The Bewitching
Three women in three different eras encounter danger and witchcraft in this eerie multigenerational horror saga from the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.
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Community Reviews
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I think the three stories that are being told are interesting in their own rights and I love how they come together. The witches in this book are done in such a satisfying/horrifying way that I really appreciated the difference from the norm. I think the story falls short in some places and is a little too predictable but still I enjoyed the characters and the plot quite a bit.
This is the first fiction book I have read in years and I really enjoyed it. I rated it on the lower end just because I don't have much to compare it to and because overall I get more enjoyment from non fiction books that I can learn real world knowledge from. But having said that I read this book very quickly because it did keep my interest piqued throughout the entire book. I also really enjoyed the multiple storylines throughout the book and they were easy to keep track of.
This supernatural mystery braids together three timelines: Alba in 1908 Mexico, Betty in New England in 1934, and Minerva in 1998, also in New England. What starts as academic curiosity transforms into an unsettling exploration of bewitchment, power, and the stories we inherit.
What made me happy:
The multi-timeline structure. Each timeline enriches the others, with revelations in one period casting shadows over the rest. The moment when Minerva recognises Thomas's witch marks was sooo chilling!
The cultural approach to witchcraft is fascinating! Moreno-Garcia shows how similar beliefs about bewitchment manifest across different contexts, speaking to the same human fears and desire for protection against darkness. This book was super respectful of both Mexican and New England folklore traditions, and I loved reading about them!
The class barriers explored between characters within each timeline was compelling and felt painfully real.
The atmosphere has that creepy vibe I love at this time of year! Menacing locations, occult symbols, and the feeling of being watched…tick!
What made me grumpy:
The pacing was slow for me until the final quarter. We spend considerable time on certain character dynamics that don't always drive the mystery forward, while some revelations feel rushed.
Although I liked Alba’s character development overall, I felt like some of her sections were repetitive.
My biggest bugbear was that Alba's guilt and grief over essentially killing Tadeo wasn't explored enough. It's mentioned, and it's hinted at here and there, but it wasn't giving all-pervasive, and I think this stunted Alba's character development.
The verdict:
Although I struggled to get through this novel in terms of the slower pacing (IMO), this is absolutely worth your time if you're drawn to atmospheric horror and generational, inherited stories. The multi-timeline structure pays off beautifully, creating this sense that certain patterns of violence and exploitation echo across generations. It's not perfect, but when it works, it really works, y’know? Recommended for fans of dark academia mixed with deliciously supernatural folk horror.
What made me happy:
The multi-timeline structure. Each timeline enriches the others, with revelations in one period casting shadows over the rest. The moment when Minerva recognises Thomas's witch marks was sooo chilling!
The cultural approach to witchcraft is fascinating! Moreno-Garcia shows how similar beliefs about bewitchment manifest across different contexts, speaking to the same human fears and desire for protection against darkness. This book was super respectful of both Mexican and New England folklore traditions, and I loved reading about them!
The class barriers explored between characters within each timeline was compelling and felt painfully real.
The atmosphere has that creepy vibe I love at this time of year! Menacing locations, occult symbols, and the feeling of being watched…tick!
What made me grumpy:
The pacing was slow for me until the final quarter. We spend considerable time on certain character dynamics that don't always drive the mystery forward, while some revelations feel rushed.
Although I liked Alba’s character development overall, I felt like some of her sections were repetitive.
My biggest bugbear was that Alba's guilt and grief over essentially killing Tadeo wasn't explored enough. It's mentioned, and it's hinted at here and there, but it wasn't giving all-pervasive, and I think this stunted Alba's character development.
The verdict:
Although I struggled to get through this novel in terms of the slower pacing (IMO), this is absolutely worth your time if you're drawn to atmospheric horror and generational, inherited stories. The multi-timeline structure pays off beautifully, creating this sense that certain patterns of violence and exploitation echo across generations. It's not perfect, but when it works, it really works, y’know? Recommended for fans of dark academia mixed with deliciously supernatural folk horror.
excellent spellbinding book I absolutely loved it I would say more but it's really hard to describe this book without giving spoilers so I'm just going to recommend that you read it I loved it
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