3/5 stars: woooweee this one took me all month to read haha! Chose this cuz it’s October but it wasn’t even giving spooky like that. It’s not even a long book but I was trying to absorb every story the narrators were describing. There is a lot of repetition in the narration especially Feliciana’s POV but I know that’s a writing choice and also it’s translated from Spanish to English (would love the read the original of I could read Spanish). I loved the way these two women told their stories and how even tho they didn’t grow up around each other, their experiences are quite similar. Sisterhood, family, misogyny, transphobia are some reoccurring themes from both women. The novel jumps straight into narration and the timeline skips around a lot so you just gotta read what they are saying at face value and then remember that contexts throughout the entire novel. I learned about Muxe’s and their experiences as well which align with how trans folks are seen in the US as well. Paloma is prob my fave character, she just seemed so full of light and love to share. I loved the tradition and medicine that are explained and how these two women who have experienced so much come together in ceremony to heal and face their past. Had more heavier themes including SA so I would keep that in mind before reading. 

The description is slightly misleading. This is not a murder mystery, it’s just these two women swapping stories, and somehow they connect because we’re all the same. 
The title is also misleading, as anytime they are referred to as witches, it’s denied, and equated to as gifts from god. 
Not sure if the translation was lazy, or maybe it is how it is originally written, but there is way too much repetition throughout the story, and same scenes. 

I listened to this audiobook on Everand.

Brief Summary: Zoe is a journalist investigating the murder of Paloma, a transwoman from a family of Indigenous healers. To learn more of the story Zoe travels to meet Paloma's cousin Feliciana. However, as Zoe interviews Feliciana she begins to reevaluate her relationships with her sister and mother. As Zoe and Feliciana's stories weave together Zoe begins to realize the power of her voice.

Thoughts: This book was captivating and I binged it in an entire sitting. I particularly like the dual perspectives, where Zoe's was told in a direct and edited fashion and Feliciana's was a more free-flowing stream of consciousness indicative of its interview formatting. It highlighted how Zoe is constricted by the expectations of society, while Feliciana is not. It also made Feliciana's story and by extension, Paloma's story more intense emotionally, while Zoe's was more reflective and therapeutic.