The Bewitching is the newest novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Told through perspectives in three different timelines, The Bewitching is a historical fiction witching novel. I really enjoyed this one. Although the second storyline wasn't my favorite, it is very important with the storyline. I think I didn't like it just because we already know the outcome that comes from that storyline with Ginny so not a lot that's new is thrown at us. All three storylines, while they don't seem connected, are interconnected by the end. I just love her writing and how she can easily switch between genres with each of her stories.

If you aren't big fan of horror, I think The Bewitching could easily be read by those readers. I think of more of a story of good vs. evil and not letting the need for greed win. Now to wait until her next book is released, hopefully in 2026.

The Bewitching is a captivating story of witches that blends multicultural folklore, history, and feminism in a way that is uniquely Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Full of atmosphere and GenX collegiate nostalgia, I found myself utterly engrossed in the three timelines and reminisced on my own 1998 university experience. The memories of old-school dusty library stacks, late 90s music, and the budding technologies of the time came flooding back amidst this unsettling tale.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in exchange for an honest review. This is an amazing story of witchcraft and female empowerment. I loved the multiple timelines and they almost seemed to be part of each other's lives, ancestral knowledge. Moreno-Garcia is such a beautiful author that totally submerges the reader into the book and makes you feel like you are there. I felt the fear and pain they did and wished I was there to hold their hands. I highly recommend this book.

The Bewitching follows three women across the 20th century, each of whom are grappling with recent disappearances of people in their community and begin to find answers in folklore and witchcraft. The novel’s main narrative follows Minerva in 1998 who’s living and working at the small, fictional Stoneridge College in Massachusetts while pursuing her doctorate in gothic literature. Minerva immediately recollects on the tales of witchcraft her great-grandmother, Alba, used to tell. Alba becomes the second prominent perspective who’s living on a struggling farm in rural Mexico in 1908 shortly after the death of her father. Her family is struck by tragedy again when her brother mysteriously goes missing. Back in 1998, Minerva plans to write her thesis on Beatrice Tremblay, a little-known author of The Vanishing, a novel which the author purported was based on a true story. Minerva finds Beatrice’s diary which then becomes the third perspective told from 1934 while she was a student a Stoneridge College. Beatrice’s diary documents her recollections of the lead up to her roommate Ginny’s disappearance and her efforts to figure out what happen. During Minerva’s research, she comes to find that a fellow student who was researching similar topics has recently disappeared.

The Bewitching starts off at a bit of a slow pace, gradually building momentum until you find you can’t put book the book down. When I first started the book, I struggled a bit with the three perspectives and which timeline they were from. I think I would have preferred each chapter title to reference to the character’s name rather than the year of their story. For me, it would have made the transition from chapter to chapter a bit easier. Moreno-Garcia does a great job establishing the three different stories and then weaving them together over time. The mystery behind what caused the disappearance of various characters in each timeline is what really drives the plot. I found it pretty easy early on to tell which characters were behind the disappearances, but I definitely didn’t predict how the story would arrive at its conclusion and there were some surprises along the way. I think I enjoy Moreno-Garcia best when she’s writing gothic fiction as she does a wonderful job building a distinct and spooky atmosphere. I also appreciate that in each novel, she offers the opportunity to learn something new about Mexican folklore and history, in this case a very different depiction of witchcraft compared with typical western witch tales. 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC. All reviews are my own.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has once again spun an incredible tail. This one takes place in three timelines: 1908 (Alba), 1934 (Beatrice), and 1998 (Minerva). Minerva is studying Beatrice Tremblay’s novel, The Vanishing, for her master’s thesis. The novel was based on the disappearance of Beatrice’s dear friend from the same Massachusetts college where Minerva is studying. The deeper into the story she falls, the more likely it seems that a sinister presence still stalks the campus. Thankfully, Minerva grew up listening to her great grandmother (Alba’s) stories about witches and witchcraft and has a few ways to protect herself.

The three difference timelines are each so vivid and disturbing in their own ways. I had my suspicions throughout the story, but the reveal was very interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone, and especially those readers who like reading New England fiction, supernatural stories, or multi-generational tales.

Trigger warnings: incest, violence to animals (and humans, but I feel like you expect that in a book about witchcraft…)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Del Ray, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my feedback.

“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.

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up! If you've enjoyed any of Moreno-Garcia's previous books, this is better. Definitely not your typical witchy stories. Far better! I loved this! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

The Bewitching is a story of women, and witchcraft, and alternates between three time periods (early 1900's, 1930 & 1998). While I liked this one overall, it's not one of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's best.

The pace is extremely slow for most of the book, and only really ramps up at the 65% mark. It took me about 12 days to read up to this point, and then I sped through the remaining 35% in 2 days. Both the 1900's and 1930's timelines are great, they set the mood and really ramp up the tension. Unfortunately the 1998 portion -- the biggest and most current timeline -- is what really slows the story down. Minerva just wasn't a very exciting protagonist, and I personally found her very cold and hard to connect with.

The witchcraft elements are interesting, and really quite eerie when done well.
Unfortunately, I worked out every plot twist except for one, so I found the story to be quite predictable by the end.

I just finished The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno- Garcia. Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for a free eARC.

Minerva is a foreign exchange graduate student at an illustrious Massachusetts College. Armed with a copy of The Vanishing by Beatrice Tremblay, and her thesis on New England witchcraft to write, she's determined to get access to some of Beatrice's letters from a wealthy patron of the school. What she doesn't quite expect is a last manuscript, and the tires between the witches of New England and the ones her Nana Alba told her about in Mexico. A trio of storylines: 1908 Mexico, 1934 Massachusetts, and 1998 Massachusetts converge to tell the story of these women.

A beautiful Gothic love story to Be England and Mexican folklore. Moreno- Garcia weaves these tales together so seamlessly. In 1908: plucky and naive Alba is fighting for her family's survival. I loved the witch lore from Mexico, the superstition from the locals, and the sense of danger outside. In 1934, with the backdrop of the great depression, and the major social dynamics of the time, I loved the calls to spiritualism and Ginny herself. In 1998, Minerva with her growing sense of unease, and reluctant belief, she's both practical and level headed. In true Gothic horror fashion, the dread seeps in slowly, building to final confrontations and reveals. I could feel the cold winter in 1934, I could hear the screeching noises in 1908. Minerva gives us a soundtrack to hear (yay The Pixies and Neutral Milk Hotel) as she blends her belief in the Academic to her belief in the Possible. All three (four for Betty!) women connected by a magical touch, and a deviation in some way from what society wants us to be-- isn't that true of all witches? I wish witches were real, but not if they look like this.

4.5 upped to 5
There's a lot to love in this book, a sort of mix of dark academia mixed with horror. There're multiple timelines, intriguing characters and stories.
A there an eerie atmosphere since the beginning that kept me hooked even if I had to struggle with my mind that wanted to go to the action and the frightening part.
And then i was hooked and couldn't stop reading and being on the edge and a bit scary.
An excellent book i loved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I'm a big fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, so I jumped at the chance to read The Bewitching. While thrillers are usually my go-to genre, there's just something about her storytelling that pulls me in every time. The way she weaves folklore, the supernatural, and just the right touch of mystery always hooks me. This book was no exception, atmospheric, layered, and haunting in the best way. She has such a unique voice, and I love how she brings cultural elements into her stories without losing that eerie, almost gothic tone. Definitely worth the read!

The Bewitching is a historical paranormal/horror novel told from the perspective of three women in different timelines. Minerva in 1998 is spending the summer in New England working on her thesis about a local horror author. Alba is in 1908 Mexico and living through her brother's death and many other strange happenings on her family's farm. Beatrice, the author that Minerva is writing about, is in 1934 at the same college that Minerva is at now. These stories will all come together in a satisfying way.

This was a slow burn, especially in the beginning, but things pick up around halfway through and the creepiness factor is ratcheted up. Some parts of the story were fairly predictable but there were some parts of the research and mystery that were surprising. Overall, this was another solid book from Silvia Moreno-Garcia whose books have become automatic reads for me.

“𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬…”

𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌: The Bewitching
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔: 📚✨📑🪬🩸🍃🐈‍⬛

The Bewitching is captivatingly haunting, gripping, and beautiful. Moreno-Garcia has crafted something truly brilliant! The book weaves through three separate timelines weaving a tale of resilience. The women in The Bewitching were three-dimensional and I could not get enough of them. This was my first time reading a work by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, but it will certainly not be my last!! I found myself highlighting so many sentences because of how well written they were! This witchy tale was tragically beautiful and the end was so, so good!!!
It's summerween and you need to pick up this gothic, magical horror right now!!

4.75 stars! My favorite book of hers by far. Sometimes a multi-timeline book bored me to tears, but this was so engaging.
Also a bit creepy….there were a few nights laying in bed reading it that made me scared to go get a glass of water by myself!

Thank you to Silvia Moreno-Garcia and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved, loved, loved this! The Bewitching is full of rich lore, with a very intriguing mystery that keeps you glued to the pages! While you try to guess who’s behind it all, lots of witchy stuff starts happening! I watched Buffy and Charmed in the ‘90s, so I couldn't help but root for my girl Minerva out there in 1998, burning CDs, being angsty, and reading horror stories. Same!
But I also loved the mystery of the 1934 chapters and the way Alba's story in 1908 Mexico contextualized all the folk tales and legends, the recipes and spells! So good!
Also, the ending? Super satisfying.
Definitely recommend this!

4.5 Stars The chameleon of literature arrives once again with a book perfect for the upcoming fall season. I found myself asking how does she repeatedly create such interesting characters and compelling plot, all while enlightening us with various historical tidbits?

This time we are thrown into 3 interconnected timelines where bewildering things happen with missing people, weird symbols and feelings of being watched lend that sense of dread to the story. Minerva and her timeline was my favorite of the three but I did love experiencing the older timelines and their richly depicted settings of a Mexican farm and depression era academia halls.

What I didn't love was the way 1 of the older timelines played out. I would encourage reading content warnings as one association gave me the ick while reading, taking me out of the story a bit and questioning it's full necessity.

The tension in this does not come from trying to figure out who is doing what as some points are obvious, instead it comes from US knowing but the characters NOT knowing. Their panic and fear bleed through the pages amid the dark atmosphere painted which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall a fantastic read that shows it's witchy story in a original way that only Moreno-Garcia seems to do. Thanks to Random House publishing and Netgalley for providing the digital ARC for review.

I’m always amazed at how the author comes up with such creative settings. This one reminded me a bit of Mexican Gothic and Silver Nitrate. I wondered if the author’s previous works inspired some of the elements here. The storyline involving three women and their unique connection to witchcraft was handled with nuance and care. I especially appreciated the focus on strong female characters, which always draws me in as a reader. The way their stories unfold across three different generations added depth and intrigue. It did take me a little while to adjust to the shifts in time, but once I got used to it, the narrative flowed much more smoothly and became even more engaging

I think this is the best parts of Mexican Gothic and Silver Nitrate. If they were to have a baby, and the genetic gods were on their side, then this is what would come of it. And with a sprinkle of vampire. So if you enjoyed either of those titles, I think you'll like this one.

I think for me, my issue is that I wanted to get to the spookey ookey part faster. I appreciated that there was a lot to setup and that probably made the horror elements more impactful, but I guess I wanted to feel more unsettled, or I wanted to spend less time in certain timelines.

But regardless of my issues, I still come back every time. Will I read the next one? You bet. I'll be here reading more and more of her stuff because when she gets it right, its really really good.

Thank you to Del Rey, Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Netgalley for an e-copy.

Ensnared, Enraptured, and CAPTIVATED!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has DONE IT AGAIN! The Bewitching is excellence in historical horror fiction, a genre that Silvia Moreno-Garcia DOMINATES. Her prose is beautiful and flows off the page to readers in beautiful ways. The Bewitching follows three women across various times through the lens of Minerva, our main character, who is investigating the life of her favorite horror author. These stories all start very distinctly and separately, and as time progresses, interwoven threads begin to emerge and it was just done masterfully.

The horror in this novel is excellent gothic horror. If you have read Silvia Moreno-Garcia before, you know how her words creep inside of you like a fungus spreading spores or like a movie playing on a dangerous medium. However, The Bewitching gives something so unique and unlike her other stories that readers are going to devour this story. It is mediumly paced, but when I started this book, I would have sworn time was flying by as I kept reading. At the end of this story, many readers will figure out the climax pretty quickly. However, this won't detract from the sheer enjoyment of these words and how the characters are connected.

GO OUT AND BUY THIS BOOK! It is exceptional, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia is just an exceptional author that you absolutely should read!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has such a unique writing style, i've never read anything like her books before.
I loved the stories of Alba, Beatrice and Minerva and how each of them explored witchcraft and trauma. As always, this author is able to tell a moving narrative that is inter-woven with eerie, gothic atmosphere that makes it impossible to put down.

I am glad I hold a physical copy of The Bewitching and its sign because I had the pleasure of meeting Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I found this story quite compelling. This was a great horror novel. It explores different generations in the years of 1908, 1934, and 1998. It follows three different women: Alba, Beatrice and Minerva. Each character has an interesting backstory, and they all have a connection to witchcraft. The three female characters were different, intriguing, strong, and powerful. This story explores the impact of past trauma. This novel was dark and eerie. It is worth the reading especially if you are a fan of reading anything with witches and spooky vibes. Thank you Del Rey Books and NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.