First of all, I love anything by Silvia Moreno-Garcia! I loved that this book deals with witches, but it was from the Mexican lore. Which, I had no idea about. It made it even more interesting. I also loved the 3 time period jumps. It kept it intriguing and worked so well together. I did not see where it was leading up to until almost the end. I hate guessing the endings, so this was just perfect!

Three narrative voices come together in this book to create an unsettling, terrifying, and unforgettable atmosphere.
An amazing experience from start to finish!
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

This book is an absolute triumph of gothic horror—lush, unsettling, and impossible to put down. Spanning three eras and three unforgettable women, the story weaves folklore, academia, and creeping dread into a haunting multigenerational tale of witchcraft and obsession.

The narrative slips seamlessly between 1900s Mexico, the Great Depression, and the 1990s, each timeline as rich and eerie as the last. Minerva’s academic pursuit of Beatrice Tremblay’s lost history becomes a chilling descent into something far darker than research, while the echoes of Nana Alba’s stories give the novel a folkloric heartbeat that feels both timeless and terrifying.

What makes this book so remarkable is how it blends literary atmosphere with genuine horror—silken prose that hides sharp teeth. The tension builds with every page, until past and present converge in a finale that left me breathless. It’s smart, sinister, and deeply evocative, the kind of story that lingers long after the last page is turned.

Fans of Mexican Gothic will find themselves spellbound once again. A masterclass in gothic storytelling—beautiful, horrifying, and unforgettable.

A million stars for this book. No notes. Greatest book ever. Ok, moving on for real. I loved how easy the story was to follow even though there were 3 different timelines/stories interwoven to keep track of. I loved how each story unfolded and gave us pieces to the story. Each part felt important and played a role in the main plot. I love this authors writing so much and it was beautifully written.

There were still witches then is the tagline, but this story, told in three interwoven timelines, suggests that there are still witches now. Combining historical detail with folklore and magic, Moreno Garcia weaves a fascinating mystery into dark academia verging on horror. (I’m not a horror reader, but I can definitely recommend this title because it’s as much a family story, and several coming of age stories, and an exploration of friendship and trust and love as it is a dark magic story.

This was such a riveting read. I was so interested in this mystery I was always glad to pick up this book and continue reading. Some days I really did not want to put it down.

I would recommend to SMG fans for sure. From the three books I’ve read of hers, this is now my favorite. I would also categorize it with The Secret History, Shirley Jackson stories, and Ninth House.

This was not incredibly horrifying BUT it did give me the creeps at times. Perfect for a fall/ October read.

The Bewitching is a creepy story about witches. It goes back and forth between characters and time to tell the story. It's perfect to read around Halloween time. Horror fans will like this one. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Haunting and nicely woven from two and a half timelines, The Bewitching is a slow burn, but worth the investment. I liked the three protagonists and found them whole and well-formed as characters, and the peripherals moved the story along well. I "figured it out" at some point, but I think the reader is meant to.

The Bewitching is a great read, I love anything witchy and Silvia never disappoints. Would recommend to anyone who loves Witch themes or great world building!

Sylvia Moreno-Garcia is an auto-read author for me. While this wasn’t my favorite of hers, I really enjoyed the way it combined elements of Mexican and New England witch folklore. While some of the twists didn’t come as a huge surprise to me the book gave off enough spooky vibes and character development that I didn’t mind.

Moreno-Garcia's latest is another tour de force of world building that I was not wanting to leave. I'm a slow reader and loved the latest world the author has brought us into. Again, the characters really felt dimensional, flawed, heroic, and all-too human, which is an area the author consistently excels in. Highest recommendation from a modern master of story.

I had such a great time reading this book, I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia and her magical realism. I loved the story telling.

“Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches.” That is how The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia starts. However, in typical Moreno-Garcia fashion the story is not really about witches. It’s about 3 women who are finding themselves and their power.

One story follows Minerva a graduate student trying to fino the true story behind a writer’s horror novel. We also follow Minerva’s grandmother, Alba who is a teenager when her brother disappears and wierd things start happening on the family ranch. The third story follows Beatrice Tremblay, the writer Minerva is researching and the disappearance of her roommate.

Other themes include class, womanhood, friendship, and love. I LOVED the way Silvia Moreno-Garcia wove all those themes together and gave us a beautiful story. Just note that we don’t really get to the witches part until the end.

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
#eightysecondbookof2025 #arc #thebewitching

CW: witches, murder, animal death, missing persons, incest

From NetGalley: Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches”: That was how Nana Alba always began the stories she told her great-granddaughter Minerva—stories that have stayed with Minerva all her life. Perhaps that’s why Minerva has become a graduate student focused on the history of horror literature and is researching the life of Beatrice Tremblay, an obscure author of macabre tales. In the course of assembling her thesis, Minerva uncovers information that reveals that Tremblay’s most famous novel, The Vanishing, was inspired by a true story: Decades earlier, during the Great Depression, Tremblay attended the same university where Minerva is now studying and became obsessed with her beautiful and otherworldly roommate, who then disappeared under mysterious circumstances. As Minerva descends ever deeper into Tremblay’s manuscript, she begins to sense that the malign force that stalked Tremblay and the missing girl might still walk the halls of the campus. These disturbing events also echo the stories Nana Alba told about her girlhood in 1900s Mexico, where she had a terrifying encounter with a witch. Minerva suspects that the same shadow that darkened the lives of her great-grandmother and Beatrice Tremblay is now threatening her own in 1990s Massachusetts. An academic career can be a punishing pursuit, but it might turn outright deadly when witchcraft is involved.

My thoughts: I love SMG, and every one of her books is a standout, even though they’re all different genres. I don’t know how she does it. I enjoyed trying to figure out how the three perspectives mattered to each other and the references to other contemporary horror writers. I did not enjoy the uncle/niece incest. I think it wrapped up a little quickly, but overall, I really like the book.

Thank you to @delreybooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Available now, pub date was 7/15/25)

Silvia Moreno-Garcia offers her most immersive novel since Mexican Gothic. I especially loved the historical portions of the work!

I was thrilled to get my hands on this ARC, and it did not disappoint.

This haunting, multigenerational tale weaves witchcraft, obsession, and academic intrigue across three timelines. Moreno-Garcia masterfully blends gothic horror with historical fiction, crafting a suspenseful narrative that lingers long after the book is finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for this ARC!

A story of family, love, and generational knowledge, THE BEWITCHING by Silvia Moreno-Garcia takes place in Mexico and Massachusetts, united by a story of twisted witchcraft.

*4.5 stars*

This was very atmospheric, just like Moreno-Garcias’s other works. I really enjoyed the academic setting and the intertwining of the different timelines. Despite a little frustration in the middle of the novel that the main characters can’t see the obvious, the story was engaging and the ending satisfying. I think this nicely bridges the divide between dark academia and supernatural and would be perfect for fans of both.

I enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator made the main characters sound different enough that it was easy to tell what timeline we were in.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

This read had me on the edge of my seat for the ENTIRE READ...

The book is told through three women in different time periods.... going through the same witchy situation and it was AMAZING...

Usually when it is a multiple perspective book, I am a fan of one character over the others, but NOT THIS ONE! I was fascinated with all the characters and their insane stories.

I love this author so much but this book is my favorite of hers so far. She takes witches to the next level.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. Wow, what can I say about Silvia Moreno-Garcia that hasn’t already been said?! Her work is astounding, full stop. The characters are rich, vibrant, alive, and so real. The homages are beautiful without being heavy handed. The story of witchcraft as a mysterious means by which some have always taken advantage of others was so expertly woven. Will be rereading and recommending this book for years to come!