the middle of a world and somehow you feel like you've been there before. Given the length of the story there is just enough worldbuilding and character description that prevents the story from falling flat. Even though this is a novella, I think this could be developed into a novel or even a series. I hope to read much more from Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Moreno-Garcia packs a whole lot of story into this novella! The Return of the Sorceress is a fast-paced tale of revenge, blood magic, and forces beyond the grave. In only 96 pages she creates a series of complex relationships and a whole system of magic where spells must be cast with blood, age the caster, and can be augmented by jewels.

I was frequently surprised by this short work. If you're a fan of Moreno-Garcia's or just want to read a novella about magic and revenge and powers greater than anyone should weild, check out The Return of the Sorceress.

Yalxi has fallen very far indeed. Once the Mistress of the Guild of Sorcerers, she has been betrayed, imprisoned, and nearly murdered by her former lover, Xellah. Managing a desperate escape, she has only a single spirit housed in a pearl ring, and her own cunning and determination to get out of the city. Assuming she manages even that much, will Yalxi seek justice … or revenge?

Moreno-Garcia has been on my To Read list for a long time. I have Gods of Jade and Shadow sitting on my tablet, just waiting, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Mexican Gothic. I was in the mood for something quick, though, so when I came across a copy of The Return of the Sorceress on netgalley, I snatched it up.

First, it was a delight to read a fantasy tale set in a non-European culture; most notably, one based on the Aztecs, a people who have been historically villainized in literature outside of Mexico. Such tales are few and far between, and I am always on the look out for them.

Second, The Return of the Sorceress is — on the surface — a straight-forward tale of revenge. But there is much more going on. Is this justifiable revenge? How far is Yalxi willing to go? And, while she may be the protagonist of this tale, is she necessarily the hero? Yalxi is a complicated character: strong-willed, ambitious, ruthless though not cruel. Usually. There are incidents in her past that she would prefer to forget, but gathering the power and allies necessary to take on Xellah means facing those memories.

I also love the magical system developed by Moreno-Garcia. Magic is blood-based; something must be sacrificed for power and, as a result, sorcerers age quickly and prematurely. Whenever possible, they add magical jewels to their arsenal, which augment their blood-based spells, holding off their own physical collapse and death for just a bit longer. Many of these jewels are also home to nahual, spirits which will assist a sorcerer in exchange for blood (preferably human, but animal blood works, too).

Such is the case with Yalxi’s pearl ring. The nahual who inhabits it assumes the form of many different animals over the course of the story, always white; and his comments are biting, acerbic, and spot on. He points out Yalxi’s faults not out of cruelty, but because he wants her to do and be better. Yalxi may be the protagonist, but their relationship lies at the heart of the tale.

Overall, The Return of the Sorceress is a quick, engaging, and highly entertaining read. This is the sort of fictional universe that I would love to return to again and again. Highly recommended to Moreno-Garcia’s fans, as well as fans of Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard, The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark, and Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse.

"Yalxi, the deposed Supreme Mistress of the Guild of Sorcerers, is on a desperate mission. Her lover and confidant seized her throne and stole the precious diamond heart, the jewel that is the engine of her power. Yalxi sets out to regain her magic and find a weapon capable of destroying the usurper. But this will mean turning to unlikely allies and opening herself up to unpleasant memories that have been suppressed for many years. For Yalxi is no great hero, but a cunning sorceress who once forged her path in blood - and must reckon with the consequences. Set in a fantastical land where jewels and blood provide symbiotic magical powers to their wearers, The Return of the Sorceress evokes the energy of classic sword and sorcery, while building a thoroughly fresh and exciting adventure ripe for our era."

Everyone is getting in on the success of Silvia Moreno-Garcia but I can guarantee you that Subterranean Press will have the best editions. Hands down.

A fun magical short story! I liked the magic stem and the nahuale as her "familiar" that both helps and feeds off of her was a great twist. It was a quick tale and even though it was short there was plenty of character development and magic to be had!

My only drawback was that I went in thinking it was a full novel and it's a novella, the story and writing is incredible.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

The Return of the Sorceress is a short story about revenge, betrayal, and power. Even though it's only about 100 pages, I was really immersed in the world that Moreno-Garcia introduced us to – it actually really reminded me of Skyrim, funnily enough, with the sorcerers'/assassins'/thieves' guilds. The main character, Yalxi, has been imprisoned and betrayed by her former friend and lover, and wants revenge for what he's done to her, even if it means going to great lengths to do so.

I love her writing style and how she masterfully crafts characters and storylines. The only reason I gave this four stars is that I wish it was longer! It was a good short story, but I'm not sure if it fits well with this type of format. I think with more time spent on developing relationships and the world (and doing this through showing rather than telling), it would have been a 5 star read.

Also, I really just want to know more! The ending was nice but it was a shift from the Yalxi I saw earlier in the novel. Maybe if we got glimpses of her life before becoming a sorceress, it would have been easier to track her journey from young, wide-eyed country girl to a powerful master sorceress. Regardless, I am always a sucker to Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing and I really enjoyed this one!

Before reading The Return of the Sorceress, I had read only Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and it is easy to see the similarities in the writing style. Both texts feature gorgeous, descriptive writing that flows from page to page, making Moreno-Garcia's books easier to read.

The Return of the Sorceress is a dark fantasy novella following Yalxi, a sorceress in a quest to reclaim her magic and destroy he who stole her magic and took her throne as the Supreme Mistress of the Guild of Sorcerers. The beginning of the story drops you right into the middle of Yalxi's quest and, as you read along, you learn more about what happened to her and what she's trying to do by means of the dialogue with her nahual companion and flashbacks.

I enjoyed the characters, particularly the relationship between Yalxi and the nahual, as well as reading about a morally grey character. I also enjoyed the setting of this high fantasy as it mixed elements of Aztec mythology in a more classic sword and sorcery type of story. However, I kept wanting more from the story. I thought it was too short and would have liked to read this in a longer piece of work that would allow developing the characters and the plot further.

Nevertheless, it is a quick and interesting read, and it made me want to read more of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work.

trigger warnings: blood magic, self-harm

I appreciate not only Moreno-Garcia's proficiency across genres but also the ways that she subverts expectations and defamiliarizes archetypal story arcs. Return of the Sorceress contains all of these elements that make her work sparkle. This is a novella about an aging, deposed sorceress who must confront her past. The story is interesting and the emotions and relationships feel real. I really enjoyed this.

This was an excellent novella. It left me wanting more of this world and to have just a little more of a taste of what might be. If you like straight up fantasy you should read this!
I haven’t read all of this author’s books because I’m very much a science fiction and fantasy reader but everything I have read by her has been top notch. Anything she writes in the future in my preferred genre I’ll read and anything else she writes I’ll recommend to others who might enjoy a different niche of writing than I do.