status: read rating: 4.5/5
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia ✨
Ooh, this was a good one. I’ve been a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia for a while. I loved Mexican Gothic and have a few more of hers waiting on my TBR, but The Bewitching really pulled me in. It’s told through three POVs and timelines: Alba in 1908 rural Mexico, Beatrice in the 1930s, and Minerva in 1998 New England (who is researching Beatrice’s old thesis). I love multi-POV stories, especially when they jump between different time periods like this. It kept things layered and mysterious in the best way.
The 1998 timeline had that perfect mix of spooky academia and late-‘90s atmosphere — the kind that feels both eerie and nostalgic. And Alba’s chapters really stood out to me. They reminded me so much of the stories my grandma used to tell me about growing up in her small town in Mexico. The imagery and tone just felt familiar in a way that made it hit deeper. And for the twist, I did not see that coming. I was genuinely surprised by who the witch ended up being.
Overall, I thought it was such a good read: haunting, beautifully written, and full of that slow, creeping suspense Silvia Moreno-Garcia does so well.
✨disclaimer✨: collage is not mine. here is a link to the Pinterest collage 🧚🏼
