"The Bewitching" combines three women's alternating stories of dealing with dark forces. Minerva Contreras has been raised listening to her grandmother's stories and has developed an affinity for the supernatural. A graduate student, she is writing her thesis on Beatrice Tremblay, a relatively unknown horror writer from the 1930s. Tremblay's sole novel, "The Vanishing," drew inspiration from the actual disappearance of Virginia, a student at Minerva's current college, with dark overtones of witchcraft suggested. As Minerva delves deeper into Tremblay's personal documents, she feels the sinister presence of an evil shadow.
"Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches."; Minerva can recall her grandmother, Nana Alba's words as she was growing up. Nana's tale, set in Mexico in 1908, recounts how she sought the guidance of known witches after a tragedy, hoping to ward off a curse that was enveloping her after claiming her brother and a friend.
The third timeline revolves around Beatrice's account of Ginny's disappearance. Ginny initially introduced herself to Beatrice declaring, "I'm your roommate... I like dancing and painting and designing my own clothes, I speak to ghosts, and I can draw your natal chart. I'm a Spiritualist." Such an uninhibited spirit was considered scandalous by most in her circle, but Beatrice was strongly drawn to her. Ginny's behavior became troubling enough that there was talk of having her committed to prevent her from doing self-harm. One day she simply vanished and most seemed to chalk it up as symptomatic of her erratic behavior.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia consistently delivers impressive novels, characterized by her imaginative scope, compelling characters, and richly detailed settings. The atmosphere here leans more towards eerie than outright horror. The pacing can occasionally be slow, as is the case here with the lengthy development of Nana Alba's and Minerva's traumas. Additionally, the book does contain one very disturbing scene and a few graphic ones. Not a perfect book, but-- as with all Silvia Moreno-Garcia's-- a highly entertaining one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches."; Minerva can recall her grandmother, Nana Alba's words as she was growing up. Nana's tale, set in Mexico in 1908, recounts how she sought the guidance of known witches after a tragedy, hoping to ward off a curse that was enveloping her after claiming her brother and a friend.
The third timeline revolves around Beatrice's account of Ginny's disappearance. Ginny initially introduced herself to Beatrice declaring, "I'm your roommate... I like dancing and painting and designing my own clothes, I speak to ghosts, and I can draw your natal chart. I'm a Spiritualist." Such an uninhibited spirit was considered scandalous by most in her circle, but Beatrice was strongly drawn to her. Ginny's behavior became troubling enough that there was talk of having her committed to prevent her from doing self-harm. One day she simply vanished and most seemed to chalk it up as symptomatic of her erratic behavior.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia consistently delivers impressive novels, characterized by her imaginative scope, compelling characters, and richly detailed settings. The atmosphere here leans more towards eerie than outright horror. The pacing can occasionally be slow, as is the case here with the lengthy development of Nana Alba's and Minerva's traumas. Additionally, the book does contain one very disturbing scene and a few graphic ones. Not a perfect book, but-- as with all Silvia Moreno-Garcia's-- a highly entertaining one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
