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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for an eARC of this title in exchange for my review.
I absolutely love everything from Silvia Moreno-Garcia and was excited for this book. The Bewitching is a dark atmospheric witchy vampy gothic horror ghost story with three timelines that catch you breathless and pull you under. The balance and writing has the perfect vibe and tension, making it unputdownable and creeptastic at the same time.
Some highlights for me include multi-generational POVs, themes of power, privilege, family, friendship, greed, envy, jealousy, loneliness, isolation and revenge. The story is so much more than witchcraft/forces of evil, but also about how power corrupts and classism, prejudice, sexism, and status quo play a role in shaping society, no matter how it is achieved.
I really enjoy how Silvia Moreno-Garcia is truly masterful at weaving together disparate pieces into a griping and memorable tale.
I absolutely love everything from Silvia Moreno-Garcia and was excited for this book. The Bewitching is a dark atmospheric witchy vampy gothic horror ghost story with three timelines that catch you breathless and pull you under. The balance and writing has the perfect vibe and tension, making it unputdownable and creeptastic at the same time.
Some highlights for me include multi-generational POVs, themes of power, privilege, family, friendship, greed, envy, jealousy, loneliness, isolation and revenge. The story is so much more than witchcraft/forces of evil, but also about how power corrupts and classism, prejudice, sexism, and status quo play a role in shaping society, no matter how it is achieved.
I really enjoy how Silvia Moreno-Garcia is truly masterful at weaving together disparate pieces into a griping and memorable tale.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
The Bewitching follows three different women across three different timelines. Despite living in different eras, all three women experience the same threads that tie their lives together: witchcraft and the seemingly inexplicable that follows.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia did it again! This story had me unnerved and feeling the creepy crawlies (in a good way) from the start. Her writing style genuinely makes it feel like you have been transported in the novel and are experiencing everything firsthand with the characters. As a horror novel, this story will definitely have you checking over your shoulder. The characters, as usual, are each so compelling. With each woman getting a perspective and their own chapters, there was never a moment that I wanted to rush through someone’s pov to get to someone else’s.
The Bewitching earns only my second 5/5 rating for the year! Easily sliding into one of my favorite books of 2025 so far, I highly recommend The Bewitching for horror lovers that are looking for something a little more psychological thank physical. As always, please check the content warnings before diving in.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!
Thank you to Del Rey via NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
The fact that this was Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s new novel is what initially pulled me in, but the second I read the synopsis, I knew I NEEDED to read it: “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.”
Mullti-generational POVs, can be hit or miss for me, as I can sometimes get over-invested in one POV over the others, but I really enjoyed reading all three POVs. This book tackles so many themes: power, privilege, family, friendship, and the horror of humanity. There were points where I wanted longer tension, or others where there were subplots I wasn’t very invested in, but overall, I really enjoyed this read and can’t wait to add it to my Silvia Moreno-Garcia collection!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
The fact that this was Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s new novel is what initially pulled me in, but the second I read the synopsis, I knew I NEEDED to read it: “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.”
Mullti-generational POVs, can be hit or miss for me, as I can sometimes get over-invested in one POV over the others, but I really enjoyed reading all three POVs. This book tackles so many themes: power, privilege, family, friendship, and the horror of humanity. There were points where I wanted longer tension, or others where there were subplots I wasn’t very invested in, but overall, I really enjoyed this read and can’t wait to add it to my Silvia Moreno-Garcia collection!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SMG does not miss
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Silvia Moreno-Garcia's latest novel is a dark, twisted tale of folklore, magic, misogyny, unrequited and forbidden love, and power. I was hooked from the very beginning, and Moreno-Garcia's depiction of witches and bewitching went beyond anything I expected.
Throughout the book, we follow three young women during three different time periods: Minerva, a Mexican graduate student at a seaside New England liberal arts school; Betty, a young woman at the same school in the 1930s who will forever be changed by the disappearance of her beloved classmate; and Alba, Minerva's great-grandmother who contended with evil forces on their property in Mexico as a young woman.
The three separate narratives at play are easy to keep track of, with each chapter revealing *just* enough to keep you coming back for more. Even though I guessed the big twists at around the 60% mark, I didn't mind at all--I still found myself gasping and at the edge of my seat until the very end. I was STRESSED. Throughout the book is commentary on entrenched wealth, misogyny, and academia, and I loved every second of it. I will say I did have some questions aboutwhy Carolyn decided to bewitch Ginny...the motivation seemed a bit muddle and poorly explained. How is it that bewitching someone and drinking their blood helps someone become richer? It's not immediately clear to me and I think that could've been better explained. Additionally, I was ultimately confused at the fact that apparently there's no link between Arturo being a warlock and Carolyn being a witch...the timelines were linked in one way through Alba/Minerva, which made it seem as though there'd be some sort of link between Carolyn and Arturo somehow. But I suppose not. That seemed strange and as though connective elements were left on the table.
Throughout the book, we follow three young women during three different time periods: Minerva, a Mexican graduate student at a seaside New England liberal arts school; Betty, a young woman at the same school in the 1930s who will forever be changed by the disappearance of her beloved classmate; and Alba, Minerva's great-grandmother who contended with evil forces on their property in Mexico as a young woman.
The three separate narratives at play are easy to keep track of, with each chapter revealing *just* enough to keep you coming back for more. Even though I guessed the big twists at around the 60% mark, I didn't mind at all--I still found myself gasping and at the edge of my seat until the very end. I was STRESSED. Throughout the book is commentary on entrenched wealth, misogyny, and academia, and I loved every second of it. I will say I did have some questions about
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Murder
slow-paced
Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey for the chance of reading this book - this is my honest opinion.
I came for the gothic ambience, and I was delivered so much more than that.
Minerva, a grad student studying horror literature, stumbles upon the unsettling past of Beatrice Tremblay - a forgotten author whose eerie novel The Vanishing may have been based on real events. As Minerva digs deeper, she uncovers a haunting story of obsession, witchcraft, and a mysterious disappearance from the 1930s that mirrors tales told by her own great-grandmother in 1900s Mexico. Now, in 1990s Massachusetts, Minerva begins to fear that the same dark force may be stalking her too.
The Bewitching is one of those books that pulls you in slowly, but it definitely casts a spell on you (ha, see what I did there?). I did struggle a bit with the pacing at the beginning, but as the story progressed, I became more and more drawn in.
This book is so much more than simple witchcraft - it's about how power corrupts, and how your social class plays a role in shaping your fate.
There are three different timelines, all interwoven, though not quite as tightly as I was expecting or would have liked. Still, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Our three female main characters had so much depth. I enjoyed reading all the timelines, but Betty’s POV was the most intriguing for me. It was the only one written in first person, so it felt almost like reading a very detailed diary.
The plot twists were a little predictable, but they all made perfect sense. The way everything unfolded had me gripping my chair.
If you love gothic fiction with a sprinkle of historical drama, definitely give this book a chance!
I came for the gothic ambience, and I was delivered so much more than that.
Minerva, a grad student studying horror literature, stumbles upon the unsettling past of Beatrice Tremblay - a forgotten author whose eerie novel The Vanishing may have been based on real events. As Minerva digs deeper, she uncovers a haunting story of obsession, witchcraft, and a mysterious disappearance from the 1930s that mirrors tales told by her own great-grandmother in 1900s Mexico. Now, in 1990s Massachusetts, Minerva begins to fear that the same dark force may be stalking her too.
The Bewitching is one of those books that pulls you in slowly, but it definitely casts a spell on you (ha, see what I did there?). I did struggle a bit with the pacing at the beginning, but as the story progressed, I became more and more drawn in.
This book is so much more than simple witchcraft - it's about how power corrupts, and how your social class plays a role in shaping your fate.
There are three different timelines, all interwoven, though not quite as tightly as I was expecting or would have liked. Still, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Our three female main characters had so much depth. I enjoyed reading all the timelines, but Betty’s POV was the most intriguing for me. It was the only one written in first person, so it felt almost like reading a very detailed diary.
The plot twists were a little predictable, but they all made perfect sense. The way everything unfolded had me gripping my chair.
If you love gothic fiction with a sprinkle of historical drama, definitely give this book a chance!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Dark and athmosperic, this book has the perfect vibes. A story with malignant witches and a ghostly setting.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is probably the most dull book I've read all year.
From the first chapter, you know exactly how the story is going to unfold and exactly how it's going to end. It makes no effort to conceal the identity of its antagonists, and as a result it's completely devoid of the creeping dread typical of Gothic horror. The characters don't change in any meaningful ways, and their personalities are so thin that I don't care about any of them. The prose is awkward at worst and serviceable at best; I genuinely dislike the way this book does exposition (just... dumps paragraphs into the middle of a scene and then jumps back into it like nothing happened) and the dialogue feels wooden and lifeless.
If I can give the book any credit, it's that it did spark enough initial intrigue to keep me reading for about 85%. but after that point, I won't lie, I grew tired with the predictability and skimmed the last 15% and yeah. It ended exactly the way I expected.
Just a heads-up too: one of the POVs in this book very heavily features an incestuous relationship, and one that I felt was there purely for shock value. I don't think it adds anything to the book at all, except for being the sole source of discomfort in a book that, in my opinion, fails to provide any other, making it feel gratuitous. Just something to know if you plan on reading this, though clearly I won't be recommending it.
Perhaps the last nail in the coffin for this one for me is the fact that it could have at least tried to weave a steady theme of class struggle and the exploitation of immigrant labour, but outside of one brief mention by a very minor side character it doesn't really seem interested in exploring this or any other of its shallowly established themes (misogyny being another big one). Honestly, I'm kind of impressed with how this book utterly refuses to create any sort of identity for itself at every turn. I'll probably forget everything about it in a few days.
Anyways. One of the most dull reading experiences I've had all year, and there's not even anything egregious for me to get properly mad over. Sparks nothing but complete apathy, I fear. 2/5.
From the first chapter, you know exactly how the story is going to unfold and exactly how it's going to end. It makes no effort to conceal the identity of its antagonists, and as a result it's completely devoid of the creeping dread typical of Gothic horror. The characters don't change in any meaningful ways, and their personalities are so thin that I don't care about any of them. The prose is awkward at worst and serviceable at best; I genuinely dislike the way this book does exposition (just... dumps paragraphs into the middle of a scene and then jumps back into it like nothing happened) and the dialogue feels wooden and lifeless.
If I can give the book any credit, it's that it did spark enough initial intrigue to keep me reading for about 85%. but after that point, I won't lie, I grew tired with the predictability and skimmed the last 15% and yeah. It ended exactly the way I expected.
Just a heads-up too: one of the POVs in this book very heavily features an incestuous relationship, and one that I felt was there purely for shock value. I don't think it adds anything to the book at all, except for being the sole source of discomfort in a book that, in my opinion, fails to provide any other, making it feel gratuitous. Just something to know if you plan on reading this, though clearly I won't be recommending it.
Perhaps the last nail in the coffin for this one for me is the fact that it could have at least tried to weave a steady theme of class struggle and the exploitation of immigrant labour, but outside of one brief mention by a very minor side character it doesn't really seem interested in exploring this or any other of its shallowly established themes (misogyny being another big one). Honestly, I'm kind of impressed with how this book utterly refuses to create any sort of identity for itself at every turn. I'll probably forget everything about it in a few days.
Anyways. One of the most dull reading experiences I've had all year, and there's not even anything egregious for me to get properly mad over. Sparks nothing but complete apathy, I fear. 2/5.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Incest
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I struggled with the physical book and had to put it down, so I was hopeful that the audiobook would be better… unfortunately it was just okay. I think this is my least favorite Moreno-Garcia book for quite a few reasons. The overall idea was very interesting and Moreno-Garcia excels at imagery and writing. However, I was so bored. The three POVs started blending in with each other and getting so repetitive. I genuinely only cared about Alba’s POV, minus the slight incest plot line. I thought Minerva’s POV was dry and I didn’t care about Beatrice’s at all. I think I just wanted so much more out of this book, because SMG is truly one of my favorite authors. I am so sad.