This book was an excellent way to spend my weekend. 💚

The main character Minerva, a graduate student, as she delves into the true events that inspired the book she is writing her thesis on: The Vanishing.

She has always been intrigued by the supernatural, and grew up listening to her great-grandmother, Alba's, stories in Mexico. She realizes there may be more to The Vanishing than is written on the page.

When Minerva discovers an elderly donor to the university has journals written by Betty, the author of The Vanishing, she convinces her to allow her to use them for her research. Her research leads her to unexpected places, and soon, she finds herself in mortal danger.

The Bewitching alternates between three main story lines, Minerva's in 1998, Betty's in 1934, and Alba's in 1909. Though time and location separate these story lines, they all intersect beautifully. I found myself on the edge of my seat and closing my blinds as I read this book.

"I must warn you that I will also narrate this story in my own voice, in my own way, and at my own pace, which may not seem like the way you may tell it, but it is important that I do it like this, for it will be the lone method tht can perhaps render the truth of Virginia Somerset, or as much truth as I can approximate on paper."

This is my first read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and I can see that she will quickly become a favourite of mine (definitely looking for recommendations on which of hers to read next!).

This title takes the form of "three-women-connected-in-three-time-periods":
a) 1998's Minerva main story) - a grad student in college who studies the motivations of classic horror stories, including a Beatrice Tremblay's 'The Vanishing'which is rumoured to be inspired by true events
b) 1908's Alba shared & recollected life story) - Minerva's grandmother living in turn of the century Mexico. Alba's live is a vortex of change after the passing of her father and the drama of who will take over the Piedra Quebradas estate
c) 1934 Beatrice (in the form of a memoir studied by Minerva) - Beatrice living on the same school grounds as Minerva (decades earlier) who is recounting for the reader the events leading up to the disappearance of another student

Moreno-Garcia does an excellent job of keeping each storyline intriguing, while slowly feeding you the filaments that connect all three tales.

There is a lot of gorgeous language here, and the author is able to slowly inject a sense of dread, of psychic tension under the pretty words to keep the reader engaged and uneased.

I also enjoyed the book for the spurious (and mostly incorrect) theories it drew from me, as I tried to figure out what was going on.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this title for an unbiased review.

“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. Now in graduate school, Minerva is researching the author Beatrice Tremblay, whose most famous novel, The Vanishing, was inspired by a true story that took place at the very college she attends. Those stories from her childhood, Tremblay’s experience, and now her own life seem to have more than a few similarities.

We get to experience the stories of three women, Minerva in 1998, Beatrice in 1934, and Alba in 1908, while they each deal strange and unexpected disappearances. There is no confusion between who is narrating each chapter, they each have unique personalities and settings that could easily stand on their own. And for us horro fans, we get some nods to horror favorites, including call outs to King and Jackson. The stories blend beautifully and create sense of dread and unease that keeps you wanting more.

Do not pass this book up, or any others by Sivia Moreno-Garcia, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you, Penguin Random House and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Bewitching in exchange for my thoughts.

I think it's best not going into this author's books with any expectations. She does stick to the horror genre, but her stories are vastly varied. I like some more than others, but I think what shines through mostly is her incredible storytelling skills. I have no idea where she gets her ideas, but I imagine that her sources of inspiration are as varied as the stories.

In this one, a young woman in Mexico is battling what seems to be a bewitching. In another timeline, we have an author whose friend went missing. In the third timeline, the granddaughter from the young woman in the first timeline is doing research about the author (and the missing friend) while also experiencing strange occurrences. It's all pretty loosely tied together, but it works somehow.

I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys a good horror novel that is well written, but maybe don't assume the author will deliver a book like her others, because that's not her thing.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become an auto-buy author for me. She just churns out banger after banger and this is no exception. I loved that she branched out into New England (since I am a New Englander myself) for this book and I loved her little nods to other modern horror writers like Paul Tremblay (who I also love). No one does spooky vibey female driven horror like Moreno-Garcia and I eat up every last bite she puts down.

The Bewitching
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book: 33
Favorite Quote:
She had a fondness for stray animals and slightly damaged things—the chipped frame of a mirror, the weathered pages of a book that has been kissed by the rain, the sweater that has been nibbled by a troublesome moth—which made her primed to look kindly on a man like him. But she ought not to. Strays bit sometimes, and certain old books were suffused with pernicious mold.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to enjoy this ARC of The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
I loved the parallels between characters of this book. The final chapter and the side by side of Alba and Minerva. I feel like The Bewitching really embodies the idea of “trust your gut”. The whole story I had an eerie feeling about [redacted] and [redacted] and I am glad I was right. I feel like the betrayed family and friends got their rightful vengeance.
There is a certain theme I have come to expect out of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and while she followed the same vibe throughout, who I expected Minerva to end up with did not come to fruition and honestly? I’m kind of glad of it. While I think they could be a good power couple, I understand her hesitancy. While not a full five stars for me like some of Moreno-Garcia’s other stories, I did thoroughly enjoy this one!

is this my new favorite SMG novel??? i am unwell! i am unsettled! these pages are dripping with eeriness. we follow the stories of 3 different women (2 really and the third is a little more complicated and this novel is all the better for it) as they are caught in the snares of a bewitchment. i love stories set across differing timelines, and it is done so well here. set in the years 1908, 1934, and 1998, the descriptions of each era really pull you into the times; having house mothers at your school, burning CDs for your friends, listening to the new Neutral Milk Hotel album.. i could see where i was being led with this plot but i was still surprised with what happened.. jaw dropped, hand running over my face... to me no one does this like Silvia Moreno-Garcia. whatever the giggling and kicking my feet equivalent in horror is.. that is what i was doing.

there is also an element in this novel that I LOVED AND AM SO EXCITED FOR THE WORLD TO READ but i don't believe in spoilers so let's chat once you've read it. all i will say is the renaissance is truly upon us.

OUT 15 JUL 2025!!! YEEAAHHHHH

thank you thank you to Del Rey & netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I will post a review on my bookstagram closer to publication date.

Now THIS is a witchy horror book. Folklore, multiple timelines, unsettling occurrences, blood magic. Chefs fucking kiss. 👌🏻 I was so invested in all three timelines that I was both disappointed when the chapter was over, but also excited to get back into the other parts of the story. As a New Englander, I love stories with a New England setting. I also love Mexican folklore, and this blends the two with absolute perfection. The pacing of this was excellent, the characters were fleshed out exquisitely and I think this is the best example of how multiple timelines should be portrayed in a story. A smash hit.

Absolutely loved this book. If you are a witch or if you just enjoy witchy fiction, this is a wonderful read. I loved the three stories, the different time periods and locations, and of course, the way the author defined witchcraft in this book. Highly recommended 🤎

Really loved the creepy witchy vibes, and the three different but parallel stories. Fun read. I definitely want to read more of this author.

This may be one of my favorite Moreno-Garcia novels yet. I love the theme woven throughout that witchcraft (and folklore) transcends cultures and generations, and that those connections are what guides our heroines. We are introduced to four different women from three different time periods, Alba (1908) who lives in rural Mexico, Beatrice and Ginny ( 1934), and Minerva (1998) who is Alba's great-granddaughter and attends the same New England college as Beatrice and Ginny decades apart. Of all the women, Alba was the most captivating and had the most tense plotline, and I found myself drawn to her chapters the most. The resolution to her story is ultimately what drives Minerva's story (and by extension, Ginny's).

I felt that the book had a bit of a slow start, but once the eerie storyline kicks in and we get a feel for what's going on, it became one of those books that was hard to put down (I may or may not have finished this at nearly 1am because I had to know how things were resolved). It is a story about witches, but it's also a ghost story, which lends itself to a few heart racing moments, especially toward the last 1/3rd of the novel. If you're a fan of Moreno-Garcia's signature haunting and atmospheric style, you'll definitely want to check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

Another fabulous book from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Spanning a century, this story unfolds as three women in three timelines, discover their power and their connection to each other and their heritage.

Lush, vivid and evocative, this one is highly recommended.

If you liked Mexican Gothic or Weyward, this book is a MUST READ!! This story is next-level clever and creepy. It gave me chills and had me keeping an eye out from behind the living room curtains.

Witches. Darkness. Love. Betrayal. Jealousy. Power. Death. Fear.
and everything else you’d expect to find in a story about witches. But this is absolutely not your typical witches story. There are no cauldrons or pointed hats here. No broomsticks or dancing around toadstools.

We are told 3 distinct, yet interconnected stories through Alba, Beatrice and Minerva as Silvia takes us on a journey from 1908 Mexico to 1934 and then 1998 Massachusetts. We learn about Mexican folklore, betwitchment, women coming of age, education and fighting against unseen horrors.

There are so many stories within this book and all of them are told perfectly through different voices, notes, books and discoveries. The pacing is spot on - starting off slower and gaining traction in the second-half as the pieces start coming together. The language is wonderful - Silvia has the most incredible way with words (and I even had to look a few of them up!!).

Honestly, I am OBSESSED with this book and haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read the final page.

I feel completely privileged to have been offered this book as an ARC from Netgalley, and will be purchasing a copy of it once it’s released.

4.5/5 stars

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of those authors whose books I will always read; though there have been a few that weren't for me, The Bewitching was absolutely up my alley and I really enjoyed reading it. It's a fascinating tale of three different interwoven accounts with a blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror. As always with Moreno-Garcia's books, the inclusion of Mexican folklore and witchcraft is yet another reason why I keep coming back to this author.

This book is spooky without being too spooky, making it a good read for someone like me, who's a self-proclaimed coward. This is one of those books that'll make a great read for October, since it checks all of the boxes of an autumnal, witchy horror novel (with an academic setting as a bonus). I enjoyed the overall path of the narrative and the twist at the end wasn't quite what I expected, in a good way.

I will say, I wish that there had been a connection between Betty and Alba -- I thought the three stories would intertwine into a triangle, but it was more like ^ (with Minerva being the top in that shape). Though this didn't ultimately affect my enjoyment of the novel, I did spend a bit of time looking for connections that weren't there.

Besides a few small points, I really enjoyed tihs novel and I highly recommend it!

I'm a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia so I was beyond excited to read the Net Galley ARC! This was a multi-generational story of witches, secrets, and family. I will say the plot moved a little slower than I would have liked, but the ending was phenomenal and very satisfying. I liked the way the three main plots looped together to paint a complete story. Moreno-Garcia has a beautiful talent for writing stories that captivate readers. This is no different.

In 1908 great grandma Alba lived through witches. In 1934 Beatrice tried to unravel the disappearance of her friend Virginia who became obsessed with witchcraft and in 1998 Minerva picks up the story and puts it all together as her college thesis on Beatrice now a deceased obscure author who attended Minerva’s college where Virginia disappeared. Three generations, three stories that tie together into another SMG hit. Five glorious witching stars.

This is a haunting, multigenerational story full of Mexican folklore. It’s peak gothic horror and a brings a new twist to witchy books.
The only thing that held it back is the slow pacing but the build up created a sinister, eery atmosphere.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for eARC.

Actual rating: 4.75 stars

I’ve had Silvia Moreno-Garcia on my radar for a long time, especially as one of my book besties loves everything she writes, but for whatever reason I struggled to actually read her books. When I read the synopsis for The Bewitching, though, I knew it would be my jam and that I needed to get my hands on it. I love multi-timeline stories and multigenerational stories, plus the supernatural elements of this story just drew me in. I’m so glad I was able to read an early copy, because I adored this book. I do feel like I figured out some of the mystery elements relatively early on, but the actual culmination and reveal was done so well. I loved the tension development, as well as the weaving of the three different story lines. I loved this, and look forward to diving more thoroughly into Moreno-Garcia’s backlist.

As soon as I read the quote on ’The Bewitching’s blurb concerning witches I knew that I had to check it out. A witch based tale featuring a strange disappearance and an author of macabre stories by the author of the beguiling ’Mexican Gothic’; how could I ever hope to resist? Admittedly this wasn’t quite as strong a hit as the former was for me but it’s still a highly compelling read that is sure to leave readers glued to its page. If you’re looking for a refreshing new approach to witches then ’The Bewitching’ is undeniably the book for you.

One thing that really stood out to me within this novel is the authors fascinating portrayal of witches, delving into inspiration from the tales her own great-grandmother used to tell her about the witches she heard of whilst growing up in the Mexican countryside. Any folklore, myths and legends from various cultures tends to fascinate me so reading a witch story based on these roots was a chilling delight. These probably aren’t the witches that you’re used to but they were disturbingly riveting to learn about and I’d happily devour any other similar tales that the author decides to pen.

‘The Bewitching’ is divided into three perspectives, each of which was mesmerising to uncover. Firstly there’s Minerva in 1998 delving into the works of Beatrice Tremblay and the mysterious disappearance of her friend Virginia that inspired one of them. Then there’s the story of her great-grandmother’s chilling encounter with a witch back in 1908. Thirdly there’s a manuscript belonging to Tremblay, detailing the strange disappearance of Virginia back in 1934. All three of these narratives are woven around each other and picking a favourite is impossible in truth. The narrative style of the manuscript really called to me and yet the historical setting and superstitious residences of Alba’s tale truly got beneath my skin. Needless to say all three perspectives were enticing, creating an atmospheric novel that’s impossible to pull your eyes from.

The characters within each timeline are well fleshed out and there are some expertly crafted, and uncomfortable, bonds between a couple of individuals too. Admittedly I was hoping for a few more of Nana Alba’s tales scattered throughout the book but the one that’s shared is sure to get its claws under your skin.

One thing to be aware of before picking up this book is that it does contain some uncomfortable scenes of animal violence. They’re placed with a purpose – they’re signs of a witch’s presence and feature in some of the rituals to protect against them, presumably from the original tales that the author was told – rather than simply to shock the reader. Yet I know many readers, myself included, appreciate a heads up about these kinds of scenes.

Mesmerising as it was something about ‘The Bewitching’ didn’t quite give me the same five star vibes that ‘Mexican Gothic’ left me with and I can’t fully put my finger on why. I managed to figure out who the witch was within each storyline earlier than I’d have expected however so I believe this was perhaps the culprit. It was still a compelling series of connected stories to follow in and I was always engaged but I never quite got that ‘oh my gosh’ moment of surprise.

Regardless of that last aspect I still highly recommend checking ‘The Bewitching’ out. It may not have ended up being my favourite of the author’s titles that I’ve tried but it was still a wonderfully compelling, and chilling, witch based tale that managed to feel fresh and intriguing. It contains three storylines that all managed to get their claws beneath my skin and was written in a beautifully compelling, atmospheric manner. Personally I can’t wait to see what the author pens next – and look forward to catching up on more of her backlist of titles.

Oh heck yeah. If she writes it I’m going to read it. And this one was a home run for me. Every book she writes gets better and better somehow.