Atria/Primero Sueno Press
The Witches of El Paso
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"Luis Jaramillo weaves a captivating tale of family, tradition, and the enduring power of love." --Reyna Grande, author of A Ballad of Love and Glory
A lawyer and her elderly great-aunt use their supernatural gifts to find a lost child in this "wild, wondrous novel about the magic that is singing all around us" (Julia Phillips, author of Disappearing Earth)--in the vein of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina and La Hacienda.
If you call to the witches, they will come.
1943, El Paso, Texas: teenager Nena spends her days caring for the small children of her older sisters and longing for a life of adventure. The premonitions and fainting spells she has endured since childhood are getting worse, and Nena worries she'll end up like the scary old curandera down the street. Nena prays for help, and when the mysterious Sister Benedicta arrives late one night, Nena follows her across the borders of space and time. In colonial Mexico, Nena grows into her power, finding love and learning that magic always comes with a price.
In the present day, Nena's grandniece, Marta, balances a struggling legal aid practice with motherhood and the care of the now ninety-three-year-old Nena. When Marta agrees to help search for a daughter Nena left in the past, the two forge a fierce connection. Marta's own supernatural powers emerge, awakening her to new possibilities that threaten the life she has constructed.
"Sexy, smart, and soulful, Luis Jaramillo's The Witches of El Paso pulls us across borders and time to get to the essence of what it means for families to survive this beautiful, fractured world" (Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk).
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781668033210
EAN:
9781668033210
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
288
Authors:
Luis Jaramillo
Publisher:
Atria/Primero Sueno Press
Published Date: 2024-08-10
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The Witches of El Paso by Luis Jaramillo is a haunting, spellbound journey through time, family, and magic that lingers long after the final page.Jaramillo masterfully blends historical fiction and magical realism, transporting readers between 1940s El Paso, colonial Mexico, and the present day. The dual narrative—Nena, a young girl grappling with visions and secrets, and Marta, a modern-day lawyer uncovering her family’s hidden power—offers a powerful exploration of identity, womanhood, and ancestral legacy.The atmosphere is what stood out most. The writing is lush and cinematic, capturing the dry heat of the desert, the whispered pull of La Vista, and the quiet ache of generational loss. The magic here isn’t just spectacle—it’s deeply symbolic, rooted in culture, intuition, and survival.While the pacing occasionally drifts, especially during timeline transitions, the emotional core—family, sacrifice, and rediscovery—keeps the story grounded. If you love stories where witches are wise instead of wicked, and where memory and magic are inseparable, this one’s for you.A beautifully written, deeply felt novel that honors the strength of women, the weight of legacy, and the unseen forces that shape us.
I did not enjoy this book. The way the "magic" worked was weird . . . ladybugs, having to eat after using it. I really just kept hoping it would get better.
I'm so tired of men trying to describe the female experience (because they "talked to their female relatives") and getting it wrong. Throughout the whole book, I couldn't stop saying "A witch did not write this". The atmosphere was heavy all the way through. The protagonists had one emotion: serious. If it was doing magic or in the shower, they were robotic and emotionless. The historic and current El Paso was well described, but maybe it should have gone the non-fiction route.
I purchased this book but thank you for the online access. I have already read it. It was wonderful and I look forward to more Atria books!!
Great book. Love the writing style and a very unique sorry!!
