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yajairat's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
If any book has magical realism, I WILL be reading. This reminded me of great Latin American classics like 100 Years of Solitude, but it also felt very modern and the elements of magical realism fit well within that context. I think this raised a really good question for immigrant families, especially for first generation kids: how well do we really know our families? There is so much that we don't talk about. But as we see in this book, by knowing about our elders' lives and hearing their stories, the more we get to know about ourselves.
The writing was beautiful, loved the characters. I also really like multi-generational family stories, and I'm glad we got to touch on most family members. But at the end of the day this is about three central characters, and I liked that the author did that, makes it easier for me to engage with the story.
The writing was beautiful, loved the characters. I also really like multi-generational family stories, and I'm glad we got to touch on most family members. But at the end of the day this is about three central characters, and I liked that the author did that, makes it easier for me to engage with the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, and Death of parent
eshanicole's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was enthralling, poetic, mysterious, and somehow comforting.
Orquidea is a matriarch full of magic and secrets. When she transitions, she blesses her family with gifts they don’t quite understand. Years later, a mysterious man comes to stalk them, and the cousins must band together to save their family, and get answers to the secrets that were held for years.
I loved the physical book, but the narrator in the audio book really took this story to the next level for me. I would highly recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Encanto.
Orquidea is a matriarch full of magic and secrets. When she transitions, she blesses her family with gifts they don’t quite understand. Years later, a mysterious man comes to stalk them, and the cousins must band together to save their family, and get answers to the secrets that were held for years.
I loved the physical book, but the narrator in the audio book really took this story to the next level for me. I would highly recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Encanto.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
kayelina's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, and Pregnancy
escapismforlife's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book was unexpected in the best yet most magical of ways. I loved the fact that the Montoya family is so casual throughout most of the book about their gifts. Because they were raised in a mysterious and unique environment. They just want answers like most other large family's when the pasts comes to haunt them because of their grandmother's life.
Marima and Rey along with the rest of their cousins, aunts and uncles are so very different. And they all don't get along but they all band together in the end despite everything. Which made for such a good ending despite the secerets that are slowly revealed.
Marima and Rey along with the rest of their cousins, aunts and uncles are so very different. And they all don't get along but they all band together in the end despite everything. Which made for such a good ending despite the secerets that are slowly revealed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Animal death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Child death, and Alcoholism
thenovelmaura's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I read this book back in September and I had high expectations because I've seen so many positive reviews of this one. It didn't end up being a favorite, mostly because I didn't care very much about the modern-day timeline. Orquídea's past was much more interesting to me than anything that was happening to the Montoya descendants. I did love all of the magic and mystery that were woven into the story but it was hard for me to get into the actual plot when the chapters were focused on the modern-day Montoyas; I kept putting it down and not really wanting to pick it up again.
After a similar middle-of-the-road experience with Incendiary, I think Córdova has become a "just not for me" author; I tend to like her characters more than I do her plots. But I don't regret giving either of those books a try, and there's never a bad time to support Latinx writers!
After a similar middle-of-the-road experience with Incendiary, I think Córdova has become a "just not for me" author; I tend to like her characters more than I do her plots. But I don't regret giving either of those books a try, and there's never a bad time to support Latinx writers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Death
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
itschelseaw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I love magical realism, and this one was great. Slowly introduced us to the magical element, had a good adventure, and a fitting resolution.
My heart broke for Orquídea and all that she endured from her family both before and during the circus. It also broke for her after, and how her guardedness ended up sowing the seeds of anger, pettiness and disconnect within her family.
I liked the structure of the story and learning about Orquídea bit by bit.
The end became a little too similar toAnastasia the movie for me (I couldn’t stop picturing Bolivar as Rasputin during the fight scene, whoops!
Overall a good book that I thoroughly enjoyed!
My heart broke for Orquídea and all that she endured from her family both before and during the circus. It also broke for her after, and how her guardedness ended up sowing the seeds of anger, pettiness and disconnect within her family.
I liked the structure of the story and learning about Orquídea bit by bit.
The end became a little too similar to
Overall a good book that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
yliana's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book. it felt like a warm hug. the way you can see how much love the author has for her birthplace of Guayaquil through her descriptions of it is one of the best things I've read all year.
I wasn't expecting the story to be told by jumping from past and present, character to character. the different perspectives we see don't have consistently throughout the whole story and some characters only have their pov one time, which I actually really loved.when tatinelly passed away and we got to see her final thoughts was so impactful. her realization that she didn't need to be extraordinary to be loved and she didn't need to leave a mark on the world as long as she positively influenced the people she loves was just T-T. I also loved how we got to see thoughts from bolívar even though he's a stupid son of a bitch. I fucking hated him and even though I was so mad at orquídea for not leaving him, I still felt for her.
something that I love about latine stories is that they always center family. it feels so familiar, the way that there is just so much love and prioritization of family, despite me not really identifying with the love-hate relationships since my mom was the one who broke the cycle with us.
I'm really excited to look up the Pinterest board that the author made for this book haha. it's going to be so beautiful and vibrant. ugh I just loved everything about this book, exceptthe reveal about marimar's dad. I think it ties everything together perfectly, obviously, but I was just underwhelmed with their reunion. at the same time though, I understand it because at the end of the day he was a fucking star and she had already lived her life without him and the family that she was surrounded with was fulfilling enough. still, I thought she would've just had more emotion towards him in general, whether that be anger, sadness, or whatever. but again, I get it.
I wasn't expecting the story to be told by jumping from past and present, character to character. the different perspectives we see don't have consistently throughout the whole story and some characters only have their pov one time, which I actually really loved.
something that I love about latine stories is that they always center family. it feels so familiar, the way that there is just so much love and prioritization of family, despite me not really identifying with the love-hate relationships since my mom was the one who broke the cycle with us.
I'm really excited to look up the Pinterest board that the author made for this book haha. it's going to be so beautiful and vibrant. ugh I just loved everything about this book, except
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
knenigans's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy, Body horror, Abandonment, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
bookmaddie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Y'all this book made me almost cry at 35% in. That's when you know a book is gonna be good.
I think what made me immediately invested in this story is Córdova's writing—it is so warm and magical. It makes you feel wrapped up in a hug from a loved one, and instantly part of whatever story she is crafting on the page. Each character, setting, star, gust of wind is imbued with life.
It was heartening to see how the Orquídea's family came together around her, to support her and each other in their greatest time of need. When everyone reunited in the end, it was even more touching and beautiful to see how everyone had changed and grown, and their love for each other was stronger than ever. This book is just a beautiful (and magical!) tribute to family, and I've not read a book that warmed me in this way in a long time. Even at its saddest moments, this book is just so full of love.
I can't forget the MAGIC in this story. It's everywhere! And we also get a magical river guardian, a historical, mysterious circus, and otherworldly beings. I was delighted by the mix of folklore, family history, luck, and wishes gone wrong. Combined with Córdova's writing, it makes for an unputdownable read!
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy that I should have read months ago.. woopsies!
I think what made me immediately invested in this story is Córdova's writing—it is so warm and magical. It makes you feel wrapped up in a hug from a loved one, and instantly part of whatever story she is crafting on the page. Each character, setting, star, gust of wind is imbued with life.
It was heartening to see how the Orquídea's family came together around her, to support her and each other in their greatest time of need. When everyone reunited in the end, it was even more touching and beautiful to see how everyone had changed and grown, and their love for each other was stronger than ever. This book is just a beautiful (and magical!) tribute to family, and I've not read a book that warmed me in this way in a long time. Even at its saddest moments, this book is just so full of love.
I can't forget the MAGIC in this story. It's everywhere! And we also get a magical river guardian, a historical, mysterious circus, and otherworldly beings. I was delighted by the mix of folklore, family history, luck, and wishes gone wrong. Combined with Córdova's writing, it makes for an unputdownable read!
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy that I should have read months ago.. woopsies!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Death
alibookedup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent and Child death