3.5 Rounded up | I’m glad that the story was different enough from the other book by this author that I read earlier this year - it began in a way where I thought that it would be the same. It was a bit more of a thriller than a horror but I feel like Moreno-Garcia didn’t do a good enough job of throwing suspicion away from who the perpetrators were. It was obvious from early on who it would end up being but it’s fine. There was a good enough build up for the conclusion, but I wish there was more of a mystery there. It was also slightly confusing to get all the years straight since it was so back and forth. The overlapping of some characters also made it a little confusing to follow. If you decide to read, I wouldn’t recommend the audiobook because it’s not easy to keep everything straight. It was still a decent book but I’ll most likely revisit it with a physical copy.

Sono felice di aver ottenuto questo libro su NetGalley e sono altrettanto felice di averlo potuto leggere in anteprima (anche se ormai è uscito il 15 di questo mese in lingua originale). È stata una lettura scorrevole e anche piena di suspence, come già la Moreno Garcia mi aveva abituata con Mexican Gothic, ma qui l’ho visto più simile (nei temi e anche nella struttura) a Weyward di Emilia Hart, sebbene The Bewitching abbia una componente “horror” più presente. È stato bellissimo vedere come le tre storie si siano intrecciate sotto i miei occhi, sebbene la parte iniziale sia stata piuttosto lenta e mi abbia quasi fatto desistere dal finirlo. Non so se supererà mai Mexican Gothic, ma per ora ha un posto solido nel mio cuore per quanto riguarda l’autrice.

I keep reading Silvia Moreno-Garcia books because I love the premises, but every time I can't get into the characters and/or writing. So many people love her, but for me it just feels so dry and disconnected. I did find this story more compelling than some others.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of The Bewitching for review!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has been celebrated as a thrilling voice in horror since the release of Mexican Gothic, which is rightfully a modern classic of the genre. So when news of The Bewitching arrived, I was excited to hear her take on witchcraft and folk horror. Unfortunately, the novel rarely lived up to expectations.

Moreno-Garcia still has a beautiful style of writing, but in my opinion, the setup was far too long in The Bewitching. By the halfway point, very little action had taken place and throughout the novel, scares are few and far between. I enjoyed Alba’s point of view the most, and I wish the novel had focused more on this setting and time period. While the college setting of the other two viewpoints added an intriguing hint of dark academia, the stories weren’t as exciting to me.

While it could have done with more scares, you can feel a love of horror throughout the book. The Bewitching is an ode to horror in the vein of Stephen Graham Jones’ My Heart Is A Chainsaw (and keep an eye out for Moreno-Garcia’s subtle references to Graham Jones and fellow horror writer Nick Mamatas in the book). Perhaps more of a mystery than a horror story, The Bewitching was rich in atmosphere but lacked fright.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has always been a versatile writer, with just about every genre appearing in her catalogue at this point. I've liked many of her books, and appreciated the skill of the rest even if the story or genre didn't strike me dead center. Her latest novel, The Bewitching, however, feels like a leveling up in both story complexity and craft. 

In 1998, Minerva is floundering at her New England graduate program. Her thesis is on the story behind a niche but foundational horror writer's most popular work means uncovering the truth of a student's disappearance in the 1930s—something much easier said than done, especially since the elderly woman in possession of the late author's papers won't return Minerva's calls. A chance meeting with the woman's grandson, however, breathes new life into Minerva's thesis, but the path it sets her down quickly frays her already-fragile mental health. The more she learns, too, the more she remembers the stories of her great-grandmother, Alba, about the witches that haunted the area around her small Mexican village during her youth.

In 1908, Alba is a young woman reeling from the death of her father, but also sensing new paths open up before her in the form of a suitor or two. Thoughts of romance are hard to cling to when strange and wicked things begin happening around home, ramping up to the disappearance of her brother. Alba's mother and handsome young uncle dismiss her worries that some evil magic is afoot, but her neighbor believes and helps her find answers—even though doing so puts him in danger, too.

Meanwhile, Minerva's exploration of those coveted author's papers reveals Beatrice's recollections of the fall of 1934, filled with fun and flirting and young love, and the dark underside of all three when Beatrice's roommate goes missing just before Christmas. Beatrice is only at the fringe of her roommate's haunting but still sees enough of her roommate's descent into madness or something like it for Minerva, or the modern reader, to see disturbing similarities about these events in the thick of the Great Depression and the ones that follow grandmother and granddaughter decades before and after that fateful semester.

It can be tricky for an author to create distinction among characters when each has their own point of view, especially when it's the same person writing all three. Here, though, I felt a clear difference between Minerva, Alba, and Beatrice's chapters and voices, a strength that held up even at the end when those POVs blurred. The mystery element is strong throughout in all three women's stories, and although I only guessed at one of the culprits, all of the answers felt logical, and even satisfying. The way that Minerva pursues those answers, like her great-grandmother before her, is tenacious without stretching the bounds of credibility.

Minerva is a likeable enough character, but Moreno-Garcia, never one to shy away from making her characters, particularly her female ones, a bit prickly, lets us see and feel the strain of not just the mystery but academia in general on our main character. Alba sometimes requires patience in a different way, displaying the kind of fancies and foolishness many of us have to grow out of sooner or later. Poor naive Alba was, for me, the weakest element of the book until well past the halfway mark, when she did finally show us perhaps why Minerva revered her so. Still, in allowing these characters to each be themselves, rather than heroic facsimiles thereof, The Bewitching takes on a more authentic feel, even with its witches and ghosts and curses.

Moreno-Garcia also manages to tread a fine line with those fantastical elements. We sign up for witches, assume curses come with the territory, but the few ghosts slipped into the pages are subtle, though important, elements that Moreno-Garcia wisely doesn't belabor. All in all, The Bewitching expertly weaves the supernatural and the pedestrian together across generations into something rich and haunting in all the best ways.

Suspenseful and tense! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is masterful at horror and her settings are so immersive.

The Bewitching
Genre - Historical fantasy / horror
Rating - 4.5⭐️/loved

I’ve shouted many times how much I love books by @silviamg.author. Each one is beautifully written and researched, with a unique story that feels fresh, while blending multiple genres seamlessly. This book felt like a blend of Mexican Gothic and Ninth House - two books I loved.

I alternated between audio and reading with my eyes - both ways worked for the story, but I did love the excellent narration of the audiobook. Each POV felt distinct and the three storylines built a feeling of dread as you get further into the story that ultimately tied together. While I predicted certain pieces of this story, it didn’t take away from watching the paths play out. Overall, a slowburn, creepy, witchy read that blended genres and kept me turning pages quickly.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the eARC!

I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia and was so happy to have this as an ARC. There are three timelines, one that takes place in Mexico, the other two taking place in Massachusetts. I definitely connected with the 1908 and 1998 timelines the most, even though I did like all three characters.

The book is slow but has a creeping dread that builds. It's really impressive that with how much was going on across timelines, they all were interwoven together so well, and each timeline had its own atmosphere that fit perfectly. I was never confused as to which character I was following.

I loved the little nods to other horror writers that Garcia gives with a lot of the side character names.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again. An excellent mixture of historical fiction, mystery and horror, The Bewitching had me enthralled. I was at the edge of my seat to uncover the mystery and enjoyed how the 3 POV's wove together and yet were still their own self contained perspectives. One of my favourites of SGM's titles.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an auto-read author for me. I am usually a huge fan of her work. This one was fine, but it didn't wow me the way some others have. I felt like two of the plot lines were highly compelling, while the third was a little lackluster. I understand that the 3rd was what tied them all together, but it just felt a little like an afterthought to me. I loved the witch lore and learning about what that looks like in traditional stories from a culture other than the Western European traditions we often hear about. I just wanted more. I felt like the description of the book set it up to be SO much eerier and creepier than it ended up being. I can't really put my finger on what it was missing for me, but if I had to boil it down, I think it was too mundane for me. I wanted MORE creep and MORE spook than I got.

I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and The Bewitching might be one of her best yet. The gothic atmosphere is entrancing - spooky, moody, and immersive. I was hooked from the beginning, and each of the three timelines felt rich and compelling in its own way. The characters were likable and well-written (I especially loved Minerva), and there were moments that genuinely creeped me out. If you're into slow-burn horror/fantasy with a strong sense of place and the perfect blend of mystery and supernatural, definitely pick this up. Highly recommend for a spooky season read!

Thank you to Del Rey Books for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group and ALC courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and the libro.fm <a href="https://www.libro.fm/alc-program" target="_blank">Audiobook Listening Copy Program</a>.)

<b>A Book Club-Worthy 5⭐️</b>
This was my first read by Moreno-Garcia, and all the hype? VERY earned. She blew me away by brilliantly blending literary/historical fiction and horror into something genuinely unnerving and wholly discussable. I loved the structure of the three interrelated eras and found myself deeply invested in the main figures of each.
I figured out one piece of the plot early on, and found myself trying to unravel the rest of the mystery based on the parallels I saw between 1908 and 1934. It was the best kind of mystery—one that kept me guessing until the very end and still managed to surprise me, even when I was certain I had it all unraveled.
The prose is masterfully written—beautiful, tense, and eerie without ever losing its literary depth. This would definitely make a great book club read. It doesn't even need to be a horror-focused book club. In fact, I think it would be interesting to present it to a group that doesn't normally read horror and see what they thought.
The witchcraft horror here is spooky in the best way—quiet, creeping, and unsettling. I’ve read a lot of horror, but not much focused on witchcraft, and this landed beautifully. It’s rich with folklore and strange truths, and even though I didn’t know the history behind some of the tales and practices, the story felt deeply authentic. The author's note at the end only confirmed my suspicions and was utterly delightful.
As an aside, I can’t stop laughing about another reviewer’s comment: “Girl. That’s your uncle.” I thought about that the ENTIRE time I read Alba’s sections because… GIRL. THAT’S YOUR UNCLE.
<b>Content Warning</b>
This story contains violence against animals, including the violent death of a cat (aftermath described) and the on-page slaughter of a rabbit. These scenes are brief and the author doesn’t linger, but they are graphic and may be upsetting, especially for readers who are sensitive to this sort of thing, like I am.
<b>🎧 AUDIO-SPECIFIC</b>
As for the audio? Oh my God, I don’t think I’ve had a better narrator experience. Gisela Chipe absolutely <i>makes</i> these characters. The accents, the tone, the nuance—she breathes life into Moreno-Garcia’s already fascinating cast. Each character is so distinct. For example, Alba’s mother has this slightly affected, almost bored tone that feels so perfect. She vibes city-girl-who-married-country-boy (which she is). Virginia’s sweet and timid tone; Minerva's beautiful Mexican accent; and the affected voice of the obscenely wealthy New Englander, Carolyn. The voices she uses paint a portrait of each character every bit as much as the prose.

<b>TL;DR</b> —
A book club-worthy witchcraft horror, perfect for those who like their historical fiction to have <i>teeth.</i>. If you can get the audio, do! It elevates the already 5⭐ story to a whole other level.

I enjoy Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books a lot, she has such a way with words and creates such a beautiful atmosphere. However I must say this book took its sweet time getting there and I was scared that it never would.

The story is told through three different timelines and I’m not sure they were all necessary, or at least not in the full amount they are currently in. Specifically it feels like the timeline of Alba could have been cut down by quite a bit and it would have made the pacing feel much better. It just took too long for things to actually start to happen when you are constantly swapping between timelines, which itself was also jarring at times.

Overall I liked the second half far more than the first. That’s when it really felt right again with the atmosphere and the vibes, but the beginning really brought it down for me.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Minerva was raised on her Nana Alba's stories. Stories that included bizarre things, superstitions, magic and witchcraft. These shaped Minerva's interests into adulthood, as many of us can probably relate to. Minerva is now a graduate student at a prestigious Massachusetts college, focusing on the history of Horror Literature.

More specifically, Minerva is researching the life and work of Beatrice Tremblay, a lesser known author of macabre tales, who once attended the same school. During her research, Minerva discovers that Tremblay's most famous novel, <i>The Vanishing</i>, was inspired by true events that happened in her own life.

In The Bewitching, we're treated to Minerva's timeline in 1990s Massachusetts; to stories from Nana Alba's life in 1900s Mexico and beyond; as well as Beatrice Tremblay's time in school during the Great Depression, and the events that inspired her most famous novel. This might sound like a lot, with all the different people and places, but trust me when I say, it's beautifully-woven together into one easily understandable, overarching tale.

Admittedly, I am a huge Silvia Moreno-Garcia stan. I'm obsessed with her ideas and the way she tells stories. While not every single one has been a hit, more often than not, they have been, and I always love diving into a new book from her, as you never know what you are going to get.
I was intimidated going into this, as it is told in three different time periods, following three different perspectives, and I tend to not love sweeping sagas like that. However, I loved each of these perspectives. I was equally enamored by each, which is a hard feat to pull off.

This story is dripping in atmosphere, across all three time periods. It's amazing to me how she was able to completely capture the essence of all three time periods in such a lush and compelling way. The characters are full of life and distinct in tone. I loved the mystery, intrigue and lore behind it all. It was so good, I can't wait to read it again someday. I'd love to take some more time with it; perhaps finding even more connections.

10/10 recommend for Readers who love vibrant, unsettling atmospheres, and witchy stories, both historical and modern. Also, slight dark academia vibes...

Thank you so much to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I expected to like this, but I was actually surprised at how connected I felt to the story, and how much I ended up loving all the various aspects it was comprised of. This will live in mind for a long time to come!

this is my favorite by this author! It was unsettling but beautifully written. I loved the witchy, summerween vibes.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Del Rey and NetGalley for providing this DRC in exchange for an honest review. I am a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing and The Bewitching did not disappoint! Told in multi- timeline/pov format, The Bewitching tells, solves, and ultimately prevents murder by multiple witches in multiple timelines. Minvera, Virginia, and Alba's tales keep the reader seeking the culprit throughout the read. Moreno-Garcia maintains a spooky vibe without being over the top. I loved this read and look forward to her next one!

3.75/5 Stars
2 Spice

This is not the typical genre I would pick. However, I am glad that I did choose to read The Bewitching. It is dark, twisty, and full of suspense.
The writing is fantastic and I was easily able to keep track of the three different timelines and characters in each.
It got a bit slow in the middle, but the ending was fast-paced and wrapped up really well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is everything to me.

The Bewitching is one of my favorite books of hers that I've read. It is multi-generational/multi-pov/historical gothic horror and I adored every minute of it.

We follow three different characters in three different time periods:
Minerva - 1990s Massachusetts- graduate student studying the history of horror lit and author Beatrice Tremblay
Alba - 1908 Mexico - Minvervas grandmother - the daughter of a farmer
Beatrice - 1934 Massachusetts - the author Minerva is studying and her time at university

Multi-pov stories almost always have me wishing one was eliminated and I could spend all my time with another, but that was not the case here at all. I loved all three women and their storylines equally. Moreno-Garcia is a master at character work (as we know!!) and all of these women were so multi-faceted and interesting and curious which made all of them a joy to read about. I loved slowly uncovering the mysteries, learning more about the character connections to one another, and getting some spooky witchy content throughout.

This is the only "dark academia" type of story I want to read please!

*Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review*

SMG has done it again. She is the master of blending timelines, history, dynamic characters, and horror. I love her writing style. You easily get a taste of the scene and the suspension in each chapter. This was a great take of witches and magic and even Salem. I love that we got diverse characters and that they felt relatable throughout.

Actual Rating - 3.5

Its been a long time since I read a gothic horror, my favorite till date remains Rebecca. The Bewitching is slow paced and tells the story of three women, from three different generations who were bewitched and had to fight against evil forces when their lives were endangered. The book kept me thoroughly engrossed in the stories from three timelines-
Nana Alba in the 1900's struggling against an invisible malignant force that threatens her family, Beatrice Tremblay, in the 1930's, a student in a women's college and a budding horror writer who was left heart-broken when her best friend, Virginia Somerset, went missing under mysterious circumstances. She also wrote a book called "The Vanishing" about this peculiar incident and finally Minerva, in the 1990's, Nana Alba's great-granddaughter who is studying the works of Beatrice in the same college that Beatrice and Virginia attended. When Minerva feels the stifling presence of the evil force that traumatized Ginny more than half a century ago, she knows she must remember Nana Alba's stories about witches, potions and how to outsmart them before they destroy lives.
All the women in this book were strong and powerfully portrayed and the story lingers in your mind long after you finish the book. I'm definitely picking up the author's previous books now.