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The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2021)The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptism. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to come and collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the secrets that she has held onto so tightly their whole lives. Instead, Orquídea is transformed, leaving them with more questions than answers. Seven years later, her gifts have manifested in different ways for Marimar, Rey, and Tatinelly’s daughter, Rhiannon, granting them unexpected blessings. But soon, a hidden figure begins to tear through their family tree, picking them off one by one as it seeks to destroy Orquídea’s line. Determined to save what’s left of their family and uncover the truth behind their inheritance, the four descendants travel to Ecuador—to the place where Orquídea buried her secrets and broken promises and never looked backed.
Alternating between Orquídea’s past and her descendants’ present, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an enchanting novel about what we knowingly and unknowingly inherit from our ancestors, the ties that bind, and reclaiming your power.
Alternating between Orquídea’s past and her descendants’ present, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an enchanting novel about what we knowingly and unknowingly inherit from our ancestors, the ties that bind, and reclaiming your power.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2021
1547 people are currently reading
90681 people want to read
About the author
Zoraida Córdova
42 books4,800 followersZoraida Córdova is the author of many fantasy novels for kids and teens, including the award-winning Brooklyn Brujas series, Incendiary, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate. Her short fiction has appeared in the New York Times bestselling anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark, Come on In: 15 Stories About Immigration and Finding Home, and Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft. She is the co-editor of the bestselling anthology Vampires Never Get Old. Her debut middle grade novel is The Way to Rio Luna. She is the co-host of the podcast Deadline City with Dhonielle Clayton. Zoraida was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. When she isn’t working on her next novel, she’s planning a new adventure.
NOTE: Direct messages on this account may not be seen. Send her an email at zoraidabooks@gmail.com
NOTE: Direct messages on this account may not be seen. Send her an email at zoraidabooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,539 reviews
August 16, 2024
On the surface, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina should be everything I enjoy. So why couldn't I get into it, no matter how hard I tried? Honestly, I'm still puzzling that one out.
Orquídea Montoya knows she is dying, so she calls her descendants back home to bestow upon them their inheritance. But when the large family arrives, they are greeted by strange events. And when an unknown figure threatens the entire family, they must band together and venture into Orquídea's past to learn her secrets and protect their future.
Sounds promising, right? Well, maybe too much so. This is a really ambitious story, with a huge cast of characters. And I think herein lies the first issue. We are introduced to so many of Orquídea's family members, and each comes with their own accompanying background. We are inundated with information about each person, but it's only ever on the surface. So while my eyes glazed over from all these extraneous details, I still don't feel like I know the characters underneath.
The story is told via dual timeline, which always makes me wary that one will be less interesting than the other. Unfortunately, that happened here. We follow various members of Orquídea's family as they wander aimlessly, trying to figure out what happened to Orquídea. But because so much of that is irrelevant to the main story, it felt really slow and plodding. What's more interesting is Orquídea's narrative told through her own eyes, but that's just a chapter here and there.
But probably my biggest issue is that, after finishing the story, I'm still confused. There were so many ideas introduced throughout that were never adequately explained. A lot of the fantasy elements, while interesting, were handwaved through with vague or no explanations. And it doesn't help that the writing tends to border on flowery, especially during crucial moments. So instead of elucidating, it just added to the bewildering and chaotic feel of the whole thing.
I had such high hopes for this story going in. And while I enjoyed bits and pieces of it, it just never came together into a cohesive whole for me. I didn't end up making that all-important emotional connection with it, and instead come away feeling dazed and unsatisfied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Orquídea Montoya knows she is dying, so she calls her descendants back home to bestow upon them their inheritance. But when the large family arrives, they are greeted by strange events. And when an unknown figure threatens the entire family, they must band together and venture into Orquídea's past to learn her secrets and protect their future.
Sounds promising, right? Well, maybe too much so. This is a really ambitious story, with a huge cast of characters. And I think herein lies the first issue. We are introduced to so many of Orquídea's family members, and each comes with their own accompanying background. We are inundated with information about each person, but it's only ever on the surface. So while my eyes glazed over from all these extraneous details, I still don't feel like I know the characters underneath.
The story is told via dual timeline, which always makes me wary that one will be less interesting than the other. Unfortunately, that happened here. We follow various members of Orquídea's family as they wander aimlessly, trying to figure out what happened to Orquídea. But because so much of that is irrelevant to the main story, it felt really slow and plodding. What's more interesting is Orquídea's narrative told through her own eyes, but that's just a chapter here and there.
But probably my biggest issue is that, after finishing the story, I'm still confused. There were so many ideas introduced throughout that were never adequately explained. A lot of the fantasy elements, while interesting, were handwaved through with vague or no explanations. And it doesn't help that the writing tends to border on flowery, especially during crucial moments. So instead of elucidating, it just added to the bewildering and chaotic feel of the whole thing.
I had such high hopes for this story going in. And while I enjoyed bits and pieces of it, it just never came together into a cohesive whole for me. I didn't end up making that all-important emotional connection with it, and instead come away feeling dazed and unsatisfied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
July 25, 2025
Finally, something that delivered the same extraordinary taste of dreamy magical realism, evoking the timeless vibes of Márquez, Cortázar, and Allende!
I’m rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5 for this brilliant story of family curses, Ecuadorian roots, a charismatic ringmaster, unrelenting debts, and cousins united against the odds.
I loved immersing myself in the fairy tale-like chapters, the tragicomic family dynamics, the captivating magic, and the unforgettable cast of characters.
Four Rivers is the town where Orquídea Montoya’s house mysteriously appeared. The town, long abandoned by its water sources and stripped of its magic, began to stir again when she chose to settle there. In the deep valley where the four rivers once intersected, her house materialized in 1960. Materialized is the right word—it wasn’t constructed but seemed to emerge from the ether!
Orquídea, standing just five foot one, with brown skin, black hair, and piercing black eyes, is an imposing figure. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, she came into the world under an ill-fated alignment of planets that cursed her with unimaginable bad luck.
She bore this cosmic burden for years, powerless to change her destiny. But two husbands and twenty years later, she found her way to the United States. There, she discovered a loophole to escape her misfortune—though it required striking a deal with the wrong person, leaving her burdened with an unshakable debt.
When the Montoya family arrived in Four Rivers, they brought more than their belongings—they brought ghost stories that fueled the town’s gossip mill. The townspeople were wary of their presence, but Sheriff Palladino, already charmed by Orquídea, smoothed the way for them.
The family grew: six children, five grandchildren—and the town also witnessed four husbands and one daughter meet untimely ends.
Now, Orquídea is gravely ill. Before her inevitable transformation into something beyond human, she must confront her family. After 48 long years under the crushing weight of her debt to a mysterious entity, she’s determined to protect her loved ones. She sends letters, summoning them to the family home.
Marimar harbors complex feelings toward her grandmother. Resentment burns from years of estrangement and the belief that Orquídea is responsible for her mother’s drowning. Now living in New York with her cousin Rey, an accounting intern mourning the recent loss of his own mother, Marimar feels adrift, struggling to find her place in the world.
Both cousins feel disconnected, lost in their respective struggles. Meanwhile, their cousin Tatinelly seems more settled, living in Oregon and expecting her first child. But when Orquídea’s cryptic, unstamped letter arrives, the three cousins return to Four Rivers, anticipating answers—and perhaps an inheritance.
What they find instead is more mystery. On the very day Orquídea dies, Tatinelly gives birth to her daughter, Rhiannon.
Seven years later, the cousins—and Tatinelly’s daughter—find themselves marked by strange, magical abilities, blessings or curses they can’t escape. As a dangerous figure emerges, threatening their family, the cousins must band together to protect their loved ones.
Through it all, the story delves into Orquídea’s past, revealing choices that altered her family’s fate.
This book is pure magic, reviving the spirit of classic magical realism with rich, authentic characterization. It’s easily one of my favorite fantasy reads of the year!
Ms. Cordova weaves an enchanting tale with her lyrical prose and dreamlike chapters, leaving readers spellbound.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I’m rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5 for this brilliant story of family curses, Ecuadorian roots, a charismatic ringmaster, unrelenting debts, and cousins united against the odds.
I loved immersing myself in the fairy tale-like chapters, the tragicomic family dynamics, the captivating magic, and the unforgettable cast of characters.
Four Rivers is the town where Orquídea Montoya’s house mysteriously appeared. The town, long abandoned by its water sources and stripped of its magic, began to stir again when she chose to settle there. In the deep valley where the four rivers once intersected, her house materialized in 1960. Materialized is the right word—it wasn’t constructed but seemed to emerge from the ether!
Orquídea, standing just five foot one, with brown skin, black hair, and piercing black eyes, is an imposing figure. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, she came into the world under an ill-fated alignment of planets that cursed her with unimaginable bad luck.
She bore this cosmic burden for years, powerless to change her destiny. But two husbands and twenty years later, she found her way to the United States. There, she discovered a loophole to escape her misfortune—though it required striking a deal with the wrong person, leaving her burdened with an unshakable debt.
When the Montoya family arrived in Four Rivers, they brought more than their belongings—they brought ghost stories that fueled the town’s gossip mill. The townspeople were wary of their presence, but Sheriff Palladino, already charmed by Orquídea, smoothed the way for them.
The family grew: six children, five grandchildren—and the town also witnessed four husbands and one daughter meet untimely ends.
Now, Orquídea is gravely ill. Before her inevitable transformation into something beyond human, she must confront her family. After 48 long years under the crushing weight of her debt to a mysterious entity, she’s determined to protect her loved ones. She sends letters, summoning them to the family home.
Marimar harbors complex feelings toward her grandmother. Resentment burns from years of estrangement and the belief that Orquídea is responsible for her mother’s drowning. Now living in New York with her cousin Rey, an accounting intern mourning the recent loss of his own mother, Marimar feels adrift, struggling to find her place in the world.
Both cousins feel disconnected, lost in their respective struggles. Meanwhile, their cousin Tatinelly seems more settled, living in Oregon and expecting her first child. But when Orquídea’s cryptic, unstamped letter arrives, the three cousins return to Four Rivers, anticipating answers—and perhaps an inheritance.
What they find instead is more mystery. On the very day Orquídea dies, Tatinelly gives birth to her daughter, Rhiannon.
Seven years later, the cousins—and Tatinelly’s daughter—find themselves marked by strange, magical abilities, blessings or curses they can’t escape. As a dangerous figure emerges, threatening their family, the cousins must band together to protect their loved ones.
Through it all, the story delves into Orquídea’s past, revealing choices that altered her family’s fate.
This book is pure magic, reviving the spirit of classic magical realism with rich, authentic characterization. It’s easily one of my favorite fantasy reads of the year!
Ms. Cordova weaves an enchanting tale with her lyrical prose and dreamlike chapters, leaving readers spellbound.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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December 5, 2021
yeah, ngl this book is beautiful
September 12, 2021
Zoraida Cordova's fantastically wondrous, dream-like, and imaginative novel follows in the footsteps of the South American magical realism tradition, set in Ecuador and the U.S., it is a multi-generational family drama that overflows with the inexplicable, and the author's outstanding gifts with her fascinating and stellar characterisations. The Montoya family have been summoned to receive their inheritance, to the deathbed of their matriarch, Orquidea, who has not left the protected home at Four Rivers in Ecuador for some time for any reason. However, their curiosity about the family secrets are to be left unsatisfied as a transformed Orquidea departs this life in a manner that surprises.
The narrative goes back and forth in time to reveal Orquidea's colourful, complicated, and intriguing life, joining the circus, the consequences of the decisions she makes, and the tragedies and challenges she faces, which includes abuse. Years later the descendents lives have changed in different ways, thanks to Orquida, using her talents to bestow surprising benefits. However, there is trouble brewing, the family line is facing dangers and threats, that have the descendants having to overcome their issues, Miramer and Rey with their close connections and Rhiannon, Tatinelly's daughter, travelling back to Ecuador to save the family, to get to the truth, the protective magic and the secrets.
It can be hard to follow all the twists and turns in this complex story, and much is left ambiguous, and unexplained, but this makes no difference to the joy I derived from reading this beautiful novel, so brilliantly written, that it mesmerises. Cordova draws on and is inspired by the rich tradition of South American myth, legend and folklore, and its culture and perspectives, painting on a wide canvas in this story of magic, its protection, of the power of family and the trauma that can travel through the generations. This is for those readers who love fantasy and appreciate magical realism in particular. A glorious read that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Atria for an ARC.
The narrative goes back and forth in time to reveal Orquidea's colourful, complicated, and intriguing life, joining the circus, the consequences of the decisions she makes, and the tragedies and challenges she faces, which includes abuse. Years later the descendents lives have changed in different ways, thanks to Orquida, using her talents to bestow surprising benefits. However, there is trouble brewing, the family line is facing dangers and threats, that have the descendants having to overcome their issues, Miramer and Rey with their close connections and Rhiannon, Tatinelly's daughter, travelling back to Ecuador to save the family, to get to the truth, the protective magic and the secrets.
It can be hard to follow all the twists and turns in this complex story, and much is left ambiguous, and unexplained, but this makes no difference to the joy I derived from reading this beautiful novel, so brilliantly written, that it mesmerises. Cordova draws on and is inspired by the rich tradition of South American myth, legend and folklore, and its culture and perspectives, painting on a wide canvas in this story of magic, its protection, of the power of family and the trauma that can travel through the generations. This is for those readers who love fantasy and appreciate magical realism in particular. A glorious read that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Atria for an ARC.
June 18, 2021
I haven't updated my process on this one as much as my other books. Mostly because a lot of this book was spent waiting until I finished working on it. Three-ish years! Now that it's finally going to be out in the world, all I want to say is that it's super personal to me. It's a book that's lived in my mind for so long, I just didn't know how to tell it.
There's a giveaway of 100 ARCs hosted by my US publisher. Go enter! A reminder that ARCs are not the finished books. I'm also the kind of author that works on it until they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
Xo,
Z
There's a giveaway of 100 ARCs hosted by my US publisher. Go enter! A reminder that ARCs are not the finished books. I'm also the kind of author that works on it until they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
Xo,
Z
Read
October 11, 2021what a fantastical, mysterious ride, I loved it!
July 19, 2021
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
This is one of those books that seemingly had everything I want, but ended up missing the mark. I enjoy magical realism and whimsical tales and this story had both of those things. I appreciated the author's creativity and the themes she explored. However, the execution and plot just didn't work well for me. It was so bizarre at times and the story felt slightly chaotic. I never fell in love with the characters so it was hard to be emotionally invested in the story. I'm bummed because I really wanted to love this book. Even though this one wasn't for me, I would still encourage you to pick it up if it sounds interesting to you.
**ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those books that seemingly had everything I want, but ended up missing the mark. I enjoy magical realism and whimsical tales and this story had both of those things. I appreciated the author's creativity and the themes she explored. However, the execution and plot just didn't work well for me. It was so bizarre at times and the story felt slightly chaotic. I never fell in love with the characters so it was hard to be emotionally invested in the story. I'm bummed because I really wanted to love this book. Even though this one wasn't for me, I would still encourage you to pick it up if it sounds interesting to you.
**ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
February 10, 2021**Update 2/10/21**
HOUSTON WE HAVE A COVER! The artist is Erick Dávila. Check out his work. Erickdavila.com!
**Update 2/1/21**
THE INHERITANCE OF ORQUÍDEA DIVINA has a change of date! It is now going to be released on September 7th, a month sooner than originally scheduled!
______
My adult debut novel! For more details check out my newsletter, which also includes my Pinterest and Playlist. -> https://mailchi.mp/1b2ab38837ef/janua...
HOUSTON WE HAVE A COVER! The artist is Erick Dávila. Check out his work. Erickdavila.com!
**Update 2/1/21**
THE INHERITANCE OF ORQUÍDEA DIVINA has a change of date! It is now going to be released on September 7th, a month sooner than originally scheduled!
______
My adult debut novel! For more details check out my newsletter, which also includes my Pinterest and Playlist. -> https://mailchi.mp/1b2ab38837ef/janua...
September 15, 2024
4.5 Stars 😁💐 Oh man! I think I haven't read much of Magical Realism book or something? I'm not sure. But this book! The world-building. The Orquídea's magic is strangely interesting to me. Yes, I mean it. strange or weird. lol
The story begins that Orquídea invites her descendants to come back home and get their inheritance because she is dying! So, Marimar, Rey, Tatinelly, and Rhiannon have to return to Guayaquil, Ecuador.
🍁☕🍂 Mannn, the first time I get to Orquídea's home. It's like a horror witchy house! Kind of scary! with the house full of strange cretures, I'm not gonna tell you. I even think.. Is this black magic house or something? 😱
So, after these descendants get the gift from Orquídea, weird horrifying things start to happen. One by one. Then, the story turns into magical! :D The first half might be on and on. But the last half is just so much fun! After everything happened, they try to seek the answer of Orquídea's darken secrets.
What's happen in Orquídea's past that cause them like this?
🍁☕️🍂 The book switchs between the mordern day part and the Orquídea's life past. And oh! Orquídea's life part is just my favorite part among all! So much happening. So much exciting! that made me realized about the magical realism in this Montoya's family. Unexpect. Twist! and Magical.. Yeah, I mean it. This book is trully full of magics.
** Last but not least, Happy Hispanic Heritage month!! 🥳 **
C'mon guys! Come to Orquídea's home and see by yourself.
September 6, 2021
I loved this so much it was my pick for September for the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club.
Gorgeous magical realism. Wonderful characters. Reminded me of Bradbury's From the Dust Returned mixed with The Umbrella Academy.
Gorgeous magical realism. Wonderful characters. Reminded me of Bradbury's From the Dust Returned mixed with The Umbrella Academy.
January 21, 2022
Me ha encantado.
Está escrito de una manera tan delicada y llena de detalles, con tal cantidad de personajes tan bien hilados... Tiene mucho del realismo mágico de libros como «El amor en los tiempos del cólera» y muestra muy bien cómo ha evolucionado este movimiento en el siglo XXI. Al menos al principio, luego la trama ya va adentrándose en un tono mucho más fantástico y sí que es cierto que el desenlace es algo previsible y recalca demasiado la figura del villano (de una manera bastante plana).
Pero de todas maneras es una novela que he disfrutado de principio a fin, y el centro de todo ello es una familia, los Montoya, es la historia de su matriarca; Orquídea Divina y sus descendientes. Conocemos el pasado de Orquídea, siendo una niña en Ecuador, y también la de sus nietos, a principios del siglo XXI en Estados Unidos, tramas que se van entrecruzando y forman un mosaico de historias y anécdotas cargadas de pequeños mitos, maldiciones y momentos de magia delicada e íntima.
***Es una novela adulta, por cierto.
Está escrito de una manera tan delicada y llena de detalles, con tal cantidad de personajes tan bien hilados... Tiene mucho del realismo mágico de libros como «El amor en los tiempos del cólera» y muestra muy bien cómo ha evolucionado este movimiento en el siglo XXI. Al menos al principio, luego la trama ya va adentrándose en un tono mucho más fantástico y sí que es cierto que el desenlace es algo previsible y recalca demasiado la figura del villano (de una manera bastante plana).
Pero de todas maneras es una novela que he disfrutado de principio a fin, y el centro de todo ello es una familia, los Montoya, es la historia de su matriarca; Orquídea Divina y sus descendientes. Conocemos el pasado de Orquídea, siendo una niña en Ecuador, y también la de sus nietos, a principios del siglo XXI en Estados Unidos, tramas que se van entrecruzando y forman un mosaico de historias y anécdotas cargadas de pequeños mitos, maldiciones y momentos de magia delicada e íntima.
***Es una novela adulta, por cierto.
May 15, 2022
This book was breathtaking beautiful
September 20, 2021
Magically delicious......
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina is unlike anything that I've read in some time. It positions you on a comfy cushion of organic tales that unfold through the creative touch of Zoraida Cordova. Prepare yourself for unexplainable happenings that twist and turn and roost heavily in secret places as your mind accommodates the unreasonableness of its reasoning.
Orquidea Divina sits within her ancient wooden house in Four Rivers. She reflects on her long journey from Ecuador, so long ago, to this sparsely inhabited place. Her memories are lined with her five husbands, her multitude of children, and the grandchildren and great-children filling the peripheral of her mind. And as intertwined as all of this is, the span of her life is far more knotted and threaded like the backside of a hanging tapestry.
Orquidea stares at the flourish of her handwriting. She has prepared invitations for all of them. The Montoya family has been beckoned to come to Four Rivers in order to claim their inheritance. No one is certain of Orquidea's exact age. Her family only knows that it is time. Cordova will introduce us to all the remaining members who will gather to honor Orquidea as she leaves this world for the next. But it's in the leaving that your curiosity will be piqued to the highest level.
Zoraida Cordova sets her novel down within a bevy of interesting characters. I could not even do justice to all of them here and their life expressions. But the two most outstanding of them are the cousins, Marimar and Reymundo "Rey". They are extremely close while living in New York City so far from Four Rivers. The cousins travel to see their grandmother for the last time. They have a remarkable link to one another and this link will fortify them as they experience the reunion of their family and the parting of their grandmother.
Cordova shifts her storyline from the present to the past in the back-and-forth seam that leads from Orquidea's early life to her present one. It is filled with fantasy and curiosities and countless life-impacting decisions made by Orquidea and those around her. It's like viewing an expanding and contracting kaleidoscope of patterns taken in all at once. Cordova has a wide and colorful imagination with an exciting panoramic glimpse into "protecting your magic". And isn't that what all of us are compelled to do?
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Zoraida Cordova for the opportunity.
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina is unlike anything that I've read in some time. It positions you on a comfy cushion of organic tales that unfold through the creative touch of Zoraida Cordova. Prepare yourself for unexplainable happenings that twist and turn and roost heavily in secret places as your mind accommodates the unreasonableness of its reasoning.
Orquidea Divina sits within her ancient wooden house in Four Rivers. She reflects on her long journey from Ecuador, so long ago, to this sparsely inhabited place. Her memories are lined with her five husbands, her multitude of children, and the grandchildren and great-children filling the peripheral of her mind. And as intertwined as all of this is, the span of her life is far more knotted and threaded like the backside of a hanging tapestry.
Orquidea stares at the flourish of her handwriting. She has prepared invitations for all of them. The Montoya family has been beckoned to come to Four Rivers in order to claim their inheritance. No one is certain of Orquidea's exact age. Her family only knows that it is time. Cordova will introduce us to all the remaining members who will gather to honor Orquidea as she leaves this world for the next. But it's in the leaving that your curiosity will be piqued to the highest level.
Zoraida Cordova sets her novel down within a bevy of interesting characters. I could not even do justice to all of them here and their life expressions. But the two most outstanding of them are the cousins, Marimar and Reymundo "Rey". They are extremely close while living in New York City so far from Four Rivers. The cousins travel to see their grandmother for the last time. They have a remarkable link to one another and this link will fortify them as they experience the reunion of their family and the parting of their grandmother.
Cordova shifts her storyline from the present to the past in the back-and-forth seam that leads from Orquidea's early life to her present one. It is filled with fantasy and curiosities and countless life-impacting decisions made by Orquidea and those around her. It's like viewing an expanding and contracting kaleidoscope of patterns taken in all at once. Cordova has a wide and colorful imagination with an exciting panoramic glimpse into "protecting your magic". And isn't that what all of us are compelled to do?
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Zoraida Cordova for the opportunity.
January 3, 2022
This was stunning.
Why you may not like this book: With magical realism, while much of the magic stands in for difficulties and tragedies and mysteries of life, there is some magic that stands as unexplained. If you are the type of person that balks at "just because" magic, and need something with explanations or systems, this will not be for you. Additionally, this is a story that follows many characters in one large family. We don't spend too much time with any one character, so if you need deep character studies, this won't satisfy. It feels like a large quilt kind of story. Wider than it is deep, at least in terms of how much we learn about our cast.
Why I loved this book: What a magical and emotional journey. This was beautifully written and meant so much to me as a first generation American and someone whose family stories are also cloaked in the unknown and the unknowable. I was as captivated by the past as I was the present and while we flitted around between the different characters, I felt it was easy to invest in all of them. I loved the way that Cordova used magic and how I can still vividly feel and see this story well past the last page.
Content warnings for murder, death, drowning, arson, parental neglect, abuse, racism, xenophobia, death of a loved one, adultery, sex (on page) and slight body horror.
Why you may not like this book: With magical realism, while much of the magic stands in for difficulties and tragedies and mysteries of life, there is some magic that stands as unexplained. If you are the type of person that balks at "just because" magic, and need something with explanations or systems, this will not be for you. Additionally, this is a story that follows many characters in one large family. We don't spend too much time with any one character, so if you need deep character studies, this won't satisfy. It feels like a large quilt kind of story. Wider than it is deep, at least in terms of how much we learn about our cast.
Why I loved this book: What a magical and emotional journey. This was beautifully written and meant so much to me as a first generation American and someone whose family stories are also cloaked in the unknown and the unknowable. I was as captivated by the past as I was the present and while we flitted around between the different characters, I felt it was easy to invest in all of them. I loved the way that Cordova used magic and how I can still vividly feel and see this story well past the last page.
Content warnings for murder, death, drowning, arson, parental neglect, abuse, racism, xenophobia, death of a loved one, adultery, sex (on page) and slight body horror.
November 2, 2021
Beautiful storytelling and a deep character study of a family with a memorable and formidable matriarch.
This beautiful book! This stunning, glorious, beautiful book! If you love a character study, this is for you. If you love rich storytelling with a large, complex cast of characters, check this out. And if you love a formidable, memorable matriarch of a main character, this has your name all over it. Bonus points for the atmosphere, touches of magic, and Ecuadorian culture.
Zoraida Cordova’s smooth storytelling brings Orquidea’s struggles and triumphs to life. Nearing the end of her days, she has called her remaining family home so they can claim their inheritance and find out from where it comes. Full of secrets and an immense family tree, I absolutely adored this complexly layered treasure and can’t wait for another magical book by Zoraida Cordova.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
This beautiful book! This stunning, glorious, beautiful book! If you love a character study, this is for you. If you love rich storytelling with a large, complex cast of characters, check this out. And if you love a formidable, memorable matriarch of a main character, this has your name all over it. Bonus points for the atmosphere, touches of magic, and Ecuadorian culture.
Zoraida Cordova’s smooth storytelling brings Orquidea’s struggles and triumphs to life. Nearing the end of her days, she has called her remaining family home so they can claim their inheritance and find out from where it comes. Full of secrets and an immense family tree, I absolutely adored this complexly layered treasure and can’t wait for another magical book by Zoraida Cordova.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 1, 2022
[review to come]
March 4, 2022
Eu estou simplesmente estatelada no chão olhando para o teto, pensando em minha existência.
December 19, 2022
Note: I received a free copy of this book. In exchange here is my honest review:
There were so many parts of this book that I loved. 😍 The Magic, the drama… other parts that fell so flat. 😬 There is a big backstory and a big family and lots of characters…. 😐 they are introduced and then nada… the journey to America, the children, the husbands- there could have been more…. Anyway- while it felt incomplete- the magic was good. ✨
Thank you @goodreads @zoraidasolo and @atriabooks #goodreadsgiveaway
There were so many parts of this book that I loved. 😍 The Magic, the drama… other parts that fell so flat. 😬 There is a big backstory and a big family and lots of characters…. 😐 they are introduced and then nada… the journey to America, the children, the husbands- there could have been more…. Anyway- while it felt incomplete- the magic was good. ✨
Thank you @goodreads @zoraidasolo and @atriabooks #goodreadsgiveaway
February 12, 2022
the stardust vibes here. everyone who rated this five stars….so true
May 27, 2022
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3 ½ stars
In The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, Zoraida Córdova combines an intergenerational family drama with magical realism, and the end result will certainly appeal to fans of Alice Hoffman and Isabel Allende. Not only does Córdova’s dazzling storytelling complement the fantastical elements within her story but her prose often brought to mind the language you encounter in fairy tales.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina follows a dual timeline. The one in the present opens with the formidable matriarch Orquídea Divina Montoya inviting her progeny to her funeral. Over the years her children and grandchildren have left her house in Four Rivers, and many of them have not returned since their departure. When they flock back to her home they find out that Orquídea has undergone a drastic change. In this part we are introduced to a lot of characters, many of them don’t even get a speaking line. The house is very crowded and arguments and disagreements inevitably come to pass. No one knows about Orquídea’s past, and some have come to resent her for it. Odd and inexplicable things have always happened to the Montoyas, and maybe, now, on her ‘deathbed’ Orquídea will finally reveal some of her secrets...except that she doesn’t. The narrative jumps seven years ahead where we learn that many of the Montoyas have been dying sudden and bizarre deaths. Someone, or something, maybe after them, but why?
The other timeline gives a glimpse into Orquídea’s Cinderellaesque childhood in Ecuador. Told from birth that she would have bad luck Orquídea finds herself growing apart from her mother once she remarries. Her stepsiblings bully her, her stepfather shows her no kindness. Additionally, Orquídea is tasked with various house chores and with looking after her youngest sibling. One day she goes to the circus and finds herself falling in love. The following chapters of her story follow her ill-fated romance.
I liked the first chapters, in which we are introduced to the various Montoyas (some more in-depth than others) and see their reactions to Orquídea’s ‘transformation’. The prose is gorgeous, the magical realism on point, and the mystery around Orquídea’s past intriguing. We then get a time-skip of 7+ and I’m afraid that I wasn’t particularly keen on it. We never get to properly know the majority of the Montoyas nor do we truly delve into the experiences of Marimar and Rey, our main characters. I think that much of this novel, especially once we��ve passed Orquídea’s death, relied too much on telling. Marimar was a bit of a generic lead while Rey very much existed for comic relief and many of his lines did seem to make him sound a bit like a stereotype (‘bitchy’, man-obsessed, etc.). He’s basically the gay best friend. The chapters set in the past were somewhat disappointing as I thought they would give us an overview of Orquídea’s life, as opposed to just focusing on her late teens/early 20s. I think her journey and early years in America had the potential of being quite interesting. I mean, she had several husbands and they barely get mentioned. Orquídea herself was hard to like. Having a Cinderella-like sob backstory doesn’t necessarily make you into a sympathetic or complex character. Still, I did find her intriguing and by the end, I did feel on her behalf (kind of). As I said, I wish that more of the Montoyas had been fleshed out. There were some deaths in the story and they had little to no impact because we didn't know that characters who die all that much (they basically were included to be killed off). The 'big bad' was disappointing and at times the story gave me Disney vibes. At one point Córdova describes curls as 'worm-like' and that gets a minus from me.
In spite of these things (story+characters being kind of meh) I still thought that this was a good novel. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to those who are looking for character-driven stories or nuanced family sagas, however, if you happen to be a fan of the authors I mentioned above or of the magical realism genre, well, you should definitely consider giving this novel a go. The story is fairly compelling, the author’s prose is lovely, and the fantasy elements were great. Atmospheric and spellbinding The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an engaging story about love, family, heartache, and fate.
ps: while the cover is by no means ugly I do think that it doesn't really suit the tone of the story. Additionally, it is the kind of cover that would be better suited to YA novel, not an adult one.
3 ½ stars
In The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, Zoraida Córdova combines an intergenerational family drama with magical realism, and the end result will certainly appeal to fans of Alice Hoffman and Isabel Allende. Not only does Córdova’s dazzling storytelling complement the fantastical elements within her story but her prose often brought to mind the language you encounter in fairy tales.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina follows a dual timeline. The one in the present opens with the formidable matriarch Orquídea Divina Montoya inviting her progeny to her funeral. Over the years her children and grandchildren have left her house in Four Rivers, and many of them have not returned since their departure. When they flock back to her home they find out that Orquídea has undergone a drastic change. In this part we are introduced to a lot of characters, many of them don’t even get a speaking line. The house is very crowded and arguments and disagreements inevitably come to pass. No one knows about Orquídea’s past, and some have come to resent her for it. Odd and inexplicable things have always happened to the Montoyas, and maybe, now, on her ‘deathbed’ Orquídea will finally reveal some of her secrets...except that she doesn’t. The narrative jumps seven years ahead where we learn that many of the Montoyas have been dying sudden and bizarre deaths. Someone, or something, maybe after them, but why?
The other timeline gives a glimpse into Orquídea’s Cinderellaesque childhood in Ecuador. Told from birth that she would have bad luck Orquídea finds herself growing apart from her mother once she remarries. Her stepsiblings bully her, her stepfather shows her no kindness. Additionally, Orquídea is tasked with various house chores and with looking after her youngest sibling. One day she goes to the circus and finds herself falling in love. The following chapters of her story follow her ill-fated romance.
I liked the first chapters, in which we are introduced to the various Montoyas (some more in-depth than others) and see their reactions to Orquídea’s ‘transformation’. The prose is gorgeous, the magical realism on point, and the mystery around Orquídea’s past intriguing. We then get a time-skip of 7+ and I’m afraid that I wasn’t particularly keen on it. We never get to properly know the majority of the Montoyas nor do we truly delve into the experiences of Marimar and Rey, our main characters. I think that much of this novel, especially once we��ve passed Orquídea’s death, relied too much on telling. Marimar was a bit of a generic lead while Rey very much existed for comic relief and many of his lines did seem to make him sound a bit like a stereotype (‘bitchy’, man-obsessed, etc.). He’s basically the gay best friend. The chapters set in the past were somewhat disappointing as I thought they would give us an overview of Orquídea’s life, as opposed to just focusing on her late teens/early 20s. I think her journey and early years in America had the potential of being quite interesting. I mean, she had several husbands and they barely get mentioned. Orquídea herself was hard to like. Having a Cinderella-like sob backstory doesn’t necessarily make you into a sympathetic or complex character. Still, I did find her intriguing and by the end, I did feel on her behalf (kind of). As I said, I wish that more of the Montoyas had been fleshed out. There were some deaths in the story and they had little to no impact because we didn't know that characters who die all that much (they basically were included to be killed off). The 'big bad' was disappointing and at times the story gave me Disney vibes. At one point Córdova describes curls as 'worm-like' and that gets a minus from me.
In spite of these things (story+characters being kind of meh) I still thought that this was a good novel. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to those who are looking for character-driven stories or nuanced family sagas, however, if you happen to be a fan of the authors I mentioned above or of the magical realism genre, well, you should definitely consider giving this novel a go. The story is fairly compelling, the author’s prose is lovely, and the fantasy elements were great. Atmospheric and spellbinding The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an engaging story about love, family, heartache, and fate.
ps: while the cover is by no means ugly I do think that it doesn't really suit the tone of the story. Additionally, it is the kind of cover that would be better suited to YA novel, not an adult one.
October 8, 2022
3.75/5
To było dziwne i magicznie i dziwnie magicznie mi się spodobało.
To było dziwne i magicznie i dziwnie magicznie mi się spodobało.
Read
October 29, 2021DNF for now at 49%. Maybe it’s my mood (even tho I’m in a reading mood) but I’m not connecting to this at all. There’s so many characters and I don’t care. I remember like 2. I had an audio copy through Libro.fm Influencer program and I like the narrator but just can’t get into the story. I’m also surprised it’s halfway done bc I feel like nothing much has happened ?? Idk, someone said to read it physically and maybe I will. But for now, gonna DNF
September 27, 2021
ACTUAL RATING 4.5 STARS
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina is a fantastical, immersive experience that will transport you into a family wrapped in magic and mystery. This story unfolded so beautifully, exploring generational trauma, the power one has within oneself, and reconnecting with your ancestors.
Perfect for fans of Like Water For Chocolate's magical realism, readers will lose themselves in the haunting mystery that has traveled down this family's bloodline which was written in a lyrical and lush writing style. I cannot recommend enough.
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina is a fantastical, immersive experience that will transport you into a family wrapped in magic and mystery. This story unfolded so beautifully, exploring generational trauma, the power one has within oneself, and reconnecting with your ancestors.
Perfect for fans of Like Water For Chocolate's magical realism, readers will lose themselves in the haunting mystery that has traveled down this family's bloodline which was written in a lyrical and lush writing style. I cannot recommend enough.
September 12, 2021
The magic that is this book is unexplainable.... WOW!
Zoraida Cordova writes a convincing book, it's genre bending and will leave you wanting a lot more. I am generally not someone who enjoy books that takes me all over the place but I wanted to go everywhere Cordova took me. Imagine getting a letter from your grandmother telling you she is dying and you need to come and get your inheritance... UMMM YES PLEASE! Only to show up and your grandmother is a tree (yes, you read that right... tree). That's just the beginning, it gets more crazy (in a good way).
There is so much happening in the book, at times it can get overwhelming. I also felt the family tree did not help and it was sooo hard to keep up with all the characters but I felt the author's ambition undertaking paid off. I was entertained, I loved reading about Ecuador, the mysticism and the magic. Yes, there were draw backs but if you are looking for an escape, the life of Orquidea Divina is definitely worth reading!
Zoraida Cordova writes a convincing book, it's genre bending and will leave you wanting a lot more. I am generally not someone who enjoy books that takes me all over the place but I wanted to go everywhere Cordova took me. Imagine getting a letter from your grandmother telling you she is dying and you need to come and get your inheritance... UMMM YES PLEASE! Only to show up and your grandmother is a tree (yes, you read that right... tree). That's just the beginning, it gets more crazy (in a good way).
There is so much happening in the book, at times it can get overwhelming. I also felt the family tree did not help and it was sooo hard to keep up with all the characters but I felt the author's ambition undertaking paid off. I was entertained, I loved reading about Ecuador, the mysticism and the magic. Yes, there were draw backs but if you are looking for an escape, the life of Orquidea Divina is definitely worth reading!
August 5, 2021
So I struggled rating this book. The concept sounded really interesting, but it fell flat of expectations. While I don’t mind plots that unravel slowly over time, I feel like this waited too long to get there. At times while reading it felt disjointed and I thought I had missed something, to the point I flipped back and reread what happened before just to make sure. I would have loved more focus on the magic itself and how they developed it until it lead up to seeing what they able to do with it. It almost felt like they crammed all this into the end of the book instead. Overall it was a cool idea, but I would have loved for the whole book to be more similar to the end.
January 2, 2022
We follow the Montoyas who are a family used to a life without explanations. Including why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers. But when Orquidea invites her family to her funeral to collect their inheritance, they hope for answers but leave with more questions. Seven years later, their inheritances manifest in ways granting them unexpected blessings. All of this is interrupted when a mysterious figure begins to tear through the Montoya family, seeking to destroy Orquideas line. Determined to save what’s left of their family and finally get some answers, four of Orquideas descendants travel to Ecuador, Orquidea's birthplace.
This story was beautiful, vivid, captivating, lush. Cordova was able to paint such a dreamy story with her words. Not only the world but the characters. There is just something about a well-done dysfunctional family that gets me. Told in multiple timelines and POVs, this moving story is about family and secrets. Orquidea is a 5 foot, brown-skinned powerhouse and I love her so much. I’d say protect her at all costs but she needs no one's protection. She is formidable, like many Hispanic matriarchs. I loved her passion and relentless nature in her quest to make a better life for herself. All of the characters were layered and unique. This book was tantalizing and I couldn’t absorb it fast enough. It’s beautifully written and so heartfelt. I have to give it 5 stars. Absolutely beautiful.
This story was beautiful, vivid, captivating, lush. Cordova was able to paint such a dreamy story with her words. Not only the world but the characters. There is just something about a well-done dysfunctional family that gets me. Told in multiple timelines and POVs, this moving story is about family and secrets. Orquidea is a 5 foot, brown-skinned powerhouse and I love her so much. I’d say protect her at all costs but she needs no one's protection. She is formidable, like many Hispanic matriarchs. I loved her passion and relentless nature in her quest to make a better life for herself. All of the characters were layered and unique. This book was tantalizing and I couldn’t absorb it fast enough. It’s beautifully written and so heartfelt. I have to give it 5 stars. Absolutely beautiful.
July 16, 2023
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina ended up being a bit different from what I was expecting.
At the start, this was an easy 5 stars from me. The introductory chapter to the titular Orquídea Divina, matriarch of the Montoya family, was excellent.
We meet her in young adulthood, setting down roots in a nowhere American town, Four Rivers. Her arrival is mysterious to the townsfolk, her homestead seemingly having appeared overnight, but what concerns them more is that she is an Ecuadorian immigrant in their white town. They send the sheriff out to investigate her, but her innately enchanting nature quickly turns him into a friend. He not only takes coffee with her, but her side, ensuring she and the generations of Montoyas to come will have peace in Four Rivers...and perhaps from the ghosts she left behind in Ecuador.
Such a compelling start, and written with such craft. The timeline then shifts to the present, where Orquídea is an old woman preparing to die. She writes each of her living relatives to invite them home to Four Rivers, promising an inheritance. We learn no one had an easy relationship with her, and all have varying expectations of what they might receive.
This promises so many story elements I love:
- Generational storytelling
- Family secrets
- Inherited magic
- Reunions
- Small-town settings
But while the writing quality never dips, the direction these plotlines took was different than what I had been hoping for:
- The generational storytelling had several abrupt time jumps in two timelines - a past and present, interrupting the flow/worldbuilding/character development in both.
- While the Montoya family secrets are intriguing, the present-day characters (Marimar, Rey) are written to be rather disaffected. When big reveals come about, they react sardonically, dampening the impact.
- The inherited magic was super strong at the start, taking this book from magical realism to hard fantasy, then all but disappeared during a 7-year time jump, only to be referenced off-handedly like, "The chicken turned blue" or "I've talked to the dead once before".
- The reunions remain a highlight, and the book's climax has a particularly powerful one, but, considering Orquídea had 9 children from 5 husbands and multiple grandchildren, it's disappointing that only about 4 of her descendants end up mattering to the plot—3, really, as one of them ends up dying mid-book. Her character seemingly only existed to give birth and sacrifice herself, and the impact of her death is so little it doesn’t even sadden her orphaned daughter too much…
- The book doesn't really take place in the small town of Four Rivers; rather, both past and present timelines follow Orquídea's previous life in Ecuador. While her life there is extremely interesting - running away to become a circus performer - it's more in service of the story's mystery: Why her first encounter with magic is endangering her living descendants. I feel if the past timeline focused more on her building a new life in Four Rivers, it'd be a quieter book, focused more on the family narrative and their bonds, both strong and strained.
As the book is, it's much more bombastic than I was expecting, concluding with truly cosmic implications for the characters. There are still some beautiful themes in here, but they get drowned out some by the fireworks of the story's action.
At the start, this was an easy 5 stars from me. The introductory chapter to the titular Orquídea Divina, matriarch of the Montoya family, was excellent.
We meet her in young adulthood, setting down roots in a nowhere American town, Four Rivers. Her arrival is mysterious to the townsfolk, her homestead seemingly having appeared overnight, but what concerns them more is that she is an Ecuadorian immigrant in their white town. They send the sheriff out to investigate her, but her innately enchanting nature quickly turns him into a friend. He not only takes coffee with her, but her side, ensuring she and the generations of Montoyas to come will have peace in Four Rivers...and perhaps from the ghosts she left behind in Ecuador.
Such a compelling start, and written with such craft. The timeline then shifts to the present, where Orquídea is an old woman preparing to die. She writes each of her living relatives to invite them home to Four Rivers, promising an inheritance. We learn no one had an easy relationship with her, and all have varying expectations of what they might receive.
This promises so many story elements I love:
- Generational storytelling
- Family secrets
- Inherited magic
- Reunions
- Small-town settings
But while the writing quality never dips, the direction these plotlines took was different than what I had been hoping for:
- The generational storytelling had several abrupt time jumps in two timelines - a past and present, interrupting the flow/worldbuilding/character development in both.
- While the Montoya family secrets are intriguing, the present-day characters (Marimar, Rey) are written to be rather disaffected. When big reveals come about, they react sardonically, dampening the impact.
- The inherited magic was super strong at the start, taking this book from magical realism to hard fantasy, then all but disappeared during a 7-year time jump, only to be referenced off-handedly like, "The chicken turned blue" or "I've talked to the dead once before".
- The reunions remain a highlight, and the book's climax has a particularly powerful one, but, considering Orquídea had 9 children from 5 husbands and multiple grandchildren, it's disappointing that only about 4 of her descendants end up mattering to the plot—3, really, as one of them ends up dying mid-book. Her character seemingly only existed to give birth and sacrifice herself, and the impact of her death is so little it doesn’t even sadden her orphaned daughter too much…
- The book doesn't really take place in the small town of Four Rivers; rather, both past and present timelines follow Orquídea's previous life in Ecuador. While her life there is extremely interesting - running away to become a circus performer - it's more in service of the story's mystery: Why her first encounter with magic is endangering her living descendants. I feel if the past timeline focused more on her building a new life in Four Rivers, it'd be a quieter book, focused more on the family narrative and their bonds, both strong and strained.
As the book is, it's much more bombastic than I was expecting, concluding with truly cosmic implications for the characters. There are still some beautiful themes in here, but they get drowned out some by the fireworks of the story's action.
September 7, 2021
I finished it! And guess what? I absolutely loved it. Full review to come. In the meantime, let me recommend this is anyone who likes Maggie Stiefvater. This is exactly what I wanted but didn’t get from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue as well.
***
This is such a GORGEOUS cover! It sounds so interesting, too. I can’t believe I haven’t heard of it before.
Update: THIS IS A BOTM PICK??? YESSSSSSSS MAAAA’AM
***
This is such a GORGEOUS cover! It sounds so interesting, too. I can’t believe I haven’t heard of it before.
Update: THIS IS A BOTM PICK??? YESSSSSSSS MAAAA’AM
October 15, 2022
Nie podobało mi się rozstrzygnięcie tej historii, ale generalnie była przyjemna. Takie solidne 3/5 ⭐️
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December 4, 2021Magic realism with a matriarch who's transplanted her life from Ecuador to Nowhere, US reuniting her estranged family when she dies. It's told in two interwoven stories: Orquidea's past, and her present descendents trying to find out who is trying to kill them and why.
I enjoyed the first part hugely, the interweaving of magic and reality. There's a massive family cast but you can vague through without memorising who's who, so it mostly just adds to the extent and richness of the family world. I did feel it slowed down in the second half--the cousins are mostly reactive for a long time, and the sense of dream overpowers the real to a point I began to feel a bit disconnected. Notwithstanding, I still needed to know the outcome, which ties up a lot of stuff nicely, though leaving much unexplained in the way of magical realism.
Lush writing, gorgeous cover.
I enjoyed the first part hugely, the interweaving of magic and reality. There's a massive family cast but you can vague through without memorising who's who, so it mostly just adds to the extent and richness of the family world. I did feel it slowed down in the second half--the cousins are mostly reactive for a long time, and the sense of dream overpowers the real to a point I began to feel a bit disconnected. Notwithstanding, I still needed to know the outcome, which ties up a lot of stuff nicely, though leaving much unexplained in the way of magical realism.
Lush writing, gorgeous cover.
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