The Bewitching

De: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Narrado por: Gisela Chipe

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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.

“In Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s sure hands, every uncovered secret is fraught with intrigue and creeping horror.”—Tananarive Due, Bram Stoker Award–winning author of The Reformatory

“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. Perhaps that’s why 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.

In the course of assembling her thesis, Minerva uncovers information that reveals that Tremblay’s most famous novel, The Vanishing, was inspired by a true story: Decades earlier, during the Great Depression, Tremblay attended the same university where Minerva is now studying and became obsessed with her beautiful and otherworldly roommate, who then disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

As Minerva descends ever deeper into Tremblay’s manuscript, she begins to sense that the malign force that stalked Tremblay and the missing girl might still walk the halls of the campus. These disturbing events also echo the stories Nana Alba told about her girlhood in 1900s Mexico, where she had a terrifying encounter with a witch.

Minerva suspects that the same shadow that darkened the lives of her great-grandmother and Beatrice Tremblay is now threatening her own in 1990s Massachusetts. An academic career can be a punishing pursuit, but it might turn outright deadly when witchcraft is involved.

©2025 Silvia Moreno-Garcia (P)2025 Random House Audio

Darkly entertaining.

Witchcraft and the power and seduction of evil, with three narrators in three very different eras. Some very interesting lore. It was well read, the beginning perhaps a bit dull when narrated, but it picks up quickly. Highly entertaining and well written. Some bloody and violent scenes, but proper to the story. I recognized a little bit of Deborah Harkness in the description of magic. I loved the descriptions of country life in the State of Hidalgo. Great book.

Enjoyed the blend of Mexican and American witchy lore

I enjoyed the suspense, the imagery, the character development and the overall story and the writing.

A stupendous story and matching narration

A new author and narrator to me. It is a stunningly bewitching tale fit for New England—and beyond. I listened here and there the first few days, but on day four, I began to gulp the rest of the book down. This is fine literature and excellent storytelling.

Pure. Gothic. Lit! Seductive, Taboo, Dark, and absolutly Riveting.

If you're like me, you may be exhausted with the multiple P.O.V. trend taking over literature. That said, Silvia Moreno-Garcia knocks it out of the park with grace in this book. The narratives are set in different times but play off of eachother. Even more impressive, the tension in each seperate story run parallel to one another, and there's this crescendo of anxiety that builds in a way that makes you hunch over and not want to stop until you've finished reading (or listening, in this case.)

That said, Alba stole my heart (and so did Arturo, don't judge me.) In many ways, I feel like she's the one with the clearest begining, middle, and end. A true protagonist who's story leaves a powerful impact on Minerva and the reader both. Minerva, though, is the glue that holds the narratives together. And if Silvia Moreno-Garcia was the type of author who ever did sequels to her novels, there are SO many places Minerva's story can go, yet her end here is still satisfying. But that's what I love about Silvia's writing in particular, beyond the lyrical sentences, vivid imagery, and history/culture-rich text, when you finish her book it makes you want to ruminate on or fantasize about her characters long after you've finished the book.

Also, the narrator, Gisela Chipe???? She did a PHENOMENAL job with the accents and tones. Each character felt distinct and it was a pleasure to listen to. It just might be a yearly listen/read for me now.

It's Witching

what a creepy wonderful story loved it I don't usually get five stars all the way through but it was really good and the lady that read it was awesome thank you so much for writing this book

Bewitched

Ok, I am obsessed with this book, the tension, the friction, the adventure. Silvia is such a creative writer mixing folklore with modern urban legends and all fits. I loved Alba & Minerva, it was funny that I didn’t realized both were grandmother & granddaughter until almost the end and I loved my aha moment. The narrator, Gisela Chipe, is wonderful! She made the character live through her words. Wonderful, wonderful book!

Kept me listening!

Really great, atmospheric and layered story. Yes, I did guess the baddies, but it still kept me listening - the tension builds and you have to get to the end. Great narration.

Powerful characters!

I loved the mix of folklore and pop culture in the story! It took some time to grow on me, I must admit, but Minerva, Betty (and Ginny), and Alba had personalities of their own which is remarkable. I wouldn’t call it a horror story, but it was thrilling.

Enjoyable

A bit predictable, but still very good and enjoyable! Make me want to listen more of this author.

Witchy vibes

I love stories about witches and I love how she explore Mexican culture and folklore.