Books about witches by Latin American writers.
The The figure of the witch has been a constant element in popular culture.from fairy tales to contemporary literature, that’s why we present three books about witches written by Latin American women that will chill your blood.
The image of the witch It has endured through the centuries, embodying fear, power and mystery, challenging generations with its duality: one foot in the supernatural and the other in the real world.
In Latin America, this archetype has found a particular resonance, and several writers have explored its complexity in works that combine the mythical with the everyday, revealing the shadows and lights of femininity in contexts full of violence and resistance.
Next, We present three books written by Latin American authors that explore the theme of witches from different perspectives and that will undoubtedly make you question the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
“Hurricane Season” – Fernanda Melchor
Published in 2017, “Hurricane season” From Mexican Fernanda Melchor, we are introduced to the dark universe of La Matosa, a fictional town marked by poverty and violence.
The The plot revolves around the brutal murder of the village witch.an enigmatic and feared figure who becomes the epicenter of a story that exposes the layers of machismo and brutality in Mexican society.
Melchor uses the figure of the witch to explore how fear and superstition intertwine with gender violence, offering a fierce and visceral critique that has been internationally recognized, including a nomination for the Man Booker International Prize.
“Witches” – Brenda Lozano
“Witches” by Mexican Brenda Lozano, It begins with the femicide of Paloma, a muxe, in a small Mexican town.
The story unfolds through the encounter between Zoe, a journalist from Mexico City, and Feliciana, a healer who possesses the ancestral knowledge known as “The Language.”
Through their voices, Lozano Weaves a narrative that addresses gender violence and the diversity of the female experience in Mexico.
The Novel explores witchcraft not only as a supernatural power, but as a symbol of resistance and empowerment in a country where being a woman or not conforming to gender norms can be deadly.
“The Flying Girls” – Monica Ojeda
The Ecuadorian Monica Ojedain his collection of short stories “The Flying Girls” (2020), takes us to a world marked by Andean mysticism and terror.
With a style that she herself describes as “Andean Gothic”Ojeda explores themes such as femicide, child abuse and forbidden loves, always under the shadow of ancestral rituals and magical beliefs.
The story that The title of the book is inspired by an Ecuadorian legend about women who fly at night, a powerful metaphor for freedom and oppression, which is intertwined with the stories of violence and resistance that run throughout the work.
These three books, each with its unique approachnot only invite us to enter worlds full of mystery and horror, but also confront us with harsh social realities, where the figure of the witch continues to be a mirror of the struggles and resistance of women in Latin America.
