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.

Following three women in different time periods, this atmospheric and dark horror read is filled with witchcraft and dread. Minerva grew-up in Mexico influenced by her grandma’s story of witches in her village. She moves to New England to attend college, researching a little-known author named Beatrice Tremblay whose horror writing and journal entries about a close college friend who went missing captivate Minerva. Soon she is drawn too close to the disappearance, and begins to be haunted herself. A fantastic book for fans of the genre.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is such an amazing writer. This story will join her other popular books. This book was filled with witches, magic, and curses. She did a really good job of writing this story so that it's told across three timeliness by different women in different eras. It was such a unique way of telling the story and I found myself engrossed in each person's experiences.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia ever since two of her novels, Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic were an absolute hit for me. I’m incredibly thankful to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read The Bewitching in advance in exchange for an honest review.

One of the aspects I appreciated most of the novel was how Moreno-Garcia was able to intricately weave together the stories of three women across different time periods. From a structural and cultural perspective, it reminded me very much of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, another incredible multigenerational saga. Her writing is, as always, elegant and evocative. Even though the plot moved slowly at times, her prose made the reading experience quite enjoyable.

That being said, I do have two main criticisms. First, the pacing could have been tighter. The story is extremely detail-oriented, following the lives of the protagonists with great precision and depth. Normally, I’m not drawn to this kind of narrative, but Moreno-Garcia’s style made it worth it. Second, I didn’t find the novel particularly scary. Despite its gothic and supernatural elements, it wasn’t a horror novel by any means, and I’m someone who frightens easily! I wish there had been a more bewitching, haunting atmosphere.

Still, The Bewitching is a beautifully written novel, and a solid read for me.

Having enjoyed Mexican Gothic, I jumped at a chance to read and review The Bewitching. Moreno-Garcia has a knack for creating strange stories with solid atmosphere. This was no exception.

The story, really three interwoven stories, follows three women in three different time periods as they explore horror literature in the 1990s, farm life in the early 1900s, and college life in the 1930s. Each woman faces something haunting and mysterious.

The pace is brisk and it drags you along for an intense occult-flavored ride. Another solid book from Moreno-Garcia.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did.

The story follows three women, three different timelines. All bound by a dark force and haunting presence.

I am all for different POVs and timelines, but the constant switching between povs left me with much to be desired and made it hard for me to connect and stay engaged with any one story. This story had such a slow build-up and while I appreciate an author who can create tensions by slowly weaving their story, this story moved at a glacial pace. The constant addition of side characters and side plots made the story harder to follow and lacked momentum.

(I will avoid giving spoilers but I was very disappointed with how Alba’s story was handled and what she had to do in her ending)

I am a fan of several of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s novels and was really looking forward to this one. I am disappointed I was not a fan. I loved the premise and the concept of three different women being tied together by tales of witches (i also absolutely loooved the mentions of mexican folklore and believes weaved in). I just wish the story was a bit more connected and the story had more momentum and drive.

3.2 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book. Flipping back and forth through time was a really cool way to tell a story. I found myself both mad and excited when the timeline shifted. I wanted the whole story all at once!

This was one of her best but I felt like there were few loose ends. I know Silvia Moreno-Garcia has not done a sequel to one of her books before but I feel that the loose ends could be resolved in a second book.

Solid 4 stars.

'The Bewitching' is my favourite Moreno-Garcia so far ! The atmosphere is perfect to read on a rainy, October night, a few days before Halloween. I really enjoyed the academic setting and the interconnected stories of our three protagonists.
You can feel the author's passion and knowledge of gothic literature and Mexican folklore !
All the horror references were a delight to catch as well!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC !

The Bewitching is about three women, bound by dark forces that span decades. This multigenerational story is a blend of horror, historical fiction with a gothic flair. Silvia paints a picture of terror that is heart-pounding, creepy and captivating. Minerva, one of our POVs, studies witch folklore and I really love that this was an added touch, as the book is based on this lore. The choice for Minerva's character to be an academic was an aspect I enjoyed. Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC. Definitely give this a read when it publishes July 15, 2025!

Nobody does Gothic like Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Beautiful and haunting, this epic horror stretches across three generations of women. Read the blurb and know that it is about so much more!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook ARC edition of this title in exchange for my review.

I will eternally be grateful to Net Galley for introducing me to Silvia Moreno-Garcia a few years ago! I'm a total fan, these are auto-buy/read books for me, and usually re-reads! The author has the ability to weave history, culture, character, paranormal elements and horror into her books in just a perfect blend!

This supernatural horror is set in 1908, 1934, and 1998, each timeline centered around a remarkable female character, linked together with words: "Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches."

When you start this one, don't plan on doing anything else, until the book is complete - and allow time for a book hangover! This supernatural horror was an amazing, fascinating book.

4 stars, recommend to Silvia Moreno-Garcia fans and fans of dark, supernatural horror novels.

Thanks to NatGalley for this ARC. This was my first full fledged horror and let me tell you I avoid the horror movies like the plague. But this one gripped me so tight I read it lightning fast. I'd say a steady 4.5 and I hope I'll be able to sleep tonight because it's the creepiest thing in the world, a job very well done.
The characters seemed full of life and personality, the three interconnected storylines were interwoven in the most interesting way and I love me a good ending (maybe a little open).
Considering that I live in Mexico it hit me hard. All the traditions and culture that the book is permeated with.
This was my first book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and it was a great one.

Genuinely compelling and wildly unsettling. I love Moreno-Garcia's writing and I really admire how much of a genre chameleon she is, all of her books are so different. This had elements of Mexican Gothic about it for sure, but isn't by any means so similar as to be a rehash, and in some ways I think I actually enjoyed it more for the more overt fantasy elements and the variety of perspectives and worldviews in the three women's stories'. Though Minerva's part pulled everything together and made it all work,, and you couldn't possibly do without it I personally preferred and found more engaging the historical-fiction novelty of Alba and Beatrice's segments, partially because I like period pieces and partially because Moreno-Garcia is so good at historical fiction. I felt it took a little while to get going; the structure totally made sense (not bringing in Beatrice's part until Minerva finds her writings, for example, which as a choice was very slick), but it did feel as if we felt a lot of time wandering around an American university before it really got going. There are some massive trigger warnings that I feel I should warn people about before they generally dive into this (I tagged them all on Storygraph, but assault, incest, gore, and blood are probably the main ones), but it's hardly as if they're just there for shock value; this is another gothic horror through and through. And you can tell; the rising sense of dread really packs a punch into the third act. Also has a little smack of dark academia to it, which was nice. Really enjoyed!

“This, she thought, was the tale not of Cupid and Psyche, but of Persephone dragged into the depths of the underworld. This was a chthonic sacrifice.”

Slow, seductive and atmospheric are just a few of the words I’d use to describe this incredible novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Now I’ll admit, I am but a novice not only when it comes to this author, but the genre as a whole. Nevertheless, I was so excited to dive in and experience her brilliance for the first time.

I am in awe of the beautifully eerie way the author is able to set a scene and maintain it with her prose. The interesting storylines between the three women from different places and times in history were all engaging and it was satisfying to see how their stories converged.

I read this book for a blurb and enjoyed it very much; it's a refreshing but familiar take on the high Gothic and perfect for readers of Clyo Mendoza or Mariana Enriquez.

I never know quite how Silvia Moreno-Garcia will break me open with her exquisite prose when I open her latest novel—her works span genres, but every book she writes captures my imagination long after I’m finished reading it.

She writes with such beautiful language, but never at the expense of the plot—her stories are so compelling and pull me in from the first word, and The Bewitching is no exception.

Minerva is a grad student researching a lesser-known female horror author one summer on a mostly-abandoned New England college campus when the undergrads have all scattered back to their families of origin.

As she unravels the mysterious disappearance that inspired the author’s best-known work, Minerva remembers her grandmother’s version of Once Upon a Time: “Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches.”

As a former academic and current adjunct archaeology professor, I can vouch that the depiction of academia was spot on: the burnout, depression fog, wasting time and feeling listless even when urgent and even interesting tasks beckon were very true to my experience, along with the spurts of curiosity and productivity along with the occasional fortunate discovery of sources that carry you through a finally-finished thesis.

I also really appreciate Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s approach to horror. She writes these stories interwoven with lines that bring on the most delicious chills but still allow me to sleep at night.

She really captures how even when spooky things are happening, it’s so easy to rationalize it all away in the light of day when the vibes are normal.

I always get a bit wistful reading Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books. She often draws from the stories and folktales she heard from her elders (according to her author’s notes), and my living grandparents were not that sort of elder. This book was inspired in part by her great-grandmother’s witchtales from growing up in the Mexican countryside.

This book is perfect for those looking for a spooky but not terrifying tale to read in solitude, preferably on a foggy autumn day.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance copy for review.

I was really excited about the premise of this book. I love the idea of exploring the occult with a cultural focus. Every culture has its stories, whether they are origin tales, religious in tone, or family traditions that include elements of the supernatural. Perhaps this fascination stems from the need to explain and understand mysteries rather than allowing them to remain unexplained. Peculiar sounds at night or the sudden death of a healthy relative can often be attributed to the paranormal.

The story unfolds across three timelines: those of Minerva, Ginny, and Alba. Alba is Minerva's maternal grandmother. Minerva is conducting research for her thesis on a subject that leads her to investigate the disappearance of Ginny, a student at her school several decades earlier. Despite this connection, the stories of the three women are revealed independently. The true connection among them is not unveiled until the end and is rooted in tales of witches.

My biggest complaint about this novel is the pacing. The connection is revealed very slowly, and it doesn't come off as a tantalizing slow burn. The drawn-out buildup ultimately distracted me from the plot. Not only was the development slow, but when we finally reached the reveal, there was little excitement surrounding the villain; it all felt inevitable. Despite this, I enjoyed the individual stories of the three women and found this book to be more engaging than Mexican Gothic.

This is my first book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and it did not disappoint!
I really enjoyed this one! The gothic, slow building story was amazing. The story follows three women across different time periods and I found this concept very intriguing and entertaining. Obviously, there is something connecting these women.
The writing pulled me in right away. The author does a great job creating a creepy, eerie atmosphere that stays with you.
I was especially drawn to the 1990s storyline. I mean, can you blame me? Dark academia meets vintage witchy vibes!? However, the 1900s narrative was the one that gave me the most chills.
I truly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Soft, slow, atmospheric, and a little bit seductive.

For a horror, this one is on the quieter, softer side. It’s an eerie, creeping sort of horror. There’s a little more of the suspense element, but the split between three timelines gives this a pretty slow pace up until the last ~15%.

Overwhelmingly, this book is atmospheric. Misty and snowy, crispy, grey East Coast vibes. Recommended for fall, winter, or rainy season reading. I also love the Mexican folklore. It’s refreshing and gives a nice touch to these witches.

The only thing that was missing for me was a stronger thread through the storylines. Some sort of twist that overlapped all of them or some deeper mystery maybe. It’s certainly a personal preference, but that would have boosted this over the 4 star line for me.

As always, Silvia’s prose is lovely and is enough of a reason to pick up this book, even if the premise doesn’t speak to you. Though, if you are in the mood for a more historical, slowburn, suspenseful horror, this one is the perfect fit.

All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

A great blend of horror and history and suspense. Full of curses and witches and shadowy entities...so so good!