this is my first book of silvia’s and after hearing nothing but great things about their books, i was super excited to give this one a shot! however i learned very fast that i dont know if their writing is for me… i’ll admit im not well versed in the horror genre so take my feelings with a grain of salt. i think that i’ll possibly be giving this book or silvia’s other works a shot through audiobooks as it may be easier for me to digest the flowery writing and help me get more invested through the narrator bringing it to life.

All my reviews of Moreno-Garcia’s books start the same but there is no other way. She is possibly one of the best writers working today. The Bewitching is a combination of historical horror, Dark Academia, a mystery and a psychological thriller wrapped in the most perfect, descriptive and atmospheric writing. It tells the story of three women in three timelines. Minerva is a student in a New England college in 1998. She constantly misses her great grandma Alba while she writes her dissertation on an obscure female horror writer from the time of Lovecraft. As we follow Minerva, we learn the stories of her Nana Alba, in a Mexican farm in 1908; and Beatrice Tremblay, the writer Minerva studies and whose work was forever influenced by the disappearance of her friend in 1934. Each story gets established from the beginning, building their own world and creating suspense based on different, but similar events. Minerva is not easy to like. She is cold and tries to keep everyone at bay, but she is smart and grows on you. Nana Alba and Betty are easier to get to know, so they seemed more approachable. I was hooked, wanting to know what came next and worrying about these characters. From the beginning, you know that Alba and Betty made it to a ripe old edge so the suspense comes from the slow-building dread. What’s happening and how will they go from there to the old ladies we know they became and, more importantly, how will that help Minerva? Each story would get 5 stars from me but together, the way the merge and change and influence each other? That is what takes a good writer and turns her into a great one.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Del Rey.

Book Review: “The Bewitching” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Moreno-Garcia slays in this witchy thriller

Minerva is struggling with her thesis. Attending the prestigious Stoneridge College on an academic scholarship, she cannot afford to be mediocre, but even now she is wondering if her thesis topic should change. While others have nudged her to pursue Lovecraft as her thesis topic she opts for the lesser known but still impactful author Beatrice Tremblay. As the author of one of her favorite horror novels, The Vanishing, as well as an alumnus of Stoneridge herself Minerva hopes that walking in the footsteps of her idol will shake something loose and produce the content she needs to make the thesis shine. After a run in with Noah, the grandson of an influential family within the university she makes the acquaintance of Carolyn Wingrave. Through her she learns that Carolyn was friends with Beatrice while she attended and is in possession of memorabilia from that time including Tremblay’s unpublished manuscript. Carolyn invites Minerva to review the documents to aid her thesis studies. Beatrice’s unpublished work is the haunting story of her time at the college chronicling a friend’s descent into madness and her eventual disappearance. With several situations reminiscent of the stories her great grandmother used to tell her, Minerva begins to wonder if there is something more sinister going on at Stoneridge. The more she researches, the more it’s apparent that there are more than students walking the halls of Stoneridge College. Where ghosts of the past still war with the evils of the present, Minerva must pull on all of her knowledge of the occult to avoid becoming the next sacrifice.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia returns with The Bewitching a stunning occult thriller set in three distinct yet intertwined timelines. No stranger to multiple timelines, Moreno-Garcia amps up the odds with a ninety-year gap between the originating and main narratives. While initially seemingly unrelated, to the astute reader the author subtly weaves similarities, hints and clues within all interactions and situations to tell a story of sinister witches, power greedy warlocks and those who are caught in the crossfire of their ambitions. Even though the main timeline is set in 1990s New England, Moreno-Garcia as with all her other titles still focuses heavily on her Mexican heritage and traditions regarding her characters and story settings. For me, this adds additional dimensions to this author’s books that I always look forward to. Each timeline was meticulously fleshed out and executed in a way that brought each era’s locations and characters to life in a way that really assisted with the overall impact of the story. While the narratives were part of an overall storyline, each timeline still read at its own stand-alone installment with its own plot and conclusions.

No matter if you are already a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia or are new to her work, The Bewitching will draw you in and have you glued to the pages as you read.  This is not the first book I have read by this author, and it will not be my last. With every new book she releases Silvia Moreno-Garcia continues to excel and raise the bar to set her own new standard. I cannot wait to see what she has planned for her next offering.

Full disclosure: I was provided a Netgalley copy of this title by the author or their authorized agent, however, have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own. The Bewitching is scheduled for a July 15, 2025 release

"Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches."

This book features three timeless following Alba in 1908, Beatrice in 1934 and Minerva in 1998. All of these women are connected to each other.

I enjoyed the eerie atmosphere and love all things witchy. This was just a bit too much of a slow burn for me and I didn't really connect to the 1998 sections.

Thank you netgalley and Random House Del Ray for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was really good! I'm a big fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, so I was really excited to get an invitation to read this ARC, and it didn't disappoint. The only negatives I have to say are that I didn't really like Minerva at all and it felt like it took kind of a long time to get to the horror aspects of the book. It's not a short book at all, so reading for hours and hours waiting for the witches to show up did make it drag a bit. Still, I usually don't like multiple timeline stories at all, but all three timelines were more or less equally as interesting and even though it was ridiculously obvious who killed Virginia almost immediately, I still really wanted to know exactly how it happened and was super invested in the 1908 storyline in particular the whole time. The actual witch lore was really unique and interesting, too. I haven't disliked any of her books so far and am definitely looking forward to the next one. Good stuff!

Pure fascination is what I had with this story on witchcraft, magic and myths. I marveled how the author was able to effectively bring three timelines together -- 1908, 1934 and 1998 -- with smooth transitions.

The beauty of the book was getting to know who’s who. Minerva in 1998 went after what she wanted without being pushed around. She was from Mexico and attending a Massachusetts college on a scholarship.

Minerva was writing her thesis on Beatrice Tremblay who wrote about how her classmate, Ginny Somerset, mysteriously vanished in 1934 at the same college. Ginny was a Spiritualist who believed in witchcraft and the occult. There wasn’t a lot written about Beatrice, a female horror author. Minerva was determined to change that perception.

Minerva also talked lovingly of her great-grandmother, Alba, who shared stories of witchcraft in 1908 when she was 19 years old in Mexico. Alba inspired Minerva with her bedtime stories of all sorts of mysteries. Was it possible that a list of people simply vanished without a trace because of magic and spells?

The book started a little slow but once I had a clear image of the characters, each part moved along quickly. It wasn’t a typical horror book. It was built on the strong interest people have especially in Salem and other parts of New England with chilling historical events related to witches.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia made her characters come alive with a clear description of the farm lands, cotton mills, college dorms and the mysterious dark energy. In the Author Notes, she said her great-grandmother told her stories of witches where she lived in Mexico. She influenced her to write this book.

My thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 15, 2025.

ARC REVIEW The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5

This book was soooo good! A mix of gothic horror, witches, and dark academia that had me in the edge of me seat and checking the shadows in the corners of my room 😅
I loved the intersection of New England witch mythology and Mexican folklore. It explored witches in a way that I hadn’t seen before and added a fresh element.
I have not read a lot of horror or paranormal thrillers nor have I read Mexican Gothic also by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, so I can’t say how it holds up against the genre as a whole, but if you’re looking for a spooky fall read, I definitely recommend this!

The first few chapters were a bit boring—there were so many names and historical references that it felt like the author was just trying to prove she had done her research. But once the story got going, it really transformed into something spooky and mysterious. The Bewitching weaves together the lives of three women across different time periods—early 1900s Mexico, 1930s Massachusetts, and the late '90s—and the way their stories connect through witchcraft and mystery was super engaging. It definitely kept me hooked, although the Minerva storyline was a bit predictable.

I really wanted to like this book, but i was left with a feeling that it lacked more. The characters seemed at times very flat and very hard to connect to. The lore of witchcraft was fascinating and the suspense was great. Other than that i found myself really struggling to finish the book.

Thanks Netgalley ARC!

"Back then... there were still witches."

The Bewitching sucks you in from the first, never letting go, digging in, through the skin, past bone, and down into your marrow, where it infects and takes over your body makes you its vessel.

"... are you spooked yet?"

A dark academia tale about corrupting forces of the highest horror order. The Bewitching is Silvia Moreno-Garcia, once again, surpassing her best.

This was such a unique and interesting book, but not unlike her prior writings, this book had all sorts of different cultures intertwining. The story follows three separate individuals who are dealing with supernatural occurrences. One in turn of the century Mexico, one in New England, and one in 1998. The story wove three stories together in an interesting way combining both new england and Latin american folklore and supernatural culture in a very compelling way. I am not the most well-versed in horror, but this book was so fun and interesting to read but also provided some very cool insight into the differences and similarities in cultural differences in these areas. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has read Moreno-Garcia's work before, but also those looking for something new, interesting, different, and compelling!

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Moreno-Garcia's writing is wonderful, she's so talented. In The Bewitching we follow the stories of 3 women that are experiencing unnatural occurrences. Either directly to them or someone close to them. The 1908 storyline with Alba was probably the scariest and the storyline in 1998 with Minerva was so interesting because of her studies and because she solves the mystery of the 1934 storyline. Overall, I wouldn't say this was very scary but it's certainly eerie. It's great historical fiction with witches and other paranormal elements. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in exchange for an honest review.

Silvia Moreno takes us to Massachusetts in her newest novel The Bewitching. Minerva is an international college exchange student from Mexico who is attending Stonebridge College on an academic scholarship. She is at the very college where her favorite author Beatrice Trembley, went to many years prior. Intrigued by Beatrice Trembley’s story the Vanishing which she learns is possibly based on a true story and looking for a subject to do her dissertation on, Minerva can’t help but quell her curiosity. Sometimes curiosity can lead to trouble especially when witchcraft is involved!
This book takes us into the lives of three different women from different time periods with a common link of witchcraft.

Silva Moreno- Garcia follows her patterns for gothic horror and makes the story flow with creative descriptions, changing timelines and twists that you do not see coming. The characters are developed nicely, and the storylines are engaging to read. Silvia’s imagery transports you right into the storyline where you feel like you are part of the plot.

Anyone who is a fan of Silvia Moreno Garcia’s other works such as Mexican Gothic or The Daughter of Dr. Moreau will enjoy this book. This book is a page turner from the beginning until the end.

I just finished and I am breathless. I devoured this book. It had me by the throat and I could not stop reading as if I was indeed bespelled. There are no words to properly describe how intricate and mindbogglingly beautiful this story played out. I love a great mystery to unravel and this kept me guessing until the villains pulled off their masks. The tension that builds was immaculate and created the perfect setup for the impending thrills. The three interwoven generations of stories ended up blending so seamlessly together, that it was like watching a great crafts woman create something beautiful in front of you. And the absolutely stunning transition from mystery to horror and thriller made me feel like a kid getting on a roller coaster. I had the time of my life! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a fantastic storyteller and I am happy to add this one to my library!

This is a multigenerational story done right! Combing three timelines of women in a single family (great-grandmother through present day). The book is a little slow paced for the earlier timelines as we figure out what darkness is haunting the women. It has Moreno-Garcia's signature gothic feel but modernized and including a few different horror elements in one.

I think if you a horror fan, you can definitely appreciate this one but if horror is not your thing, it would still be enjoyable. It is not necessarily a linear multigenerational story, but each of the descendants stories intertwining with the story of the great-grandmother. This story managed to keep me guessing throughout as we found the connections, I still wasn't sure how it was going to turn out.

“People pick their path. Some heal bones, others break them.”

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Bewitching opens with an unsettling chill. Upon arriving at Stonebridge, Minerva hears a cry echoing from the ominous Briar’s Commons, a mass of trees steeped in local lore. The sound sends a shiver down her spine triggering memories of her great-grandmother's tales of witches ( teyolloquani ) who “drank the blood of the innocent on moonless nights.” This vivid and eerie imagery immediately gripped me, setting a tone of palpable fear and anticipation that permeates the entire novel.

As summer descends and the campus empties, a disquieting stillness settles over Stonebridge. Minerva, our protagonist, finds herself increasingly uneasy. With the dorms and facilities soon to fall silent, save for a few resident directors—a role Minerva herself fills to help fund her studies—she seeks refuge in the library. This is a space where she grapples with the stalled progress of her thesis on gothic horror writer Beatrice Tremblay. This quietude, however, is a double-edged sword, amplifying the tension and whispering untold stories.

Minerva's research takes a significant turn when she gains access to Tremblay’s diaries, unearthing a disturbing connection between Tremblay's most famous novel, The Vanishing , and the real-life disappearance of Tremblay’s roommate during the Great Depression. This discovery fuels her investigation. As Minerva delves deeper into Tremblay’s diaries and the college archives, she uncovers unsettling parallels between this disappearance and her great-grandmother Nana Alba’s chilling encounters with witches in 1900s Mexico. The lines between reality and fiction blur as Minerva suspects a malevolent force, responsible for past tragedies, still haunts the campus.

Moreno-Garcia masterfully interweaves three timelines: Nana Alba's experiences in 1908 Piedras Quebradas, Minerva’s present-day investigation in 1998, and the events surrounding the disappearance of Tremblay’s roommate in 1934. This intricate narrative structure builds suspense, revealing the enduring power of dark forces across generations. The oppressive atmosphere of New England, vividly depicted, mirrors the oppressive atmosphere of Nana Alba's Mexico, further intensifying the sense of dread. Minerva's journey, from a young woman fascinated by gothic literature to a scholar confronting real-life horrors, is compelling.

At its core, The Bewitching is a seductive gothic tale exploring the universal battle against unseen monsters, both real and imagined. As Minerva delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the vanishing of Virginia Somerset, she confronts adversaries that mirror the struggles faced by her grandmother. The viscerally satisfying climax, steeped in the eerie atmosphere of academia, underscores the novel’s masterful blend of suspense and thematic richness. 

The Bewitching is a remarkable addition to contemporary gothic literature. #PudseyRecommends

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and Random House Worlds for the advance readers copy.

I love how Moreno-Garcia can immerse her readers so completely in her stories. This book had so much to love: A campus setting, multiple POVs over the course of a century, family drama and a touch of witchcraft.

I loved this book. A very nice execution of the three women in time trope. I was hoping for more magic/witchcraft overall but the book was still a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the digital ARC of “The Bewitching” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

I am beginning to believe that Silvia Moreno-Garcia cannot write a bad book.. and normally I am not one for multiple points of view in a book.
The 1998 timeline Minerva is focusing her thesis on horror writing, the mystery of Beatrice Tremblay, her book, and learning about the disappearance of Ginny.
We do get some of the Beatrice backstory through the 1934 storyline, and clues for Ginny's disappearance.
Both stories are connected to the 1908 timeline: giving us the history of Minerva's relatives, and the history of ‘witches’ and solutions for bewitchment.

Overall, I adored this book. It was perfectly dark… but, the ‘evil’ was a bit easy to predict.

On a side note… I know it's witches, or a variation or witches, but there are some definite Nosferatu vibes.

5/5

A slow buildup to an absolutely bewitching conclusion.

Let me start this off by saying that I am a Silvia Moreno-Garcia fanatic. She's one of my top favorite authors and while I haven't loved everything I have read by her, I have loved the majority. This book falls solidly in the I loved it category.

This book is absolutely a dread inducing slow burn. You follow three different POV's as you build up to the conclusion of the novel. In true Silvia fashion we definitely have a slow start that continues to pick up pace as you go. So if you're not a fan of slow starts while creating lots of world building and character development then this isn't gonna be for you.

I really enjoyed the three different timelines that we followed throughout this novel. I was really interested and pleased with how they all ended up weaving together in the end. They were all equally interesting and definitely added depth and layers to the storyline. All the characters felt like they had their own voice as well. I really enjoyed Alba and Minerva in particular.

The mystery aspect of this novel was really well done. While I did pride myself on having guessed who the culprits were by the end of the book, I was still very excited with the way everything unfolded. Even though I knew who was going to be ultimately responsible, it was still unfolded in an extremely unique and interesting way, so I was OK with the knowledge prior.

The way that the interleaving timelines built upon each other to tell this outstanding story full of witches, spells and portents was extremely interesting. The story never lost my attention and I found myself actively thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it. I'm so glad to be able to add another Silvia Moreno-Garcia books to my list of favorites.

Disclaimer: I did read this novel as a physical arc from Del Rey. Thank you to Del Rey for the free physical copy. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.